For years, Jim Perona, ’08, has used music to connect with audiences, whether at a private wedding or party gig, or for a corporate event. It’s something that he loves to do and has built a successful career on. A serious medical diagnosis in 2022 didn’t slow him down; instead, it moved him to add a skill...
The Barsema Alumni and Visitors Center resembled a grocery store staging area as College of Health and Human Sciences (CHHS) faculty and staff arrived for their Jan. 9 Welcome Back meeting. Along with welcoming new employees and reflecting on a successful fall semester, college leaders used the gathering to support students through a hands-on service...
The research demonstrates how learning about the plight of animals can ease human suffering. The rusty-brown “pit-bull” mix learned avidly alongside his teenaged handlers in Lifetime Bonds courses, which empower young people who have committed criminal offenses by enlisting them to train shelter dogs for adoption. Northern Illinois University Professor Keri Burchfield has helped grow...
As we gear up for the spring semester, the Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning (CITL) is excited to highlight a timely new resource designed to support student success in a world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence. The Student Guide to Artificial Intelligence offers students a comprehensive introduction to the opportunities and challenges that AI...
In November, our NIU Executive MBA (EMBA) Huskies gathered to hear from Mouneer Ahmad, the keynote speaker at our Executive in Residence event in Naperville. Ahmad, who earned his B.S. in finance from the NIU College of Business in 1996, now serves as the deputy associate director of the Federal Reserve Board, where he is...
From holiday traditions rooted in Latinx culture to long-running pageants that spotlight Asian American identity, Multicultural Greek Council (MGC) chapters at NIU are creating spaces where culture takes center stage. Through signature events hosted throughout the academic year, MGC organizations invite the campus community to learn, celebrate and connect through traditions that feel like home...
When Madeline Alger, ’18, graduated from Northern Illinois University with a marketing degree and a graphic design minor, she knew she had the tools to succeed in the fast-paced world of digital marketing. What she didn’t anticipate was how those same skills would empower her to take on a second role — helping her family...
Juel Mecklenburg is entering the family business. The new graduate of NIU’s Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education has a job secured for January – teaching P.E. at Crystal Lake’s Prairie Ridge High School – as she continues a McHenry County legacy begun by her father, Rob. “My dad – he’s always fun. He’s like...
NIU Libraries invites you to explore a new digital exhibit celebrating the beauty, history, and creativity of Japan. This collaborative exhibit brings together the work of retired NIU professor and photographer Michael Day and photographer and printmaker Ron Caplain, both longtime members of the DeBlois Gallery in Rhode Island. Drawing on more than 40 years...
Eleven students in NIU’s program in Visual Disabilities gained close-up exposure this fall to a career option they might never had considered. Molly Pasley, assistant professor in the Department of Special and Early Education, drove the group to the Wisconsin School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (WSBVI) in Janesville. A state-operated school, WSBVI offers...
Honor Morgan, ’23, has dedicated her life to serving the public, and she continues that role with her job at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Morgan’s time at NIU helped solidify her love for service and helped shape her growth. “Looking back, my NIU experience was about more than involvement – it was about discovery,...
Experiencing a resurgence, NIU’s National Pan-Hellenic Council expects to have a “full yard” this spring. During 2025, all nine historically African American fraternities and sororities in the NHPC welcomed new members. In total, 22 students crossed in spring 2025, with another 42 joining in fall 2025. Commonly referred to as the “Divine Nine,” these organizations...
