Tag Archive: Philip Johnson

May 14, 2020

Finlandia Announces Plans for Fall 2020

A Message from Dr. Philip Johnson, President, Finlandia University

Finlandia University will be welcoming students to campus for fall 2020 with face-to-face instruction. The first day of classes will be Monday, August 24.

This past March, when circumstances required a quick pivot, Finlandia, in the span of five days, launched the remainder of the semester fully on-line with a full complement of virtual student learning support. Finlandia’s new learning management system, an agile faculty, innovative student learning services professionals, and an inspiring [...]

May 11, 2020

How To View the Class of 2020 Virtual Commencement Ceremony

The Class of 2020 will be celebrating their achievements virtually on Thursday, May 21 at 6 p.m. from the Finnish American Heritage Center.

Join the virtual celebration at finlandia.edu/virtual-ceremonies/ as University President Philip Johnson, Vice President of Academic Affairs Fredi deYampert, Student Representative Nicholas Tobey, and Commencement Speaker Darlene King speak to the graduating class to celebrate their accomplishments.

Updates of Virtual Graduation Day 2020 at Finlandia University can be found at

April 24, 2020

Finlandia University Virtual Graduation To Be Held on May 21, 2020

Finlandia University’s 2020 Baccalaureate and Commencement activities have been changed to a virtual format.

“This is a particularly unique day for the Class of 2020, and we invite the Finlandia community to share in the celebration,” said Fredi deYampert, Vice President of Academic Affairs. “We are extremely proud of all that our graduates have accomplished here at Finlandia and we are excited to share this day with you, our graduates, families, and friends.”

Join us on Facebook Live at 10 a.m. on [...]

February 7, 2020

Rise Together with President Philip Johnson

On this episode of Finlandia Fridays, FinnU President, Philip Johnson drops by the set to discuss the new Rise Together Scholarship with host, Olivia Myers. President Johnson discusses the excitement that Rise Together brings and how it will help students who never thought college was an option.

The Rise Together Scholarship is a need-based scholarship that, when combined with federal and Michigan state scholarships and grants, covers a Michigan student’s entire tuition costs. This scholarship keeps with [...]

December 20, 2019

Michigan Tuition Grant Reinstated, Increased by State Legislature

Students across the state of Michigan can finally breathe easier now that the Michigan Tuition Grant has been reinstated.

Governor Whitmer signed the supplemental state budget on December 20 which included the reinstatement of the Michigan Tuition Grant. Recently, it was being utilized as a political pawn in budget negotiations and the future of it was uncertain leaving students and universities in limbo as to whether key funding would be provided. The Michigan Tuition Grant [...]

August 26, 2019

Sarah Semmler Smith Named New Campus Pastor

Finlandia University is excited to introduce its new pastor, Sarah Semmler Smith. Semmler Smith is moving to the area after spending the past six years as an associate pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Eau Claire, WI.

“I am so pleased that Pastor Sarah is joining our community as Finlandia’s next campus pastor,” said FinnU’s President, Dr. Philip Johnson. “Sarah is theological astute, pastorally wise and fun. It’s a great blend for our campus community.”

Growing up, [...]

June 28, 2019

Finding New Life at Finlandia

“I lost everything that day. I lost my only child. I lost the exquisite joy of watching my daughter continue to grow and achieve the tremendous potential she had already demonstrated in her almost 19 years. I lost the chance to fulfill all the travel adventures and plans we had talked about. I will never hold my grandchildren. I will forever hear the echoing in my head of those 10 words that shattered my life to dust.”

On the morning of [...]

March 27, 2019

Bishop Katherine A. Finegan to be Finlandia University 2019 Commencement Speaker

Finlandia University is thrilled to announce that Bishop Katherine A. Finegan, bishop of Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Northern Great Lakes Synod, will be the 2019 commencement ceremony speaker.

“Bishop Finegan is a strong proponent of Lutheran higher education and its vision for preparing men and women for the 21st century workplace and world,” said Philip Johnson, President. ”I am confident that her presence and message at Finlandia’s 2019 graduation ceremonies [...]

March 20, 2019

President’s Table Tennis Tournament to be held March 27

Calling all future table tennis champions! President Philip Johnson would like to officially invite you to participate in the fourth annual President’s Table Tennis Tournament.

When? Wednesday, March 27 at 7:30 p.m. Where? Mannerheim Central. Why? To beat President Johnson, of course!

All Finlandia University students, staff and faculty are invited to participate as well as spectate. Cash prizes for first through fourth place:

1st: $100 2nd: $60 3rd: $40 4th: $20

An additional $20 will be awarded to any first through fourth place finishers who [...]

January 7, 2019

Finlandia University announces Beihai University of Art & Design as first sister school in Asia

Finlandia University is proud to announce further growth to an already fruitful relationship with Beihai College of Arts and Design in Beihai China.

“It began with a phone call,” said Denise Vandeville, Dean of the International School of Art & Design. “A professor from Beihai was interested in coming to Finlandia, we showed him our studios and our culture.”

Over the last year Beihai and Finlandia faculty have met three times. Twice in China and that one visit in the [...]

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