NIU Today

F.O.C.U.S. (Future Opportunities Creating Ultimate Successes) is sponsored every spring by the Communication Student Advisory Council of the Department of Communication. This year’s event is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, April 27, in the Illinois Room of Holmes Student Center. Alumni from the department (spanning the various communication emphases and journalism) will...

Senior Jenner Sio and junior Jenelle McCalla were both named to the Mid-American Conference’s Academic All-Conference team, the league office announced Tuesday. In addition, Erica Miller and Courtney Oldenburg earned honorable mention recognition by the MAC. “Our staff and team are extremely proud of Jenelle and Jenner’s Academic All-MAC honor,” said NIU Driector of Track &...

Sparking students’ interest in political science is not difficult, said NIU political science professor Andrea Radasanu. Having them consider the historic and philosophical implications of decisions and events that shape our world is a challenge. “The courses I teach are not required, so students who are in my classes already have interest in the subject,” Radasanu...

When NIU communication instructor Matthew J. Swan assigns a writing project to his students, he gives then two pieces of advice: “Do your best, and don’t over-think the assignment.” If students are not comfortable or accustomed to writing stories, essays and academic papers, he said, they will worry about it and let their fears dictate...

The Chinese Academy of Sciences has named Narayan Hosmane, an NIU Board of Trustees Professor of Chemistry, as a recipient of its prestigious 2012 Visiting Professorship for Senior International Scientists. The academy is a leading academic institution and comprehensive research and development center in natural science, technological science and high-tech innovation. Hosmane, of DeKalb, has...

Issues ranging from the use of social media to sharing confidential information with friends will be in question when the NIU College of Business puts students in the hot seat during its second annual NIU Ethics Case Competition from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, April 13. Hosted by the BELIEF Initiative (Building Ethical Leaders...

Every professor, every teacher, practices their profession according to a well-honed, learned-on-the-job personal code. This year’s Presidential Teaching Professors – Anne Britt from the Department of Psychology, James Johnson from the Department of Finance and Joseph Scudder from the Department of Communication – are no exception, of course. “I am dedicated to teaching … in a...

The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) awarded a $140,000 yearly grant to Paul Kelter, professor of Elementary Education in the Department of Literacy Education, and Jon Miller, professor of Biology in the Department of Biological Sciences. Grant funds will support the project “Integrating Math and Science with Content, Pedagogy, and Technology (IMSCPT).” IMSCPT has...

Open forums are scheduled Monday, April 9, and Tuesday, April 10, to interview the two candidates for the vacant general education coordinator position in the Office of the Provost. Candidates are Beverly W. Henry, an associate professor in the School of Family, Consumer and Nutrition Sciences, and Michael J. Kolb, a professor in the NIU...

The printed word was one of the greatest accomplishments in the history of mankind. Learning how the human mind translates the printed page into complex thoughts and ideas, however, has been an important point of research for only about 40 years. One of the leaders in that effort is NIU Professor of Psychology Joseph Magliano,...

Six students majoring in Community Leadership and Civic Engagement (CLCE) at Northern Illinois University spent spring break in the nation’s capital learning more about advocacy, nonprofit organizations and the political process. “The program was designed to provide students with real-world, practical experiences that reinforce what they learn in the classroom,” said Ben Bingle, program coordinator...

Northern Illinois University has named historian Heide Fehrenbach, chemist Chhiu-Tsu “C.T.” Lin and geologist Reed Scherer as its 2012 Board of Trustees Professors – an honor that recognizes international prominence in research as well as excellence in all facets of teaching. The trio works in fields that seem far removed from each other. Fehrenbach illuminates...