They might not have walked the red carpet at the star-studded gala dubbed the “Oscars® of Science,” but three NIU professors and seven of their former students are sharing in a prestigious 2026 Breakthrough Prize. To be sure, it’s a conversation starter and résumé-worthy honor. What’s more, each Huskie will get a small cut of...
On April 10, Janet Zelenka, MBA ’82, spoke to a room of Executive MBA students, alumni and faculty and staff at NIU Naperville as part of our Executive in Residence program, a series that provides a rare, behind-the-scenes look at leadership. She discussed her varied career path that eventually led her to Stericycle Inc., where...
Jenn Jacobs During her early days at NIU as a rookie assistant professor, Jenn Jacobs was already dreaming of the sabbatical she would take someday. Not the destination or the purpose, of course, but just the concept. “As far as I knew, it was just that you get to go travel someplace cool and still...
For generations of Huskies, spring at NIU has meant one thing: Tugs. The annual mud-filled, tug-of-war competition returned in April with spirited crowds, intense matchups and a renewed appreciation for one of NIU’s most distinctive traditions. Sigma Nu captured the 2026 Tugs championship, adding another title to the fraternity’s long history in the competition. Organized...
After spending his freshman year commuting nearly two hours each day to class, Carlos Rojas soon will be able to call NIU home. Rojas was recently presented with a $25,000 scholarship as part of Chick-fil-A’s Remarkable Futures™ program, recognizing his academic achievements, leadership and commitment to service. The award is one of just 13 given...
Lauren Scott, ’13, inspires Huskies to embrace their authenticity at emerging business leaders event
In business, as in life, no one can be everyone’s cup of tea. So, it’s important to remain authentic and “find your people” — those who appreciate and celebrate your uniqueness as a positive as opposed to a weakness. This was sage advice from keynote speaker Lauren Scott, ’13, at the 12th Crocker Emerging Business Leaders...
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab) has signed a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with NIU, officially launching a collaborative, cutting-edge quantum science program for graduate students. The inaugural class will begin in the fall semester of 2026. Through this partnership, the two institutions will launch a Master of Science in...
For Jerry Stamos, the work he presented with fellow NIU engineering student Katherine Davenport earlier this week at the Conference on Undergraduate Research and Engagement (CURE) wasn’t really about hardware. It was about a feeling—and, at times, the lack of one. Stamos, a junior mechatronics engineering major from St. Charles, got involved with the Vespa...
When Kelly Gross, assistant professor of visual arts education at NIU received a grant from the NIU Student Engagement Fund for a study into the use of artificial intelligence, she knew which students of hers would be perfect for it. She approached Lane Staffeldt and Evie Mulcahey, visual arts education majors who had worked with...
Graduate School, CITL celebrate outstanding students The Graduate School celebrated the outstanding accomplishments of NIU’s graduate students on Tuesday, April 14. These students were nominated for recognition by their academic departments, are fellowship recipients, or are dissertation and thesis prize winners. Outstanding graduate teaching assistants were recognized by the Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning....
The NIU Presidential Commissions play a vital role in shaping a campus where everyone feels seen, supported and valued. Serving as advisory groups to the president, the commissions bring people together through collaboration and research to offer thoughtful recommendations that strengthen inclusion and expand opportunities for all members of the Huskie community to thrive. Each...
NIU offices are finding new ways to make sustainability part of everyday operations through the university’s growing Green Office program. The voluntary certification initiative, led by Campus Sustainability, encourages departments across campus to assess and strengthen environmentally conscious practices while contributing to the goals outlined in NIU’s Sustainability and Climate Action Plan. Those certified have...
