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FEATURES
Fall 2021-Spring 2022
THELUMINARY
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Director's Message Andrea Radasanu, Ph.D.
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Editor's Notes Anna Scanlan
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Perks of Being an Honors LLC Resident Anjishnu Chakrabarti
EDITOR
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My Honors Day Speech Cameron Simpson
PROOFREADING
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Experiences of Honors Program International Students at NIU Minoo Yar
LUMINARY STAFF
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McKearn Corner: Amanda Pollock Amanda Pollock
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Student Spotlight: Emmett Rogman Curtis Baryla
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Outstanding Honors Alumni Award 2022 Gary Timmons Andrea Radasanu
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New Job Shadowing Program in Honors Anna Scanlan
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Passion Is the Key to Success - A Student-Athlete’s Accomplishments in the Honors Program Minoo Yar
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Honors Fellows Katherine Hahn-Boisvert
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NIU alumni help support Honors Faculty Fellows Andrea Radasanu
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Mental Health Anna Scanlan
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Luminary Magazine Wins National Honors Honors Staff
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Faculty Spotlights: Melissa Fickling and Dean Paul Kassel Erin Wallin and Connie Storey
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Honors Advocacy Initiative: Current Work Grant Goral
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Honors by the Numbers 2021-2022
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Strength in Numbers: Honors Donors
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Staff and Honors Contacts
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NIU HONORS PROGRAM
Anna Scanlan Andrea Radasanu Connie Storey Curtis Baryla Katherine Hahn-Boisvert Anjishnu Chakrabarti Grant Goral Amanda Pollock Cameron Simpson Erin Wallin Minoo Yar CREATIVE SERVICES
Sophia Varcados
Northern Illinois University is an equal opportunity institution and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, marital status, national origin, disability, status based on the Victims’ Economic Security and Safety Act (VESSA) or status as a disabled or Vietnam-era veteran. Further, the Constitution and Bylaws of Northern Illinois University provides for equal treatment regardless of political views or affiliation, and sexual orientation. Inquiries concerning application of Title IX, Section 504, and other statutes and regulations may be referred to the Affirmative Action and Diversity Resources Center, 1515 W. Lincoln Highway, DeKalb, IL 60115, telephone 815-753-1118. Printed by authority of the state of Illinois. niu.edu 54567 6/2022 ON THE COVER:
Honors Fellows Kat Hahn-Boisvert and Lexi Quemeneur lead a group of new students at the Larado Taft retreat.
DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE We just concluded the 2021-2022 academic year with the first inperson spring Honors Day since the pandemic began. It was a joy to have a celebration where our accomplished graduates walked across the Duke Ellington Ballroom stage and received their certificates and Honors regalia. As always, our students – those who graduated as well as those who are working toward that goal – amaze us with their talents, work ethic and public-spirited pursuits. Over the last couple of years, University Honors Program leadership has engaged in introspection and dialogue to ensure that the values and practices of our program serve meaningful goals. We have looked for ways to engage students in this conversation, especially the wonderful Honors Fellows who work with the program as peer mentors and advisors. We have reaffirmed our commitment to providing students with the support, resources and opportunities to reach their goals. And, beyond this, we have articulated the importance of encouraging students to take the reins of their own educational journeys so that they have the tools to learn and grow over the course of their entire professional – and personal – lives. Their majors will give them the credentials they need to start their careers, but their Honors experience will provide them with the self-belief and breadth of learning to meet unexpected challenges and rise to the top of their professions – or to pivot to new professions over time.
We want to continue to deliver this nourishing and productive environment for all NIU students who are motivated to participate. And we want all our students to feel welcome, included and equipped with the resources they need to succeed. We have been looking carefully at our practices, communications, and curricular and cocurricular offerings to ensure that we are proponents of inclusive excellence. A crucial element of our success lies in the hands of our incredible Honors community. Alumni and friends who donate their time, expertise and financial resources do more than offer the means for our students to succeed: You offer community and continuity. You offer the linkages between past, present and future without which an honors program or any community becomes bereft of meaning. Thank you for all you do!
Sincerely,
Andrea Radasanu, Ph.D. Director for University Honors Northern Illinois University
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EDITOR’S NOTES Anna Scanlan I am Anna Scanlan, a freshman double major in psychology and media studies. In the long run, I aim to get a Ph.D. in media psychology to research the impact of entertainment and social media on perception. In my very short time here at NIU, I have found a home in the Honors Program, one of the reasons I am thrilled to be the editor of The Luminary. Honors has opened my eyes to a number of resources that I previously did not know about, and through this publication I’ve loved sharing information about these programs with others. This edition serves as a documentation of student and program perseverance over the past few years. I continue to be amazed at the dedication and achievements of my peers, even in the time of the pandemic. It’s an honor to be able to report on the growth and accomplishments of my peers to alumni and friends of the Honors Program, and I couldn’t ask for a better team to work alongside.
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Anna Scanlan, freshman double major in psychology and media studies.
Perks of Being an Honors LLC Resident Anjishnu Chakrabarti Students accepted into the University Honors Program at NIU have the option of living in the Honors House Living-learning Community (LLC) located in NIU’s New Residence Hall’s east wing. Featuring 200 beds grouped into 12-person, cluster-style units, the Honors LLC offers its residents a wide array of perks. Including excursions in the DeKalb-Sycamore and Chicagoland areas, career-building opportunities through professional development workshops, and unique cultural and community-building experiences, residents of the Honors LLC have almost everything it takes to make the most of their four-year college experience. This year I had the good fortune of living in the Honors LLC. Not only did I enjoy living with other driven Honors students, but I loved going on the semester trips with my peers and staff from the wonderful University Honors Program. Our first trip during the fall 2021 semester was to the Six Flags Great America amusement park in Gurnee, Illinois. Transportation to and from the theme park was provided and tickets were also included. I had a wonderful time that day, especially because I had never been to Six Flags before. I personally feel that this is one of the best features of being an Honors student. We get to participate in these really awesome experiences that become a part of our memories for life. I also met other Honors students who became my friends by the end of the day (another advantage of going on these excursions organized by the Honors Program). College is stressful at times and the workload from having
multiple classes can seem overwhelming. However, taking these little breaks and having a fun day out with people who care about you make college a worthwhile journey. I also went on a trip to Jonamac Orchard with the Honors program. I went there as an Honors fellow and the trip gave me an opportunity to get to know some of the other fellows. Besides being a nice team bonding exercise, the day out with friends and the Honors staff revealed another wonderful side of the program to me. The Honors Program is not just another academic program for high-achieving students: It becomes a family for the students who are part of the program (at least that is how I have always felt). Being an international student, I struggled quite a bit with acculturation and homesickness during my freshman year at NIU. It was through my active involvement in the Honors Program that I was able to break free from the shackles of cultural insecurity and thrive during my undergraduate career. Now that I am on the verge of graduating from NIU and reflecting upon my experiences as an Honors student, I think I will miss the Honors excursions the most. Those trips are not only meant for de-stressing and meeting new people, but can also be great learning experiences. For me personally, these excursions provided great insights into American culture. I recommend all other students participate in these Honors trips. College, after all, is a lot more than grades and assignments.
Honors students and staff attend Jonamac Welcome Back event for Honors.
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HONOR’S DAY SPEECH — DEC. 2, 2021 I got an email a few weeks ago from Linda Condon, an advisor in the Honors Program, with an update on my Honors graduation status, and it’s probably a bad thing that I was genuinely shocked to see I was on track to graduate with full honors. Back when I was a freshman planning my college career, the list of Honors requirements had seemed so daunting. When I opened that email, I was sure I’d need to find one more experience for credit in my last semester, but I had fulfilled all the academic and extracurricular requirements without giving it a second thought. Included in the email was a list of blurbs corresponding to each of my fulfilled requirements, and I scoured the list to make sure there hadn’t been a mistake. As I reflected on those experiences of the last 3½ years, I started feeling sentimental for obvious reasons. When I have sat down and let my mind wander since then, I have been amazed by the sheer quantity of stuff I have managed to cram into my undergraduate career — not just opportunities that I took full advantage of, but also things I wish I had been more grateful for and more excited about pursuing. You may be sharing that feeling with me, especially today. When I graduated from high school, the experiences ahead of me were not on my horizon at all. I had terrible anxiety about messing up, about getting bad grades and about taking on things that might be the slightest bit difficult. With a new school came new beginnings, though, and I made a decision at the start of my freshman year that caused a seismic shift in what would be possible for me at NIU. I have only ever taken one improv class, at Christian summer camp when I was 13, and I was not good at it. However, it was not a total wash — I did learn the most important rule of improv: “Yes, and.” Essentially, “yes, and” decrees that you create a scene with your improv group by taking ideas and making them bigger and better, rather than rejecting them and slowing down your collective momentum. For example: Yes, I am graduating, and its from clown college! Each idea takes the best parts of the last one and magnifies them to create an absurd and (ideally) funny result. I’m not good at improv comedy, but I do not think the role of “yes, and” is limited to that space. Applying a “yes, and” philosophy to my academic career has paid off spectacularly, and Honors is the perfect structure to encourage it with the flexibility to apply passions and interests to the greater goal of graduating. I have watched my friends use “yes, and” to take them places they never expected. My friend Emma said yes, she wanted to take an internship at the NIU Foundation, and she gladly made herself so indispensable that they are considering hiring her after she graduates. Jeremy said yes, he wanted to do undergraduate research in a field that interested him, and he would go on to get that research published in a professional journal as an undergraduate. Catherine said yes, she would get her English degree in three years and finish law school in two more.
My Honors Day Speech By Cameron Simpson
Cameron Simpson, history and English major/communication studies minor.
When I was asked to think about what Honors at NIU has meant to me, I did not think about a specific set of qualifications, or experiences, or requirements. I thought about all the things I could have done, and all the things I chose to do. Your departments, your clubs, the choices you were presented when you got here have shaped your experiences in the same ways as mine. And our choices and resulting experiences here have shaped who we are and who we will be. When I wrote this speech, I tried to summarize my own NIU experience in a single “yes, and” statement and I absolutely could not. Between internships, major extracurricular projects and part-time jobs, the last 3½ years have been a blur of opportunity that I have tried to say yes to whenever possible. As we leave NIU and our home departments, the same attitude can help us spread our wings and fly. As we enter this next phase of our lives, it’s up to us to continue to — or to choose for the first time — to say “yes, and.” 6 | T h e L u m i n a ry
Experiences of Honors Program International Students at NIU By Minoo Yar Hongtao Huang and Xinyi Ye are international junior students from Capital Normal University (CNU) in Beijing, China. They both major in geography with Hongtao minoring in computer science and statistics while Xinyi minors only in computer science. In addition to being a part of the Honors Program, both students are also part of a 1+2+1 program in which, once completed, they will earn two bachelor’s degrees. One degree will be earned from NIU this year and the other will be earned in CNU in their senior year. During their time at NIU, Hongtao and Xinyi have achieved high academic excellence. Both students have demonstrated incredible perseverance in their pursuit of their education, all while immersing themselves in the English language and American culture. Xinyi’s accomplishments include winning first place in a speech competition at CNU and she was listed on the dean’s list for three semesters straight from fall 2020 to fall 2021 since she transitioned to NIU. The proudest moments that Xinyi experienced in her years at NIU, however, occurred when she saw her academic success despite her prior feelings of uncertainty. When receiving a high score on a quiz or an assignment, to Xinyi, it meant that all her effort had paid off. Her academic status as an Honors student is proof of her willingness and determination to give her best effort in learning, which in turn has immensely improved her English. She knows her current efforts and achievements can help her improve her academics and prepare for graduate studies. Some aspects that Xinyi likes about the Honors Program are the Honors courses and Honors Engaged activities which she believes helped her to become more involved in NIU’s community. “I like Honors Engaged events because I’m not a very outgoing person,” she said. “So, sometimes [there are] activities in the university I am interested in, but I do not feel encouraged to join them.” Therefore, Xinyi said she likes how the Honors Engaged point system encourages or motivates students to become more involved on campus to take opportunities for new experiences. Hongtao also made the dean’s list. Hongtao’s proudest moments included being able to hold a conversation with a stranger, completing independent projects and giving presentations to colleagues in English. Before, Hongtao did not believe he could accomplish these feats by himself, but since his English improved so much during his stay at NIU, he overcame those difficulties and therefore felt very proud of himself. Hongtao learned how to manage his time to balance his extracurricular and academic
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International student Xinyi Ye, geography major, in front of the music building at NIU.
activities, participating in clubs, holding internships, and devoting a lot of time to choir and piano in addition to taking challenging courses in his major and minors. For Hongtao, the Honors Program has challenged him from an academic standpoint and prepared him to be ready for graduate school. Hongtao believes that the Honors Program gives its students a better experience. “The Honors Program provides more than [what] the normal students in NIU can get like the Honors seminar, activities. And we have the privilege to enroll in the classes early!” Hongtao and Xinyi adjusted admirably in their transition from CNU to NIU while learning many life skills in their journey. For instance, they learned how to rent their own apartments which are located near the NIU campus. It can be very challenging for international students to become accustomed to another country’s language and culture. These students exhibited great perseverance despite the obstacles which faced them during their stay at NIU. “All the people I meet are very friendly and they try their best to communicate with me.” Xinyi said. “It lets me be more brave and I can say my point, or say my thinking, and feel more confident.” It can be very intimidating and stressful for international students to engage in a curriculum and academic environment in a foreign language, let alone partaking in a conversation in English. Nevertheless, both students have displayed resilience and courage in studying abroad by taking chances and learning from their mistakes. This alone confirms Xinyi and Hongtao are exemplary not only as students, but as outstanding individuals as well. The best piece of advice from Hongtao and Xinyi about study abroad for interested students is to study — as much as possible — the language of the country the student wants to visit. Hongtao supports and encourages that study abroad students study the language through vast amounts of language input like listening to music and consuming any media content in that specific language. Xinyi also shared the same sentiments while also adding that it is important to do research on the country itself and familiarize oneself on practical knowledge that relates to a country’s policies such as how to apply for a visa, how to book a hotel, how to communicate with a landlord to rent a house, how to apply for insurance, and so forth. If Xinyi did not study abroad, she would have never had the experiences and be comfortable or confident in these types of important life skills as she is now.
International student Hongtao Huang, fencing club at NIU Rec Center.
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McKearn Corner:
Amanda Pollock Amanda Pollock For each of Pollock’s three years at NIU, she participated in undergraduate research in a variety of fields. Her first year, she was a part of the Research Rookies program. She worked with Professor Christina Odeh from the Department of Allied Health and Communicative Disorders on a study exploring spatiotemporal gait characteristics in children who have autism spectrum disorder in comparison to those who do not. Last year, Pollock conducted research in the Department of World Languages and Cultures with Professor Mandy Faretta-Stutenberg. She worked on a project comparing the exposure to various Spanish language domains among students who took a study abroad trip. For this project, she presented at the Honors Council of the Illinois Region Student Symposium and the Conference on Undergraduate Research and Engagement, winning first place in the Education and Humanities category. During her senior year, Pollock participated in yet another research endeavor for her Honors Capstone with Professor Douglas Wallace from the Department of Psychology. This study looked into the effect of age on susceptibility to the loss of cholinergic function, and it is conducted by using a female rodent model of Alzheimer’s disease. Pollock analyzed food protection behavior videos of old and young female rats to examine how spatial and temporal processing is impacted by age in females. This research is important as it will provide a better understanding on the effects of Alzheimer’s disease, and it may bring future studies closer to finding better treatment options or a cure. Pollock is thankful to have received so many opportunities to perform research in a variety of fields during her undergraduate career. In May, Pollock graduated from NIU with a degree in biological sciences. She has always had a passion for health care and wanted a career in the medical field. Pollock decided to work toward this goal by applying for graduate school to become a physician assistant. Upon completion of her master’s degree, she is considering working in obstetrics or gastroenterology.
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Amanda Pollock, graduate, biological sciences major.
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
Emmett Rogman Curtis Baryla Emmett Rogman is a senior from Poplar Grove, Illinois. He is currently a triple major studying applied mathematics, biochemistry and statistics. He does so while boasting a substantial 3.99 GPA, receiving only one A- in over 120 credit hours. He found his passion for the STEM field at a very young age and used science and mathematics to his advantage to excel throughout his schooling career. After coming to NIU, Rogman catapulted his opportunities due to a high level of involvement across campus, the Honors Program and student organizations. He is currently the president of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS). While there, he received a chapterwide Star Status ranking as well as second in Most Improved Chapter Award. Rogman is also a frequent visitor of NIU’s Math Club and provides insight to younger students within the mathematics department. During his junior year, Rogman rushed both his social fraternity, Sigma Nu, as well as Alpha Chi Sigma, a chemistry fraternity. Rogman was elected scholarship chair for Sigma Nu during the 2021 school year and reinvented the position to streamline the process of collecting, analyzing and improving brothers’ academics. Over one semester, he raised the entire fraternity GPA by a whopping 0.497 across the board; those he was able to work with directly were particularly successful at raising their GPAs. Involvement within the university is another reason why Rogman is an exemplary Honors student. Rogman did two years of professor-led research in computational chemistry, simulating protein environments to predict structure. This is a position usually only given to graduate level students. Afterward, he applied to be a teacher’s assistant (TA) to aid in the department of chemistry and biochemistry. He was hired and currently teaches an introductory level chemistry class to over 20 students of all ages and majors. To describe his experience while being a TA, he states that it is rewarding to be a mentor to all those interested in similar fields and looking to expand their knowledge base.
Emmett Rogman, senior in applied mathmatics, biochemistry and statistics.
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One of his more distinguished accomplishments is being a McKearn fellow. Only five freshmen Honors students are selected to join the fellowship program each year. This achievement was primarily due to his impressive academic achievement, and especially his participation in important cutting-edge research alongside the chair of the Department of Chemistry. Rogman’s favorite memory is receiving Sigma Nu’s White Robe accolade in his rush class. To him, it meant embodying the ideals of love, honor and truth while furthering the personal growth of each brother’s mind, heart and character. He has a strong recollection of first experiences within the fraternity and enjoyed meeting a large collection of high-achieving students like himself. After graduation, Rogman hopes to enroll in graduate school and pursue his goal of working in the pharmaceutical sector. He would like to end up in a warm part of the country. While he doesn’t know exactly what position he would like to hold, he does know he wants to be an innovator involved in research, development and advancement of drug design.
Outstanding Honors Alumni Award 2022
Gary Timmins
Andrea Radasanu This year, the University Honors Program sought nominations for the Outstanding Honors Alumni Award through the Huskie Herald newsletter. The deserving winner of the 2022 Outstanding Honors Alumni Award is Gary Timmins. He graduated in 2012 with a double major in political science and psychology and a minor in military science. He is currently employed with the U.S. Department of State as a foreign affairs officer (or U.S. diplomat). Prior to the Department of State, he worked as senior policy advisor to Congressman Bill Foster. Timmins credits his experience in the UHP for much of his growth at NIU. “The University Honors Program at Northern Illinois University was one of the most rewarding experiences of my undergraduate career. The small seminar-style classes, supportive advising and extracurricular programs made available lead to unparalleled experiences and lifelong friends. It was an intellectual journey that allowed me the opportunity to challenge myself and helped to shape me into the person I am today.” Timmins is always willing to help the UHP and its students. He has stayed in contact with the program continuously since graduating a decade ago. He has attended Taft numerous times, including this past fall in 2021. Timmins has served on alumni panels, mentored students in a variety of ways and assisted with fundraising during Huskies United events. Timmins is a young alumni leader who has advised a series of program directors on engaging with the Honors alumni community. Timmins has always made his Huskie family a high priority, which is especially admirable in a young alumnus whose demanding career and significant nuclear disarmament portfolio at the State Department keeps him incredibly busy. He is extremely deserving of this recognition, and the UHP looks forward to working with Timmins in the years to come.
NIU alumnus Gary Timmins brings a little Huskie spirit as he visits NATO Headquarters as part of the U.S. State Department.
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New Job Shadowing Program in Honors Anna Scanlan The Honors Program launched a new partnership with the NIU Alumni Association: The University Honors Job Shadow Program. Several alumni graciously agreed to host Honors students in the 2022 spring semester, allowing the students to get a peek into their professional lives. Students were able to see the list of mentors who volunteered to participate and indicated which opportunities would be of interest to them. Each experience was tailored to meet the needs of both host and student. Everyone who participated reported very positive impressions of the job shadow pilot program. Rachel Pawlisz (2005) articulates the importance of this sort of program: “When I was at NIU I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do professionally. It took me a long time, a lot of different roles, to find a good niche for myself. I think if students can get more insight into ‘the real world’ it can help them make decisions for their career path earlier on.” The hands-on experiences students had through this program gave them a clearer picture of what life after graduation might entail. The Job Shadow Program is a great way for students to begin to understand where their true interests lie professionally. Melissa Grandt, eighth grade education teacher, reflects on the importance of her mentee Breeanna Maze getting to know the field of education better. “The education field in art and media is extremely competitive … I think she will learn and understand what age of students she would prefer to work with and get a glimpse as to how many other things she will do as an art and media major besides teaching art and media, and she will be seeing and experiencing other areas of art besides just art and media.”
Even when students don’t have the option to partner with someone in their exact field or they are not sure of the right path for them, job shadow experiences are still extremely worthwhile. Merely interacting with a professional who is willing to provide their perspective and guidance as a mentor is incredibly important for students who are trying to find their footing from college to professional life. Alicia LaRouech, who wants to be a speech and language pathologist, chose to spend her job shadow experience with a professional in the educational diversity, equity and inclusion space. “Overall, I think the Honors Job Shadow experience helped me get out of my comfort zone, and it really encouraged me to think about my future career from a more thoughtful and comprehensive point of view,” LaRouech said. “Even if the career options listed don’t fit one’s interests at first glance, I do think that the experience can broaden anyone’s perspective on a particular field.” Although only in its first year, the program had about a dozen alumni volunteers paired with about 15 students. College is a time that provides space to explore different career options, and this program is a great example. One of the main goals of the Honors Program is to help guide students and help them focus their goals and interests on a career path. The Job Shadow Program fits with these aims nicely and will continue to be a tool that students can utilize to help shape their educational experience here at NIU.
Alicia LaRouech, senior communicative disorders major.
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Passion is the Key to Success — A Student-Athlete’s Accomplishments in the Honors Program Minoo Yar Kaitlin Miller has loved to run since her childhood. She was introduced to other sports but chose cross-country and track. Her upbringing with her parents strongly influenced her passion for running as her parents are both athletic individuals. One of the experiences that deepened her love of running was when she was in high school and set a personal record by one minute for the 3000-meter race. She remembered the amazing feeling she had arriving at the finish line, as one of her coaches gave her a warm, proud embrace. She felt even more pride, however, in getting through her difficult post-COVID-19 recovery after falling ill in summer 2020. With the breathing difficulties she had long after the infection, she couldn’t perform up to her usual standards. But finishing
her first cross-country race that fall, even though she finished last, counts as her proudest moments as a student-athlete. She recognizes that the effort and perseverance she showed marks this race as a satisfying and significant milestone. The memories she shared with her teammates in college also strengthened her love of running as she and her teammates would bond by preparing a meal together weekly. One of Miller’s personal goals was to work on mental strength since she tends to put herself down. For instance, when she had an unsuccessful workout, she relied on her group of teammates for support. “If one of us does have a bad
Kaitlin Miller, senior pre-physical therapy major.
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day, we’re all there to pick each other up,” stated the Honors senior. Her experiences and memories with loved ones helped make her collegiate life brighter and her passion for running greater. Miller has held several leadership roles that pertain to athletics and the Honors Program. One of those leadership roles was serving as the student athletic advisory committee representative for the crosscountry team to discuss how to improve the student athlete experience. This role also included planning end of the year award ceremonies, volunteer experiences and more. “I take the opinions that I hear from my teammates, and I give that to the bigger group to make sure that they are all being heard.” Miller was awarded the academic performer of the year by her coaches as she demonstrated her dedication and passion for her sport as well as her effort to maintain an excellent academic performance. In the Honors Program, Miller was also an Honors fellow where she gave one-on-one peer advising to Honors students and assisted staff with tasks such as updating social media sites. Miller said that her involvement in the Honors Program has given her many great opportunities to help her earn scholarships. She added, “I don’t need to try to get an extra job. I am getting a scholarship because of the Honors Program.” This enabled her to better focus on training in her sport and performing at a higher caliber. Miller is also an accomplished student. She has done undergraduate
research since she started at NIU, and just completed her senior capstone project for which she won an Outstanding Capstone Award. She credits this work with setting her up for success in graduate school. Miller has won the Alumni Association Scholarship as a junior and was most recently awarded the Outstanding Athlete-Scholar Award by the Honors Program. Miller’s advice to student-athletes who want to be successful is, “You need to make sure that you really love your sport and love what you’re doing, not because you’re doing it [ just] because of an Honors scholarship or your parents told you [that] you have to. Just make sure in your heart you really love what you are doing. I feel like if you have that, then with that comes all the dedication that you need to be successful.” Miller plans to continue research in graduate school and will seek more research opportunities from professors, get involved in as many ways as possible in extracurricular activities, and plans to observe and learn from other physical therapists who work specifically in hospitals and home-based therapy settings.
Kaitlin Miller running a cross-country meet.
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Honors Fellows By Katherine Hahn-Boisvert Not many college students know from a young age that they will be going into their university’s honors program. However, from about the age of five, I did. My mother was the University of Illinois at Chicago’s Honors College president during her undergraduate years, and I knew I wanted to follow in her footsteps. So, when I attended the Lorado Taft Honors Retreat my freshman year, and saw the Honors fellows in all their glory, I knew that is what I wanted to be. And yet, while I had this overarching dream that had forever been at arm’s length, I had no clue what an Honors fellow was, or even what my mother actually did in her Honors College as an undergraduate. As the time came to apply for an Honors Fellow position, I had the most basic understanding of what Fellows did. They simply advised students and did the classic “jobs as needed” for the Honors staff. I was lucky enough to be given an interview, and eventually the position, although I was still confused on what I would be doing from day to day. When I went to the Honors fellow training, my mind was blown with the variety of jobs that Honors fellows take on. Not only did we have to advise for two different sets of Honors Programs, but we were allowed to take on special projects that fit with our individual areas of expertise. For example, fellows can engage with the marketing side of Honors and work on social media, flyers and our weekly newsletter. Over the years, I have taken on a mentorship approach and have been working on engaging incoming freshmen with upper-division students. My life as an Honors fellow was pretty standard as I took over more of a role in the advising side of the program. For five hours a week, I met with students and helped them reach their goals, which felt extremely fulfilling. And then the pandemic hit. Like every other office, Honors was impacted. Students were scared and left stranded by the uncertainties COVID-19 brought. Yet, the Honors staff and fellows were quick to act, taking on a virtual role and completing our assignments and advising sessions immediately.
Kat Hahn-Boisvert, leading a hike at our freshman Taft retreat.
Although the role of an Honors fellow did look a bit different moving through the pandemic, it still remained what I loved, student-focused. We have a saying in the Honors Program, “Get comfortable being uncomfortable,” and we have taken that into our hearts over the past two years. As Honors fellows, we have needed to be flexible with our hours and take on virtual and in-person office hours while getting all our responsibilities done. We have taken up virtual programming opportunities that assisted so many students, and we will continue to have them moving forward. While my three years as an Honors fellow did not go as entirely planned, it still turned out to be one of the most rewarding experiences I have had while at NIU. There are not many times where you can see the direct, tangible impact that you have on someone. But I have. And it has been a privilege. Being able to tell students that they are on track to graduate with honors and handing them their stoles at our Honors Day ceremonies has driven me to be the best I possibly can at advising and being a friend and mentor to those who need one. To the next group of Honors fellows, I wish to remind them to “get comfortable with being uncomfortable.” No matter what life throws at us next, Honors and its fellows will always be there to support the students and can provide them with opportunities to achieve their wildest dreams. Even if those dreams span back to when they were five years old.
Kat Hahn-Boisvert, taking a selfie with the rest of the Honors fellows.
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NIU alumni help support Honors Faculty Fellows Andrea Radasanu Earl and Cindi Rachowicz have been incredible supporters of NIU and of the Honors Program in particular. “Both Cindi and I have very fond memories of the Honors Program from our time as students at NIU,” said Earl Rachowicz, who graduated from NIU in 1973 with a degree in accountancy. The Rachowiczes have invested significantly in the Honors Program over many years. Their contributions have helped fund student conference travel, the Honors computer lounge, and their matching challenges have inspired so many alumni and friends to support the program. Their newest gift supports the core curriculum of the University Honors Program, the interdisciplinary Honors seminars taught by professors who design courses especially for Honors students and are chosen to do so for their innovative and engaging pedagogies. The Rachowiczes have committed $26,250 over the course of five years to support one seminar per year. Each year, the program will choose a Rachowicz Honors faculty fellow to teach an Honors seminar, which ideally highlights communication, interconnectivity and the importance of being committed to service in private and professional contexts. The Rachowiczes were drawn to this opportunity to make a difference in the lives of many students who take these specialized and unique courses, and, as always, to shine a
light on what makes the Honors Program remarkable and to inspire others to engage with the program and its students. The University Honors Program is pleased to name Melissa Fickling, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Counseling and Higher Education, the inaugural Rachowicz Honors faculty fellow. Professor Fickling will be teaching a seminar called “Work, Meaning, and Wellness” in fall 2022. This discussion-based course will look at historical and philosophical perspectives on the role of work in life, as well as critique popular narratives around passion, career choice and happiness. Students will have the opportunity to examine trends and inequities in the U.S. labor market and contextualize discussions about work into broader frameworks of individual mental health and community wellness. This is an amazing opportunity for students to engage in meaningful career exploration. And they know it. The course is already full to capacity. This is the kind of course that the Rachowiczes were hoping to inspire — one in which students will be guided through career planning that leads to lifelong learning, civic engagement and holistic wellness.
Earl and Cindi Rachowicz.
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Mental Health Anna Scanlan As the world begins to return to some semblance of normalcy amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, traditional college life is also beginning to return. Going from fully online classes during the pandemic to almost fully in-person classes has been quite a shift, so it’s important for students to reach out for help when they begin to feel overwhelmed. This is especially important for Honors students, as rigorous courses and extracurricular involvement can easily cause stress to build.
Aid training course was provided with funding from the DeKalb County Community Mental Health Board and in conjunction with Northwestern Medicine Community Education. This training course, offered to NIU faculty and Honors students in fall 2021, is designed to teach participants about mental health and substance-use issues, and how to help someone who may be experiencing challenges with these issues.
With this in mind, the Honors Program has been actively placing emphasis on students’ mental health. Edye Cowan notes that, “Mental health is just as important as physical health. If students don’t take care of their mental health – everything else will suffer – their academic performance and ultimately, their physical health.” Honors students strive for success in both academics and in their extracurricular activities. If they don’t devote time to taking care of their mental health, burnout can set in.
Each group of Honors fellows has unique interests and skills that bring new ideas to the Honors Program. The new fellows and the extraordinary circumstances of the last few years have prompted the program to shift and build on those new ideas. Looking at self-care and mental health from many angles isn’t something that has always been done, and it’s something we all hope will continue into the future. Looking at mental health through different lenses provides a way to reach as many students as possible. By offering a variety of programs focused on self-care and mental health, students are exposed to many perspectives and are more likely to find strategies that work for them, allowing them to more easily integrate self-care into their daily lives.
This year, the Honors Program has done several things to combat potential stress for Honors students. The implementation of Honors Helping Huskies provides a way for students to navigate struggles related to finances, schoolwork and mental health. This resource gives students a streamlined way to connect with Honors fellows, Honors advisors, Student Financial Aid Advising Services, and Counseling and Consultation Services. Several other mental health events, such as the Managing Stress and Self-care Program and the Mental Health First Aid training course, were offered this year. Erin Wallin, a nutrition major and Honors fellow, helped shape the Managing Stress and Self-care Program. This program focuses on the various aspects of mental health including nutrition, physical activity and proper sleep. The eight-hour Mental Health First
The mental health of Honors students is very important to the Honors Program. With continued focus on programs like these, students can gain assistance in an aspect of their life that isn’t talked about much. With the recent destigmatizing of mental health in the media, students have begun to feel more comfortable opening up about their internal struggles, and the Honors Program hopes to continue helping students embrace the things they need to do to prioritize their health.
Many students are facing mental health issues at NIU.
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Luminary Magazine Wins National Honors Honors Staff The Luminary received second place in the National Collegiate Honors Council (NCHC) 2021 newsletter contest in the electronic category. The NCHC is the premier Honors education organization in the United States with nearly 900 member institutions and impacting over 330,000 honors students. This recognition is a huge honor for the newsletter, the NIU University Honors Program, the stellar honors students who help write and edit, and the talented and dedicated NIU marketing and creative services staff who bring professional polish to the finished product.
The Luminary started as a magazine featuring art by Honors students, then shifted to a blog, and, finally, to a features e-magazine for the next two years (with a small number of printed copies). The goal was to spotlight Honors students in various fields of study, do short profiles of Honors faculty, highlight Honors programs and recognize donors. In spring 2017, this changed to a printed features magazine which continued for three issues. Between the COVID-19 pandemic and the trend toward online publications, The Luminary regrouped in the last three years to include the best of its history: An online magazine that offers both spotlights and features.
The purpose of the newsletter is to connect current students with alumni and friends of the program. The publication features students, staff, faculty, programs and highlights the most innovative and exciting events and endeavors of the year. The newsletter was recognized in the “Faculty/Administrator/Student” category, which speaks to the fact that it is a collaborative effort among all UHP stakeholders. Students work together with Honors staff to put out a comprehensive account of the program. The Honors Program also created leadership positions, such as editor-in-chief, that count for program credit to provide the kind of enriched experiences for which Honors education is known. Previous student editor Maggie Miller shares her enthusiasm for the role she was able to play in publishing The Luminary. “I loved my time as a coordinator, writer and editor-in-chief. It was a passion project of mine, and I was so jazzed to hear about the magazine winning an award. It’s a really special piece of Northern Illinois University history, and I’m just so proud of every step of its journey.”
Past issues of the Luminary magazine.
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FACULTY SPOTLIGHT
Melissa Fickling
between community and work and one’s own personal life. Careers are much more than an individual [entity], as families and communities are impacted, and benefit from it as well.”
Erin Wallin The University Honors Program is pleased to name Melissa Fickling, Ph. D., assistant professor of the Department of Counseling and Higher Education, this year’s Rachowicz Honors Faculty fellow. Fickling will be teaching the Work, Meaning and Wellness (HON 310) seminar in fall 2022. EW:
MF:
EW: MF:
What are you looking forward to in teaching this seminar, and how might it be different than other classes that you have previously taught? I’m looking forward to digging deeper into the sociological and philosophical aspects of work. This course will be different from my other courses I have previously taught because this seminar is outside of my department. I will be able to work with students from “all different majors, [asking them questions such as] ‘What is work?’, ‘What do they already know [about work]?’ and how it connects to their lives.” What does it mean to you that you were selected as the Rachowicz fellow this year? Encouraging and validating. I did not know how my expertise would be received. “It is humbling. The people who reviewed [my seminar proposal] saw the deep connections
EW: MF:
EW: MF:
How does receiving more funding impact you and your teaching? The funding from the Rachowicz Honors Faculty fellow award allows me to prioritize my time appropriately and know what is exactly being valued through my work. It allows me to know where to focus through clear direction and support. The support I am receiving “…clarifies and validates my work and that is not always something that [professors] get.” Is there anything else you would like others to know about this new seminar? The seminar is interdisciplinary focused. Students will be reading material through not only a mental health lens but also the lenses of history, sociology and philosophy. “Students do not need a foundation in any of these areas to be able to engage with the course [content]. Everyone has enough experience by being a worker, student [or volunteer] and will be able to access this course. It is justice- and equityfocused because work touches so much of our lives, paid or unpaid, and has deep, long impacting effects.” There is an infusion of gender, race, disability and class imbedded into the seminar, which allows students to see how each social determinant is relevant to the world of work and wellness.
Melissa Fickling, Ph.D., assistant professor of Counseling and Higher Education.
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FACULTY SPOTLIGHT Dean Paul Kassel
for any artist is to “keep a beginner’s mind.” That suspends judgment and assumptions that might preclude discovery.
Connie Storey
CS: PK:
What’s the best thing about teaching Honors students? As I said, curiosity and an eagerness to learn. That makes it fun. The challenge in my course is to help them release the “need to get it right.” There is not really a “right” or “wrong” in the arts, so it gives me joy to help students let go of aiming for the “A” on the test and instead, go for the gold of creativity!
CS:
Any other overall insights on your experience teaching an Honors seminar? The course has also allowed me to work across colleges. We have all sorts of experts at NIU and I’ve been fortunate to collaborate with a few outside my college. Professor Leila Porter (chair of anthropology), has lectured the class on the limits of evolutionary theory as well on her own research. And Professor Amy Newman (English) led a session on poetry, which resulted in all the students writing an original pantoum (a kind of poem). We had some read their poems aloud and everyone was quite moved by the pieces: Open, honest and filled with deep feeling. These are the kinds of experiences that stay with a student for a long time. And with teachers, too. It’s the reason I teach, and I’m grateful to be part of the Honors Faculty Fellowship program.
Paul Kassel has been the dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts since 2015. He manages operations within the Schools of Art and Design; Music; and Theater and Dance. In addition, he oversees the NIU Museum and Community School of the Arts. This was his first time in the role of an Honors Faculty fellow. CS: PK:
Why were you attracted to offering an Honors seminar? Teaching honors students is very gratifying — they tend to be curious, motivated and challenging! I always learn a lot; both as a teacher and as a researcher and artist.
CS:
How do you teach your subject or specialty to an interdisciplinary group of Honors students? I designed the course specifically for interdisciplinary groups and not specialists. But my working assumption is that everyone knows a little something about the arts and we start there. It allows students who do have experience in a certain area to take the lead in discussion or in peer learning groups. But I treat everyone as an explorer who may have almost no experience in the arts. A basic principle
PK:
PK:
Dean Paul Kassel, College of Visual and Performing Arts.
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New Honors lounge in Campus Life Building Room 110 replacing the Capstone Library.
Honors Advocacy Initiative:
Current Work Grant Goral
Drawing on inspiration from last year’s Honors Advocacy Initiative (HAI), Grant Goral has continued building HAI in the mold of Huskies Helping Huskies. For fall 2021 and spring 2022, Goral has worked with a cohort of Honors students to further shape the environment of the Honors Program as one of openness, success, and belonging. The fall 2021 cohort focused on creating an action plan in which students believed the program should be moving in order to best support those from a wide variety of backgrounds. Since Honors students may be coming to college from a range of life experiences, the fall cohort wanted to work to ensure the success of all students in the program. One of these action plan ideas centered on better mentoring and advising for first generation college students. In spring 2022, HAI worked to implement those plans that were developed in the fall in conjunction with the Honors staff. One of the key tasks that the spring cohort will complete is enhancing the new Honors lounge space with exhibits that build the diverse community of the Honors Program.
Students in the lounge will have access to an array of resources from the many diversity and cultural centers on campus. HAI strives to make the Honors Program a place where all students have the resources they need to succeed. Goral, a junior, is hoping to establish HAI as a permanent facet of the Honors Program that will live on even after he has graduated. “I see this is an opportunity for students to build the foundation of a necessary resource for every new Honors student in the future.” He is hoping that his senior year will see results that are even more fruitful with a larger HAI cohort.
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Honors freshman and fellows at the Taft retreat.
HONORS by the NUMBERS 2021-2022
Where We Are From
Outstanding Capstone Awards
Chicagoland
414
Anjishnu Chakrabarti John Patten
Outside Illinois
Alicia LaRouech
Outside Chicago
387 31
Outside U.S.
6
Social Science
Melanie Koss
Health Sciences
Enhancement Awards
STEM
Angelo LeDonne
Humanities
Merveille Muyizere
Alexis Quemeneur Holly Young
Art
Students 2021-2022
Maeve Wallace
440
Honors Scholar
Freshman Transfer
208
Continuing
227
Average GPA 3.50
Graduates Fall 2021 34
Spring 2022 129
Great Professor
Caroline Rosenquist
Total Number of Scholarship Recipients 100
Total Amount of Scholarship Money Spent $133,160
Outstanding Athlete Kaitlin Miller
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Freshman
Sophomore Junior Hoa Vo
Senior
Alicia LaRouech
2021-2022 Fellows
Lila Zayed-Lead Fellow Shantez Branch Katherine Hahn-Boisvert Anjishnu Chakrabarti Grant Goral Justin Ligeski Kaitlin Miller Fernanda Montoya Makkah Mujahid Merveille Muyizere Lexi Quemener Erin Wallin
Strength in Numbers:
Honors Donors Andersson Architecture & Design CAF America Caterpillar Foundation Computer Associates Deloitte & Touche Foundation Dr. Denis and Mrs. Mary Ellen Branson Dr. Gary I. Kaufman Dr. Michael and Mrs. Jane Frey Dr. Mindy S. Milosch Juan Dr. William and Mrs. Mary Wood Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund HSBC North America Card and Retail Services Hy-Vee IHOP Restaurant Jewel Food Store KPMG LLP Foundation Metlife Foundation Mr. Aaron Hahn and Ms. Jennifer E. Binversie Mr. Adam P. Kutryb Mr. Albert M. Fisher Mr. Alex L. Crisafulli Mr. Allyn and Mrs. Martha Davenport Mr. Andrew and Mrs. Deborah Voss Mr. Andrew and Mrs. Lori Rollins Mr. Andrew and Mrs. Tania Young Mr. Andrew C. Shambaugh Mr. Andrew J. Kucharski Mr. Anthony and Mrs. Sooyeon Padilla Mr. Arthur and Mrs. Beth Pesavento Mr. Barry and Mrs. Lynn Laskoe Mr. Ben I. Gross Mr. Bradley and Mrs. Shannon Nelson Mr. Bradley and Ms. Denise Whitehall Mr. Brandon M. Djonlich Mr. Brett and Mrs. Jill White Mr. Brian and Mrs. Michel Williams Mr. Brian and Mrs. Sandra Yandle Mr. Bruce and Mrs. Theresa Yahiro Mr. Chad and Mrs. Tammy Fitz Mr. Chad R. Anderson Mr. Charles and Mrs. Judith Dunbar Mr. Charles and Mrs. Lisa Jersild Mr. Charles and Mrs. Mary Pfingsten
Mr. Charles H. Harmening Mr. Chris Urosevich Mr. Christian and Mrs. Barbara Schock Mr. Christian De Jeppesen Mr. Christopher Loudon Mr. Clark D. Neher Mr. Clay and Mrs. Therese Nichols Mr. Cole R. Lightfoot Mr. Craig and Mrs. Kathleen Copper Mr. Daihee Cho Mr. Daniel A. Nichols Mr. Daniel and Mrs. Jean Staffin Mr. Daniel and Mrs. Kathleen Schewe Mr. Daniel and Mrs. Kris Soucie Mr. Daniel and Mrs. Nicole Turner Mr. Daniel and Mrs. Sandra Muench Mr. Daniel G. McMahon Mr. Daniel M. Gora Mr. Dave J. Sosnowski Mr. David and Mrs. Constance Storey Mr. David and Mrs. Eleasa Bielawa Mr. David and Mrs. Konnie Erickson Mr. David and Mrs. Kristen Albright Mr. David and Mrs. Lucy Jenson Mr. David and Mrs. Stephanie La More Mr. David C. Gathercoal, Jr. Mr. David E. Czerniewski Mr. David S. Ballantine and Ms. Diane R. DeMers Mr. Dennis and Mrs. Stacey Barsema Mr. Desmond and Mrs. Kathryn Lall Mr. Dioco Reyes Mr. Diptesh R. Patel Mr. Donald and Mrs. Linda Shearer Mr. Douglas and Mrs. Patricia Wallace Mr. Earl and Mrs. Cynthia Rachowicz Mr. Edwin Lancaster and Mrs. Susan E. Vermeulen Lancaster Mr. Eli Q. Brottman Mr. Eric A. Lynch Mr. Eric and Mrs. Julie Johnson Mr. Frank and Mrs. Teresa Stauersboll Mr. Garrett V. Eischen Mr. Gary and Mrs. Barbara Reding Mr. Gary and Mrs. Deborah Mechtel
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Mr. Gary and Mrs. Sherry Manning Mr. George and Mrs. Elizabeth Phelan, Jr. Mr. Gregory A. Brady Mr. Gregory and Mrs. Mary Olson Mr. Gregory Barrette Mr. Gunther Leprich and Mrs. Antoinette Lombardi Leprich Mr. Guy W. Grimmelbein Mr. Herbert and Mrs. Avis Knight Mr. Ian and Mrs. Linda Tinkler Mr. Jacob and Mrs. Karen Heidenreich Mr. Jacob Schlegel Mr. James and Mrs. Karen Wareham Mr. James and Mrs. Arlene Lynch Mr. James and Mrs. Caroline Neumann Mr. James and Mrs. Patricia Munn-Dierks Mr. James and Mrs. Renee Bush Mr. James and Mrs. Tiffany Huguelet Mr. James G. Martin Mr. James N. Kessler Mr. James P. McClanahan Mr. James T. Pierce and Mr. Louis Kanolis Mr. Jamie Antonio Lopez, Jr. Mr. Jared M. Williams Mr. Jason and Mrs. Bridget Arne-Johnson Mr. Jason and Mrs. Sherri Watson Mr. Jeff and Mrs. Wendy Gross Mr. Jeffrey and Mrs. Debra Jay Mr. Jeffry J. Duckworth and Mrs. Melinda G. Thomas Mr. Jerome Bowers and Mrs. Kristy Wilson Bowers Mr. Jerome Myles Mr. Jim Phillips and Ms. Tracy C. Mays Mr. Joel and Mrs. Judy Stafstrom Mr. John and Mrs. Arlene Fassola Mr. John and Mrs. Arlene Knewitz Mr. John and Mrs. Cynthia Ross Mr. John and Mrs. Dorene Lynch Mr. John and Mrs. Nancy Castle Mr. John and Mrs. Noelle Neely Mr. John and Mrs. Patricia Crocker Mr. John and Mrs. Patricia Roznovsky Mr. John H. Hall
Mr. John Mrs. Jeanne Volmer Mr. John R. Neely, Jr. Mr. Johnathon and Mrs. Paula Koziol Mr. Jonas Arvin Sales Mr. Joseph and Mrs. Diane Gordon Mr. Joseph and Mrs. Katherine Matty Mr. Joseph and Mrs. Pauletta Klimson Mr. Joseph M. Eichberger and Ms. Deborah L. La Dolce Mr. Joseph Palmer Mr. Joshua and Mrs. Kathryn Norten Mr. Joy L. Kakta Mr. Keith A. Bartholomew and Mrs. Marcelyn Ritchie Mr. Keith and Mrs. Linda Adams Mr. Keith and Mrs. Madelyn Anderson Mr. Ken and Mrs. Beverly Leiser Mr. Kenneth B. Swanson Mr. Kenneth Lawrence Worm Mr. Kevin and Mrs. Shelly Camden Mr. Kyle G. Schiebout Mr. Lance G. Foust Mr. Larry and Mrs. Cynthia Harvat Mr. Lenard Dacanay and Mrs. Penny Dacanay Mr. Louis and Mrs. Linda Halpern Mr. Mark A. Engels and Ms. Jeanne L. Gilbert Mr. Mark and Mrs. Julie Schoenherr Mr. Mark Conrad Simonson Mr. Mark F. Kostecki Mr. Matthew and Mrs. Page Streb Mr. Matthew J. Kararo Mr. Michael Alan Margraf Mr. Michael and Dr. Sandra Schabb Mr. Michael and Mrs. Judith Smith Mr. Michael and Mrs. Marianne Malaychuk Mr. Michael and Mrs. Melanie Scott Mr. Michael and Mrs. Sandra Menefee Mr. Michael and Mrs. Susan Plass Mr. Michael and Ms. Beth Hildreth Mr. Michael and Ms. Jennifer Thomas Mr. Michael Carretto Mr. Michael D. Bromberek Mr. Michael E. Benson Mr. Michael J. Ashe Mr. Mike and Mrs. Tammy Chiovari Mr. Mike D O’Connor Mr. Mike Ford Mr. Mitchell and Mrs. Karin Shapiro Mr. Patrick and Mrs. Marcelyn Rogers Mr. Patrick J. Korellis
Mr. Paul and Mrs. Donna Chambers Mr. Paul and Mrs. Kerry Mansour Mr. Paul and Mrs. Melissa Fribert Mr. Paul and Mrs. Reni Whitcombe Mr. Peter and Mrs. Patricia Garrity Mr. Peter and Mrs. Sandra Schaffer Mr. Peter and Mrs. Sarah Shanks Mr. Peter M. Scheidler Mr. Philip and Mrs. Donna Cekal Mr. Phillip and Mrs. Elizabeth Asbury Mr. Phillip and Mrs. Linda Keller Mr. Phillip L. Tranel Mr. Porter and Mrs. Carren Martin Mr. Ray and Mrs. Becky Alden Mr. Ray Earl-Jackson Mr. Raymond and Mrs. Sharon Suggs Mr. Richard and Mrs. Alice Robinson Mr. Richard and Mrs. Georgeanne Rashilla Mr. Robert and Mrs. Diane Rader, Jr. Mr. Robert and Mrs. Lisa Sanborn Mr. Robert E. Rickard Mr. Rodney and Mrs. Anitra Boyt Mr. Ronald and Mrs. Kathleen Pozzi Mr. Ronald Wheeler Mr. Ross and Mrs. Karen Pflaumer Mr. Rudolph and Mrs. Darley Kemppainen Mr. Ryne A. Moen Mr. Saldie C. Villarma Mr. Samuel D. Kunde Mr. Scott and Mrs. Alexa Dembek Mr. Scott and Mrs. Chelsea Prestin Mr. Scott and Mrs. Monica S. Boehle-Altergott Mr. Shannon P. Milligan Mr. Shea and Mrs. Chelsey Wintersteen Mr. Sohrab B. Sethna Mr. Stephen Ge Madalinski Mr. Stephen J. Minich Mr. Steve and Mrs. Toni Pruett Mr. Steve McCaughrean Mr. Steven and Mrs. Peggy Youngren Mr. Steven N. Cook Mr. Steven R. Wieczor Mr. Terrance and Mrs. Deborah Brown Mr. Terrence and Mrs. Alison Moon Mr. Thomas and Mrs. Ann Kovacs Mr. Thomas and Mrs. Carolyn Wallace Mr. Thomas and Mrs. Claire Carlson Jr. Mr. Thomas and Mrs. Elizabeth Rasmussen Mr. Thomas and Mrs. Lauren Lee
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Mr. Thomas Brennan and Ms. Anne E. Schedler Mr. Thomas Carlson Jr. and Mrs. Claire Carlson Mr. Thomas J. Kane, Jr. Mr. Tim and Mrs. Angela Litow Mr. Tim and Mrs. Patricia Landry Mr. Timothy and Mrs. Barbara McGregory Mr. Timothy and Mrs. Barbara Morgan Mr. Timothy and Mrs. Katharine Tammen Mr. Timothy and Mrs. Mary Werner Mr. Timothy and Mrs. Sandra Taylor Mr. Timothy P. Misch Mr. Todd and Mrs. Melissa Gilson Mr. Todd and Mrs. Cheryl Henert Mr. Travis and Mrs. Shay Webb Mr. Trevor Loew Mr. Troy and Ms. Cassandra Hendry Mr. Vincent and Mrs. Vicki Boone, CPA Mr. Wade Rice and Mrs. Carol Harbrecht Rice Mr. Wallace and Mrs. Pamela Webber Mr. Wayne and Mrs. Elizabeth Beyer Mr. William and Mrs. Charlene Kubik Mr. William and Mrs. Elizabeth Hahn Mr. William and Mrs. Mary Marzano Mr. William M. Polasky III and Mrs. Lisa Polasky Mr. William Raymond Zaininger Mr. Zach G. Alesandrini Mr. Zachary M. Thorne Mrs. Adrienne N. Valentino Mrs. Amy and Mr. Jeffrey Adams Mrs. Barbara and Mr. David Reinert Mrs. Carla and Mr. Stephan Taylor Mrs. Carol Griffin Mrs. Catherine E. Bishir Mrs. Debra and Mr. Lawrence Clay Mrs. Gwendolyn M. Fielden-Fritz and Mr. Anthony L. Fritz Mrs. Janet and Mr. Michael Klawitter Mrs. Jennifer A. Iguchi Mrs. Jennifer and Mr. Frank Redisi Mrs. Jessica Govic Mrs. Jodi and Mr. Thomas Trop Mrs. Kara M. Doehling Mrs. Kari Elling Mrs. Katreena M. Hopkins Mrs. Laura and Mr. Brad Gray Mrs. Laurie J. Helms Mrs. Lucy O. Smith Mrs. Marjorie A. Meanger
Mrs. Martha M. Schreiber Mrs. Michel and Mr. Brian Williams Mrs. Nancy A. Detig Mrs. Nancy and Mr. Andrew Kochis Mrs. Pamela and Mr. Steven Schubring Mrs. Paulette and Mr. Taylor O’Malley Mrs. Peggy and Mr. Jeffery Simonds Mrs. Sandra E Yandle Mrs. Shannon N. Hassler Mrs. Sharlene M. Hahl-Lee Mrs. Shelley and Mr. Chuck Hart Mrs. Sherolyn and Mr. Richard Baker Mrs. Stephanie and Mr. Jason Maloney Mrs. Susan J. Geske Mrs. Traci and Mr. Eric Anderson Mrs. Victoria Clayton Mrs. Wendy Park Ms. Amy Seetoo Ms. Andrea M. Radasanu Ms. Angela N. Zigrossi Ms. Ann Westermeier Ms. Anna M. Wilhelmi Ms. Anna Pesola Ms. Cari A. Eggert Ms. Catherine W. Doederlein Ms. Charlene Ann Paisner Ms. Chloe M. Pooler Ms. Connie Reyes Ms. Cristy A. Pacheco Ms. Cynthia J. Johnson Ms. Dana Mandolesi Ms. Danielle C. Miller Ms. Elizabeth M. Hamilton Ms. Ellen L. Strebar Ms. Erin C. Rossi Ms. Erin Kristine MacDonna Ms. Gretchen G. Korzak Ms. Hayat Taour Ms. Heather Christian Ms. Heather M. Hensley Ms. Helen Julius Ms. Honore F. Raz Ms. Janine Kraft Ms. Jennifer L. Greene Ms. Jennifer L. McMahan Ms. Jeri L. Farmer Ms. JoAnn Mazzei Ms. Josephine E. Burke Ms. Judith D. Welch Ms. Julia R. White Ms. Julie E. Hartman-Linck Ms. Kara McCaughrean Ms. Karissa Kessen
Ms. Katherine L. McCarthy Ms. Kathleen A. Gavin Ms. Kathleen Spotts Ms. Kathryn Boehle Ms. Kelly K. Carey Ms. Kristin A. Hoffman Ms. Kyah Joseph Ms. Kyla Matheson Ms. Laura A. Cabay Ms. Laura A. Rollinger Ms. Leah A. Tanabe Ms. Lexie Williams Ms. Linda Anne Stone Ms. Lisa Marie Loring Ms. Loretta Ward Ms. Lynn Kramer Ms. Margaret J. Hall Ms. Marjorie R. Hancock Ms. Mary A. Kolls Ms. Mary Novack Ms. Marypatriece E. Raupp Ms. Megan A. Rosengren Ms. Megan N. Kerr Ms. Melissa A. Hayman Ms. Melissa Marie Moyzis Ms. Melody L. Jenkins Ms. Merrie Carlson Ms. Pamela K. Gillespie Ms. Rachel A. McBride Ms. Sabrina M. Ayala Ms. Sandra Butler Ms. Sara A. Harant Ms. Sara Brianne Smith Ms. Sara E. Lopez Carrillo Ms. Sarah E. Allard Ms. Sarah McCormick Ms. Shanna H. Bertram Ms. Shari Pollock Ms. Sharon A. Gary Ms. Shay M. Galto Ms. Shelby Emery Ms. Sheryl L. Wills Ms. Sosna Joseph Ms. Sue W. Doederlein Ms. Susan J Geske Ms. Susie M. Pigg Ms. Teresa Amadis Wann Ms. Thanh Nguyen-Huynh Ms. Tia Kirkling Ms. Tracey L. Koehler Ms. Tracey McElmeel Ms. Vasiliki I. Fosses Ms. Vicki Zimmerman
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Ms. Yvonne M. Johnson Ollie’s Frozen Custard Petkus Trust Pita Pete’s Portillo’s Hot Dogs LLC Potbelly Sandwich Works, LLC Schnieder Electric North America Foundation Schwab Charitable Fund Sonic Drive-In Sunlit Cove Healthcare Consultants, LLC Three Initials, Inc V.I.P. Nails of VT Village Commons Bookstore
Honors staff at the Larado Taft retreat, fall 2021.
Contact Us Andrea Radasanu, Ph.D.
Connie Storey, M.S.Ed. Assistant Director of Programming and Communication
Director, University Honors
cstorey2@niu.edu
aradasanu@niu.edu
815-753-9505
Jason Goode, Ed.D.
Linda Condon
Associate Director of Scholarships and Fellowships
lcondon1@niu.edu
jason@niu.edu
Honors Advisor 815-753-9396
815-753-9509
Edye Cowan, M.S.Ed. Associate Director of Academic Strategic Planning
ecowan@niu.edu 815-753-9397
Patty Lee Administrative Aide
patlee@niu.edu 815-753-9398
University Honors Program Campus Life Building, Room 110 DeKalb, IL 60115 Phone: 815-753-0694 Email: honors@niu.edu For more information about the University Honors Program, please check out our website at
niu.edu/honors
Follow us on Facebook: UnivHonorsNIU/ and Twitter @UnivHonorsNIU
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