NIU Today

Colleen Russell

Colleen Russell’s graduate assistantship in the P-20 Center has allowed her to gain personal and professional skills and have lots of fun in the process. Last August, Colleen jumped at the chance to get involved with BLOCK Fest^®, a new P-20 Center program.  

Today, she’s happy she did. “It’s been so rewarding and so exciting, plus it’s good for my future career,” she says.

At BLOCK Fest^® events, children ages 8 months to 8 years get to play with five varieties of non-interlocking blocks. At the same time, parents receive information about how to use block play to boost their children’s understanding of early math and science concepts. 

“Getting my undergrad degree in human development, I learned how important basic math and science education is for young children,” says Russell, who is currently pursuing a master’s in school counseling. “So BLOCK Fest^® was definitely appealing.”

In addition to receiving training from the P-20 Center staff in how to lead BLOCK Fest^® sessions, Russell was mentored extensively in the practical side of educational programming by her P-20 supervisors Debbie Pixton and Amy Jo Clemens.

“Now I know how to develop an event proposal, how to do the research to back it up, how to coordinate publicity with school and community partners like libraries and museums, and how to work with staff at schools, libraries and museums,” she says. “Those are going to be such useful skills after I graduate and am working at a school as a counselor.”

Taking BLOCK Fest^® to a school or library also requires loading and unloading an entire van full of blocks, setting up the stations, training volunteer helpers, and coaching kids and parents through the hour-long sessions.

“It’s great to see how excited the kids and parents get while playing with blocks. Knowing that we’re spreading the word about the importance of math and science is really fulfilling,” adds Russell.®

“Besides the fun at BLOCK Fest^® events, the P-20 Center has helped me practice leadership and management skills that I have enjoyed learning.”

For more information about BLOCK Fest^®, including how to book a BLOCK Fest^® session, visit NIU STEAM Works or email Russell at cscanlon1@niu.edu. 

“A Song for Coretta” from the NIU School of Theater and Dance is being presented at a 2 p.m. matinee and a 7 p.m. evening performance on Saturday, March 25. The benefit performances, directed by Bethany Mangum, are being remounted at the DeKalb Area Women’s Center (DAWC), 1021 State St., DeKalb, to commemorate Women’s History Month. The ticket booth opens a half-hour before showtime. The suggested donation to the local nonprofit is $5 per person. The usual Herstorical Tea & Cookies at the Cast Talkback will be served after each performance. Parking is available a half-block south in the lot on 11th St., as well as on-street.

The setting is February 6, 2006, outside the Ebenezer Baptist church in Atlanta, GA, where five fictional characters have stood patiently for hours, waiting to say goodbye to Coretta Scott King, wife of Dr. Martin Luther King. The five women of various ages share memories and stories of Mrs. King’s extraordinary life and their sorrow at her passing. However, they discover a generational division in what Dr. and Mrs. King’s contribution to Civil Rights has meant for each of them. Their disparate understandings range from that of the oldest woman who was a direct participant in the 1960s movement, to one’s belief that the Kings’ struggles actually accomplished nothing against the racial injustices that still exist, to that of a college student covering the funeral for National Public Radio (NPR) and completely naïve about the history they were all there to celebrate. Inspired by the long line of mourners who came to pay their final respects to Coretta Scott King, playwright, novelist and poet Pearl Cleage measures King’s accomplishments and spirit during the Civil Rights era against the current state of black women in America.

The DAWC gallery Director Anna Marie Coveny is appreciative of this communiversity effort and credits 2017 NIU Theater Director Bethany Mangum and last year’s Director Kay Martinovich with this important contribution to the Women’s History Month commemoration. For more information, contact dawc@niu.edu or 815-758-1351.

A school that offers the opportunities of a large university while providing the personalized experience of a small college belongs on a Top 10 list.

That is why Northern Illinois University is ranked third among public colleges and universities in Illinois, and ninth overall on the College Choice list of the 25 Best Colleges in Illinois.

College Choice, an independent online publication that helps students select the right college, found a lot to like at NIU. They were impressed with the range of programs (57 undergraduate majors, 73 minors) and the outstanding programs in areas as diverse as accountancy, nursing and steel drum performance.

That quality and diversity, they noted, translates into an excellent return on investment, pointing out that successful NIU alumni can be found in high-level posts all over the country. They work as partners in major accounting firms, as television producers, as judges and as executives in a wide range of industries.

Best of all, according to College Choice, NIU provides those big-school benefits with a personal touch. They specifically noted the First- and Second-Year Experience programs that help pave the way to success for new students. However, those are just a start. NIU students also can work one-on-one with faculty on research from year one, find hands-on learning opportunities in hundreds of classes and have opportunities to study abroad, work internships, participate in more than 200 clubs and organizations, and make the world a better place through volunteerism locally, nationally and globally.

If you want to learn more about the Top 10 experience provided at NIU, join us for an upcoming open house or schedule a visit to campus.

Jobs PLUS hits the road Thursday, March 30, with an event that will include the 2017 Community Expo hosted by the DeKalb and Sycamore Chambers of Commerce. The Jobs PLUS event, “Starting Conversations with People You Don’t Know,” will provide students with the opportunity to practice interacting with professionals in a networking setting.

The event is being split into two parts to accommodate class schedules. Part One, a workshop on the topic, will be from 2:00 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. at the Holmes Student Center Regency Room. Part Two will be from 2:45 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. and students will be bussed to Sycamore High School where they will walk through the Community Expo during the business-to-business portion of the event to talk with members of the local DeKalb and Sycamore business communities.

The workshop features NIU Alumnus Rich Escalante and Judy Santacaterina, director of the Bachelor of General Studies in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS). Escalante and Santacaterina are
recipients of the CLAS’ Distinguished Alumni Awards.

 “The expertise and energy of the presenters and the collaboration with Jobs PLUS on this event provides students with another opportunity to enhance their career preparation skills,” said Jack King, director of Student Professional Development for CLAS.  

“NIU students are routinely in situations where they interact with people they don’t know in class, at work and elsewhere. We hope the tips they will get at the event with Rich and Judy will be of great value,” said Chad Glover, director of Jobs PLUS. “The chance to also practice at the Community Expo where they can simultaneously learn about businesses and organizations in DeKalb and Sycamore is something we are really excited about.”

The idea for the partnership between Jobs PLUS and the Community Expo first came during a brainstorming meeting between Glover and Matt Duffy, executive director of the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce. Duffy then discussed the possibility with Rose Treml, executive director of the Sycamore Chamber of Commerce, and the two extended the invitation to participate in the Expo.

“The ability to connect with people is something that takes practice and a genuine interest in what others have to say,” said Duffy. “These skills are extremely valuable in the workforce and will help a person stand out at an interview, sales meeting or networking at an event.”

Students can register for Part One, Part Two, or both. Online registration is required for Jobs PLUS events and students are encouraged to sign up early. The event is free and open to all NIU students. Some students whose employer is participating in Jobs PLUS may be eligible to attend the event on their paid work time with permission of their employer. Dress for the event is casual.

Jobs PLUS events also qualify for Passport in the College of Business, Honors Engaged in University Honors and are being promoted through the CLAS professional development course.

Get fired up! If you want to learn directly from social entrepreneurs about their experiences in the field and how the Triple Bottom Line (people, profits, planet) makes a real difference in life, then attend the Social Impact Summit from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Friday, April 7, at the Barsema Alumni and Visitors Center.

The event opens with a welcome from NIU College of Business Dean Balaji Rajagopalan. Gene Baur, co-founder of Farm Sanctuary, serves as the event keynote and will speak about building a more sustainable and compassionate world. This year’s summit also features three panel sessions: Education and Poverty, Corporate Social Innovation, and Sustainability.

Now in its fifth year, NIU’s Social Impact Summit is created from start to finish by NIU students who are members of the student organization CAUSE (Collegiate Association of Unreasonable Social Entrepreneurs). Since its launch in 2013, the summit has drawn experts in the field from across the country and has welcomed more than 800 attendees, with attendance for each year’s event averaging 200 attendees. The event is sponsored by Product Development Technologies. Ticket prices include lunch and are $5 for NIU students and $20 for all others. For more information, email niucause@gmail.com.

NIU’s Campus Recreation, in partnership with Great Lakes Adaptive Sport Association, and the Kishwaukee Special Recreation Association are proud to host this year’s Adaptive Sport Day. The event, geared toward educating and building new relationships, will be on Friday, March 24, from 4-7 p.m. at the NIU Campus Recreation Center. Attendees will get the chance to meet three-time Paralympian and Paralympic medalist Amanda McGrory along with other stellar athletes.

Sharon Moskowitz, graduate assistant for fitness and wellness at NIU Campus Recreation, is the driving force behind this community event. “We formed the idea of an Adaptive Sport Day to not only showcase the wide variety of available sports for adaptive athletes and community members but to create a day of ability awareness,” said Moskowitz.

The afternoon will be filled with demonstrations of sports like goalball, beep baseball, wheelchair basketball, all-abilities obstacle course and wheelchair football. Participants will learn, watch and play a variety of adaptive sports facilitated by Paralympic Sport Clubs, the Great Lakes Adaptive Sport Association (GLASA) and the Rehab Institute of Chicago (RIC). Enjoy generous giveaways from KIND Bars, Chipotle and Jimmy Johns!

The NIU Student Dietetic Association and Bread for the World invite everyone to Empty Bowls, 4:30-6:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 29, in Adams Hall, the Chandler Room. Empty Bowls is an international grassroots effort to raise both money and awareness in the fight to end hunger.

The NIU Student Dietetic Association will donate all proceeds to the Huskies Student Food Pantry and Hope Haven.

The cost is $10 for a meal of homemade soup, bread, and beverage served in bowls hand-crafted by students of the Ceramics Club and members of the community. Bowls may be purchased for an additional $5. Raffle tickets are $2 per ticket or $5 for 3. Commemorative t-shirts will also be available for purchase.

Reservations are encouraged, but not required. Email NIUSDA68@gmail.com, and include your name, number in your party and your contact information.

For more information call Rachel Bagne at 815-289-2101.

The Department of Kinesiology & Physical Education’s FIT Program is an exercise program for NIU employees, family members, retirees and residents of the surrounding community.

You can now join the FIT Program for $43.00, half the regular registration fee, for the remainder of the semester. Our experienced staff can help you with any fitness activity you are interested in from beginning an exercise program to training for a race!

Membership in FIT includes access to cardio and weight training facilities in both Anderson Hall and Gabel Hall, access to a variety of group exercise classes, use of Anderson Pool and free fitness assessments. This spring, the FIT Program is also offering free one-on-one nutritional support in partnership with the NIU Dietetics Program.

Not sure? Try FIT for FREE for one week, anytime!

Registration forms and information on fees, program hours and facilities are available on the FIT webpage. Please contact FIT at 815-753-0335 or FIT@niu.edu for more information.
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The Office of the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Academic Affairs invites all faculty and staff to participate in open forums with the two candidates for Associate Vice Provost Undergraduate Curriculum. This individual is responsible for overseeing the General Education Program, which includes coordinating NIU PLUS (Progressive Learning in Undergraduate Studies) initiatives and has oversight authority for ACCESS Tutoring, First-and Second-Year Experience and the University Writing Center.

The open forums will be held from 12:45 – 1:45 p.m. Wednesday, March 22 (Abdel-Motaleb) in Altgeld 125 and Friday, March 24 (Klonoski) in Altgeld 125.

Do you have a passion for service and leadership and love to travel? Come learn about Huskie Alternative Breaks.

An alternative break is a trip where college students engage in volunteer service, typically for a week. Each trip has a focus on a particular social issue. Students learn about the social issues and then perform weeklong projects with nonprofit organizations.

If you are interested and would like more information about Huskie Alternative Breaks, email Rachel Musial at rmusial1@niu.edu.

The Holmes Student Center (HSC) is pleased to announce the re-purposing of the former TCF Bank office on the Ground Level to be utilized by the NIU Police Department as a new substation, effective on Monday, March 20.

The substation will be staffed regularly by officers who can aide students while planning social events on campus, many of which occur in HSC event spaces. The office will also be staffed by officers in the Community Oriented Policing (COPs) Unit who actively engage the community to maintain safe environments around campus.

The office can be reached by calling 815-753-9634, by stopping in during posted office hours or while officers are present. Any other questions about the new office can be directed to HSC Associate Director of Operations and Administration David Long at 815-753-1922 or dlong1@niu.edu or to NIU Police Commander Don Rodman at 815-753-1212 or djrodman@niu.edu.

The NIU School of Theatre and Dance will be performing Picnic, written by William Inge. This 1950’s romance will open on March 23 at the Diversions Lounge in the Holmes Student Center, 340 Carroll Ave in DeKalb.

First written and performed in 1953, Inge’s play tells the story of a drifter named Hal making his way through Kansas. He stops in a small town to work for Helen Potts, an older woman in town. He becomes reacquainted with his old college friend, Alan Seymour, and winds up falling in love with Alan’s girlfriend Madge Owens. Madge is a young 18-year old, who deals with finding her identity outside of being labeled the “pretty one,” while her sister Millie attempts to escape the shadow of her sister. 

Throughout the show, Inge creates a strong dynamic amongst the characters using themes of identity and sexual awakening. Inge is a Pulitzer-Prize winning playwright and novelist whose works generally contain solitary characters who constantly battle with their sexuality and relationships.

“It’s a classic play that rivals the works of Tennessee Williams, but it’s a lesser known show,” said Bryant Hayes, a first-year M.F.A. in theatre arts who plays Hal, “I really enjoy Hal as a character ‘cause I feel like characters like him are often misunderstood. This is the first time he’s fallen in love and it drives him crazy. He’s had a crazy life, but this is the first thing he can latch on to. It discusses falling in love for the first time and how that’s uncomfortable, and it’s about figuring out how to accept it and live in it.”

“The show will move you,” Destiny Dunn, who plays Madge, added.

Picnic is directed by Margaret Scanlan, a current NIU graduate student. “I write and study American masculinity, specifically the era of the ‘lost man’ post-World War II, when men were no longer sure of their role in society and where women were waking up to new possibilities.” When asked why she wanted to direct this show she stated, “It’s a great play. It’s poignant and true and the actors are wonderful in it.”

Performances will be held at NIU’s Holmes Student Center, in the Diversions Lounge, 340 Carroll Ave. in DeKalb. Show times will start at 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday. An additional afternoon performance will be presented at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 25.

Tickets are $7. Ticket reservations and additional information are available by contacting the NIU School of Theatre and Dance box office at 815-753-1600.