For the third consecutive year, a Huskie graduate assistant from Northern Illinois University’s Higher Education and Student Affairs program has been named a Graduate Student Rising Star by the NASPA, Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education (NASPA).
Ashlyn Straka has been named a Graduate Student Rising Star by the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA).
Second-year M.S. Ed. student Ashlyn Straka was selected from a pool of institutional nominations representing NASPA’s Region IV-East, which includes seven states in the United States’ Upper Midwest along with Ontario, Canada.
“I could have never, never imagined in a million years that I would be the recipient of this award, especially something from NASPA — that feels like a really high honor,” said Straka.
“Every person I’ve interacted and worked with at NIU has been integral to my growth and success. I wouldn’t be where I am today or receiving this award if it wasn’t for them and their guidance, and that goes for both my colleagues and faculty mentors. I’m thankful that they are there to help me grow as a person and professional getting ready to go into my career in student affairs.”
Straka has served as a Graduate Residence Hall Director for NIU’s Department of Housing and Residential Services since arriving at NIU in the summer of 2020. After starting at Neptune Hall, she now manages Community Advisors for Gilbert Hall. Heavily involved on campus, she also co-advises NIU’s National Residence Hall Honorary, a student organization for student leaders.
Ashlyn is an extraordinary student and an absolute delight to have in class,” wrote nominator Carrie A. Kortegast, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Program Coordinator for HESA, adding: “In addition to her passion in her coursework, Ashlyn has shown dedication, passion, and advocacy in her assistantship in Residential Life.”
“Ashlyn takes an identity-conscious approach to her work and listens to the experiences of her students to understand how to better provide support. She is not afraid to have tough conversations and seeks to create spaces that provide a sense of belonging to students,” Lauren Teso-Warner, NIU’s Senior Associate Director of Residential Life, wrote in her nomination letter. “While this has been no easy task during a global pandemic, Ashlyn invested her time and energy to create a community of success and acceptance.”
Straka, who grew up in Reedsburg, Wis., says she didn’t foresee her future of completing a master’s degree and pondering a doctorate when she enrolled at the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point in 2016. She earned her B.S. in human development and family studies and a minor in Spanish language and literature last year, and plans to graduate from NIU in May.
“I am a first-generation student and would have never thought entering college that I was going to go to graduate school,” Straka said. It’s honestly the best experience I’ve had in my life.”
Date posted: October 25, 2021 | Author: Andrew Pemberton | Comments Off on Grad student is NIU’s third NASPA Rising Star in a row
Nichole Knutson has joined NIU’s Division of Academic Affairs as the new vice provost for student success. Knutson was recently the associate vice provost at the University of Illinois Chicago, where she led student support initiatives, degree completion programs, and research and grant management units.
Associate Vice Provost for Student Success, Nichole Knutson
“I am delighted that Dr. Nichole Knutson has joined the Huskie leadership team,” said Omar Ghrayeb, senior vice provost, NIU’s Division of Academic Affairs. “She has strong experience and skills in student success with very strong data analytics background, and we are very excited to welcome her to the NIU family.”
Knutson earned her bachelor’s degree from University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, master’s degree from University of Kansas and doctorate degree from University of Kentucky. She has over two decades of experience working to support student retention, progress toward degree, and graduation in a collegiate environment.
“I have been fortunate to work at four amazing universities,” Knutson said. “These experiences have prepared me to work with a variety of staff, faculty, and students to advocate for student success and to support initiatives to advance degree completion.”
A first-generation college student, Knutson can relate to the challenges that come with earning a college degree.
“I was a low-income, first-generation college student from a small town,” Knutson said. “I worked, two, three, and for a few semesters, four jobs while I was an undergraduate student. Earning a college degree was difficult for me both academically and financially.”
Knutson said it was the relationships she built on campus that proved instrumental in her journey to complete her undergraduate degree.
“I am grateful for the campus work-study positions I held, my academic advisors, career counselors, and faculty members who encouraged me, especially when I doubted that I could finish my degree,” Knutson said. “These experiences and relationships set me on the path to eventually pursue a graduate degree and to work in higher education.”
She is looking forward to making connections with Huskie students, helping them on their path and increasing opportunities for them.
“We all encounter challenges and we have an opportunity to learn from those challenges,” Knutson said. “I experienced several setbacks and made so many mistakes along the way, and I was able to earn undergraduate, master’s and doctoral degrees. I love being able to share my journey with students and helping them to actualize their goals.”
Date posted: October 25, 2021 | Author: Andrew Pemberton | Comments Off on Nichole Knutson named Associate Vice Provost for Student Success
Six feet of social distancing might not be far enough to prevent the spread of COVID-19, but wearing a mask does reduce the spread of airborne particles by 70 percent. That’s the conclusion of a research study that was published in the journal Building and Environment. On the research team was NIU’s Mechanical Engineering Department Chair and Professor Tariq Shamim, Ph.d.
The study found that without the aid of a mask, 67 percent of the airborne particles expelled by a person’s cough will travel beyond 6 feet indoors. Fewer than one percent of the airborne particles traveled as far when the person was wearing a mask.
Researchers also looked at other variables that could affect how the particles travel through the air. They found that age and gender also had an impact with women contaminating the air at slightly lower rates than males of the same age. In addition, they found the particles coughed by individuals who were seated traveled farther than those who were standing.
Tariq Shamim, Ph. D., professor and chair of the Mechanical Engineering Department at CEET.
”I hope that scientific evidence presented by our study will assist in getting wider acceptance of theeff ectiveness of mask-wearing in controlling the spread of COVID-19 and other contagious diseases,” said Professor Shamim.
Professor Shamim was part of a multi-institutional team that developed the mathematical and computational models to investigate the spread of airborne particles in different indoor settings. In addition to Professor Shamim, the team included researchers from Texas A&M, McGill University of Montreal, Canada, and the University of Sherbrooke, Canada.
“Learning about this virus is key to preventing the spread of the disease and I’m incredibly proud of the work Dr. Shamim has done with the research team,” said Dean of NIU’s College of Engineering and Engineering Technology, Donald Peterson, Ph.D.
Date posted: October 25, 2021 | Author: Andrew Pemberton | Comments Off on Study reveals the efficacy of masks and social distancing in COVID-19 prevention
Monique Bernoudy, M.S.Ed. ’92, has learned from the positive and challenging experiences of her own education, wanting to give back to her alma mater for the benefit of NIU students.
Growing up in a diverse neighborhood in Detroit, with neighbors of various backgrounds and cultures, and as part of a family with different skin tones, ethnicities and backgrounds, had a tremendous influence on Monique Bernoudy, M.S.Ed.’92.
“I was and still am a curious person. I was interested in science, sports, how people engage, and equity, although when I was younger, I am certain I probably defined it as fairness,” Bernoudy said. “Where I came from influenced the lens in which I view the world.”
Bernoudy earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Spelman College, a historically Black liberal arts college for women in Atlanta, and the experience was pivotal in her personal and career growth.
After conducting some research and speaking with a friend and campus administrators at NIU, Bernoudy chose to pursue a graduate degree at NIU. When she was a couple of courses shy of earning her master’s degree in public administration, Bernoudy decided to switch to the adult continuing education program.
“I had a good experience and, quite honestly, some challenging experiences with regard to inequity, marginalization and racism,” Bernoudy said. “However, the good outweighed the challenges and the engagement and support of peers and campus professors and administrators who mentored me played a major role in having a good experience. All my experiences helped me acquire the skills to work through various situations and helped me solidify that I am an educator at heart. I am determined to make a difference daily in the lives of others and to focus on dismantling oppressive systems, policies and procedures.”
Today, as assistant VP of Academic Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (ADEI), Bernoudy revels in transformative work of talking with students, faculty, staff and community. She also enjoys learning about others’ experiences, needs and visions and engaging in developing and revising the University’s policies, programs, and procedures, with the goal of building a sustainable community where all feel welcomed, valued, empowered, restored, and that they belong.
“The people at NIU are what has given me pride for 30 years,” she said. “The students inspire and challenge us to do more, raise the bar and think outside of the box. Faculty and staff work collaboratively to find new ways to help students succeed and are passionate about their work—working with one another, and sincerely making a difference.”
Bernoudy notes that she has many colleagues who she admires and is humbled to work with and support.
“Their energy, passion, and determined spirit are fulfilling to me,” she said.
Each day, Bernoudy sees students and colleagues on campus and in the community who are working separately and collectively to build a community where voices are heard, people are embraced and empowered, and all can succeed and exceed their goals.
“I am confident NIU wants to do right by our students and our employees want to engage in meaningful ways to help students succeed,” she said. “While big hearts, empathy and service are needed to encourage, uplift and support one another in our community, there is also a large need for financial resources in order for us to meet our mission, vision and goals.”
Because of these needs, Bernoudy is committed to supporting the University financially, as well as through her professional work.
“We continue to see needs on our campus and within our community that require investment on all levels,” she said. “I am proud to give to NIU and the community both financially and in service because I believe the best investment in our future is in the future generations.”
Bernoudy says she feels fortunate to have had many people invest in her as she was getting an education, and she wants to return the favor as her “thanks” for the opportunities she received.
“My mom taught me the importance of ‘paying it forward,’ and I am trying to do my part to do that,” Bernoudy said. “NIU has afforded me so many opportunities, such as furthering my education. It taught me to successfully collaborate with a team, to give without any expectation of return, and to have fun in all I do. I have learned from both the good and challenging situations, and all of it has taught me about resilience, being authentic and the importance of leaning on a team to uplift, sustain and strengthen all I do.”
Thousands Strong is an opportunity for alumni and friends to engage with NIU in an exciting, virtual initiative that will increase and expand alumni pride and engagement, cultivate donor prospects and celebrate the impact of philanthropy at Northern Illinois University. This year, this day of giving’s virtual initiative will start the evening of Nov. 10 and run through Nov. 11, with a variety of opportunities to help students and the University.
Date posted: October 25, 2021 | Author: Andrew Pemberton | Comments Off on One of the #ThousandsStrong: Assistant VP of ADEI Monique Bernoudy, M.S.Ed. ’92
When Pettee Guerrero, NIU alumna and director of the NIU National Safety Education Center, was tapped to lead NIU Continuing and Professional Education (CPE), she drew on her experience with community engagement and lifelong learning to envision an expansive program to meet 21st century workforce needs. She’s spent the past year expanding CPE’s online presence and course offerings to better serve the needs of working professionals in the region.
Pettee Guerrero, director of NIU Continuing and Professional Education.
“Our mission has always been to make rewarding careers possible through quality professional education,” says Guerrero. “We’re here to create accessible learning opportunities for individuals, organizations and the community in order to develop professionals and the regional workforce.”
Guerrero is excited to get the word out about NIU Continuing and Professional Education, which she describes as a “hidden gem in our community.”
NIU CPE offers non-credit and certification prep courses in human resources, project management, facilities management and occupational safety. The courses are helpful for both early career and mid-career professionals who would like to expand their skills or transition into a new area.
Guerrero notes that these non-credit courses complement the degree programs offered at NIU and can serve as a steppingstone toward NIU bachelor’s and master’s programs. “For example, many people come here to take safety courses with CPE, they really enjoy them, and then they decide to continue their education by earning their degree in the NIU College of Engineering and Engineering Technology,” says Guerrero.
“On the other hand,” Guerrero continues, “many of our students already have their undergraduate degrees from NIU, and they come to us to earn their certification because they’ve had a great experience at NIU and because – just like me – they’re passionate NIU alumni and want to continue their education here.”
To say Guerrero is proud to be a Huskie is a bit of an understatement. The NIU alumna, who earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in the College of Engineering and Engineering Technology, has been connected with NIU since 2012. She’s always been a passionate supporter of NIU and a passionate advocate for education and community outreach. In her various roles as a student and later employee, Guerrero has helped to organize STEM Fest, been active in the Society of Women Engineers, created “STEM Divas” programming to get more girls interested in STEM fields, and competed as part of the NIU robotics team.
Guerrero has brought her dedication to community engagement and outreach to CPE, which is housed in the Division of Outreach, Engagement and Regional Development. She’s also brought a sense of curiosity and a willingness to try new things while continuing to build on the established strengths of the unit.
“For the past 20 years, out of more than 200 educational partners of the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM), NIU CPE has been in the top ten, and we’re really proud of that,” says Guerrero. “As the new director, my goal is to continue that placement in the top ten and continue to offer this high quality education to the community, while also expanding and adding new offerings.”
Among the changes Guerrero has made is to expand CPE’s online presence with a blog and free short webinars, which offer expert knowledge to the community and let potential CPE students meet the unit’s expert instructors, who are current professionals in their fields with many years of experience.
Some webinars address specialized topics such as how to handle an OSHA amputation inspection, while others offer more general introductions to a professional field, such as trends in facilities management or how to improve project management through effective communication. The CPE blog offers an even wider range of information on career planning, employment best practices, Lean principles and risk management, among other topics.
Guerrero is also quick to point out CPE’s custom courses, which can be offered to a company’s full workforce, in person at NIU, onsite at the employer’s location or online. “We’re currently doing a custom project management program, training all the supervisors for a very large organization,” she says. “We’ve developed a customized, year-long project management training program based on their needs.”
Safety training on location is also a popular CPE program – offered by NIU’s National Safety Education Center, which is now part of CPE and is the only authorized OSHA Training Institute Education Center in Illinois. “Our safety instructors will come to a company’s facility, evaluate the worker risks and build a custom safety training program based on their specific needs,” Guerrero says.
When asked why she’s passionate about professional development and continuing education, Guerrero offers her own experience as an example.
“Quality professional development is good for both employers and employees,” she says. “It’s good for employers because of the simple fact that a well-trained, knowledgeable employee is better equipped to serve the company. It’s also good for employees because it helps them become more confident and successful in their current job or job search.”
“To speak for myself, when I take professional development classes I feel more confident. I feel more prepared and useful to my staff and the community because I’ve learned something new,” Guerrero adds. “Over the past year, just like everyone else, I focused on all the programs we had to prepare and all the challenges we had to address, and I forgot about my own professional development. Recently I started studying for my Certified Safety Professional exam, and I spent hours, staying up all night to study because I was so motivated and it made me feel so good to be learning. I feel more useful to my staff and happier in my professional life.”
NIU Continuing and Professional Education is part of the Division of Outreach, Engagement and Regional Development and is dedicated to supporting the regional workforce and making rewarding careers possible through quality professional development. Learn more on the NIU CPE website.
Date posted: October 20, 2021 | Author: Andrew Pemberton | Comments Off on New director of NIU Continuing and Professional Education leads with an eye toward growth
Outreach and engagement come naturally to Rena Cotsones, M.P.A. ’04, Ph.D. ’13.
Growing up in Kankakee, Illinois, Cotsones’ dad was a Greek immigrant and owned a restaurant, which served as a local gathering spot for lots of different kinds of people.
“My dad loved nothing more than connecting people for employment, supporting fellow small business owners and strengthening the community,” she said. “I enjoyed the social aspect of it as a kid, and as I got older, I began to understand the tremendous positive impact he was making on a daily basis.”
Because of her father’s influence, Cotsones—who serves as NIU’s chief engagement officer and senior associate vice president for the Division of Outreach, Engagement and Regional Development (OERD)—has looked for opportunities to bring people together for common good throughout her career.
“Finding new ways to unite the expertise and resources of the University with those of our regional partners to address challenges and create solutions is challenging, fun and deeply rewarding,” she said.
Cotsones earned bachelor’s degree at Illinois State University, enjoying a great experience because she was very involved in all kinds of activities, including as a resident advisor for three years, a D.J. on the radio station, a news anchor for TV-10 newscasts, and as a singer in a musical group, among other things.
“I always urge NIU students to get involved to maximize their college experience,” she said. “My closest friends today are the people I met during my undergraduate years.”
After completing her degree, Cotsones’ career took off, and she eventually flourished in the role of executive vice president for the Rockford Area Chamber of Commerce. It was then that she was approached by a leader who changed the course of her career.
“I was recruited to NIU by President John LaTourette, who I had gotten to know through my work with the Rockford Area Chamber of Commerce,” she said. “As soon as I arrived at NIU in 1999, I began exploring master’s programs and quickly settled on the Public Administration program because I did so much work with local governments, community leaders and nonprofit organizations. I was encouraged by the public administration faculty to keep going to get my doctorate. I never took a semester off because I didn’t want to remember what it would be like to have free time!”
Cotsones notes that there is a reason NIU’s M.P.A. program is one of the top programs in the nation. The faculty and curriculum are outstanding, she said, and the alumni are a distinguished group of leaders who remain close to the program and inform the curriculum to keep it cutting-edge.
In her role today, Cotsones is all about collaboration.
“It’s important for people to realize that collaboration doesn’t ‘just happen,’” she said. “It takes leadership, shared vision, functional networks and appropriate resources. There is an intentionality to it that goes way beyond simply coordinating activities. True collaboration is doing something together that none of the partners could do on their own. It’s linking and leveraging ideas, expertise and resources in new ways to create—and sustain—positive impact.”
Within OERD, Cotsones works with a dedicated team of professionals who are advancing collaborative initiatives to make the Northern Illinois region better. The division provides leadership, partnership and support to faculty, staff, students and community members who want to engage in a meaningful way around a wide variety of issues.
Cotsones feels fortunate to be working at NIU under the leadership of President Lisa Freeman, who understands, supports and models best practices in community engagement. She sees a new level of openness, creativity and collaboration at NIU that is making it possible for ideas to emerge and be embraced in a way that drives success.
“It’s an exciting and supportive environment in which to work. Authentic engagement isn’t an occasional foray into the community to do a project,” Cotsones says. “It is a long-term, consistent commitment to work collaboratively with internal and external partners to make our region a better place to live, learn, work and do business.”
She feels great personal pride in her affiliation as both an alumna and employee of NIU, and she is adamant that NIU is an excellent university with strong academics, world-class research, compelling outreach and engagement, and a deep commitment to the success of our diverse student body.
“I am grateful for the many friendships I have made here and the opportunities I have had to achieve educationally and professionally,” she said. “Most importantly, I believe in this institution’s power to change the lives of its students and to change the trajectory of the community, the region and the state. It is an honor to be a part of that.”
Cotsones’ commitment has also led to her financially supporting the University through regular donations.
“I give to what I believe in, and I believe in NIU,” she said.
Join Rena Cotsones, fellow employees, alumni and the community to support the university during Thousands Strong on Nov. 10 and 11, 2021. Together we can be examples of Huskie Pride and display the power of philanthropy.
Date posted: October 20, 2021 | Author: Andrew Pemberton | Comments Off on One of the #ThousandsStrong: Rena Cotsones, M.P.A. ’04, Ph.D. ’13
Perhaps you have been a bystander, saw a problematic situation and wanted to help but didn’t. Sometimes it’s because we don’t know what to do, or we think someone else will help. This is very different from being an active bystander. An active bystander uses specific intervention techniques to safely defuse a situation, decrease the momentum or stop the event from happening altogether.
While students have been receiving active bystander training for many years at Northern Illinois University, the techniques can also be helpful for employees in a variety of situations.
Susanne Logsdon
“By being an active bystander at work, we have an opportunity to model positive workplace culture and disrupt harmful narratives,” said Susanne Logsdon assistant director of Prevention Education and Outreach, a unit of the Department of Academic Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
Logsdon has been at the university for nearly two years and has been providing the campus with sexual misconduct online training, in-person training and collaborating across campus on a variety of initiatives. Logsdon developed and will facilitate the active bystander training for employees which will focus on “equipping colleagues with the tools needed to safely disrupt harmful behaviors in the workplace.”
An active bystander training for employees will take place Wednesday, Oct. 27 from 10-11:30 a.m. in Wirtz Hall, room 222. Employees can register at https://go.niu.edu/myadei-events.
Similar positive outcomes are expected as what has been seen in the student training including learning how to approach harmful behaviors.
“Students have reported gaining confidence on how to intervene, after learning active bystander techniques,” said Allison Hurlburt, prevention program coordinator.
An active bystander has only seconds to recognize a problematic situation, decide how they want to intervene and then intervene. “Working through scenarios will help employees recognize situations and put the techniques to work,” said Logsdon. The training will also bring awareness to the costly impact of unaddressed negative workplace behavior.
Date posted: October 20, 2021 | Author: Andrew Pemberton | Comments Off on Active Bystander Training available for employees
The University Honors Program (UHP) is excited to announce the 2022-2023 Honors Faculty Fellowship call for proposals. Faculty selected to teach Honors seminars are recognized as Honors Faculty Fellows during the year in which they teach their Honors seminar.
The Honors Faculty Fellowship program began in the fall of 2020 with a cohort of NIU’s award-winning professors and innovative researchers. It has since continued to provide engaging, interdisciplinary seminars to NIU Honors students throughout the past three semesters. Faculty and instructors interested in participating in 2022-23 are encouraged to propose an Honors Seminar by Nov 30, 2021.
Andrea Radasanu, director of the University Honors Program
“These three-credit seminars are meant to appeal to students from across disciplines and are at the core of the UHP curriculum,” said Director of the University Honors Program Andrea Radasanu. “This is a fantastic opportunity for faculty and instructors to teach small classes made up of dedicated, enthusiastic and accomplished students.”
Faculty and instructors selected as for an Honors Faculty Fellowship can apply for course enrichment funds of up to $1,000 to try out new material or enhance an existing course.
“We are excited about the amazing seminars this year, and we are already looking for our slate of Honors Faculty Fellows for next year,” continued Radasanu. “Honors seminars are the crown jewel of the honors curriculum and, in many cases, introduce students to entirely new material.”
When designing Evolution of Art, the course he is currently teaching to an interdisciplinary group of students, Dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts Paul Kassel operated under the assumption that “everyone knows a little something about the arts.”
His approach worked, not only for his students, but also for himself as an educator.
“Teaching honors students is very gratifying–they tend to be curious, motivated and challenging,” said Kassel. “I always learn a lot–both as a teacher and as a researcher and artist.”
Being an Honors Faculty Fellow not only provides the opportunity to teach curious and motivated students from a variety of disciplines, but also provides the opportunity to collaborate with colleagues from other departments on campus.
“We have all sorts of experts at NIU and I’ve been fortunate to collaborate with a few outside my college.” Continued Kassel. “Dr. Leila Porter, chair of the Department of Anthropolgy, has lectured the class on the limits of evolutionary theory as well on her own research and Dr. Amy Newman from the Department of English led a session on poetry, which resulted in all the students writing and reciting an original poem.”
“These are the kinds of experiences that stay with a student for a long time” continued Kassel. “And with teachers, too. It’s the reason I teach, and I’m grateful to be part of the seminar program.”
Spring 2022 will continue to provide Honors students with a variety of courses. Uncovering the -isms in Disney films, exploring Native American history and culture within Illinois, and understanding policies and politics surrounding undocumented immigrants are just a few of the themes honors students will have the opportunity to explore during the seminars scheduled for spring semester.
Seminars scheduled for the Spring 2022 semester include:
Social Justice: Transformation, Imagination, Belonging (HIST 399) taught by Associate Professor Amanda Littauer from the department of History and the Center for the Study of Women Gender and Sexuality.
Professor Littauer’s seminar will view the expansive subject of social justice through the lenses of history; gender, sexuality and critical race studies; art and literature; popular nonfiction and the social sciences. Course participants, together with the professor, will work to cultivate their own socially-just learning community by engaging in practices based in mindfulness, radical self-care and restorative justice. Assignments enlist analysis as well as reflection, creativity, and imagination.
Global Mental Health: Social Determinants and Service Delivery (HON 310) taught by Chair and Associate Professor Susan Caplan from the School of Nursing.
Students enrolled in Professor Caplan’s seminar will pursue an in-depth study of global mental health issues including the social determinants of mental health, psychiatric epidemiology and population health, global disasters and mental health outcomes, mental health systems and traditional healing, stigma, and mental health policy. Students will explore the Dominican Republic in depth.
Physics of Sports (HON 310) taught by Associate Professor Yasuo Ito, Presidential Teaching Professsor Laurence Lurio, and Associate Professor Michael T. Eads, all from the Department of Physics.
This course explores how physics is involved in various aspects of sports, including equipment and performance. Students will engage their creativity to connect physical concepts and aspects of sports as well as modern technologies. Through this course, students will come to see how physics is part of every part of daily life.
An Exploration of Racism, Sexism, and Other Isms in Disney Animated Films (HON 410) taught by Professor Melanie Koss from the Department of Curriculum and Instruction
This discussion-based course will explore constructions of gender, race, class, sexuality, age, ability and religion in the animated films of Walt Disney. By chronologically and topically examining the content of several Disney films through different lenses, students will explore topics such as political correctness, the intersection between time period and cultural product, colonialism and challenging the narrative. Themes of social justice and empowerment will be woven throughout the course.
The Political Spectacle of Undocumented Immigrants (HON 410) taught by Associate Professor James Cohen from the Department of Curriculum and Instruction.
This course will introduce students to the history, policies and politics surrounding the topic of undocumented immigrants in the United States. Questions such as “When did people become ‘illegal’?” and “What are the policies that created the current context?” will be explored.
Indigenous Illinois (HON 410) taught by Associate Professor Natalie Joy from the Department of History and Assistant Professor Dana Bardolph from the Department of Anthropology.
Native Americans have a deep history and vibrant presence in Illinois, from their initial arrival ca. 12,000 years ago to thriving 21st century communities today. This course invites students to explore Indigenous Illinois, past and present, through a variety of media, from anthropological, historical and critical Indigenous scholarship to archaeological artifacts and historical documents to contemporary Native fiction, poetry, art and film. As team teachers, the professors will draw on their expertise including archaeological research on ancient Mississippian communities in central Illinois ca. 1000 CE (Bardolph) and broader historical research on Native Americans and activism in the 19th century (Joy), and their collective interests in contemporary Indigenous media, including art, poetry and film.
Interprofessionalism in Health Science (HSCI 399) taught by Interim Associate Dean and Director of the Ph.D. in Health Sciences Program Beverly Henry from the School of Interdisciplinary Health Professions.
Thinking about you can improve health outcomes or patient experiences? The World Health Organization recommends interprofessional education. Learn about, from, and with each other through readings, discussion, and group projects to learn about different professions and develop your skills with collaboration. In this class, you will participate in interactive learning with other disciplines to prepare you for “deliberatively working together” to improve community and population health care systems. This seminar will complement coursework across a wide range of majors.
Date posted: October 20, 2021 | Author: Andrew Pemberton | Comments Off on Honors Faculty Fellows program seeks proposals for fall 2022 and spring 2023
Megan Nordstrom has been named the 2021-22 Lincoln Laureate.
Whether leading a group of Northern Ambassadors, running a Communicative Disorders Student Association (COMDSA) or Music and Memory organization meeting, or directing hundreds of Huskie Marching Band members during a performance, she wears them well.
Described by faculty and peers as enthusiastic, hard-working, and a leader who leads by supporting others, Nordstrom adds another accolade to her already impressive resume this month: NIU’s Student Lincoln Laureate.
Each fall, one senior from each of the state’s public and private four-year colleges and universities is chosen to receive the Student Lincoln Laureate, which honors their excellence in both curricular and extracurricular activities.
“It’s an honor to represent the university as the Lincoln Laureate,” Nordstrom said. “I am especially grateful and appreciative that my professors recognize the work that I am doing across campus and took it upon themselves to nominate me for the award.”
Nordstrom is majoring in communicative disorders with minors in deafness rehabilitation and family and child studies. And while her involvement in extracurricular and co-curricular activities is extensive, she’s managed to maintain a 3.9 grade point average.
“I’ve been impressed with her ability to maintain such a high level of academic excellence while simultaneously engaging in numerous research activities, holding leadership positions in many extracurricular organizations and clubs, and servings in a myriad of volunteer and work experiences across campus,” said Allison Gladfelter, associate professor of speech-language pathology.
Gladfelter said Nordstrom embodies the values exhibited in life by Abraham Lincoln: academic excellence, a dedication to serving others, and an understanding of the importance of social justice and honor for all.
“Her local, state, and national leadership accolades reflect the level of excellence worthy of a Lincoln Laureate,” Gladfelter said.
A quick look at Nordstrom’s resume demonstrates that she doesn’t only join a student organization, she dives in, learns and ultimately leads. The list of leadership positions includes president of the Communicative Disorders Student Association (COMDSA) and of the Music and Memory Student Organization, student coordinator for the Autism Caregiver Group and for the Northern Ambassador program, and drum major of the NIU Marching Band, to name a few.
Thomas Bough, director of NIU’s Athletic Band, calls Nordstrom “one of the most active, successful, committed student leaders within the NIU Athletic Band program.”
“From the very start of her role as drum major, Megan’s engaging personality and seemingly boundless energy have made her one of the most effective student leaders in the band,” Bough said. “She is truly a servant-leader, who often takes time out of her own schedule to set up equipment for the band, help the drumline, and encourage other students.”
Nordstrom, a 21-year-old native of Galva, Illinois, said the past four years has been a time of growth, personally and professionally.
“I have had the opportunity to grow as a student in the classroom, as well as a leader on campus in my classes, organizations, and even in my on-campus job,” Nordstrom said. “I believe that NIU is a perfect place for students who want to get involved and/or hold leadership positions. Everyone is very encouraging on campus – students and faculty alike.”
With graduation coming in May, Nordstrom is busy applying to graduate schools with plans to become a certified speech-language pathologist and work in an elementary school setting. As she reflects back on being selected as NIU’s Student Lincoln Laureate, Nordstrom brims with enthusiasm and gratitude.
“I genuinely love going to NIU, being involved on campus, and being a Huskie,” Nordstrom said. “That makes the award so special.”
Nordstrom’s piece of advice to fellow Huskies is something she embraced from the moment she stepped on campus.
“Get involved on campus; there is a club or an organization for everyone,” Nordstrom said. “It’s a great way to make friends with others who enjoy the same thing you do and a great way to spend your time as a student. There is more to school than just going to class.”
Due to the pandemic, the annual Student Lincoln Laureate Convocation in Springfield will not take place. There will be a meet and greet reception hosted by President Freeman at NIU for Nordstrom and fellow nominees on Oct.21.
Other finalists for the NIU Student Lincoln Laureate included Jeremy Knoll (history and economics), Cameron Simpson (English and history), Katherine Hahn-Boisvert (communications) and Kaylen Platt (mechanical engineering, graduate mechanical engineering) and nominees Dioco Reyes (medical laboratory sciences), Gwen Bresnan (world languages and cultures/German/political science), Gwen Papke (nutrition, dietetics and wellness), Emma McMahon (nonprofit and NGO studies/sociology) and Binal Amin (public health).
Date posted: October 20, 2021 | Author: Andrew Pemberton | Comments Off on Megan Nordstrom named Lincoln Laureate
I started during the pandemic and haven’t been “formally” introduced to NIU procedures. Rachel patiently answered all my digital signage/web questions. She sat with me (virtually) and went through the steps and offered valuable insight. When I had questions, she actually listened and didn’t try to brush me off because I wasn’t sure what I was even asking for. She was intuitive and seemed to know what I was asking without me knowing it. Thank you Rachel!
Date posted: October 19, 2021 | Author: Andrew Pemberton | Comments Off on Rachel Xidis – Web and Internal Communications
Rebecca always goes above and beyond when I need something from her. In addition to all of her own tasks, she still manages to find time to help me out when I am so swamped. Thank you Rebecca! You are a rock star!!
Date posted: October 19, 2021 | Author: Andrew Pemberton | Comments Off on Rebecca Rahe – Registration and Records
