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Dean Beverly Henry of NIU’s College of Health and Human Sciences (CHHS) announced the winners of the 2022 Dean’s Awards for Excellence in teaching, service, research and diversity, equity and inclusion during the all-college meeting held Aug. 16 in Wirtz Hall auditorium.

Henna Muzaffar, Allison Gladfelter, Melissa Clucas Walter and Milijana Buac were each recognized for their significant contributions and named as this year’s recipients.

“In CHHS, we celebrate the exceptional contributions our faculty make to the college, the university and the greater community,” Henry said. “Dr. Muzaffar, Dr. Gladfelter, Dr. Clucas Walter and Dr. Buac are doing great things and are deserving of this special recognition.”

Each award winner received $300, a plaque and were celebrated during the all college meeting.

Henna Muzaffar

Henna Muzaffar

The Fisher Award for Excellence in Service is given each year to a regular full-time, tenured or tenure-tracked faculty member or regular full-time supportive professional staff member. The service may involve on-campus activities but also must include off-campus professional activities at the state, national or international level that contribute to the stature and growth of the profession.

Cletus Fisher, former chair of the Department of Communicative Disorders, funded the award.

The 2022 winner is Henna Muzaffar, assistant professor of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Nominators laud her for her offering her time, talent and expertise to serve her profession and the surrounding community. Along with holding a number of leadership positions within her professional societies, and being a presenter at state, national, and international meetings, her continued work with the Northern Illinois Food Bank and local elementary schools with the CATCH program has made a valuable impact on improving food and nutrition in the community.

Allison Gladfelter

Allison Gladfelter

The Lankford Award for Excellence in Teaching is given each year to a full-time, tenured or tenure-tracked faculty member who has an excellent overall teaching effectiveness score. It is named for James Lankford, former dean of the college, who initiated the award.

This year’s winner is Allison Gladfelter, associate professor of Speech-Language Pathology.

Known to many students as “Dr. G.,” nominators call her a “gifted educator” whose dedication and energy is inspiring. She is credited for modifying materials and techniques to ensure students succeed,  and is “motivates them by providing engaging content that peaks their interests.” Frequently, “best professor I’ve had at NIU” shows up on Gladfelter’s course ratings.

Melissa Clucas Walter

Melissa Clucas Walter

The Sullivan Award for Excellence in Research is given to a regular full-time faculty tenured/tenure-track or clinical and regular full-time supportive professional staff who have at least three years of experience at NIU. Grantsmanship and collaborative efforts with students are also considered for this award that was endowed by Peggy Sullivan, former dean of the college.

The Sullivan Award winner is Melissa Clucas Walter, assistant professor of Human Development and Family Sciences.

Nominators note her significant commitment to involving students in research at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. She is credited for “a robust record of publication in scholarly journals” and is a lauded as an effective presenter at both national and regional conferences. Noted as being generous with her time, Clucas Walter consistently engages with students in the form of independent study along with serving as both a chair and member of master’s thesis and dissertation committees.

Milijana Buac

Milijana Buac

The Award for Excellence in Promoting Academic Equity/Diversity/Inclusion honors faculty, staff, and/or students who work collaboratively to develop strategies that eliminate learning barriers and create a culture of civility. The award recognizes creative and varied approaches to teaching and assessment to achieve equity in learning outcomes, and recognizes an individual who exemplifies the college’s strategic goal of achieving academic equity.

Milijana Buac, assistant professor of speech-language pathology (SLP), earned the 2022 award.

Nominators said she “accelerated the program’s efforts to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion” and called her “indispensable.” Known as an enthusiastic collaborator and valuable resource to students and faculty alike, she champions the effort to increase diversity in the SLP profession.

Her commitment to diversity also includes creating a learning environment where students from majority and minority backgrounds can discuss and learn from each other to provide culturally and linguistically responsive services.

One of her students credits Buac’s students had this to say.

“I will soon be the first person in my family to have a bachelor’s degree, but now I can also say I am the first to apply and be accepted into a graduate program,” the student said. “Thank you for all of your words of encouragement, they have made a difference in my life.”

Date posted: September 1, 2022 | Author: | Comments Off on College of Health and Human Sciences names winners of 2022 Awards for Excellence

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Waubonsee Community College logoThree more NIU College of Education bachelor’s degree programs are now available in a seamless 2+2 format to Waubonsee Community College students.

Early Childhood Education, Special Education and Kinesiology have joined Elementary Education, Physical Education and Sport Management on the menu of majors.

“We have 22 current 2+2 agreements, and six are with Waubonsee,” says David Walker, associate dean for Academic Affairs. “They’re great partners, and this was a natural fit. It was executed really quickly, and from here, we’ll continue to work on the curricular aspects and, more importantly, we’ll work on the relationship developing and sustaining that over time.”

Sarah Kocunik, Graduation and Transfer coordinator at Waubonsee, agrees.

Waubonsee Community College is excited to partner with Northern Illinois University in bringing a seamless transfer experience for students interested in careers in early childhood education, special education or kinesiology,” Kocunik says.

“Our 2+2 program is a convenient and guaranteed pathway for these students to save time and money from Day One, making it easier for students to reach their goals,” she adds. “They can be confident in knowing they will receive a quality education at Waubonsee at an affordable price, and most importantly, that their courses will transfer directly into a bachelor’s program at Northern Illinois University.”

Sarah Kocunik
Sarah Kocunik

Articulation agreements between four-year universities and community colleges provide students with a prescribed, sequential set of general education courses for their first two years near home and put them right on track when they arrive at NIU for their major-specific curriculum.

Coordinated academic advising, along with an earlier introduction to the Office for Student Success in Gabel Hall, creates strong relationships that yield improved enrollment management, retention and graduation rates.

Meanwhile, Walker says, the continual arrival of transfer students helps to diversify the college’s enrollment.

Laura Hedin, chair of the Department of Special and Early Education, expects Waubonsee students will appreciate and want what the 2+2 delivers while participating in efforts to confront the teacher shortage.

“Because of the partnership, these students know that all of their credits are going to count toward their degree,” Hedin says, “and they are right here in NIU’s backyard, so it’s convenient. We can arrange placements for field experience and student-teaching in their home districts around Kaneland. We have a great relationship with the Kaneland School District, along with St. Charles and Montgomery and other area districts.”

Laura Hedin
Laura Hedin

For future Huskies pursuing the B.S. in Early Childhood Education, she adds, the state’s new Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity (ECACE) Program could mean free tuition, fees, books, supplies, transportation, child care and other living expenses.

“ECACE is a full-cost-of-attendance scholarship that our Early Childhood juniors can qualify for,” she says. “It’s a wonderful deal, and we hope many, many students will take advantage of that opportunity.”

Hedin also has good news for students determined to graduate on time.

“We have streamlined our program; we used to make the ESL-bilingual endorsement mandatory, but we found that that really packed the number of credits,” she says. “Students coming from Waubonsee with an applied associate degree in Early Childhood can opt out of that endorsement, so it’s a true 2+2.”

Steve Howell, chair of the Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education, is excited to add KNPE’s other undergraduate program to the agreement with Waubonsee.

“As the world, and academia and curriculum, get more and more complicated, it’s important to remove barriers to entry and to create a seamless transition for community college students to come to NIU and know that they’re on a clear path and that all the previous coursework they’ve taken allows them to earn a degree,” Howell says.

“KNPE has had a really strong connection to community colleges throughout the last five to 10 years, so we’re building off those successes,” he adds. “We know that Waubonsee is an ideal partner, given its location relative to DeKalb.”

Steve Howell
Steve Howell

NIU’s program offers students numerous ways to gain immersive, hands-on experience through Educate and Engage and departmental outreach initiatives, Howell says.

Completing a four-year degree, along with being in position to earn various certification, also opens the door to sound employment as well as graduate school.

Meanwhile, he says, the articulation structure allows student to plainly envision their future.

“These programs are so important because students can see what’s next and what the next two years are going to look like,” he says. “Knowing that clear path goes toward a forward mindset of, ‘I’m going to earn a bachelor’s degree in the standard amount of time,’ and also thinking about being financially responsible.”

Hedin and Howell value Waubonsee’s partnership – as well as the teamwork of NIU’s Ron Smith, director of Community College Partnerships, and Jennifer Johnson and Christy Schweitzer of the Office for Student Success.

In terms of educator licensure, Hedin says, Waubonsee faculty and staff forge strong connections with their local school districts to better understand the requirements for teachers and to produce “some of the most qualified candidates we see.”

David Walker
David Walker

“Waubonsee’s students are amazing,” Hedin says. “They come with all the knowledge and skills that we look for in candidates entering a professional career pathway. They’re prepared to be teachers and to enter their field experiences on Day One, and we just appreciate how our Waubonsee partners prepare them.”

Howell, who is taking over the department and the articulation process from Todd Gilson, now the college’s associate dean of Research, Resources and Innovation, appreciates the support of his colleagues in Gabel Hall.

“I can’t thank Jenny, Christy and the Office for Student Success enough for their work and their help on this,” Howell says. “They are the ones on the ground floor, making community college visits and working to get students to open houses and informational sessions. That has been very beneficial, from where our department sits, from a recruitment standpoint.”

Date posted: September 1, 2022 | Author: | Comments Off on Three additional 2+2 agreements signed with Waubonsee Community College

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Another all-star lineup of speakers is planned this semester for NIU’s series of Innovation Conversations, now in its second year. The series brings in high-level experts to discuss innovation in food systems and other realms.

“We all care about what we eat, but we might not think too often about where it comes from and how it impacts others,” says Bryan Flower, assistant director of food systems innovation for NIU’s Division of Research and Innovation Partnerships (RIPS). “This series will provide us with important information on how we can eat healthy, be sustainable and make a difference in the world by the choices we make.

“Last spring’s conversations were well attended, but we’re really hoping to draw even more faculty leaders from our different NIU schools, and more community members,” Flower added. “We also are truly trying to embrace diversity, and this semester our goal is to highlight women in innovation and food systems.”

Free and open to the public, the upcoming Innovation Conversations will be held remotely via zoom. Registration is required, and audience members are encouraged to be part of the conversation.

Erin Cortus, an associate professor at the University of Minnesota and a bioproducts and biosystems engineer, will kick off the fall series with a discussion from 3 to 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 8, on navigating sustainability conversations with livestock and dairy farms.

It is no secret that dairy cows and other ruminants produce methane, one of the greenhouse gases. Methane production is a natural part of digestion in ruminants, and stored manure is another major source on a dairy farm. Cortus will talk about why dairy is under the spotlight for greenhouse gas reductions, and how she helps farms reduce methane emissions.

Nancy Mathieu-Carruthers is a chef and educator in sustainable food systems in her home state of Utah. She’ll talk about what a sustainable menu looks like, and how you can achieve it, during her conversation from 3 to 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 22nd.

The general concepts for a sustainable menu are being transparent about sourcing and preparation, buying fresh and seasonal, and using local and global ingredients, while rewarding better agricultural practices. However, access or a household’s budget can pose challenges. Yet, there are other factors to consider as well, such as reducing portion size, and emphasizing calorie quality over quantity, along with celebrating cultural diversity and discovery.

Lara Hanlon, founder and director at Portion Collaborative, will talk from 3 to 4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 6, about reimagining the future of food systems.

The food sector is now one of the largest revenue drivers for the economy. It is also one of the most damaging industries to society and the environment, with food systems accounting for a third of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. Portion Collaborative is committed to working with businesses and individuals—both local and global—to facilitate and create a better food future.

The Innovation Conversation Series is sponsored by RIPS and the Northern Illinois Center for Community Sustainability(NICCS).

Date posted: September 1, 2022 | Author: | Comments Off on Free discussion series on food-system innovations kicks off Sept. 8

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The Northern Illinois University College of Law is excited to announce that it will launch a new Business Law Innovation Clinic (BLIC) starting in August 2022.  Located on the NIU DeKalb campus at the College of Law in Swen Parson Hall, the BLIC will be directed by Assistant Clinical Professor Lawrence A. Stein, a 1993 graduate of the NIU College of Law and attorney with decades of a successful private law practice.

The BLIC will offer high-quality, transactional legal assistance to primarily underrepresented entrepreneurs, small business owners and not-for-profit business organizations.  The BLIC will focus on providing legal representation and assistance in the areas of business formation, Business Enterprise Program certification, obtaining 501(c)(3) status, drafting bylaws, reviewing contracts to sell and purchase, advising on corporate recordkeeping, and general intellectual property issues such as trademark registration.  For all other matters that may be beyond the expertise of the clinic, the BLIC will enlist the assistance of its advisory board members or refer those matters to expert legal counsel.

In addition to directing the operations of the clinic, Professor Stein will be supervising eight advanced law students who enroll in the business law clinic each semester.  Services will be free for clients that fall below requisite income levels, and clients will be responsible for paying any filing fees.

The BLIC is looking to serve clients from the DeKalb and surrounding communities as well as underrepresented communities in the greater Chicagoland area and throughout the state who might not be able to access these types of legal services on their own.  Referrals to the Business Law Innovation Clinic are encouraged and welcomed.  Please contact Professor Stein at l-stein@niu.eduwith questions or to find out how the BLIC can help to add value to your business mission and operations.

Dean Cassandra L. Hill will host a Business Law Clinic kick-off reception to be held on Wednesday, September 28 from 5:30-7:30 pm at the NIU-Naperville campus (1120 E. Diehl Road, Naperville, IL 60563).  All are invited to attend in order to meet the new clinic director, network with students and fellow practioners, and learn more about our services.  Food and drinks provided.  RSVP to lawevents@niu.edu.

Date posted: August 30, 2022 | Author: | Comments Off on NIU Law launches new Business Law Clinic with reception on Sept. 28

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Nominations for honorary doctoral degrees to be awarded from Northern Illinois University are now being accepted.

Awarding an honorary degree is an opportunity for the university to recognize someone especially outstanding in a field of interest to the university. It is necessary, though not sufficient, for a nominee to be accomplished and renowned in their field; an honorary-degree recipient should be clearly exceptional among other outstanding persons in that field.

While a connection to Northern Illinois University or to the state of Illinois is not a requirement for nomination, any such relationship should be noted and will be considered during the selection process.

A nomination must be accompanied by:

  • A supporting narrative that clearly indicates the nominee’s distinction, as mentioned above, in business, education, the liberal arts and sciences, technology, the fine arts, other professional fields or public service.
  • One or more standard biographical statements from appropriate reference sources (these are not substitutes for the narrative indicated above).
  • Current contact information for the nominee.

Any person affiliated with Northern Illinois University may submit a nomination, indicating the nominator’s identity and connection with the university. The Honorary Degree Committee encourages nominations by groups as well as by individuals. Nominators should alert all university departments and divisions related to the area of the nominee’s accomplishments and invite those units to provide the committee with input regarding the merits of the nomination.

As the university does not intend to award more than two honorary degrees in a year, the selection process is stringent. Furthermore, as the committee recommendations subsequently pass through several other approval steps, the process is lengthy.

This year’s nominations, with the required supporting information, should be submitted to Dr. Kerry Wilks, Dean of the Graduate School and Associate Vice President of International Affairs by Friday, October 28, 2022.

Names of past recipients of the NIU Honorary Degrees are available on the Division of Academic Affairs website.

Date posted: August 30, 2022 | Author: | Comments Off on Graduate School seeks nominations for honorary doctoral degrees

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CHHS students recently offered Rockford high school students a glimpse into the healthcare field.

A team of NIU grad students offered Rockford high school students a glimpse into the healthcare field during an event held last month at the Family Health, Wellness and Literacy Center. The community collaboration with Trio Upward Bound program is part of the School of Allied Health and Communicative Disorders’ (AHCD) continuing efforts to increase diversity, equity and inclusion in the healthcare profession.

“Diversity in our profession is critical and improves the quality of health care we provide to our communities,” said AHCD chair, Sherrill Morris. “While there are many reasons why there is a lack of diversity in the professions of audiology, physical therapy, and speech-language pathology, one could be that individuals from underrepresented communities may not consider pursuing an allied health degree.”

Morris said the collaboration with Trio Upward Bound program is an important step that allows high school students to start thinking about what they want to do in the future.

“NIU graduate students did an amazing job developing and implementing interactive events that motivated the high school students to engage in activities,” Morris said. “I am hopeful that this experience helped students actually see themselves in a graduate allied health program.”

Learn more about the School of Allied Health and Communicative Disorders at NIU.

Date posted: August 30, 2022 | Author: | Comments Off on High school students get glimpse into healthcare

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Steve Howell
Steve Howell

If everything happens for a reason, Steve Howell is living proof.

The new chair of the Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education, who has taught in the sport management program since his arrival at NIU in 2011 as a visiting assistant professor, holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in … biology and chemistry.

Sport management wasn’t on the radar until his doctoral program at Purdue University.

“Growing up, I was always interested in science. I thought I wanted to work in that field. I thought I possibly wanted to be in quality control/quality assurance working for Anheuser Busch or Molson Coors,” says Howell, a native of Fort Wayne, Indiana.

“At the end of my master’s degree, my interest started to change,” he adds. “I had been working in the Purdue Athletic Department and campus recreation, and I had an opportunity to work as a graduate assistant in campus recreation, specifically in intramurals.”

One month later, Howell’s boss abruptly left – and the GA suddenly found himself in charge of intramurals.

Meanwhile, his thought to earn a master’s degree in sport management turned into a Ph.D. in Health and Kinesiology with that specialization.

Fate then intervened yet again as he completed his dissertation.

“Purdue had funding for me for one more year, but an opportunity came up in mid-May for a visiting assistant professor job at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois, and I thought, ‘Hey, why not?’ ” Howell says. “So I threw my hat into the ring, and I was fortunate enough to get hired for the one-year appointment that turned into a tenure-line appointment. I was fortunate enough to ‘fake-it-till-you-make-it,’ and I’ve been here ever since.”

Anderson Hall
Anderson Hall

Now, as department chair, Howell will apply his preparation in the hard sciences to boost his leadership of faculty in physical education, exercise science and athletic training along with colleagues in his own field of study.

“Having that science background has really helped me to better understand kinesiology, exercise science, exercise physiology and athletic training because I understand the biology and chemistry enough where I can serve on thesis committees and understand the curriculum and the programming,” he says. “We are such an interdisciplinary, transdisciplinary department.”

Laurie Elish-Piper, dean of the NIU College of Education, is happy to welcome Howell aboard.

KNPE, she says, will thrive with Howell’s “wealth of leadership experience” that includes prior service as associate department chair, director of Graduate Studies and the university’s Faculty and SPS Personnel Advisor.

“Dr. Howell is a very strategic thinker and also an expert communicator who can share his ideas,” Elish-Piper says.

“I’m very excited to see Steve bring his passion and innovative spirit for cutting-edge curriculum, student-focused programming and engaged learning,” she adds, “and I’m really looking forward to him having the opportunity to put those ideas to work with the KNPE team, to work with others in the college and to collaborate with others around campus to develop those ideas into reality.”

Mission and Steve Howell
Mission and Steve Howell

Results like those are almost guaranteed.

Howell worked with former Chair Chad McEvoy to launch a bachelor’s degree in sport managementthat has enjoyed tremendous growth since its 2019 introduction.

The new major complemented the minor in sport sales, a collaboration with the NIU College of Business.

It also paired well with new minors that include sport analytics and sport journalism (both in partnership with department sin the NIU College of Liberal Arts and Sciences) as well as the minor in Esports Industry Professions.

During the COVID-19 lockdown, Howell alerted his students to a 12-week seminar series hosted online and for free by Boston-based sport marketing firm Fenway Sports Management.

Partnering with Jenn Jacobs, associate professor of Sport and Exercise Psychology, Howell developed a mentoring program to improve retention of students of color.

As a member of the inaugural cohort of the college’s EdLEAD (Leadership Education and Development) Program, Howell worked to augment the international alliance between NIU and the University of Tetova in Macedonia.

Howell also helped to coordinate and lead an Engage U.S. trip for first-year graduate students in Sport Management to glimpse operations of the NCAA, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Purdue University’s athletic and recreational sport facilities.

Steve Howell and Engage U.S. travelers at the NCAA headquarters.
Steve Howell and Engage U.S. travelers at the NCAA headquarters.

He also joined in the college’s maiden Engage Global journey as part of the ENVEST Sri Lanka project.

Beyond the College of Education, Howell was a participant in the university’s PI Academy for Research & Engagement and a fellow of the Mid-American Conference’s Academic Leadership Development Program.

This rich tapestry of experiences should prove beneficial, Howell says.

“Often times, folks can become siloed in their own programming area, and don’t always see what happens in other programs, and I think being able to touch on all those different programs in my time as director of Graduate Studies and associate chair has given me a greater understanding and appreciation,” he says.

Steve Howell
Steve Howell

“It’s also helped sort of the lessen the learning curve a little bit – I still have a heck of a lot to learn – and it’s given me opportunities to interact regularly with all of our faculty, not just those in my home area,” he adds.

“When you start off as a young assistant professor, you want to be the best teacher and the best researcher and a good departmental citizen, and you don’t really think about administration or leadership. It’s been nice for me to have some high-level touch points, and I hope the faculty know who I am and know me a little bit better.”

Going forward, Howell plans to build on the strong foundation he’s been provided.

“I want to continue the great work of Todd Gilson, Chad McEvoy, Paul Wright, Paul Carpenter and Judy Bischoff. I want to continue on those successes that we’ve worked so diligently and strategically to create and establish, like our PALS, Project FLEXand Human Performance programs, and to maintain the great culture our department has,” he says. “We’ve got fantastic students, a fantastic faculty and a fantastic staff, and I want to continue our momentum and be able to celebrate our successes together.”

Date posted: August 30, 2022 | Author: | Comments Off on New KNPE chair Steve Howell pledges to sustain momentum, celebrate success

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Attention NIU Faculty and Staff! The Grand Opening of Mission’s Grove is a week away and the NIU Alumni Association wants to make sure that you are recognized for all the time and hard work you put forth in helping our Huskies succeed as students.

For Faculty/Staff Appreciation Night, the first 100 faculty and/or staff with a valid NIU OneCard will receive a $5 voucher towards any of our four food truck vendors (Open Door Coffee, Home Run Hot Dogs, Strawberries BBQ, Jah Love Jamaica and We Got U), prior to the Huskies’ season-opening football game against Eastern Illinois (7 p.m.) on Sept. 1.  Mission’s Grove, which opens at 4 p.m. that day, also features tasty beverages from alumni-owned Pollyanna Brewing & Distilling and Waterman Winery & Vineyards.

Attendees will also be able to purchase NIU alumni merchandise at our alumni gear table. Guests will be visited by their favorite four-legged mascot, Mission, enjoy a performance by the NIU Huskie Marching Band, and partake alongside other alumni in “Mission’s March” to Huskie Stadium 45 minutes before kickoff.

Mission’s Grove, which is located in the Oderkirk parking lot, which is adjacent to the Barsema Alumni & Visitors Center.

Date posted: August 24, 2022 | Author: | Comments Off on Faculty and staff invited to celebrate opening of Mission’s Grove

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NIU continues to focus on making sure first-year students, both freshmen and transfers, make a successful transition into NIU. A new Student Life website should help make that experience easier to manage.

From meeting fellow students and learning about the Huskie experience during the Week of Welcome to living with a roommate, navigating the myriad differences between high school and college, facing midterm exams and battling homesickness, first-year students are handed various challenges.  The new website offers new and returning Huskies a wealth of information, resources and tips to help find success in their first year and continue in subsequent years.

The site is organized around six themes: Find Your Community, Explore Resources, Stay on Track, Be Well, Navigate Your Finances and Keep Informed.  The site also includes short videos, event listings and quick tips.

 

Date posted: August 24, 2022 | Author: | Comments Off on Updated Student Life website offers resources for new and returning students

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Say it isn’t so, Jerry!

Gerald C. Blazey, a physicist whose impressive NIU career spans a high-profile joint appointment with Fermilab, a stint working for President Obama’s administration and seven years as head of the university’s research enterprise, is planning to retire June 30.

Northern Illinois University Vice President of Research and Innovation Partnerships Jerry Blazey.

Blazey currently serves as Vice President for Research and Innovation Partnerships (RIPS). In the wake of his announcement, NIU President Dr. Lisa C. Freeman said the university will conduct a national search for Blazey’s replacement, guided by a search committee to be headed by College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Dean Bob Brinkmann.

“Dr. Blazey has been a key member of our NIU community more than 25 years, and we are grateful for his comradery, his outstanding work and his leadership in the physics department, in Washington, D.C., and in our Division of Research and Innovation Partnerships,” said Dr. Freeman, noting that Blazey most recently ushered in development of the planned $23 million Northern Illinois Center for Community Sustainability (NICCS).

“Fortunately, we’ll benefit from Jerry’s talents for another academic year,” President Freeman added. “In the meantime, I have every confidence in Dr. Brinkmann’s ability to lead our search for someone who will continue to build on the momentum created by Jerry, his team, and our faculty.”

The RIPS vice president plays a crucial role advancing the mission of the university by supporting individual researchers and building teams and collaborations across units and with other institutions. The division has facilitated exceptional growth in sponsored programs funding. Non COVID-19-related sponsored funding has increased by almost 40% in the last five years and 11% since last year, to more than $42 million.

The State of Illinois recently announced it will begin the design phase of NICCS. The center is part of the Illinois Innovation Network (IIN), a group of state-funded research and innovation hubs that are under development and aimed at driving economic growth in Illinois while addressing critical global issues. In addition to his stewardship role on campus with NICCS, Blazey is the inaugural chair of the Illinois Innovation Network Council, which coordinates collaboration between IIN members.

Working with the divisions of University Advancement and Outreach, Engagement and Regional Development, Blazey also last year helped launch the Strategic Development Team, which looks for new ways to create, enhance and fund transformational university projects.

“The time is right for me and for the university,” Blazey, an American Physical Society fellow, said of his retirement announcement. “Our research and innovation enterprises are growing, we’re making strides toward expanding our transdisciplinary collaborations among faculty, and we have the new NICCS center on the horizon. The staff in RIPS are tremendously dedicated and collegial—they are an awesome team. The next VP will have all the ingredients to take research and innovation to the next level.”

A scientist specializing in high energy particle physics, Blazey took on his current role in May 2015. From 2011 to 2014, he served as a senior policy advisor at the Office of Science and Technology Policy in the Executive Office of the U.S. President. In that role, he was involved with the development of President Obama’s budgets for the National Science Foundation and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and also participated in initiatives around exascale computing and quantum physics, as well as geopolitical issues. During the previous four years, he worked with the DOE Office of Science, where he served as program manager of the International Linear Collider Program.

Prior to his intergovernmental personnel assignments in Washington, D.C., Dr. Blazey also had a distinguished career as an NIU faculty member. He came to NIU in 1996 after working at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory near Batavia. At NIU, he helped establish and served as co-director of the Northern Illinois Center for Accelerator and Detector Development, eventually spearheading the establishment of a university group in accelerator science and technology that is one of the largest and most diverse in the country.

With support of NIU, Blazey served two terms as elected co-spokesperson for Fermilab’s international DZero collaboration, among the world’s premier experiments in particle physics. His efforts contributed to important discoveries and helped establish techniques that laid the groundwork for progress in the field of accelerator physics.

In 2000, Blazey was recognized with NIU’s Presidential Research Professorship, the university’s highest honor for outstanding research. He later was named NIU presidential science advisor, a position charged with assisting university leadership in the development of scientific initiatives and coordinating the university’s work with federal laboratories.

“A university is a fascinating and gratifying place to work, and I’m extremely grateful for my years at NIU and the support the institution offered throughout my career,” Blazey said. “I’m also honored to have had the opportunity to work and collaborate with our brilliant and dedicated colleagues.”

Date posted: August 24, 2022 | Author: | Comments Off on Science advocate Jerry Blazey, head of NIU research enterprise, to retire in June

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NIU Professors Melissa Lenczewski and Ricela Feliciano have both recently won Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program awards.

NIU Professor Melissa Lenczewski

Fulbright Scholar Awards are prestigious and competitive fellowships that provide unique opportunities for scholars to teach and conduct research abroad. Fulbright scholars also play a critical role in U.S. public diplomacy, establishing long-term relationships between people and nations. Alumni include 61 Nobel Laureates, 89 Pulitzer Prize winners, 76 MacArthur Fellows and thousands of leaders and world-renowned experts.

The benefits of a Fulbright Scholar Award extend beyond the individual recipient, as Fulbright Scholars raise the profile of their home institutions as well.

Lenczewski, a professor in the Department of Earth, Atmosphere and the Environment, will conduct research in Cambodia and Thailand for four months beginning in February. She will be taking a Khmer language course at NIU this fall to provide her with basic skills in the language.

“Our Center for Southeast Asian Studies has numerous connections in this part of the world in fields such as political science, anthropology and language studies,” Lenczewski said. “I’m hoping to build research relationships in environmental studies, with one goal being to create collaborative processes and research opportunities for our students.”

Lenczewski, who formerly served as director of NIU’s Institute for the Study of Environment, Sustainability, and Energy (IESE), also will conduct research on the effect of urbanization on groundwater and water quality near the capital cities of Phnom Penh and Bangkok. Her collaborators will include faculty with the Royal University of Phnom Penh.

NIU Professor Ricela Feliciano

“I’m very excited,” she said. “Because I’ll be there for a significant time period, I’ll be able to develop stronger relationships and research ties and get to know the people better. Living in a culture makes a big difference.”

Feliciano, an assistant professor of mathematics, traveled to Colombia this month and will visit the South American country again from May 1 to June 30. She is conducting research on mathematical learning in rural Colombian secondary schools along the Caribbean Coast near Barranquilla.

“During my first visit, teachers are being offered free in-service sessions on designing culturally relevant mathematics curricula,” Feliciano said. “On my second visit, I will assess how teachers and students are progressing with the community-based pedagogy.

“The exchange will benefit underserved secondary school students and their teachers,” she added. “In the process, the project will advance my research agenda and build a link between NIU and the Universidad del Atlántico.”

Feliciano will collaborate on her research with NIU’s Kevin Palencia, an assistant professor of Mathematical Sciences; Mariana Ricklefs, an NIU assistant professor of Curriculum and Instruction; and a faculty member at Universidad del Atlántico.

Date posted: August 23, 2022 | Author: | Comments Off on Melissa Lenczewski, Ricela Feliciano named Fulbright Scholars

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M. Courtney Hughes has been named NIU’s NCAA Faculty Athletics Representative.

M. Courtney Hughes, associate professor of public health in Northern Illinois University’s College of Health and Human Services, has been named NIU’s NCAA Faculty Athletics Representative, President Lisa Freeman and Vice President and Director of Athletics Sean T. Frazier announced Thursday.

As the Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR), Hughes plays a strategic role in ensuring the academic integrity of the intercollegiate athletics program, serving as a liaison between the institution and athletics and monitoring the student-athlete experience. She represents the university in Mid-American Conference and NCAA meetings. The FAR is also responsible for ensuring, either directly or indirectly, that student-athletes meet all NCAA, conference, and NIU requirements for eligibility to practice, receive financial aid and compete.

“We are very pleased to welcome Dr. M. Courtney Hughes to Huskie Athletics as NIU’s new Faculty Athletics Representative,” Frazier said. “In this critical time of change across intercollegiate athletics, I look forward to Courtney’s perspective as a newcomer in this role – and as a former student-athlete – as we work together to move NIU Athletics forward.”

“I am delighted that Dr. Hughes has agreed to serve as FAR,” Freeman said. “She is well-suited for this important role because of her experience as a student-athlete and expertise in public health. Dr. Hughes also participated in the 2021 Emerging Faculty Leaders Program, an intensive professional development experience that emphasized development of leadership and mentorship skills. I am confident that Courtney Hughes will be a strong role model for student-athletes and an important advocate for balancing academics and athletics in ways that allow Huskies to thrive in the classroom and in competition.”

Hughes joined the NIU faculty in 2018 as an instructor in public health and was named an associate professor in 2019. She has expertise in access to care, health behavior change, and health disparities. Her recent work examines cancer prevention and control, improving palliative care, and supporting caregivers.

She holds a Ph.D. in health services from the University of Washington and a master’s degree in kinesiology from the University of Michigan. She earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in finance and business economics & computer applications from the University of Notre Dame, where she was a member of the women’s tennis team and earned the Knute Rockne Scholar Athlete Award.

“It is a true honor to be appointed as the FAR,” Hughes said. “This is an exciting time in college athletics, and I look forward to serving NIU student-athletes, administrators and faculty as we navigate change while continuing to pursue Huskie excellence on and off the field.”

Date posted: August 23, 2022 | Author: | Comments Off on M. Courtney Hughes named NIU Faculty Athletics Representative

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