Communications

Communications to our alumni and friends of the University were never more critical than in FY20. The year was filled with many unknowns, and the NIU Alumni Association Communications team made every effort to keep Huskies connected.

Weekly alumni feature stories on www.myniu.com highlighted exciting Huskie careers and hobbies, including stories about some of our most notable alumni, such as actress Joan Allen, ’89 and comedian Sebastian Maniscalco, ’95. In November, the NIUAA released its second Impact Report in as many years and increased the page capacity from 16 to 20 pages.

The NIUAA dipped its toes into promoting and endorsing various products, ranging from selling branded leather goods and travel neck pillows, and most notably our co-branded beer Dawgma with Pollyanna Brewing Company. What began as a seasonal run in October 2019 is now entering its fourth batch of the Kölsch beer, and we have even begun to sell Dawgma merchandise for loyal Huskie and Pollyanna fans to wear! In March and April, in the heights of uncertainty, the Communications team developed a weekly COVID-19-focused newsletter, bringing Huskie expert opinions and front-line workers’ experiences to alumni readers. These newsletters were recognized by Annual Giving Network (AGN) Resources as a “best practice” for cultivating community online.

The Fall 2019 issue of Northern Now brought several stories about innovation and handson experiences. The coronavirus also played a role in our magazine production. The pandemic forced the team to pivot a planned food-themed issue to a COVID-19-specific issue that was released digitally in July.

JOAN ALLEN, ’89

SEBASTIAN MANISCALCO, ’95

FOLLOW US ON: /niualumni @niu_alumni /niu_alumni /niualumni myniu.com

WEBSITE SESSIONS

INCREASED BY NEARLY

9.0%

IN FY20.

“I WANT TO COMPLIMENT YOU AND YOUR STAFF ON A SPECTACULAR FALL ISSUE OF (THE NORTHERN NOW) MAGAZINE. - CHERILYN MURER, J.D. ’78

NIU Foundation Board of Directors

OUR WEBSITE, WWW.MYNIU.COM,

SAW AN INCREASE OF OVER

15,000

NEW VISITORS FROM THE PREVIOUS FISCAL YEAR.

LINKEDIN

FOLLOWERS GREW BY

2.8%

IN FY20, TRANSLATING TO 4,625 HUSKIES.

SOCIAL MEDIA

AMBASSADORS GREW BY

39%

FROM 88 IN FY19 TO 122 IN FY20.

THROUGH NIUNIVERSE, THE NIUAA’S SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM, OUR MARKET VALUE INCREASED BY ALMOST 100% IN FY20, GROWING FROM

$21,434.35 TO $42,266.85

OF FREE MARKETING!