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Rita Dragonette

When NIU alumna Rita Dragonette embarked on her professional career, she was armed with the valuable and powerful soft skills developed through a liberal arts education — strong communication, critical thinking, writing and creativity.

After early stints in entry-level publishing jobs, she quickly excelled, becoming a mover and a shaker in the public relations world before moving on to become an entrepreneur.

Dragonette began her career as an account executive at the global public relations agency Daniel J. Edelman, Inc. (now Edelman Worldwide). She rapidly rose through the firm’s ranks, and helped bring in the agency’s first million-dollar client. She was recognized for her efforts by being named its youngest senior vice president. She left Edelman in the early 1980s and co-founded Dragonette, Inc., one of the first agencies to offer integrated marketing services. The agency quickly became one of the top 15 independents nationally. She sold the firm to Grey Global Group (now part of WPP) in 1999.

She established Dragonette Career Strategies in 2003, where she served as an executive career consultant to C-level executives and entrepreneurs from companies including Kraft, Pepsico, Allstate Insurance, PNC Bank, Leo Burnett and Cisco Systems on leadership, management development and organizational change.

It was early on this the road to success that Dragonette realized she lacked an important piece of the career success puzzle – a strong business foundation. Her experience – and what she went through to make up that deficit– has made her an advocate of students pairing their liberal arts background with some level of business training, to get the best of both worlds.

Advocating is one thing, action is another. Dragonette decided to take the latter by establishing the Dragonette Cross-College Career Success Scholarship to provide scholarships for NIU sophomore and junior College of Liberal Arts and Sciences students who are pursuing a minor in the College of Business.

“There is no situation in the employment world that does not require a basic understanding and some degree of business acumen,” she said. “It’s a foundational requirement whether you teach or work at a not-for-profit or in any type of creative field. Study what you love, but pair it with practical training. The earlier you master the basics, the more appealing a candidate you will be and the easier your success will come.”

She challenges other NIU alumni and business leaders to take similar action so more students graduate ready to make an impact.

“When I mention the scholarship to anyone in my network it always spurs the same two reactions,” said Dragonette. “First, they tell me what a great idea it is and that they know of or have hired someone with this Liberal Arts/Business combination and it made all the difference in getting that first job, and 2) What a great give back it is. Scholarships helped me through school and I should pay it forward.”

Date posted: April 25, 2017 | Author: | Comments Off on NIU alumna encourages liberal arts students to get business savvy

Categories: Alumni Homepage Students

May’s 2017 NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Golf Championships are right around the corner, and the entire NIU community is invited to celebrate the university’s first opportunity to host a collegiate sports national championship.

In less than a month, some of the nation’s best college golfers and golf teams will convene at one of the world’s premier golf venues, the “Home of the Huskies,” Rich Harvest Farms in nearby Sugar Grove.

The tournament starts with the women’s championships on Thursday, May 19, through Wednesday, May 24, followed by the men’s tournament, Friday, May 26, through Wednesday, May 31. Daily grounds tickets start at $10, with the option to purchase a full-week or full-event grounds pass. Students under the age of 18 will receive free grounds admission to the event when attending with a paying adult.

The NCAA Experience, an upscale venue in the middle of all the action, provides ticket holders with the opportunity to upgrade their tournament experience. The $55-package includes grounds tickets, VIP parking, access to a hospitality area, complimentary food, and non-alcoholic beverages and two complimentary alcoholic beverages of their choice.

The NIU Alumni Association is hosting two “NIU Days” at the championships on Saturday, May 20, and Saturday, May 27. The events, located in the NIU tent adjacent the NCAA Experience hospitality area, include a meet-and-greet with NIU dignitaries and celebrities. The NIU tent will be open to all tournament patrons throughout the duration of the NCAA Golf Championships.

A special ticket promotion will be announced soon for NIU stakeholders who wish to attend the championships.

Additional information about tickets and volunteer opportunities for the 2017 NCAA Div. I Men’s and Women’s Golf Championships is available online.

In conjunction with the university serving as host for the 2017 NCAA Golf Championships, NIU Athletics and NIU STEM Outreach collaborated on a “STEM of Golf” video series.  A STEM Café event on the topic of the “STEM of Golf” is scheduled for Wednesday, May 3, at Two Brothers Roundhouse in Aurora.

All STEM Cafés are free and open to the public. For more information, contact Judy Dymond at jdymond@niu.edu or 779-777-7713.

Date posted: April 25, 2017 | Author: | Comments Off on NIU ready for NCAA golf championships

Categories: Alumni Centerpiece Community Faculty & Staff Parents Prospective Students Sports Students

Michael Roper, president and CEO of Taco Bueno,

Michael Roper (’86), will be the featured boss on an episode of CBS’s hit series Undercover Boss! The episode will air on Friday, April 28, at 8 p.m. EST.  Recipient of a degree in business administration, Michael Roper is president and CEO of Taco Bueno, a high-quality Tex-Mex chain with more than 175 restaurants, founded in Abilene, Texas. The fresh, never frozen food, earned Taco Bueno the title of “America’s Best Mexican Chain” beating out Taco Bell and Chipotle.

CBS representatives in touch with NIU said, “Roper’s compassion and dedication for improving his company and bettering his employees was not only evident, but also inspiring.”

Undercover Boss is a two-time Emmy Award-winning reality series that follows high-level executives as they slip anonymously into the rank-and-file of their own organizations. Each week, a different leader will sacrifice the comfort of their corner office for an undercover mission to examine the inner workings of their operation.

In the episode, Roper, who has undergone a physical transformation for his undercover role, shadows an assistant general manager and is put to the test filling large orders while attempting to keep the customer window wait time at 45 seconds. He also tries his hand at operating the drive-through alongside a crew member, failing to sound energetic when taking orders. Roper struggles to operate a forklift without damaging products while aiding a first shift leader at the tortilla manufacturer, and he encounters a general manager who strives to lead effectively amidst technical difficulties.

Date posted: April 25, 2017 | Author: | Comments Off on Huskie alum to appear in ‘Undercover Boss’ episode 

Categories: Alumni Centerpiece Community Faculty & Staff Parents Prospective Students Students

Mackenzie Thompson

NIU junior Mackenzie Thompson knows that her experiences working with NIU’s P-20 Center will come in handy no matter what career she pursues.

As an instructor at the Center’s STEM Outreach camps and STEM Saturdays, she’s learned firsthand the rewards of bringing science, technology, engineering and math into kids’ lives.

“No matter what I do, I know now that I want to have STEM education and outreach be a part of my work,” says Thompson. “It’s too important––and too much fun – not to find a place for it.”

STEM Outreach camps give students from grades 2-12 a chance to roll up their sleeves, think creatively and make friends while building skills for success in STEM fields. (A full schedule of this summer’s offerings is available online.)

Thompson, a mechanical engineering major, has taught at camps for both middle and high school campers. She worked both as a volunteer and as a student employee at the STEM Saturdays program, where she was mentored by STEM Educator Pettee Guerrero, learning how to translate STEM concepts to young audiences while keeping their attention. Girls ages 7 to 11 who are regulars at STEM Divas on Saturdays and during the summer are Thompson’s greatest fans.

“I got kind of addicted to seeing how much progress kids can make,” she said. “That progress is even more visible in summer. There are kids who are super timid at the beginning of a camp session, but by the end, they’ll be so involved and engaged and enthusiastic.”

With her engineering degree, Thompson hopes to find a job in a STEM-based industry. But she hopes to land at a company that takes STEM education seriously.

“So many kids who attend STEM summer camps and Saturday sessions end up excited to go into the sciences, based on what they’ve learned about how challenging and fun it can be. Outreach is what makes the next generation of scientists, and I definitely want to play my part.”

Date posted: April 25, 2017 | Author: | Comments Off on NIU STEM student Mackenzie Thompson paying it forward to the next generation

Categories: Community Faculty & Staff Homepage Parents Prospective Students Students

NIU’s Office of Student Engagement and Experiential Learning will host the eighth annual Undergraduate Research and Artistry Day (URAD) and Community Engagement Showcase from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 25, in the Holmes Student Center.

Undergraduate students who have participated in mentored research, creative inquiry and artistry as well as community engagement projects will be showcasing their work at the event. In addition to the traditional poster, exhibit and digital media display options, students will also be presenting their work through informal table talk sessions in the Art Gallery Lounge.

Posters and exhibits will be scored by judges and have an opportunity to win a monetary award if the project places in first, second or third within their category.

This year, OSEEL will be highlighting the Child Development Lab and the great engaged and experiential learning that is happening inside their facility. “ Research projects” from the children who attend the lab will also be featured.

The entire NIU campus and community is invited to attend. Visit the URAD and CES Online Guide to view a list of all URAD & CES presentations, schedule, room layout map, online program (pdf), event evaluation and more.

Date posted: April 23, 2017 | Author: | Comments Off on Students’ art, research and community projects to be showcased

Categories: Community Events Faculty & Staff Homepage Students

Gender and Sexuality Resource Center (GSRC) will meet you “At the Table” with Reco Bates, NIU alumni and school counselor of Chicago Tech Academy, on Monday, April 24, in the Glass Gallery Lounge of the Holmes Student Center from noon to 1 p.m. Learn about meditation and its success for impacting behaviors, attitudes and how it can assist in the development of our youth as well as students on a college campus. Additionally, during this time where finals are fast approaching, join us to learn about the benefits of meditation on a college campus.

Reco Bates

Bates received his B.A. (’13) degree in psychology with an emphasis on mental health for people of color and his M.S. Ed. (’16) in school counseling. During his studies in grad school, he served as graduate assistant for the Center for Black Studies, teaching courses on campus diversity and the experiences of the Black male in American Society. As part of his assistantship, he partnered with School District 428 for the implementation of mentoring programs for youth of color in which he became the program coordinator.

GSRC is looking to encourage and motivate students to be their best selves. The GSRC would like to invite you to participate to our monthly “At the Table” discussion. The discussions were created with the idea that many marginalized populations are not usually present at the table for certain topics. Therefore, the intent is to help all students engage in discussions that are empowering, enlightening and informative. If you have any questions, please contact GSRC via GSRC@niu.edu or call at 815-753-4772 and our staff will assist you.

Date posted: April 23, 2017 | Author: | Comments Off on ‘At the Table’ with Reco Bates

Categories: Community Faculty & Staff Homepage Students

All academic and civil service employees who contribute to the pension system are eligible for NIU Annuitants Association (NIAAA), not just after retirement. NIUAA promotes the interests and the welfare of the members of the State Universities Retirement System (SURS).

If you are a current member, your investment in NIUAA and SUAA (the state organization), paid for the lawyers who successfully pleaded our case before the Illinois Supreme Court to protect our pensions. However, those not retired still have the most to lose. Numbers speak: the more members of NIUAA, the stronger our voice. NIUAA has about 1890 members and are trying hard to get to 2000. Civil service employees, retirees, retiree spouses and survivors of retirees are all eligible to join and are encouraged to do so.

Membership to NIUAA includes a newsletter, annual December holiday party, annual dinner in June, regular coffee hours and trips organized by Steven Johnson of Compass Travel. Members can use their Outlook Retiree Account to access the NIU network as well.

The cost is $36/year to be a member, and members can have $3 automatically taken out of their paycheck monthly (or $1.50 biweekly) and not have to worry about renewing. When retiring, be sure to fill out a new form to indicate the new source of income.

If you have questions or to make changes, email or call Chris Atherton, Human Resource Services, 815-753-8377, annuitantsassoc@niu.edu.

Date posted: April 23, 2017 | Author: | Comments Off on Are you a member of NIUAA?

Categories: Faculty & Staff Homepage

NIU’s Presidential Commission on the Status of Minorities (PCSM) selected undergraduate student Laura Vivaldo Cholula; graduate student Kristina Wilkerson, counseling adult and higher education; Beverly McCall, advisor/counselor, CHANCE Program; Lisa King, associate director, CHANCE Program and Yolanda King, associate professor, College of Law as the recipients of this year’s Deacon Davis Diversity Awards. Katrina Myers Caldwell, former assistant vice president for Diversity and Equity will be acknowledged for her service to the university.

Named in honor of Deacon Davis, founder and former director of the CHANCE (Counseling Help and Assistance Necessary for a College Education) Program, the PCSM created the award to recognize the significant contributions made to the improvement of the status of ethnic minorities on campus by members of the university community. The Deacon Davis Diversity Award also recognizes organizations, departments or programs that significantly improve the status of ethnic minorities at NIU.

The presentation of the Deacon Davis Awards will begin at 12:30 p.m., in the Ellington Room on Wednesday, April 26, followed by the diversity summit entitled “Diversity: Women of Color on the NIU Campus and in the Community” at 1 p.m. Dr. Myers Caldwell is the speaker. The awards ceremony will be preceded by a luncheon beginning at 11:50 a.m. All are welcome to attend the luncheon and awards ceremony

In addition to attending the afternoon luncheon and awards ceremony, students are invited to join in the discussion concerning issues that women of color face on the NIU campus and solutions to address these concerns. The discussion will take place in Barsema Hall Auditorium School of Business beginning at 6 p.m. Refreshments will be served. For more information, contact PCSM Chair Felicia R. Bohanon at 815-753-1868 or fbohanon@niu.edu.
Date posted: April 23, 2017 | Author: | Comments Off on 2017 Deacon Davis Diversity Award winners named 

Categories: Faculty & Staff Homepage Students

NIU Athletics would like to invite students, NIU faculty/staff and community members to its eighth-annual awards banquet, “The Victors”, on Tuesday, May 2, in downtown DeKalb, at the Egyptian Theatre. The event is free for any Huskie fans who would like to join in on celebrating the academic, athletic and community service accomplishments of this years’ student-athletes.

A red carpet will be rolled out as the doors open at 6 p.m. to begin a social hour with the student-athletes, coaches and athletics staff. Get to know the Huskies before heading into the theatre for the program, beginning at 7 p.m.

Over 20 different awards will be presented throughout the evening, highlighting the accomplishments of Huskie student-athletes, coaches and teams from the 2016 spring, 2016 fall and 2016-17 winter sports seasons.

Date posted: April 23, 2017 | Author: | Comments Off on NIU Athletics invites you to the Victors Award Show

Categories: Centerpiece Community Events Faculty & Staff Students

Feeling the crunch of the end of the semester? Want a little break to help you feel connected to other international and domestic students, and to focus better?

The Counseling & Student Development Center, in collaboration with the International Student and Faculty Office, ELS, DeKalb, and the Asian American Center, invites the campus to “Chai Chat,” a casual get-together for international students and their friends.

All are welcome to attend. In addition to hot tea, tasty snacks, fun activities, and good conversation about culture and managing stress, the event is a great opportunity to meet other NIU students and take a little break before finals.

Chai Chat is planned from 5 to 6:30 PM, Thursday, April 27, in Room 100 of the Campus Life Building. No registration is required. Do join us!

For more information, call 815-753-6920, 815-753-1346 or 815-752-1167 or email  stata@niu.edu.

Date posted: April 23, 2017 | Author: | Comments Off on Chai Chat offers a little relaxation for students

Categories: Centerpiece Students

The St. Baldrick’s Foundation is a charity committed to funding research to end childhood cancers. St. Baldrick’s is volunteer-driven, relying on volunteers to collect donations on their behalf.

On April 30, Alpha Chi Sigma (the professional co-ed chemistry fraternity) and the Medical Laboratory Science Club are holding two fundraisers for St. Baldrick’s. The first is the 5K run/walk/jog on NIU’s North 40 and the second is the head shaving event, where shavees volunteer to have their heads shaved by licensed volunteer barbers.

Our goal is $5,000, and we need your help to reach it on or before April 30. Any donation is greatly appreciated.

All proceeds will be sent to the St. Baldrick’s Foundation.

Date posted: April 20, 2017 | Author: | Comments Off on Help end childhood cancer by participating in the St. Baldrick’s 5K run and head shave

Categories: Community Faculty & Staff Homepage Students

(MPTSS) is excited to celebrate the end of the academic year with its annual Post-Traditional Appreciation Week, beginning on Monday, April 24. All military and post-traditional students are invited to all three upcoming events.

The festivities will kick off with the inaugural Celebration Ceremony on Tuesday, April 25, from 5-6:30 p.m. in the Capitol Room in the Holmes Student Center. Graduating military and post-traditional students, as well as featured staff and adult learners from this year’s monthly newsletters, will be honored at this event. MPTSS will have special recognitions for one student veteran and one post-traditional student in the form of its Four-Star and Eli Whitney Awards. Also, commencement cords to MPTSS’ graduating student veterans will be distributed. Food will be provided and attendees should feel free to dress casually. All who are part of the campus community are invited. All military or post-traditional students who are graduating are welcome to contact the MPTSS office ahead of time.

“We are excited to host this inaugural appreciation week Celebration Ceremony,” Assistant Director Jeffery Salmon said. “We believe that this new signature event is a great way to celebrate all of our graduating post-traditional students, our students that have finished a challenging semester and faculty members that have made a difference in our students’ academic careers.”

On Thursday, April 27, MPTSS is hosting a Game Night downstairs in the MPTSS Lounge from 5-7 p.m. Pizza and drinks will be provided. The aim of the event is for students to drop by to play some board games, hang out and relax before finals.

On Friday, April 28, an end-of-the-year cook-out on the North Lawn of Adams Hall from 11 a.m.-2 p.m will be held. All students are welcome for grilling and great conversation as well as enjoy a spring day eating outside on our beautiful campus.

For any further information regarding Post-Trad Appreciation Week events or to request accommodations, please contact MPTSS Assistant Director Jeffrey Salmon.

Date posted: April 20, 2017 | Author: | Comments Off on MPTSS celebrates Post-Trad Appreciation Week

Categories: Homepage Students