NIU Today

As the son of Double Huskies who went on to be public-school teachers, Eric Michel didn’t always know he wanted to be a teacher. However, after 15 years into his own higher education teaching career began, management assistant professor Michel has reached a milestone reserved for only the best instructors—receiving the 2024 NIU Excellence in...

Pi-Sui Hsu knows her mission. “Scientific argumentation is one of the eight essential practices in the Next Generation Science Standards,” says Hsu, a professor in the Department of Educational Technology, Research and Assessment. “I firmly believe that this practice can produce young adults who can think critically and argue effectively about the important issues in...

Imagine a tall wave in the ocean. If you had sensors providing partial data on observations like past wave heights, wind speeds, ocean currents and other measurements, could you reconstruct the full dynamics (both in the past and future) of the wave-producing system? It might seem impossible to understand just how that big wave came...

“Mark is without a doubt one of the best teachers NIU has to offer; his skill extends well beyond the classroom to mentoring and engaging students at all levels.” “Mark’s commitment to students never falters, regardless of whether he is engaged in face-to-face, virtual or laboratory instruction.” “Mark has made a significant impact on NIU...

History is still being written—and discovered. And perhaps among its most successful explorers is NIU History Professor Aaron Fogleman. His work on revolution, slavery, gender, religion and forced and free transatlantic migrations has helped develop the fields of early America and the Atlantic World—an area of study focusing on interactions among the people of Europe,...

NIU Chemistry Professor Tao Xu, a specialist in nanotechnology, has spent his entire career aiming to help ensure a brighter and more sustainable future for our planet. Xu is a recognized leader in three clean-energy research areas that are considered by some among the great challenges of this century: solar energy conversion and utilization, electrical...

Jessica Prothe is determined to use her personal experience to drive meaningful change. A nurse with over a decade of experience, Prothe was working in medical-surgical units, pediatric wards and on the front lines providing direct patient care. But after she had elective surgery, her health changed to the extent that working as a nurse...

NIU Libraries Regional History Center will host the second annual Northern Illinois Regional History Conference from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday April 20, 2024, at the Barsema Alumni and Vistors Center on NIU’s campus in DeKalb. The conference theme is “Transnational Communities and Global Influences In/On Northern Illinois.” The conference keynote speaker is Professor...

Food Truck Wednesdays are returning this spring – with even more vendors and activities. The whole community is invited to stop by on Wednesdays in April, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Normal Road in front of the MLK Commons. “We’re thrilled to bring back Food Truck Wednesdays and to offer even more vendors,”...

Ethics are a huge part of the curriculum and hands-on experiences for business students at NIU. This is also the focus for younger students when they visit campus during our annual NIU College of Business High School Ethics Case Competition each spring. This year’s event will be held on Friday, April 19, in Barsema Hall....

In 2023, NIU’s Edible Campus program broke ground on more than 100 raised beds throughout campus as well as the 5,000-square-foot Anderson Market Garden. One year later, the campus – and many hearts and minds – have been transformed. “During the pandemic we learned how fragile our global food system is. Making our food systems...

NIU established a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Azabu University during a visit Feb. 28 with university leaders and Azabu Deputy President Kensuke Taira. Founded in 1890 and located in Kanagawa Prefecture near Tokyo, Japan, Azabu University is one of the oldest veterinary universities in Japan. The private university serves about 3,000 student and has departments...