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NIU to say ‘goodbye to the tie’ Oct. 31

October 17, 2014

Goodbye to the tieThe campus community is invited Friday, Oct. 31, to a retirement party honoring NIU Vice President for Operations and Community Relations Bill Nicklas.

“Goodbye to the Tie” will take place from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Barsema Alumni and Visitors Center. Remarks begin at 2 p.m.

Nicklas was hired by President Emeritus John Peters as associate vice president for institutional planning and sustainability in October of 2011. He served as acting director of public safety for a brief period beginning in November of 2012 before being named vice president of public safety and community relations in March of 2013. Last June, Nicklas was named liaison to the NIU Board of Trustees. President Doug Baker tabbed Nicklas for the job of vice president of operations and community relations Feb.28, 2014, adding the oversight of Facilities and Human Resources to his duties.

Bill NicklasNicklas, who holds both a master’s and a Ph.D. in American history from NIU, has overseen transformative projects on campus that include the ongoing deconstruction of Douglas Hall and the Lucinda Avenue extension project, the Stevens Building renovation, widening of sidewalks around campus and the implementation of Huskie Pup electric tram service.

Prior to joining NIU, Nicklas served 13 years as chief administrative officer for the City of Sycamore, where he had responsibility for the city’s management, finances, planning and economic development and oversight of the municipal public safety functions. Before that, he had similar responsibilities as city manager in DeKalb from 1992 to 1997.