News
Northwood Tech instructor donates book royalties to support student nutrition
January 16, 2026
Mark Langenfeld, a psychology instructor at Northwood Technical College’s Superior campus, has released a new book and is donating 100% of his author royalties to support student food access through the college’s Student Nutrition Assistance Program via the Northwood Technical College Foundation.
Langenfeld recently published “Wisdom from the Woods: A Year of Gentle Guidance from Mother Nature,” a self-help book that blends applied psychology, mindfulness and lessons inspired by the natural world. Proceeds from book sales directly benefit Northwood Tech students by helping address food insecurity across campuses.
The Student Nutrition Assistance Program supports students by providing $25 Aldi gift cards based on individual need. Program funds are also used to purchase Nutrigrain and Kind bars, which are stocked at each campus location and made available for students to take as needed.
Langenfeld has taught full time at Northwood Tech for 13 years. He said he was drawn to the college because of its strong reputation for excellence in teaching.
Right image: Book cover of “Wisdom from the Woods: A Year of Gentle Guidance from Mother Nature” by Mark Langenfeld.
Left image: Mark Langenfeld, psychology instructor at Northwood Technical College’s Superior campus.
“It took me over 10 years to pull together enough nature metaphors to write this book,” Langenfeld said. After completing the manuscript, he spent two years seeking a publisher before it was accepted.
His background in psychology played a central role in shaping the book’s direction.
“Psychology influences the way I view the world,” Langenfeld said. “Therefore, I wrote about life from a psychological perspective. In other words, psychology turned my nature manuscript into a self-help book.”
The book features 52 short chapters designed to be read weekly throughout the year. Each chapter includes nature-themed illustrations created by the publisher’s artists and concludes with cognitive and behavioral suggestions intended to encourage reflection and personal growth.
Langenfeld said several stories regularly resonate with students, including a story about Grandmother Moon watching over people as they sleep and another about an owl teaching a child how to become “The Watcher” rather than speaking impulsively.
“I was already donating to the Student Nutrition Assistance Program each year, so it made sense for me to donate my author’s royalties,” Langenfeld said. Supporting food access is personally important to him. For more than 10 years, he has volunteered at the Damiano Soup Kitchen in Duluth, Minnesota.
“Students cannot focus on their schoolwork if they are hungry or worried about feeding their families,” he said.
Northwood Tech President Dr. John Will wrote an endorsement for the book, which appears at the beginning. “Wisdom from the Woods: A Year of Gentle Guidance from Mother Nature” is available wherever books are sold, including Barnes & Noble, Walmart and Amazon.
If you’d like to learn more about the Northwood Technical College Foundation or donate to support students in our region, visit NorthwoodTech.edu/Foundation.
