Instead of taking on his senior design project elsewhere, recent mechanical engineering graduate Joseph Rayner, ’26, saw an opportunity to build one with the company where he already worked — Assurance Technologies, Inc. “I realized I could either partner with another company on the work they were doing, or I could make a stronger...
At Custom Aluminum Products, middle school students took the lead on a project to design, manufacture and sell a new aluminum table and bench set. The program was part of a partnership between the Genoa-based company and NIU STEAM, in the NIU Division of Outreach, Engagement and Regional Development. DeKalb middle schoolers from the NIU...
As part of its ongoing commitment to the success of transfer students, NIU has been named to the 2026 Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Transfer Honor Roll. The Transfer Honor Roll is one of the nation’s most comprehensive recognitions of transfer excellence. Colleges are assessed across five dimensions shown to influence transfer success: Transfer student success...
Many faculty members leave a lasting legacy with the students they teach and mentor. However, after they retire, it takes an educator with a giving spirit and an eye for the future to be committed to the success of future students and faculty members. Schriber, with her National Defense Education Act-supported Ph.D. in Comparative Literature...
Graham, Gabel, Cole and Patterson halls came alive the week of June 8 to welcome and host NIU’s Summer Camp for Responsive Education. The eighth edition of the camp focused on the Culturally Responsive Teaching and Leading Standards adopted by the Illinois State Board of Education in March 2021 as “research-based best practices for closing...
Artificial intelligence (AI) tools are helping NIU create a more personal, connected experience for students. Through interactive tools available within the Navigate and Mission AI platforms, NIU is leveraging AI to provide support and reduce barriers. This high-tech, high-touch approach helps staff members respond quickly, identify concerns and connect students with the appropriate resources. “What...
Loneliness can be deadly, but there are simple, powerful ways to fight back. Research from Northern Illinois University shows that exercise, social connection and even music can help protect the brain and body from the effects of loneliness and stress. Social isolation and loneliness are increasingly being recognized as a priority public health problem. A...
Daniel Chukwunyem, a master of music student in the NIU School of Music won the Advanced Classical TBB Voice Category at the 59th Annual National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) convention in San Antonio, Texas. Chukwunyem is a native of Lagos, Nigeria who will complete his master of music this fall at NIU. He...
Some people are remembered for what they accomplished. Others are remembered for how they made people feel. Michael J. Naser will be remembered for both. Whether he was treating a patient, leading a team or spending time with family and friends, Mike had a gift for connecting with people. He was known for his kindness,...
When Lilian Ulloa transferred to NIU’s College of Engineering and Engineering Technology, she wasn’t just looking to get through her classes—she yearned for hands-on experience, leadership opportunities and a clearer path into her future career. Last year, the Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISYE) major found all three in a student chapter of the Institute of...
From a newly planted permaculture garden near Anderson Hall to the opening of a GROW Lab in Gilbert Hall, NIU’s Edible Campus continues to transform campus into a living laboratory. Innovative food-growing projects focused on sustainability have created new opportunities for hands-on learning, research and community engagement. Among the latest efforts, former turf grass near...
NIU’s College of Education is celebrating the July 1 launch of the Department of Learning Innovation, Leadership and Technology (LILT). LILT combines the former Department of Educational Technology, Research and Assessment (ETRA) and the former Department of Leadership, Educational Psychology and Foundations (LEPF). Programs housed within LILT include graduate studies in educational administration, educational psychology,...
