NIU Today

David Grewell

David Grewell has been selected to become the new dean of the NIU College of Engineering and Engineering Technology, pending Board of Trustees approval.

Grewell, who was on campus Friday to meet faculty and students at the college, will officially step into his new role on July 1.

Provost Beth Ingram said she is excited about what Grewell brings to the college.

  “Dr. Grewell is an excellent addition to the leadership team at NIU. He brings a wealth of experience in research, student success and community engagement. I’m confident that he will fit into the Huskie family and lead the college forward.”

The new dean comes to NIU from North Dakota State University where he served as chair of the Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering. While there, he founded and led the Great Plains Region NSF I-Corps Hub, a consortium of eight universities that provides an immersive training program for entrepreneurs that helps inventors take ideas from concept to marketplace.

Prior to his move to NDSU, he was a professor in the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems at Iowa State University. During his 14 years there, Grewell founded and led the National Science Foundation Industry/University Collaborative Research Center for Bioplastics and Biocomposites. The center, comprised of representatives from four universities, works to further the creation and use of plastics, coatings adhesives and composites made from agricultural and forestry feedstocks, allowing them to decompose more readily.

Grewell hopes to involve CEET in similar relationships to build upon what he considers an already impressive track record of working closely with industry. He also plans to work with community colleges and high schools across the region to attract students to careers in engineering and to make sure that they arrive on campus prepared to handle the academic rigors of engineering and can persist to graduation.

Grewell earned his BS, MS, and Ph.D. in welding engineering from The Ohio State University. He holds 17 patents, has authored numerous publications (including three books), and has received numerous honors and awards. His research projects have attracted over $32 million in grant funding – more than $8 million of that for projects on which he served as PI.

Grewell will replace Dr. Donald Peterson, who has served as the dean of CEET since July 2017.

‘Breathtaking experience’

A trip to Barbados forever changed the perspective of several Huskies.

Students Jaelyn Logan, Romeo Bell and Mitraya Williams recently took part in a spring break program designed for students to examine issues of diversity, equity and inclusion and the history of the Island of Barbados and the significant role it played under British rule in the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade.

It was a trip they never imagined they’d get the opportunity to take and one they’ll never forget.

“It was such a breathtaking experience,” said Logan, a Fashion Merchandising major from Springfield. “I really can’t even put it into words. For me, it was more than a spring break trip. I just loved every minute of it. I definitely feel like I learned more about the country, but about myself as well.”

The students joined Vernese Edghill-Walden, Ph.D., NIU’s chief diversity officer and vice president for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, on the eight-day trip offered this past March through a partnership with NIU’s Study Abroad Office and Illinois State University’s College of Business and Study Abroad program.

Illinois State University faculty member Tina Williams, Ph.D., oversaw the program, hosted by the University of the West Indies in Cave Hill Barbados. In all, eight students went on the trip, with five students from ISU also participating.

Edghill-Walden encouraged NIU’s students to pursue the experience after another trip taken last September by a group of about 50 NIU students, faculty, staff, alumni and donors. That group toured Black Wall Street before cheering on Huskies at a football game in Tulsa, Oklahoma, through a partnership between NIU Athletics, the Division of Student Affairs, the NIU Alumni Association and Academic Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

All involved described the Black Wall Street trip as life-changing, and Edghill-Walden knew students would also benefit from the Barbados spring break program.

Opportunities like this align with the university’s vision and mission and provides affordable learning experiences to all Huskies, Edghill-Walden said.

“This trip was transformative for all involved and one of many examples of the wide range of opportunities NIU provides to all Huskies, including underserved populations and those who are the first in their families to attend college,” she said. “It was my honor to join these amazing students on a memorable trip. We gained perspective and a deeper understanding of the history surrounding Barbados and the transatlantic slave trade.”

When the students first heard about the Barbados spring break program, they didn’t think it was possible because of the cost. But Edghill-Walden kept encouraging, and scholarship opportunities, as well as alumni and staff donations, made the experience possible.

“A month before the trip, they told us everything would be taken care of,” said Williams, a journalism major from Chicago graduating this May. “I was so grateful for the experience. I wish more people knew about opportunities like this.

“It really was culturally enriching. You come back with so much more knowledge just about the world. I feel like everyone needs to experience that.”

The island of Barbados became a classroom, creating a rich, multicultural environment for students to examine the evolution of diversity and inclusion in the workplace using global, historical, social and business perspectives.

Williams, ISU Department of Management chair and associate professor, stressed the importance of creating and providing experiences like the Barbados Study Abroad.

“The experience offers the opportunity for students to get out of their comfort zones and engage in an environment where they are assured to grow academically, culturally and socially,” she said

“As a first-generation college student, it’s a privilege for me to see the transformations students undergo because their understanding of the world and of themselves expands each and every day we are abroad. I commend NIU and ISU for supporting our trip as it increased inclusion and access to our international programs.”

The group toured various cultural and historical sites in Barbados, where an estimated half-million Africans once were enslaved and forced to work the island’s sugar cane fields for nearly 200 years until emancipation.

Among numerous activities, the group had the option to visit Newton Slave Burial Ground, the largest and earliest slave burial ground discovered in Barbados. They also explored Barbados’ Slave Route Signage Project, which identifies sites of memory linked to the Transatlantic Slave Trade.

A walking tour of Bridgetown, the capital of Barbados, stuck with Logan. They saw buildings where slaves were kept before going to auction and parking lots along docks where the bodies of slaves once where piled.

“I remember feeling a major connection to that spot, but also feeling kind of sad, just realizing they didn’t get the memorial they deserve,” Logan said. “I remember the entire trip feeling really connected to my ancestry, and it’s something I never really experienced here in America.”

Other group activities included farm to table and distillery tours, as well as visits to Chalky Mount, Freedom Square, a historic pottery village, Bathsheba and St. Nicholas Abbey—all historical sites.

Through assignments and presentations related to the experience, NIU’s students will gain credit from ISU for a three-credit Black Studies course. Presentations by the students to the board of trustees at both ISU and NIU are planned.

For them, the experience was life changing.

“It was so amazing because it was my first experience outside of the country,” said Bell, a Chicago native majoring in Rehabilitation and Disability Services. “It definitely enhanced my global perspective, my whole outlook…

“For a black man, you sometimes feel like you don’t always fit. I was thinking I wouldn’t be accepted in another country, but it’s crazy to believe that. The way they treated us and accepted us was amazing. That’s how I want to live my life and be treated as well. I’m going to take from that and better myself.”

The trip, including presentations by educators at the University of the West Indies, has further inspired Bell to seek more degrees after earning his bachelor’s degree this May. He aims to pursue a master’s degree in higher education, possibly a doctorate degree one day. He especially credits Edghill-Walden as an inspiration.

“I feel like administrators here at NIU have shaped what I want to do,” he said. “The way Dr. Edghill-Walden has looked out for me and shown me that I have a voice and I’m seen on campus, I want to be able to show students the same thing. I want to show students they’re seen on campus in any way I can.”

As part of the university’s regular reaccreditation process, NIU will host a site visit in March of 2024 from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).

The HLC is NIU’s regional accrediting body. Fundamental to the university’s operations, HLC accreditation is necessary to continue NIU’s eligibility for federal funding and high standing in the public eye.

“The HLC visit is an opportunity for us to take stock of ourselves, celebrate our strengths and make improvements where needed,” said Jason Rhode, NIU’s acting accreditation liaison officer and associate vice provost. “While the review assesses the recent past, it is fundamentally about our readiness to meet the future.”

Beginning in the fall, NIU will offer opportunities for faculty, staff and students to become familiar with the preparation process, and to participate in both the process and March site visit. Students will also be provided an opportunity to share direct feedback on their NIU experience to the site review team via a survey in the spring of 2024.

HLC steering committee chair Chris McCord, a professor in the Department of Mathematical Sciences and former dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, noted the collaboration happening across the university. “A core team has been hard at work drafting our self-study, known as our assurance argument. We look forward to sharing our work with the campus community in the fall and refining our work in light of your feedback.”

The HLC sets criteria for institutions while allowing wide latitude in how institutions meet those criteria.  Accreditation provides assurance to the public – in particular to prospective students – that an institution meets these criteria and will continue to meet them.

The five criteria are:

• Mission – The institution’s mission is clear and articulated publicly; it guides the institution’s operations.
• Integrity: Ethical and Responsible Conduct – The institution acts with integrity; its conduct is ethical and responsible.
• Teaching and Learning: Quality, Resources and Support – The institution provides high quality education, wherever and however its offerings are delivered.
• Teaching and Learning: Evaluation and Improvement – The institution demonstrates responsibility for the quality of its educational programs, learning environments and support services, and it evaluates their effectiveness for student learning through processes designed to promote continuous improvement.
• Institutional Effectiveness, Resources and Planning –The institution’s resources, structures and processes are sufficient to fulfill its mission, improve the quality of its educational offerings and respond to future challenges and opportunities.

The HLC is one of eight regional accreditors in the United States responsible for accrediting more than 900 higher learning institutions. The HLC guiding values focus on student learning; education as a public purpose; education for a diverse, technological, globally connected world; a culture of continuous improvement; evidence-based institutional learning and self-presentation; integrity, transparency and ethical behavior or practice; governance for the well-being of the institution; planning and management of resources to ensure institutional sustainability; mission-centered education; and accreditation through peer review.

For more information, visit NIU’s reaccreditation website at www.niu.edu/hlc or email Chris McCord at mccord@niu.edu.

The Division of Research and Innovation Partnerships (RIPS) has launched a new office to support pre-proposal activities, transdisciplinary research and creative efforts, and professional development of faculty project leaders.

The new Office of Research Development will complement the efforts of Sponsored Programs Administration (SPA), which has long provided support and streamlined processes to NIU faculty and staff who are prepared to submit external funding proposals.

In contrast to SPA, Research Development will focus on research and funding development activities that generally occur well before there’s even a proposal and will work to support larger transdisciplinary proposals that need a high level of coordination.

The formation of the new office was prompted, in part, by recognition that resources were needed to support university goals to promote transdisciplinary scholarship.

Goals for the new office include:

• increasing the number of transdisciplinary and cross- and multi-institutional funding applications;
• effectively managing cross-institutional transdisciplinary awards via dedicated grant management support;
• increasing competitiveness for external funding proposals of all sizes and types;
• mitigating barriers to submitting external funding proposals of all sizes and types;
• and ensuring meaningful access to and inclusion in research development programming.

“Our faculty expertise in research and innovation distinguishes NIU from many of its college and university neighbors in the region and state, and we continue to raise our profile as a leading voice for publicly funded research excellence,” said Gerald C. Blazey, vice president for Research and Innovation Partnerships.

Blazey said the new Office of Research Development is a logical next step. It will help refine NIU’s external funding approach, especially as the university increases the number of transdisciplinary or multi-partner projects.

“We have created this office to enhance our infrastructure and research development programming in alignment with our institutional goals for research, scholarship, artistry, engagement and external funding,” Blazey said. “The bottom line is that this office will help faculty find and pursue more funding opportunities needed to support their research and creative activities.”

Kellie Dyslin has been tapped as director of the Office of Research Development. She previously served in SPA as director of pre-award and most recently director of funding development and lifecycle enhancement.

“Kellie has a personal interest in research development and previously did a terrific job handling many of the research development duties for the Office of Sponsored Programs Administration,” Blazey said. “I’m confident she will succeed in this new position.”

Dyslin is also a member of the university’s Strategic Development Team, which looks for new ways to create, enhance and fund transformational university projects. She said a structure and process is being established to identify proposals that will be nurtured by her office.

The office will facilitate transdisciplinary, cross-university, multi-institutional proposals and awards via ideation and conceptualization support, identification of funding opportunities, provision of templates and sample documents, development of organizational matrices and budgets, meeting facilitation and grant writing.

“Conceptualization sessions will be organized around themes driven by institutional priorities, and faculty will be invited to share topics of interest for discussion,” Dyslin said.

This new office “is absolutely needed and fills an important gap between research development and proposal submission,” said Dara Little, NIU’s associate vice president for research and executive director sponsored programs.

“Research Development will assist with the preparation and competitiveness of large transdisciplinary proposals and other development supports and programming, so Sponsored Programs can focus on critical administrative elements to make sure proposals are submitted accurately and on time,” Little said. “With changes in the funding landscape, it’s no longer possible for SPA to do both of those functions.”

The new office will also coordinate and provide a single point of contact for ongoing research development programming. Research Development will:

• Provide logistical, communication and recruitment support to the STARS Faculty Academy and oversee other professional development opportunities.
• Oversee the Research and Artistry internal grant programthat provides faculty with experience applying for and, when awarded, managing grant funding. This spring, in partnership with the Provost’s Office, the office awarded 25 grants totaling more than $300,000.
• Coordinate internal competitions for limited-submission funding opportunities.
• Connect researchers with funding search tools such as subscription-based databases.

While Research Development will assist larger teams, Dyslin stresses that the office also will work with individual project leaders.

“We will help single principal investigators and small teams develop proposals and identify funding opportunities,” Dyslin said. “We can provide access to funding search tools, document templates and samples, and example successful proposals for single PI and small PI team proposals. While we won’t be writing a faculty member’s proposal, we will provide the tools and support to facilitate that activity.”

“We’ll also be proactive,” she added, “in creating awareness about opportunities that match the interests of faculty across campus.”

Inspired and supported by its namesake donor, the Jeffrey B. Jamrok Options Trading Program launched in the NIU College of Business.

This program is implemented as a practicum-based class. It allows students to gain hands-on experience in options trading with real money while honing their technical skills in coding and data visualization.

(L-R): Gina Nicolosi, Jeff Jamrok, Devon Wright, Jeremy Katsogianos Adrowski, Jim Keppler and Tom Foley

Jamrok, who earned his degree from NIU in 2008, conceptualized the program after visiting the university in fall 2021. After speaking to students in the Student Managed Portfolio class and on the Finance Student Advisory Board, Jamrok was inspired to donate to create a fund and class that focused on how he has seen his investments grow through options trading.

“Such real-world experiential learning exemplifies the learning model in the College of Business,” Dean Balaji Rajagopalan said. “Complementing our Student Managed Portfolio course where students manage a portfolio of over $1 million, the Jamrok Options Trading course will provide invaluable experiences for students.”

NIU Finance Professor Gina Nicolosi, who leads the new program, designed it from the ground up to make it distinctive. With the higher level of risk associated with options trading, Professor Nicolosi had to design the course parameters to limit exposure. This resulted in a model that makes it possible for students to trade once a week with a maximum one-week holding period.

This program is structured as a practicum, which means it is project-based and modeled as learning
by doing. To enhance students’ technical skills, the program embeds coding and data visualization using Python and Power BI.

The program launched this semester with a mix of selected graduate students and undergraduate seniors. In the first five weeks, the students completed an accelerated course in options, passed a knowledge check, set up their operation environment and began constructing their base scripts. Each week, a new options strategy is introduced on Wednesday, and traders have five days to construct their pitches which are then delivered to the team on Monday. Trades occur after the pitches are made and voted on.

Nicolosi is excited about the launch and looking ahead to new possibilities.

“As we continue to expand the footprint of experiential learning in the College of Business, our Department of Finance is excited to lead the way in creating more courses that are modeled significantly around active learning. The impact of such learning is evident in the success of our students and graduates. Exemplifying the success, our CFA Research Challenge team was crowned the global champion in 2022.”

While the transaction dollar amounts are deliberately small to minimize risk, the class’s first trade earned a 69% return. Most importantly, the process of analysis and decision-making provided valuable learning for students in the course.

Jamrok is excited about the launch and sees it as only the beginning of great things to come.

“Over the years, I recognized that learning from real trading is the best way to develop an understanding of the concepts,” Jamrok said. “Frequently, there is a huge gap in learning a concept and fully understanding how to apply it in a real setting. When I spoke to students, I realized that they had great interest in options but didn’t have an opportunity to do real trading.”

The Jeffrey B. Jamrok Options Trading Program also symbolizes the culture of innovation in the College of Business. “Experimenting with new ideas is encouraged, and we have seen the impactful results of such an approach,” Dean Rajagopalan said.

Jamrok said “Dean Rajagopalan, Assistant Dean Anthony Preston, and Finance Department Chair Nicolosi are the right people to see this program to its maximum potential. This is just one more experience that will differentiate the NIU College of Business from other schools in the years to come. I couldn’t be more excited to be a part of that progress.”

Stay tuned for stories of innovation from the NIU College of Business. Want to learn more about the Jamrok Options Trading Program? Contact Professor Gina Nicolosi at gnicolos@niu.edu.

About Jeff Jamrok:

Jamrok obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in 2008 from Northern Illinois University. For the past 18 years, Jamrok has been in emergency communications dispatching police, fire, and emergency units . Jamrok worked as a dispatcher starting from his sophomore year of college and was able to graduate without student loan debt. Outside of public safety communications, Jamrok is also a licensed realtor in Illinois and enjoys helping people buy, sell or rent their dream homes. In addition, he sells fire trucks and fire equipment, and is currently pursuing his private pilot’s license.  Jamrok is also currently enrolled in the NIU Online MBA program and is scheduled to graduate in December 2023. Jamrok is recently engaged to his fiancée, Alicia.

NIU is entering into an exciting new partnership with McHenry County College (MCC).

Through the partnership, MCC students and community members across McHenry County will be able to complete NIU coursework in psychology, business administration, computer science, health sciences and early childhood education at the recently announced MCC University Center in Woodstock.

The pathway from MCC to NIU has already been well-worn. MCC serves as one of NIU’s largest feeder institutions. Additionally, MCC is a longstanding partner with NIU on a shared vision for providing a smooth transfer experience and bachelor’s-degree completion.

“We’re proud to support McHenry County College in its efforts to remove the sometimes-overwhelming barrier of having to commute or relocate to pursue a bachelor’s degree,” Northern Illinois University President Dr. Lisa C. Freeman said. “This partnership leverages the advantages and expertise of both of our institutions. We are excited about bringing high-demand NIU courses to place-bound learners who can’t easily travel to DeKalb for classes because of work and family obligations.”

NIU courses offered through the MCC University Center will be open to both MCC students and community members, and the classes will be taught by NIU faculty.

Sonia Reising, an NIU alumni and current Associate Vice President at MCC, was a non-traditional student when she attended NIU. “As a transfer student who chose NIU, I worked through many complex challenges to earn my bachelor’s degree on NIU’s main campus, but having NIU so close by would have made everything more accessible,” she said. “What a great opportunity this will be for future transfer students”

Nevada Perry, an NIU student and MCC alumnus, shares in this excitement. “For me, transferring to NIU was about pursuing the education needed for my dream career while staying close to home. It’s fantastic to hear that other students will be able to pursue theirs without the financial or social challenges of moving away from McHenry County,” he said.

MCC President Dr. Clint Gabbard said working moms and dads, and students financially tied to their locales, “all deserve an opportunity to be a part of a world-class education.”

“What we start with students at MCC will be seamlessly passed on to our NIU partner through the MCC University Center,” Gabbard added. “The result, I believe, keeps individuals and families finding a way to live and thrive in our county.”

NIU’s presence in McHenry County demonstrates the university’s commitment to the community’s success.

“NIU and MCC have shared values on student success and the accessibility of high-quality degree programs for all types of learners,” said College of Education Dean Laurie Elish-Piper, who will take the reins in July as NIU interim executive vice president and provost. “We’re very excited at the prospect of offering NIU courses to help McHenry County residents meet their workforce and community needs.”

Anthony Del Fiacco

Anthony Del Fiacco

If you’ve streamed a large event or meeting at NIU—such as commencement, a Board of Trustees meeting or the President’s State of the University Address—you can thank Anthony DeLFiacco, a broadcasting engineer in Integrated Media Technologies. As the number of virtual events have increased, Tony’s skills with audio and visual systems have proven vital to successfully engaging employees, students and members of the community.

“Tony is someone that we can count on, not just to do his day-to-day job, but to jump in and support many areas of the university to ensure we can advance the mission through teaching, scholarship and engagement,” said Executive Assistant to the President Liz Wright.

When he’s not on the other side of the screen, Tony is working with colleagues in the Division of Information Technology to make recommendations and installing equipment that advances the university’s technological infrastructure to better address the needs of faculty, staff and students. He routinely provides streaming and audio engineering support for athletic events, university dedications, education video projects and events held at NIU Naperville.

Tracy Mereness

Tracy Mereness

While she is officially the office support specialist in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Tracy Mereness is more affectionately known as the “Mom of the Department.” Her guidance, encouragement, reminders, and yes, snacks, have earned her credit for creating a home away from home for the department’s faculty, staff and students.

Having started her career at NIU as the department’s secretary in June of 1990, Tracy took a break from the university to care for her own young children in 1996 and returned in 2013 once her children were grown and in school. Department Chair Purushothaman Damodaran was a graduate student at the time and still recalls Tracy’s parting words: “You are my family, but I have to leave this position to take care of my other family.”

Since her return Tracy has continued to take care of Huskies, ensuring that all student and faculty needs are met.

“She is very knowledgeable and supports my efforts in recruitment, retention, course scheduling, assessment and accreditation, records keeping and alumni relations,” said Damodaran. “She is always smiling and willing to help. She volunteers at graduation ceremonies, annual banquets and a variety of other events.”

Associate Professor Christine Nguyen has similar experiences with Tracy.

“Tracy is incredibly resourceful, a problem solver, compassionate and kind. She does above and beyond her job description,” said Nguyen. “But what is incredibly notable is how she does it with poise and respect. She embodies the true character of a Huskie and is someone who is extremely deserving of this award.”

Kate Hartman

Kate Hartman

The law library, law school and NIU are better because of Kate Hartman who sees the good and does the good. She approaches every task, big and small, with a positive attitude because she cares about the institution and its students.

During her time with the law library, Kate Hartman has managed many changes including a transition to a new circulation system. During the process she continued operating the law collections while clearly communicating with affected constituents, organized logistics for collections to be moved in an efficient manner, and handled any set back that occurred.

In addition to managing large projects, Kate also now oversees student workers for the NIU Law Library. She is in charge of hiring and training new students and maintaining a schedule that allows them to excel in the classroom and on the job—no small feat.

“Kate does an exceptional job identifying students who are excellent workers and assets to the law library,” said Deputy Director of the Law Library and Professor Therese Arado. “This is not something she had to do prior to the pandemic, but circumstances placed her in this role.”

Kate also cares about the wellbeing of students and recently introduced activities to the library to help support students’ mental health. Known as “crafternoons,” every few weeks students gather in the law library to take a break from studying and to work on crafts. Kate has offered crotchet lessons, origami, coloring pages, and even an opportunity for students to make their own gnome.

Theresa Stack

Theresa Stack

Associate Director of Special Events Terry Stack is the life behind the party—or any event for that matter. Her commitment, attention to detail and positive attitude ensures that events in Altgeld Hall and the Barsema Alumni and Visitors Center run smoothly for hosts and guests alike.

“Terry has never hesitated to go out of her way to ensure that an event is successful, from showing up early and staying late, to accommodating anything that is possible,” said Liz Wright, executive assistant to the president. “I continue to hear from internal and external clients that Terry’s expertise and positive outlook have made their events a success, and I know that she is responsible for bringing additional revenue to the university, as once you have her manage your event, you will continue to return for the excellent level of service she provides.”

Terry recently worked behind the scenes preparing for the dedication ceremonies of the Patterson Hall Complex and the Peters Campus Life Building, doing everything from hauling podiums in the back of her Prius to coordinating catering, organizing volunteers and setting up tables and chairs.

“Terry pays attention to the little details, and it goes along way,” said Karina DeGaetano, senior event coordinator for Conference Events Services. “She thinks of every possible scenario ahead of time and is prepared for anything. It’s reassuring for people.”

Debbie Kerman

Debbie Kerman

When Debbie Kerman joined the Center for P-20 Engagement in 2020 she operated at full-steam ahead. Having come from Econ Illinois, she brought with her a passion for delivering educational programming and the skills needed to deliver it well.

“I was thrilled when Debbie became a member of the NIU STEAM team. Over the past three years, I am continually impressed by her commitment to NIU and her passion for the work we do at NIU STEAM,” said Kristyn Brynteson, director of NIU STEAM. “She works tirelessly to support the programs in the department and always goes above and beyond to ensure that her job is done at the highest quality and that NIU STEAM is a positive reflection of NIU.”

In her short time working in NIU STEAM Debbie has made a significant impact. She has worked her way up to the role of assistant director by creating systems that support efficient operations, mentoring and building relationships with fellow staff members and supporting the numerous programs offered by the department including summer camps and STEM Fest.

“Debbie’s role on the team focuses on the policies and procedures we need to accomplish our deliverables and ensure we impact our participants’ lives,” said Amy Jo Clemens, assistant vice president and director of the Center for P-20 Engagement. “We have found her to go above and beyond in many aspects that greatly impact the NIU campus and community, but especially in providing the strong infrastructure backbone needed to support all of our NIU STEAM programming. She is our servant leader who ensures a successful outcome.”

Kelsey Johnson

Kelsey Johnson

A key member of the college’s leadership team, Senior Director of Operations and Financial Strategy for the College of Business Kelsey Johnson takes care of business–literally. While her primary responsibility is oversight for the college’s operations and financial strategies, Kelsey is also known for asking students, faculty, staff, alumni and donors, “How may I be of help to you?”

She has helped steward alumni and corporate relationships, which has been instrumental in getting major gifts for the College of Business. Her involvement and leadership helped create The De La Vega INNOVATION LAB which provides students with a state-of-the-art hub that supports interdisciplinary approaches to addressing real-world problems.

She also helped students launch Barsema’s Closet in 2019, which provides free, gently-used business attire for students. To date, Barsema’s Closet has helped over 250 students look their best and feel their best for interviews, presentations and career fairs.

“Kelsey continually has gone above and beyond the call of duty and has exemplified excellent service to NIU,” said Dean Balaji Rajagoploan. “Kelsey has taken on many added responsibilities beyond the scope of her role, and she has demonstrated time and again her commitment to achieving results that move the College of Business and the entire institution forward.”

Faculty in the college turn to Kelsey for a variety of needs and she has earned a reputation for being a person who knows the answers or knows where to get them. She’s seen as a resource by all those who cross her path.

“Many people mention how difficult it would be to function as well without her incredible service,” said Jon Briscoe, chair of the Department of Management. “If there is a question about the building, about finances, about hiring or about issues, she’s the one who can answer it. She’s a person who can get things done.”

Stephanie Richter

Director of Teaching Excellence and Support Stephanie Richter’s responsibilities include providing leadership on professional development and instructional support for faculty, instructors, teaching staff and teaching assistants. Under her leadership, the Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning (CITL) offered more that 130 trainings and 2,000 consultations to faculty, staff and teaching assistants during the last academic year.

In March of 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit and the university made the decision to extend spring break and pivot to remote delivery of online courses, Stephanie took on the responsibility of securing a plan to provide training and development for all faculty at a scale never before experienced.

This support during March 2020 alone included offering over 40 workshops attended by more than 450 faculty from across 70 departments. These efforts continued over spring and summer as CITL team members developed a three-week online bootcamp for faculty to convert their summer and fall courses for remote delivery under Stephanie’s leadership.

While that’s impressive on its own, Stephanie’s commitment and dedication to the university extends well beyond the leadership and professional development she provides through her role in CITL. She is also extensively involved in several initiatives that have advanced and continue to advance the university’s mission, vision and values.

“On countless occasions I’ve witnessed Stephanie step up and willingly take on responsibilities that far exceeded her job duties and expectations, working long hours over nights and weeks to ensure a successful outcome for the university,” said Stephanie’s supervisor Jason Rhode, associate vice provost for Teaching, Learning and Digital Education.

In 2015-16 Stephanie volunteered to serve on the NIU Program Prioritization Administrative Task Force, a time-intensive commitment that involved reviewing data on 250 administrative programs and drafting recommendations for prioritization of resources across the university. In 2018 she participated in the university’s accreditation self-study for the Higher Learning Commission which required collecting, analyzing and evaluating data and evidence to demonstrate that quality education was provided across all NIU course offerings.

In 2020 Stephanie was tapped to serve on a committee to review the university’s learning management system, Blackboard.  She worked many hours reviewing feedback from faculty, staff and students on not only their current satisfaction with Blackboard but also what features are desired in a modern LMS to support innovative teaching and learning.

Most recently, Stephanie has stepped up to serve on the newly formed Learning Spaces Shared Leadership Team and is also serving as an accreditation criterion chair for the critical comprehensive review by the Higher Learning Commission of NIU in 2023-24.

While Stephanie has accomplished many things and impacted many people at NIU, her influence is felt far and wide. Seeing the need for her staff as well as instructional support staff at other institutions around the Chicagoland to network and keep current with their skills, Stephanie founded and currently leads the Chicago-Area Blackboard User Group (CHiA-BUG).  She has organized and led three face-to-face events and two virtual events, bringing together nearly 60 instructional support staff from over 50 colleges and universities to expand their skills in supporting the next generation Blackboard platform.  She has also been invited by Blackboard to join their prestigious Blackboard Community Leadership Circle in 2022, further amplifying her voice and influence on behalf of NIU with the community of Blackboard users around the world.

Cara Carlson

In her more than 25 years at NIU, Cara Carlson has demonstrated her ability to serve the university as an organized staff member who excels at her position and works continuously to support the goals of NIU.

Carlson joined NIU in 1998 as an office support specialist in research and graduate studies in the physics department. She went on to work as a budget analyst for University Press where she also served stints as interim director and co-interim director. In her current role as director of budgets and financial planning for the Division of Research and Innovation Partnerships (RIPS), she supports the financial development and monitoring of RIPS’ operating budget, which provides funding for the many research and artistry-related initiatives across campus.

“I have found Cara to be an excellent resource for research agreements and projects,” said Leslie Matuszewich, senior associate dean for research and graduate studies in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. “She has provided creative approaches to addressing complicated research challenges, beyond the budget. As we hire new faculty for CLAS departments, RIPS and CLAS collaborate to establish startup funds to support research, scholarship, and artistry.”

Carlson’s willingness to use her expertise and institutional knowledge was demonstrated when she assisted the College of Engineering and Engineering Technology on an interim basis while they searched for someone to fill their business administrative associate position.

Donald Peterson, dean of CEET said that not only did Carlson provide assistance on the essential duties of the position, she also instituted a series of improvements that will continue to benefit the college for years to come.

“She quickly resolved several issues, updated our accounting and tracking records, and set up a spreadsheet system that gave me weekly updates with the main information I needed to see regarding budget and spending,” Peterson said. “She was able to design and implement a functional and usable budget spreadsheet system for the college, and I was surprised at how quickly and skillfully she accomplished this.”

Carlson’s contributions to NIU extend beyond the day-to-day functions of her job. She is treasurer of the Northern Illinois Research Foundation, is a member of the Presidential Commission on Persons with Disabilities, and volunteers for the NIU Communiversity Gardens.

“Cara is an incredible asset to NIU that has demonstrated excellence in job performance and facilitating the mission and vision of NIU,” Matuszewich said. “She is an integral part of the effectiveness through which CLAS promotes and supports the research of our faculty and students.”

Peterson added, “I strongly believe that she demonstrates her commitment to NIU’s mission and vision by thinking of the success of the students, faculty, and staff members that she supports in everything that she does.”

The Rising Huskie Award recognizes up to two staff members per year who, while new to NIU, have demonstrated excellence, innovation and performance that have had a significant impact at NIU in a short period of time.

Criteria:

• Be a regular staff member at least 51% time with less than five years of service at NIU or a full-time temporary staff member employed for less than five years at NIU
• Have demonstrated excellence in their service to NIU by taking initiative, impacting the unit in a significant manner and/or moving NIU/the unit forward through innovation and ideas
• Have been recognized as someone who will continue to make a lasting contribution to NIU and advance NIU’s mission, vision and values

Conner Vagle and Mitchell Huftalin have been named the recipients of the 2023 Rising Huskie Staff Award.

Conner Vagle

Conner Vagle

Conner Vagle is an NIU success story and a team player. As a highly engaged undergraduate student, he led the student esports club and provided invaluable partnership to the Division of Outreach, Engagement and Regional Development (OERD) as the division staff began implementing President Freeman’s vision to achieve a competitive university esports program.

Hired in 2019 to manage the esports program, Conner has since gone on to become the director and to earn a master’s degree in Sport Management. He’s opened an esports arena in Altgeld Hall that welcomed over 6,000 visitors in Fall of 2022.  And that’s just the beginning.

“Conner operates successfully at both the micro and macro levels,” said Rena Cotsones, vice president of OERD. “He is just as comfortable and effective speaking to NIU trustees about esports as he is upgrading PCs in the arena.  He’s future focused, a strategic and excellent communicator, inspiring the confidence of his team of student workers, campus administrators and donors.”

Being a team player, Conner continues to make strides for NIU Esports. He’s worked with the NIU Foundation to secure funding to purchase new equipment and to offer NIU Esports varsity scholarships.  He’s also partnered with Academic Diversity, Equity and Inclusion to provide players with custom training to ensure NIU Esports is an inclusive community for all.

“The rising Huskie Award is perfectly named for a star performer and dedicated staff leader such as Conner,” said Cotsones. “He is tremendously deserving of this important recognition, which will encourage young leaders to continue to innovate and shine at NIU.”

Mitchell Huftalin

Mitchell Huftalin

As the associate director of Orientation and First Year Programs (OFP), Mitchell Huftalin is one of the first faces new students see at NIU—and it’s always smiling.  When the office experienced a staffing shortage during the spring and summer of 2022, Mitchell willingly took on several new responsibilities in order to ensure that summer orientations went off without a hitch.

“Mitch always has a smile and a positive attitude, even on the toughest and longest days,” said Nichole Knutson, vice provost for Student Success. “I’ve spent many long days with Mitch and was always impressed with his attitude and willingness to serve as a leader for students, a role model and mentor for Orientation Leaders and for the NIU community.”

Typically, new student orientation requires a fully staffed office. However, in June of 2022 Orientation and First Year Programs lost two of its four fulltime staff members and its director was on family leave, leaving Mitchell alone to facilitate orientation and Week of Welcome for the incoming class of approximate 4,000 new students and guests.

“While partners from across campus rallied to support the department’s efforts, the 2022 summer orientation season would not have been the same without Mitchell,” said Jenna Pracht, Director of Orientation and First Year Programs. “Mitchell demonstrated creativity by maximizing student employee, graduate intern and volunteer positions to provide opportunities for active learning experiences and cross-training to provide insight into the new student programming field.”

Outside of his work to facilitate departmental programming, Mitch works to build strong student leaders by melding his own experience as a double-Huskie with the feedback he gets from the student body.  He ensures that everyone he interacts with feels seen, heard and valued.

“I believe Mitchell will continue to make an impact in the lives of our students and our campus community.  His collaborative spirit makes OFP’s programming effective and supports our department’s mission of introducing new Huskies to NIU and all it has to offer,” said Pracht.

The Staff Award for Student Impact recognizes up to two staff members who have gone above and beyond their normal job responsibilities to positively impact the quality of life and/or student experience for students at NIU. This includes staff from all divisions and all job types who are providing excellence and impacting students in a positive way.

Criteria:

• Be a regular staff member at least 51% time or a full-time temporary staff member
• Have demonstrated a commitment to supporting NIU students through mentorship, programming, helping them resolve issues and/or volunteering/service to students
• Have demonstrated a positive impact on student success through support or advocacy
• Have demonstrated evidence of support to NIU students.

Tamara Boston and Andrea Allen have been named the recipients for the 2023 Staff Award for Student Impact.

Tamara Boston

Tamara Boston

Tamara Boston is truly an advocate for students, both in her role as program coordinator for the Division of Academic Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (ADEI) and as an instructor for Black Studies. She helps students realize their potential, empowers them to be inclusive and makes them feel like they belong.

In her role in ADEI, Tamara can often be seen working behind the scenes, helping the cultural resource centers with events, supporting CODE workshop trainings and assisting with the administrative functions of the office.

As a regular instructor for BKST 202: Issues Facing Black Students, Tamara is a tough and compassionate educator who earns the respect and trust of students through their time with her and that oftentimes blossoms into unofficial mentoring relationships.

“Tamara has a big, compassionate heart and she believes, fundamentally, in providing opportunities and resources for students’ success,” said Joseph Flynn, executive director for Equity and Inclusion. “When Tamara sees a student in a precarious situation or struggling academic or socially, she will move the heavens and earth to get that student the support they need, and she will stick with that student through the lowest of lows and highest of highs.”

Her support for student extends outside her own classroom.

“In the President’s Office, we hear from students who are unsure of where to go for help or what they need to do in order to resolve a problem,” said Liz Wright, executive assistant to the President. “We connect many of these students with Tamara because she goes out of her way to contact these students and helps guide them to resolve their challenges. She never hesitates to discuss their problems and encourages them to be successful by overcoming any barriers they may be facing.”

Andrea Allen

Andrea Allen

Andrea Allen, a financial aid manager in the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office, believes it pays to put students first. Described as approachable, patient and kind, Andrea is a financial aid expert willing to help all students—whether they are incoming first-year students or seasoned Huskie athletes.

“Andrea has helped us truly embody and practice student-centered service, ensuring every student gets the best experience possible,” said Financial Aid Director Samantha McCarron. “Leading by example, Andrea will always take time out of her busy schedule to provide one-on-one support and guidance to our NIU students and their families. She does this by having direct, informative and friendly conversations that leave students without unanswered questions and with a solution in hand.”

Seen as a “miracle worker” by her colleagues, Andrea brings complicated situations to conclusion in ways that benefit all parties and is credited with helping hundreds of students continue their studies at NIU.

“Andrea continually shows her ability to think outside the box and find creative solutions to students’ financial needs,” said Mary Williams, collections manager for the Bursar’s Office. “We have worked together collaboratively during open registration periods and I truly do not know what I would do without her. With Andrea’s assistance we have successfully overcome multiple challenges to assist many students to continue their enrollment at NIU.”