For more than two decades, Liz Wright has been a steady, behind-the-scenes force helping NIU run smoothly. Described as the ultimate team player, she steps in whenever needed to support students, colleagues and the broader campus community. Now, the executive assistant in the President’s Office has been recognized with one of the university’s highest staff...
When colleagues at NIU need help getting things done, they turn to Chris Doe. Serving in roles spanning multiple areas of the university for more than two decades, Doe has been a constant source of support, knowledge and Huskie pride. She has been named as a 2026 Board of Trustees Staff Award recipient. The honor...
The Presidential Award for Staff Excellence recognizes up to six staff members per year who have gone above and beyond the specific duties assigned to them and have demonstrated excellence in their work. These individuals positively influence the work environment, foster cooperation, achieve goals and/or overcome obstacles/challenges, while carrying out employment responsibilities. Criteria: Be a...
April Startzel, Laura Fehling and Vicki Gerentes are the recipients of the 2026 Rising Huskie Staff Award. The award recognizes staff members who, while new to NIU, have demonstrated excellence, innovation and performance that have had a significant impact in a short period of time. Criteria: Be a regular staff member at least 51% time...
The NIU Staff Inclusive Excellence Award recognizes staff members each year who exhibit an outstanding commitment to fostering our institutional commitment of belonging and who are exemplars of what it means to foster a welcoming university community. Whether it is small or large actions, they embody the Huskie values of equity and inclusion. Criteria: Be a...
Edye Cowan and T. Ajewole Duckett are the recipients of the 2026 Staff Award for Student Impact. The award recognizes staff members who have gone above and beyond their normal job responsibilities to positively impact the quality of life and/or student experience for students at NIU. This includes staff from all divisions and all job...
Nanette Andersson and Jon Dehl, a pair of Northern Illinois University employees with markedly different roles on campus, embody the truth that impact isn’t confined to one role or setting. Andersson is architect/project manager of NIU Architectural and Engineering Services; Dehn is assistant food service manager at the Starbucks in Holmes Student Center. Because they...
The Staff Mentorship Award recognizes up to two staff members per year who serve as role models by inspiring colleagues and/or promoting professional development among colleagues. These staff members, informally or formally, provide mentorship by being available to colleagues for support and sharing tips/resources for navigating higher education field/job functions. They’re known as go-to resources...
The NIU team behind a complex plan developed with multiple units and colleges to transition classroom technology support from the Division of Information Technology (DoIT) to IT staff across Academic Affairs has earned the university’s Award for Advancing Creativity and Innovation. The result of their work? Higher quality, higher volume and higher satisfaction than previous approaches...
Patricia S. Siebrasse served NIU for 50 years as an administrative professional and was a valuable member of the Administrative Professionals Advisory Council (APAC) since its inception in 1995. The annual Patricia S. Siebrasse Administrative Professionals Award for Excellence may recognize up to two administrative professionals at NIU who have shown continued commitment to their field, demonstrated...
NIU BookLab, Northern Illinois University Libraries, and the Department of English invite the campus and broader community to Crafting Knowledge: A Showcase of BookLab Learning, a celebration of hands-on book arts, book studies and literary scholarship, and creative experimentation. The event will take place on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, featuring an interactive morning demo, a...
NIU invites staff to apply for Staff Professional Development Academy by May 1. For over 20 years, including the last half-dozen as NIU’s senior web developer, Brian Walk has grown proficient in understanding how the university works. After all, he’s been on the creative and technological frontlines of telling its myriad stories. Just the same,...
