NIU Today

Bill Cassidy says the educational philosophy he applies to the journalism courses he teaches is one of “voices.” To help his students successfully find their voices he strives to create an inclusive classroom. One that is relaxed and open with an atmosphere of encouragement as they do their work together. “Numerous studies have found that...

Taylor Hartman is passionate about what he does, and it shows. An American Sign Language (ASL) instructor and Excellence in Undergraduate Instruction Award winner, Hartman is known for being dedicated, enthusiastic and willing to go above and beyond for Huskie students and the campus community. “It is such an honor to receive this award,” Hartman...

To Philosophy Professor Mylan Engel Jr., the community is a classroom. His students learn philosophy by doing. They plant, weed, mulch and tend NIU’s Communiversity Gardens. They harvest and clean produce donated to the Huskie Food Pantry. They pack food for Feed My Starving Children. And they volunteer their time at an animal sanctuary. During...

NIU Biologist Barrie Bode’s passion and drive to engage are reflected in the advice he once gave a former student. Alum Natalie Lubbers had a solid job as a lab supervisor but was considering a move to take on the COVID-19 fight with SHIELD Illinois, the University of Illinois System’s initiative to make a saliva-based...

NIU Physics Professor Andreas Glatz is working to meet the demands of an ongoing technological revolution—one that requires a keen understanding of the quantum world, where the normal rules of physics and nature fly out the window. In the quantum or subatomic realm, electrons are particles—and waves. A subatomic particle can be both here and...

Throughout her nearly 25-year career at NIU, Psychology Professor Christine Malecki has positively impacted the lives of countless children, adolescents and young adults, near and far. Typically, her work is behind the scenes—developing assessments and interventions that will be used by others to improve K-12 students’ lives. But in the world of school psychology research,...

Physics Professor Omar Chmaissem has an impressive vitae that showcases his achievements both in and out of the classroom. That career includes nearly 30 years of teaching, as well as appointments at the National Institute of Standards and Technology and Argonne National Laboratory. However, it’s this statement from a former student that seems to best...

The impact Professor Michelle Demaray has made during more than two decades at NIU stretches far beyond the university. It’s felt in the countless students she’s mentored, the international and national leadership roles she’s held, the millions of dollars in funding she’s helped secure and the valuable research she’s conducted and published to help improve...

When Donna Werderich became a teacher in 1993, she consciously made that profession her identity. Even her vanity license plate – POPQUIZ – and her personal email address with the same seven letters have manifested that since the beginning, and she’s still happy to answer “Yes!” when strangers ask if she’s an educator. But her...

Paul Wright’s impact is selfless – and indisputable. More than two decades as “a strong and steady influence” in physical education and sport pedagogy. A renowned researcher with more than 100 publications. A fellow of the National Academy of Kinesiology. The 2022 Illinois Scholar of the Illinois Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance....

For Patricia Wood, M.S. ’82, it was a long and winding road to becoming a critically acclaimed author. Still, no matter her age or stage, writing was always a cornerstone of her life. Even early on, she found creative ways to tie writing to her hobbies and jobs. Growing up in Seattle, Washington, she was...

NIU’s Course Materials Affordability Taskforce (CMAT) presented the inaugural Affordable Course Materials (ACM) Department Awards—part of the Leading Impact Program, which recognizes academic departments’ and individual faculty members’ adoption of Open Educational Resources (OER) and low-cost materials. In 2022, affordable course materials designators—zero cost or low-cost ($40 or less)—were added in MyNIU to help students...