NIU Today

Recent national unrest due to gun violence continues to remind the community of the need to understand differing perspectives and the necessity to work together toward social justice, equity and open dialogue about racial issues. “Given the 24/7 nature of social media and the immediacy of news, it was important to create ongoing opportunities for the NIU community...

Gena Flynn, the new director of NIU’s Center for Black Studies, brings 16 years of higher education leadership experience to her new job directing the center’s efforts to promote excellence and engagement in teaching, learning, scholarship, artistry, outreach and service. Flynn, who will assume her new role July 1, has spent most of her career...

“Allies in Interfaith” is the next Diversity Dialogues focus. To make NIU a more welcoming and inclusive environment, discussion about different belief systems is important, said said Vernese Edghill-Walden, NIU senior associate vice president for Academic Diversity and chief diversity officer. “Being a member of one belief system does not mean you can’t be an ally to...

The first in NIU’s series of Diversity Dialogues began, appropriately, with the First Amendment. Students, faculty and area community members gathered Wednesday in the Carl Sandburg Auditorium for “The First Amendment, Free Speech and Lawful Assembly.” The panel discussion kicked off the series designed to give the university community to place to talk openly and...

The Gender & Sexuality Resource Center (GSRC) is honoring NIU women in celebration of Women’s History Month. Throughout the month of March, the GSRC is looking for stories of thanks – stories of how an NIU women influenced and empowered each personal, educational and professional development journey. To nominate someone who deserves recognition, along with stories...

Yale Law School Senior Research Scholar Frederick M. Lawrence will help NIU kick off a new series of Diversity Dialogues that will provide a space for members of the university community to talk openly and honestly on complex and important matters. Sponsored by NIU, the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost and the City...

NIU can survive through the fall semester without a resolution of the Springfield gridlock that has caused an eight-month state budget impasse, NIU President Doug Baker told a town hall meeting audience Tuesday. But Baker doubts the “epic battle” between the governor and the legislature will last that long. “They’re locked in this, and we’re...

Similar words were spoken by the NIU students and administrators who participated in a New Year’s Eve march for peace along Chicago’s Magnificent Mile. “It hit close to home.” First on their hearts and minds was Quintonio LeGrier, a student last semester in the NIU College of Engineering and Engineering Technology, who was killed Dec....

In the wake of recent events at the University of Missouri and other college campuses around the country, NIU President Doug Baker discussed the university’s commitment to inclusion and diversity, and the importance of creating an environment of mutual respect during his most recent edition of the NIU Insider podcast. “The diversity that makes us...

As Halloween approaches, NIU is joining other universities in reminding students to think carefully about the emotional and hurtful impact of costumes that mock the sexual orientation, gender identity, cultures, ethnicities and races of others. The “Conscientious Costumes” campaign seeks to keep Halloween a fun and imaginative time for students who plan to share and...

It’s been a little over a month since Vernese Edghill-Walden joined Northern Illinois University as the first chief diversity officer and senior associate vice president for academic diversity. As the former provost and chief academic officer of the City Colleges of Chicago, Edghill-Walden has a wealth of higher education experience and is a recognized leader...

“Celebrating our Diverse Community” will be the theme for the second annual Unity Walk, which begins at 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3. Members of the NIU and DeKalb communities will walk together and celebrate their shared opportunity to live, grow and learn next to one another. DeKalb Mayor John Rey, Pastor Janet Hunt, NIU Provost...