NEIU Magazine Fall 2018

Introducing President Gloria J. Gibson

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Northeastern puts Earth firs

RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT How Northeastern is preparing the next generation of scientists

A message from the

President

Dear Northeastern alumni and friends, I am so pleased to present to you this latest edition of In Common, and I am just as pleased to do so as your new president. After reading through the stories of this magazine, it has become very apparent to me why it is called In Common. We all share a special kinship—one that is deeply rooted in our shared values and dedication to the University’s mission. So, in that regard, we have a lot “in common.”

But it doesn’t end there. We also share a commitment to higher education and the success of our students. My entire career’s focus has been—and always will be—in support of students. And, the ones who attend Northeastern, of course, have a special place in my heart.

That’s because another thing I have “in common” with many of our students is our similar backgrounds. I, too, was a firstgeneration college student who grew up in an urban area.

I, too, come from an underrepresented group and aspired to reach new heights.

So, I feel a very deep connection with those students who are featured in our story about our MARC program, which prepares our undergraduate students who are underrepresented in the behavioral science and biomedical fields for training at the Ph.D. level. These are students whose lives are being transformed because of your good work and support.

As I join the Northeastern family and get to know all of you, I do so with the same hope and optimism that have inspired our students, faculty and staff to be a part of our outstanding community. I am so proud to join all of you at Northeastern and look forward to continuing to build a strong university with you.

Very best wishes,

Gloria J. Gibson, Ph.D. President Northeastern Illinois University

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Northeastern puts Earth first

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FEATURES 6

ON YOUR MARC!

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STUDENTS HELPING STUDENTS

Launched in 2014, a program that prepares

Who understands the student struggle better than students?

undergraduate students who are underrepresented in

With the Student Philanthropy Initiative, many seize the

the biomedical and behavioral science fields has quickly

opportunity to give back to their classmates in a variety of ways.

built a national reputation.

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A SPECIAL EDUCATOR

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TAKING THE INITIATIVE

Spending summer camp working with an autistic boy

Mateo Farzaneh was made to lead the Mossadegh

changed Victoria Valentine’s life. Now she is on a mission to

Initiative that memorializes and honors Iran’s first

empower individuals with disabilities.

democratically elected prime minister through educational

outreach and scholarships.

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THE PUCK STOPS HERE

Hockey thrived at Northeastern in the 1970s. With a little

help from the Alumni Association, the old gang got back

together to relive the glory days.

DEPARTMENTS 2

A LETTER TO OUR ALUMNI

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AROUND THE COMMONS

ON THE COVER Associate Professor of Biology Jorge Cantú uses a confocal microscope to look

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CLASS NOTES

at a developing zebrafish brain. MARC

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LEGACY FAMILY

scholar Ryan Borchert worked directly with Cantú to generate tools to study gene function in zebrafish.

MAGAZINE STAFF Editorial Board: Mike Dizon, Liesl Downey, Mike Hines, Damaris Tapia Art Director/Designer: J. Matt Byerly and Lauren Jordan Photographer: Todd Crawford Contributors: Anna Cannova, Sylvia Daniels, Mike Hines, Damaris Tapia, Toula Wellbrook In Common is published by the University for graduates, donors, and friends. Please send your comments, suggestions, and news items by email to alumni@neiu.edu or to the NEIU Alumni Association, Northeastern Illinois University, 5500 North St. Louis Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, 60625-4699.

HOW TO CONTACT US alumni@neiu.edu Northeastern Illinois University: (773) 583-4050 Alumni Relations: (773) 442-4205 Development: (773) 442-4210 Public Relations: (773) 442-4240 Transcripts: (773) 442-4032

UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATION Gloria J. Gibson President Wamucii Njogu Acting Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Daniel López Jr. Vice President for Student Affairs Melissa Reardon Henry Vice President for Legal Affairs and General Counsel Liesl Downey Vice President for Institutional Advancement Mike Dizon Chief of Staff Suleyma Perez Executive Director of Government Relations

BOARD OF TRUSTEES Wes Becton, Chair of the Board George Vukotich, Vice Chair Jim Palos, Secretary Elena Molloy, Student Trustee Carlos Azcoitia Robert Biggins Sherry Eagle Barbara Fumo Marvin Garcia Jonathan J. Stein

UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION John F. Roskopf, President Lawrence P. Frank, Vice President Kenn Ashley, Treasurer Mark Van Ausdal, Corporate Secretary Melanny Buitron, Student Liaison Jagannath Bobji Olga Camargo Rodrigo Garcia Sharon K. Hahs Jacqueline Krump Marcellus H. Moore Jr. J. Todd Phillips William Pollakov Salme Harju Steinberg Dirk Tussing Liesl Downey, Executive Director

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A message from the

Alumni Association Greetings fellow alumni, Transforming Lives, Northeastern Illinois University’s first comprehensive fundraising campaign, has inspired alumni and friends to give back to our alma mater in exceptional ways. So exceptional, in fact, that the campaign’s goal has been increased from $10 million to an even more ambitious $12 million by the end of this year.

The experience of traveling to another country for cultural analysis, experimental learning or a research presentation can forever change a student’s perspective.

Eric, Ellen and I know this from personal experience. We are passionate about the importance of student travel, so this is how we chose to give back.

To get there, 2018 has been declared the Year of the Scholarship. So far, more than 65 new scholarships have been established since the launch of Transforming Lives—all of which will help provide students the opportunity to accomplish their goals and graduate with less student debt.

Transforming Lives has been a great success because of alumni like you and me. In these final months, our time to step up is now! What’s your passion for NEIU? What importance do you want to see developed? I encourage you to give for your passion, and for Northeastern students who will so greatly benefit from your generosity. Creating a new scholarship or contributing to an established scholarship is easy to do, and will transform students’ lives forever.

I’m one of those alumni who chose to give back in the form of a scholarship. Two of my former classmates, Ellen Larrimore (B.A. ’03 Women’s Studies; M.A. ’09 Political Science) and Eric Rojas (B.A. ’05 Board of Governors), joined forces with me in establishing the Alumni Study Tour Scholarship.

Learn more about the Transforming Lives campaign and how to make a gift that is meaningful to you at neiu.edu/transform.

Best to you always,

In 2003, we had the privilege of traveling to Germany with Economics Professor Emeritus Ed Stuart during our undergraduate studies.

The experience changed our perspectives on the world, made us friends forever and, to borrow the phrase, transformed our lives.

These wonderful shared memories motivated us to establish the Alumni Study Tour Scholarship, which will provide annual awards to help defray the expense of a study tour that is offered by one of Northeastern’s academic departments, or led by a University faculty or staff member.

Chuck Good B.A. ’04 Economics, History, Honors Alumni Association Advisory Board President

THE COMMONS

news & notes about your university community

A New President N

ortheastern Illinois University’s new president may have grown up downstate, but Gloria J. Gibson is at home here. For Gibson, home is not about location as much as it is the people and the students the institution serves.

“I am truly honored to be president of Northeastern Illinois University, a place I have developed a strong and heartfelt appreciation for since setting foot on campus,” said Gibson, who took the helm on June 1, 2018.

“Among the things I found most impressive about Northeastern are its resiliency during the past 150 years and its diverse community. I am so honored to be a part of Northeastern’s history and to be following the footsteps of strong leaders who preceded me.”

Gibson’s arrival will be celebrated with an inauguration ceremony on September 13

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on the Main Campus. The inauguration will be part of an exciting week of activities that concludes with NEIU Weekend.

designated Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) and the largest HBCU in Maryland.

A native of East St. Louis, Ill., Gibson has two adult sons, Antonio and Kristopher, and close relatives living in the Metro-East Illinois area.

She came to Northeastern from Morgan State University in Baltimore, where she served as provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs.

“As an administrator, I believe in visionary, transformative leadership utilizing an approach that is inclusive and mission-driven,” Gibson said. “Leaders should understand diverse constituencies and envision fruitful relationships that will net dynamic plans and actions for the future. I seek ways to bring faculty, staff, administrators and various communities together to strategically approach and successfully accomplish our collective mission and goals.”

Gibson’s academic career began with both a master’s and bachelor’s degree in music education from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. She earned a Ph.D. in Folklore with a concentration in ethnomusicology from Indiana University at Bloomington. She then made stops at Arkansas State University and the University of Northern Iowa before moving to Morgan State, one of the largest federally

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THE COMMONS

news & notes about your university community

Pride of the South Side

Andrea Evans is the brand new director of Northeastern Illinois University’s Jacob H. Carruthers Center for Inner City Studies, yet she already has one small regret.

“I met with a handful of alumni when I interviewed for this job, and looking back I wish I had a video camera that night,” said Evans, who took over the position in January. “The passion that they felt about the Carruthers Center was so evident. They talked about what they had learned, how it changed their lives and how they see the world, politics, their communities and their role in the world. That was evident that night and has been evident every day since.”

Even without the video footage of enthusiastic alumni, Evans is rapidly learning about the fascinating history of the 52-year-old Carruthers Center and the century-old building in which it is housed in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood.

21st century students,” said Evans, who came to Northeastern from Governors State University.

“Northeastern has a fantastic legacy, and we will be a part of that legacy going forward, meeting students where they are, meeting the needs of the surrounding community.”

Since Evans’ arrival, the Carruthers Center has renovated its student lounge, bathrooms and tutoring center. It also recently added a new health and counseling center with an exam room for students to speak with therapists or social workers. All of those projects were initiated before Evans was hired but add to the momentum of her arrival.

programs and events—particularly for freshmen who she sees using the lessons of history as a “launching pad” to understand how they can make a difference in their surroundings.

In April, the Carruthers Center filled Donn Bailey Legacy Hall for a boisterous student poetry slam. It was the type of event that will become more common in the South Side location in the coming years.

“That energy and activity is what keeps the Carruthers Center going,” Evans said. “That has to happen for us to thrive and respect the legacy that this place has had for decades.”

In addition to facilities and support services, Evans is focused on ensuring the Carruthers Center offers the right mix of academic

“I hope to maintain a legacy here at the Carruthers Center while meeting the needs of

A new program for secondary education Beginning with the Fall 2018 semester, the Daniel L. Goodwin College of Education will offer a new Master of Arts in Teaching in Secondary Education through its Department of Educational Inquiry and Curriculum Studies. The 37-credit-hour program is designed for students who wish to teach English Language Arts, Math, History and Science (Biology, Physics, Chemistry or Earth Science) in grades 9-12. With this new program, a student who has earned a bachelor’s degree from Northeastern or another accredited university in one of these content areas can apply to this program for the pedagogical side of becoming a teacher.

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$20,165

That’s how much the 46th Annual Chuck Kane Scholarship Golf Event raised on June 18.

Legendary Chicago Cubs catcher Randy Hundley attended the event as the featured speaker—along with his friend and Northeastern alumnus John St. Augustine. With an endowment of $444,723, the scholarship has provided support for more than 150 students. Fourteen more scholarships will be awarded before the end of this year.

Journalism Royalty Journalism icons and authors Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein informed, entertained and surprised a packed house in the Northeastern Illinois University Auditorium during their Daniel L. Goodwin Distinguished Lecture Series event in February.

In their first appearance together since the November 2016 election, the men who broke the Bob Woodward Watergate story for The Washington Post in the 1970s spoke about President Donald Trump’s first year in office and the constant comparisons to President Richard Nixon.

They also spoke about the challenges and responsibilities of the modern news media in the age of Twitter and a 24-hour news cycle.

“What we’ve got to do is slow down and find a process to make sure that we get it right,” said Woodward, who was born and raised in the Chicago suburbs.

Moderated by College of Arts and Sciences Interim Dean Katrina Bell-Jordan, the event was the third installment of the Daniel L. Goodwin Distinguished Lecture Series, which was created in 2015 by Daniel L. Goodwin, Chairman and CEO of Inland Real Estate Group of Companies, Inc., as part of his historic $2.5 million commitment to Northeastern.

The lecture series fund supports freedom of speech by providing prominent and well-respected thinkers representing all sides of issues to the University for presentations through conferences, seminars and major lectures. The lecture series has previously featured political pundits James Carville and Mary Matalin, and financial expert Terry Savage.

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Carl Bernstein

“El Centro has been a beacon of light in the community for 50 years, as it has provided access to educational opportunities and has transformed lives. We look forward to the possibilities of the next 50 years.”

El Centro Director Maria Luna-Duarte The center is celebrating its 50th year in 2018 with community events, fundraisers and student celebrations. El Centro offers an array of academic course offerings, recruitment and admission programs, academic support and co-curricular programs for students, and outreach initiatives for the neighboring community.

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ON YOUR

MAR

Program that prepares Ph.D.-bound biomedical and beh students quickly building national reputation for succes

By Mike Hines

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Ryan Borchert wanted two things before he would enroll in college: a little more money, and a little more maturity. After serving six years in the Illinois Army National Guard as a combat medic, it’s safe to say he acquired both.

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havioral science ss

Associate Professor of Biology Jorge Cantú incorporates MARC scholars into his zebrafish research projects.

In May, Borchert (pictured at left) earned his Bachelor of Science in Biology and will next enter the prestigious Interdisciplinary Biological Sciences Ph.D. Program at Northwestern University, an accomplishment for which he gives considerable credit to the National Institutes of Health MARC (Maximizing Access to Research Careers) U-STAR Program at Northeastern Illinois University.

“I can say for certain that if I did not have the MARC program and all of the support it has provided, I would not have accomplished half of what I have done,” said Borchert, a native of Aurora, Ill. He is not the only one. In fact, all five of last year’s MARC seniors earned their bachelor’s degrees and will go on to advanced degree programs, and that’s exactly the desired outcome. MARC is designed to support undergraduate students who are underrepresented in the biomedical and behavioral science fields to improve their preparation for training at the Ph.D. level. MARC students receive a $12,000 annual living stipend in addition to the tuition and fees covered by the program, and they are required to participate in the University Honors Program.

“MARC levels the playing field between traditional Ph.D.bound students with abundant economic, social and educational resources and underrepresented students who are often first-generation college students with few economic resources,” said Psychology Professor Breckie Church, who oversees the program along with Associate Professor of Biology Emina Stojkovic and Assistant Professor of Mathematics Joseph Hibdon. “The program transforms lives.”

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aunched in 2014, Northeastern’s program—the only MARC program in Illinois—has been an undeniable success. To date, every student who has entered has earned a bachelor’s degree. Seven of the nine total graduates from the past three years have entered Ph.D. degree programs, with the remaining two currently in the application process. Once those two have committed to Ph.D. programs, the 100 percent rate of getting MARC trainees into Ph.D. programs will put Northeastern well ahead of the 29 percent national average for MARC programs.

“The fact that we are sending these scholars into Ph.D. programs in the biomedical research field paves the way for expansion in STEM diversity,” Hibdon said. “Northeastern has prepared these students, and they will go on to mentor hundreds of other students who might not otherwise pursue a research career. That, to me, is very rewarding.”

Next step: Lotesto is applying to M.D.-Ph.D. programs with a focus in pharmacology Lotesto has had a fascination with science and medicine for as long as she can remember, but she could never stay focused enough to succeed in college classrooms. So, in the early 2000s, she put her plan on hold and turned her attention to another passion: cooking. Even after spending more than a decade as an executive chef, Lotesto never let go of her plan to pursue medicine, and in 2014 enrolled at Northeastern. “I ended up feeling very comfortable and had great interactions with the faculty and other students, many of whom were also ‘coming back’ to school from other careers or places in life, so I decided to continue working toward my degree here,” the Chicago native said. Through MARC, Lotesto worked in the lab of Assistant Professor of Chemistry Jing Su. “The financial support of tuition coverage and stipend MARC offered allowed me to reduce the number of hours I worked outside of school and focus more on doing research and taking more upper-division courses,” Lotesto said. Her lifelong dream of working in medicine is growing ever closer. Eventually, Lotesto wants to research the progression and pharmacological management of injuries and illnesses related to critical care or emergency medicine.

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“Northeastern’s MARC program has been wildly successful under the expert guidance of MARC’s principal investigators and the supporting faculty who serve as the MARC scholars’ research advisors,” College of Graduate Studies and Research Dean Michael Stern said. “The trainees receive the research preparation and support to enter high-quality Ph.D. programs, and the research performed under the auspices of the MARC program is promulgated through publications and conferences, reaching scholars throughout the world. When our well-trained students enter top-notch graduate programs, those institutions take note that they were trained at Northeastern, and look to us for other students.”

Meet the Team

Krista Lotesto

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The program’s reputation for student success has quickly made Northeastern nationally visible to premier research universities such as Harvard, Indiana University and Michigan State that visit campus to recruit for their doctoral programs.

Alejandra Villegas

Next step: Integrated Life Sciences umbrella program at the University of Georgia in Athens Villegas is a firstgeneration college student who was born in Evanston and spent her first three years of schooling in Mexico.

Villegas’ family returned to Chicago when she entered third grade, and she eventually enrolled in a private university in Chicago. Villegas dropped out after three years of “trying and failing to get pumped about where I was and what I was studying.” When her father died a year later, Villegas realized she could do better and enrolled at Northeastern. Villegas embraced the diversity she found at her new university. “This made me feel at home again and allowed me to come out of my shell to pursue all the opportunities available,” she said.

Eventually, Villegas hopes to study and fight vector-borne diseases.

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Borchert, a first-generation college student from a low-income family, initially planned to use his Biology degree to pursue medicine but changed his path after a Student Center for Science Engagement summer research opportunity with Assistant Professor of Biology Sarah Orlofske examining trematode parasite communities of freshwater snails in a variety of wetland ecosystems.

“Dr. Orlofske taught me about the importance of research and how fundamental it is in developing new knowledge,” Borchert said. “After my experience in Dr. Orlofkse’s lab, I learned that I wanted to create new knowledge through science, rather than just practicing established science.”

Borchert has taken full advantage of his academic opportunities at Northeastern. He is a McNair Scholar and University Honors Program Scholar, and conducted research in the lab of Assistant Professor of Biology Jorge Cantu. Ultimately, Borchert would like to return to the classroom—as a professor.

“I can say for certain that if I did not have the MARC program and all of the support it has provided, I would not have accomplished half of what I have done.”

Ryan Borchert

“As I did at Northeastern, I plan to tutor, recruit and have important discussions with students from underrepresented populations in pursuing higher education,” he said. “One of the major reasons I am pursuing academia beyond graduate school is to be a strong voice for students who may not stand out based on their numbers due to their upbringing in underprivileged conditions, but have persevered against all odds and do stand out in their unique experiences and perspectives.”

All of the May 2018 MARC graduates were Biology majors who earned a minor in Mathematical and Statistical Modeling of Complex Systems.

Now that you’ve read about Ryan Borchert’s journey, meet the rest of the graduates.

Terry Blaszczak Anthony Smith

Next step: Driskill Graduate Training Program in Life Sciences and the Graduate School of Northwestern University Smith is a first-generation college student from Englewood, a neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago that has long been plagued by drugs, gangs and gun violence. Raised by a single mother until age 11 and after that by his grandmother, Smith dropped out of high school his junior year. Years later, Smith earned his high school diploma and enrolled in community college. He discovered an interest in biology while taking an elective science class on his way to earning an Associate of Applied Science degree in Automotive Technology. Eventually, Smith wants to advance the way diseases are treated and diagnosed via the use of nanomedicine. “There is nothing special about me. I’m just hardworking,” he said. “I’ve put in a lot of effort into earning what I’ve earned.”

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Next step: Biochemistry, Microbiology and Molecular Biology Ph.D. program at Pennsylvania State University Blaszczak is a firstgeneration student from Glen Ellyn, Ill. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of Puget Sound in 2010. While working as a surgical and sterilization technician, Blaszczak developed a growing interest in the experimental side of science and decided to pursue a second bachelor’s degree at her sister’s alma mater, Northeastern.

“Involvement in the MARC program has provided me so many beneficial opportunities to explore my future career options that I would not have been able to do otherwise,” she said. “While supplying a network of peers with similar career aspirations, the MARC program has provided a generous stipend that enabled me to pursue research throughout the school year, including summers, as well as access and travel to conferences and symposia.”

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THE CASE FOR

STUDENT RESEARCH The success of the National Institutes of Health MARC (Maximizing Access to Research Careers) U-STAR Program at Northeastern Illinois University has created a “snowball effect” that can be felt around the institution, according to College of Graduate Studies and Research Dean Michael Stern.

“The MARC program, combined with the many other research, creative activities and scholarly efforts that have been launched recently, have both created great vibrancy at Northeastern as well as created opportunities that did not exist before,” he said. “We should be very proud of what Northeastern has accomplished.”

Why is student participation in research so important in the sciences and other areas?

The most important answer is that it is well-documented that research experiences are an effective way to engage students in their education and learning, said Stern, who as dean of the College of Graduate Studies and Research oversees the support of all aspects of the research enterprise at Northeastern.

Stern also works with undergraduate students conducting laboratory research on a project in his field of developmental genetics.

“Student participation in research is important for the student, for the field in which the student is conducting the research, and for our society in general,” he said. “Research is a different type of learning that opens up new ways of approaching what is known about the world. This hones students’ critical analysis abilities and leads them to think differently about the world around them.”

Comprising one of the nation’s most diverse student bodies, Northeastern naturally fosters a diversity of questions, topics and approaches to students’ chosen fields. They go on to serve as role models for other students to follow in their footsteps, further enriching their fields and countering the disparities in opportunities for underrepresented populations in our society.

“Universities are centers for the dissemination of advanced knowledge, as well as for the creation of knowledge, the latter of which propels civilization forward,” Stern said. “A great university does both of these activities. As scholars, our faculty are the leaders

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“Research is a different type of learning that opens up new ways of approaching what is known about the world. This hones students’ critical analysis abilities and leads them to think differently about the world around them.”

Michael Stern

of creating new knowledge at Northeastern, but this is multiplied greatly by engaging our students in their scholarly pursuits.”

Participating in research not only engages students in creating new knowledge, but also expands the interests of the faculty into new areas.

“Research thrives on people struggling together to better understand the many different aspects of the world they study,” Stern said. “The student-faculty mentoring relationship is a strong bond that engages both students and faculty.

This is a very powerful mechanism of transformative education and learning.”

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Taking the Initiative

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By Anna Cannova

ateo Farzaneh first heard of Dr. Mohammad Mossadegh as a child growing up in Iran in the 1970s. While he realized then that the name was important, Farzaneh could not have known that more than four decades later he would become intimately involved in an effort to memorialize and honor Iran’s first democratically elected prime minister.

An associate professor of History at Northeastern Illinois University, Farzaneh in 2017 was appointed principal of the NEIU Foundation’s Mossadegh Initiative, whose mission is to develop funds and programs to educate and financially assist Northeastern students in becoming responsible leaders by understanding the concept of servant leadership as demonstrated by Dr. Mossadegh.

“For millions of people, the name Mossadegh is synonymous with servant leadership and patriotic duty,” Farzaneh said. “Based on that view, the Mossadegh Initiative is important because it teaches and promotes such highly held social and civic American values.”

As principal of the Initiative, Farzaneh has been busy with stewarding, planning and organizing several events in addition to meeting with the Persian-American community. Since his appointment, the Mossadegh Initiative has organized a fundraiser, stewarded four scholarships, developed a Persian language

course, hosted two screenings of “A Dying King: The Shah of Iran” and hosted a high-profile lecture.

Farzaneh teaches a variety of courses at Northeastern such as the History of the Modern Middle East, History of Iran and History of Current Issues in the Middle East. In 2015, he developed a study abroad program at the University of Seville in Spain, where he taught a course on the history of Moorish Spain to 22 Northeastern students. That was the same year Farzaneh published his award-winning first book, “The Iranian Constitutional Revolution and the Clerical Leadership of Khurasani” (Syracuse University Press).

Farzaneh’s appointment to lead the Mossadegh Initiative was something of a natural progression.

When Farzaneh arrived in Chicago in 2010 to teach at Northeastern, he came across a group of Iranian Americans who were vested in Dr. Mossadegh and his accomplishments.

“There are thousands of Iranians in the Chicago area and in surrounding states, but what was missing was a central body or organization to connect them together,” he said. “With organizing these activities, the situation has improved as hundreds of students and community members have attended events.”

Iranian Americans of Chicago—including Northeastern faculty and staff—raised funds in the United States and Europe toward the dedication of a main hall named after Dr.

Mossadegh. In 2013 Northeastern became the first academic institution to officially name a prominent space after the late premier, dubbing the College of Business and Management’s main study area Mossadegh Servant Leaders Hall. At the same time, the Mohammad Mossadegh Servant Leaders Fund was created to continue the spirit of servant leadership by bringing guest lecturers to the University and providing annual scholarships.

“Until very recently the only other space named after Mossadegh was a street in Cairo, and even in Iran nothing bore his name,” Farzaneh said. “That’s why it gives me a distinct feeling of honor to be part of an organization and initiative that bears his name not only in spirit but also in a student hall.”

More online

Visit neiu.edu/mossadegh for photos, scholarship descriptions, event listings and much more from the Mossadegh Initiative.

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Students New philanthropy program is about giving more than money

By Mike Hines

When Byron Terry earned a Class Gift Scholarship, the award came as a tremendous relief. The $450 scholarship helped to pay for books, supplies and fees. “It basically filled the gap that I wasn’t able to cover being a full-time student,” said Terry, who is on track to earn a Master of Arts in Inner City Studies in December.

Founded in 1996, the Class Gift Scholarship Fund has developed a tradition among Northeastern Illinois University’s graduating seniors who use the fund to give back to students like Terry who share the same financial challenges and academic goals.

Before accepting the Class Gift Scholarship, Terry happily agreed to participate in a new program that encourages Northeastern students to help fellow students. It’s called the Student Philanthropy Initiative, and it’s gaining traction in its second year at Northeastern.

Launched during Golden Eagle Welcome Day for incoming students in 2016, the program is part of a growing national trend to educate students on the importance of giving back to their universities.

Byron Terry

Beyond its new president and its 150-year anniversary, Northeastern Illinois University has another reason to celebrate: The institution’s first fundraising campaign, Transforming Lives: The Campaign for Northeastern Illinois University, reached its $10 million goal well ahead of schedule. neiu.edu/transform

With almost 11 months left in the campaign, Northeastern announced an ambitious new goal of $12 million. The campaign wraps up at the end of this year.

“As a new president, I’m so pleased to see the growing momentum for giving at Northeastern,” President Gloria J. Gibson said. “I look forward

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helping students At Northeastern, the program concentrates on five specific goals:

about giving your time, your talent and your treasure to help improve the world around you.”

1. Educate students on the importance of giving 2. Raise funds for the Class Gift Scholarship Fund 3. Complete community service projects 4. Create philanthropic traditions 5. Host student life activities that build school spirit throughout the University

In just two years, the initiative has coordinated a food drive, provided volunteers for public television fundraisers, organized Dinner For 12 events that pair alumni and mentors with current students, and launched “penny wars” games in which student organizations compete to raise money for scholarships.

As a recipient of one of four annual Class Gift Scholarships, Terry appreciates the importance of scholarships.

“This is about students helping students, peer-to-peer fundraising,” said Agron, who earned a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies from Northeastern in 2015. “It is building traditions to get students to grow that affinity to Northeastern.”

“Scholarships make studies possible,” said Terry, who plans to pursue a Ph.D. in the field of Sociology of Education. Ultimately, Terry wants to study how city structures work, and how government and society affect how people live their daily lives. “Financial stress is one of those things that can hinder you from earning a quality education, so earning a scholarship definitely takes that burden off of my shoulders,” he said.

While philanthropy may call to mind million-dollar donors, that’s not what this initiative is about.

More online Read about the campaign’s initiatives, its success stories and more at neiu.edu/transform.

“A lot of people think philanthropy is just about giving money. It’s not,” said Assistant Director of Alumni Relations Ashley Agron, who spearheads the program at Northeastern. “Student philanthropy is

to celebrating the successful completion of Transforming Lives—and celebrating the lives the campaign has transformed—at the end of the year.”

The campaign is already responsible for the establishment of 66 new scholarships, and Vice President for Institutional Advancement and Executive Director of the NEIU Foundation Liesl Downey is eager to build on that momentum.

“The success of this campaign is a credit to the spirit and generosity of the Northeastern community,” Downey said. “Contributing to scholarships is one of the ways donors can make the most direct impact on the lives of our students as we help them avoid the burdens of excessive student debt and allow them to concentrate on what’s important—learning, graduating and starting their careers.”

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Much of the success of Transforming Lives can be attributed to the Goodwin Gift Challenge, in which alumnus and former Chairman of the Board of Trustees Daniel Goodwin pledged an unprecedented $2.5 million. Goodwin serves as one of three honorary co-chairs for the campaign, along with Presidents Emeriti Sharon Hahs and Salme Harju Steinberg.

Goodwin made an initial $1 million grant to the NEIU Foundation in December of 2014. The remainder of the gift comes in the form of the Goodwin Gift Challenge, in which he is encouraging others to contribute to the NEIU Foundation by matching gifts up to a total of $500,000 annually through 2018. In 2016, Northeastern reached the threshold in November, and last year the mark was met in September.

NORTHEASTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY I magazine

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A special education for a special

V Victoria Valentine always knew she wanted to be a teacher, but it wasn’t until she volunteered at a summer camp during sixth grade that she realized she wanted to pursue special education.

During the camp, Valentine was assigned to work with a young autistic boy and began to see the world from his perspective.

“He taught me how important it is for individuals with different strengths to be given the opportunity to work together because of the various positive outcomes it allows in the areas of social understanding, problemsolving and self-awareness,” said Valentine, who is on track to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Special Education from Northeastern Illinois University in 2019. “Promoting respect and acceptance of individuals with various strengths and needs provides a platform for growth in our society.”

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NORTHEASTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY I magazine

By Mike Hines

Valentine, a native of Chicago’s Portage Park neighborhood, arrived at Northeastern in 2015 after graduating from Northside College Prep.

“Making the decision to come to Northeastern was one of the best decisions I have made for my career because of all the ways it has supported me,” she said.

“Coming here has been an all-around lifechanging experience and has allowed me to make so many meaningful and surprising connections with fellow students and staff.”

Credit Valentine for taking advantage of every opportunity Northeastern has to offer. In just a few short years, she has worked with the Campus Recreation office’s Adventure Program, served as treasurer of the Student Council for Exceptional Children, traveled to three special education conferences, tutored for TRIO Student Support Services and participated in two clinical classroom experiences. Along the way, she earned the Daniel L. Goodwin College of Education Scholarship and the Golden Apple Scholarship.

“Victoria’s personal strengths are as impressive as her academic accomplishments,” Special Education Instructor Deena Soffer Goldstein said. “She is intuitive, kind, enthusiastic and confident—

attributes that will make her an incredible teacher.”

Valentine has already completed two very different clinical classroom experiences, which are required to provide Special Education students with an introduction to student teaching in which teacher candidates teach in the classroom, but only for a few lessons per day.

The first clinical experience was in a selfcontained classroom made up of students with behavioral disabilities and Autism Spectrum Disorder in an elementary school on the Northwest Side of Chicago. The classroom fostered a structured environment with each student’s schedule posted on the wall. Among academic activities, students participated in “group” every day, which offered an opportunity for the students to work on their social and emotional learning skills such as taking turns, making eye contact during conversation, asking followup questions and expressing their thoughts.

The second was in a high school classroom that co-teaches in settings that include students with and without disabilities. In the classroom’s resource classes, which provide a smaller teacher-to-student ratio for students with disabilities, Valentine helped to manage differentiating instruction based on each individual’s needs.

“I worked with a student with Down syndrome on developing independent living skills with money management,” Valentine said. “I also implemented lessons on adding and subtracting fractions in a resource setting with real-life applications in measuring amounts for recipes.”

FALL 2018

Valentine will move into a full student teaching role in Spring 2019, and eventually wants to work with students in middle or high school with emotional and behavior disorders, intellectual disabilities, or a combination of both.

“I feel like my long-term goals are changing with all the experiences that I have within special education,” Valentine said. “My philosophy is to promote acceptance and understanding of individuals with disabilities and provide them with meaningful experiences they can generalize to independent living in order to have a self-determined future with as many opportunities for independence as possible.”

Valentine’s potential for great success is something College of Arts and Sciences Education Program Coordinator and Instructor Melanie Bujan recognized early on, when she encouraged Valentine to apply for the program that is designed for future teachers.

“The variety of classes I took through this mindfully structured program helped me become a more thoughtful writer and a more engaging presenter, as well as provided me with meaningful electives to help me better understand the politics of teaching,” Valentine said. “This cohort model connected me with fellow future teachers in the various content areas and grade levels that led me to opportunities within my career path and on campus.”

Bujan has enjoyed seeing Valentine grow as she advances closer to earning her degree.

“Victoria is not only an academically gifted student but also a kind and caring human being,” Bujan said. “There are some students out there who are going to benefit from an amazing future teacher, and I am proud to say that she was one of my students.”

FALL 2018

“Making the decision to come to Northeastern was one of the best decisions of my career because of all the ways it has supported me.”

Victoria Valentine

NORTHEASTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY I magazine

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A hockey homecoming

By Mike Hines

Northeastern Illinois University may not have an athletics program anymore, but it hasn’t forgotten the athletes.

The athletes haven’t forgotten about Northeastern, either. While the Office of Alumni Relations organizes annual athlete reunions, this year it received a request to arrange a special get-together.

Almost 20 members of the 1971-74 ice hockey team—some of whom had stayed close, and many of whom had not seen each other since leaving Northeastern—reunited at a local restaurant in January.

“Once we introduced ourselves and knew who everybody was, it was like we just played a game yesterday,” said R. Cary Capparelli, who initiated the reunion when he pitched the idea to Alumni Relations. “We were all just really happy to see each other again.”

The Golden Eagles started as a club team before moving up to Division II, where they played in the Central States Collegiate Hockey League against teams such as Indiana, Purdue, Iowa State, Illinois State, Bradley and Western Illinois. The crowd size could reach as many as 2,000 spectators.

Team members and their spouses came to the reunion from as far away as San Francisco to reminisce about their time at Northeastern, share memories of hockey team road trips and look through old yearbooks.

They already are planning the next get-together.

“I can honestly say that playing hockey at Northeastern was some of the best times in my life,” said Capparelli, a team captain who played center.

“As some of us remained friends through the years, we still talk about the crazy times.”

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NORTHEASTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY I magazine

FALL 2018

Thank you!

3,000 donors and counting | $4.96 million and climbing

For his leadership and tremendous support, the students of Northeastern Illinois University thank Mr. Daniel L. Goodwin for his many contributions to our future. As the lead donor and honorary co-chair for the University’s first campaign, Transforming Lives, Mr. Goodwin made the largest contribution to his alma mater, $2.5 million, and created the Goodwin Gift Challenge. In 2016, 2017 and 2018, the Goodwin Gift Challenge inspired hundreds of alumni and friends to give to the NEIU Foundation in support of scholarships, departments and programs. From students now to students in the future, we are grateful.

FALL 2018

NORTHEASTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY I magazine

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Class Notes

1960s RICHARD SWANSON (M.A. ’68 Mathematics) Swanson served as teacher, school district administrator and author for more than 40 years.

He earned a Ph.D. in Mathematics Education from Ohio State University.

LINDA WINER (B.A. ’68 Music) Winer received the League of Professional Theatre Women (LPTW) Special Award at the 2018 Theatre Women Awards ceremony.

Winer was the Chief Theatre Critic for Newsday until 2017. She taught critical writing at Columbia University’s School of the Arts and hosted the LPTW’s “Women in Theatre” series on CUNY-TV. Winer was also the 2013 NEIU Distinguished Alumna Award recipient and Commencement speaker.

ANTHONY C. PARLA (B.A. ’73 Political Science) Parla worked in the insurance industry for more than 40 years, reaching the position of vice president.

RICHARD C. LINDBERG (B.A. ’74 History; M.A. ’87 History) Lindberg was honored by the Illinois State Historical Society (ISHS) for his work on publishing Northeastern’s first comprehensive history book, “Northeastern Illinois University: The First 150 Years.” He is also a member of the NEIU Alumni Advisory Board.

Northeastern Illinois University: The First 150 Years Available for purchase on Northeastern Illinois University’s Main Campus, 5500 N. St. Louis Ave., on the second floor of the Jerome M. Sachs Administrative Building or in the Alumni Center. The book may be purchased for $35 in cash or by check made payable to Northeastern Illinois University.

NORTHEASTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY I magazine

GREG HERRIGES (B.A. ’75 English) Herriges published a book titled “Inherit the Streets,” an investigative report about Chicago street gangs for the Chicago Tribune Sunday Magazine in 1978. Herriges has written numerous novels including “Someplace Safe,” “The Winter Dance Party Murders,” and “The Bay of the Marseilles and Other Stories.”

He has also produced documentaries including “TC Boyle: The Art of the Story” and “Player: A Rock and Roll Dream,” which won Platinum and Gold at the Aurora Awards in Salt Lake City.

SEEMA (CRANDALL) GHORI IMAM (B.A. ’75 Elementary and Learning Disabilities; M.A. ’83 Reading Specialist; M.A. ’87 Educational Administration) Ghori Imam completed a doctorate in Curriculum and Social Inquiry at National Louis University and a second doctorate at Graduate Theological Foundation. In 2017, she

1970s

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The Alumni Association wants to hear from you! Submit your class note at neiu.edu/alumni or send an email to alumni@neiu.edu.

was awarded full professor at National Louis University. Ghori Imam was also the recipient of the Mary McLeod Award in Educational Administration at Graduate Theological Foundation and the Inspiring Women’s Award from the Muslim Women Alliance.

KAREN (HULL) SCHMITZ (B.S. ’75 Physical Education) Schmitz recently retired after a long career as a physical health and dance teacher, writer and marketing professional. She has two adult children.

JARICE HANSON (B.A. ’76 Speech) Hanson served as the 2018 Brommel-Hahs Lecturer at the Communication, Media and Theatre Celebration Week this spring. Hanson is a professor of communications at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. Hanson is the author, most recently, of “24/7: How Cell Phones and the Internet Change the Way We Live, Work, and Play,” “New Communication Technologies in Developing Countries,” “Understanding Video: Applications, Impact, and Theory,” and “Connections: Technologies of Communication.” He has edited or co-edited more than a dozen others.

GERALD GEMS (B.A. ’77 Physical Education) Gems retired as a professor of kinesiology from North Central College in Naperville, Illinois.

He served as the past president of the North American Society for Sport History, is a Fulbright Scholar, received the 2016 Routledge Award for scholarship, and is author of more than 250 publications. He has made more than 70 international presentations of his research and is currently working on his 20th book.

FALL 2018

JENNIE (GARDNER) SPALLONE (M.A.S. ’77 Special Education) Spallone published a new book titled “Psychobabble,” her fourth psychological thriller, in May 2018. She was recently awarded the Advanced Communicator Gold from Toastmasters, International in recognition of her strong communication skills.

WILLIAM KIRKWOOD (B.A. ’79 Music; M.A. ’83 Music) Kirkwood recently completed a Doctor of Worship Studies degree at the Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies in Jacksonville, Florida.

1980s RICHARD KOUBEK (B.A. ’82 Psychology) Koubek has been appointed the 10th president of Michigan Tech.

JAMES H. LAWLOR (B.A. ’83 Business and Management) Lawlor works as a personal injury trial attorney at Shea Law Group in Chicago.

MELANIE (GOTO) DILLON (B.A. ’85 Speech; M.A. ’89 Guidance and Counseling) Dillon is the co-founder of Entourage Clinical Services, one of the first integrated “cannabisconscious” health care practices in Illinois.

In addition to being a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, Dillon is a Certified Holistic Cannabis Practitioner.

KENNETH D. SMITH (B.S. ’87 Marketing) Smith serves as a tax manager at The Abrix Group L.P. in Northbrook, Illinois.

FALL 2018

1990s JAIME ESCOBAR (B.S. ’94 Accounting) Escobar was recently appointed as chief financial officer at Nanophase Technologies Corporation, a technology leader in nanomaterials and advanced nanoengineered products, in Romeoville, Illinois. He also has a CPA license from the State of Illinois.

ROBERT JORDAN (M.A. ’94 Speech) Jordan presented at Northeastern as part of the NEIU Alumni: All Access speaker series. Jordan retired in 2016 as a reporter and news anchor for WGN-TV’s News at Nine. He recently published “Murder in the News: An Inside Look at How Television Covers Crime.” The book examines how news programs decide which murders to cover and how social media has changed the dynamic of reporting. Jordan earned the 2011 NEIU Distinguished Alumnus Award and also served as that year’s December Commencement speaker.

ENRIQUE GALLEGO (M.A. ’97 Political Science) Gallego served as a regional policy coordinator at the Department of State’s Counterterrorism Bureau. He is currently training for a new assignment with the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia, as the deputy political counselor for External Affairs.

ROBERTA DIETZEN (M.A. ’99 Linguistics) Dietzen published a Holocaust memoir, “Gypsy Music Street,” in 2013. Her speaker’s program is titled “Gypsy Music Street: Genocide and a Daughter’s Journey to her Mother’s Shattered World.” She speaks about the inter-generational trauma of the Holocaust, and the importance of people standing up to hatred, cruelty and injustice.

Your IRA can transform lives, and reduce your 2018 taxes Concerned that you won’t be able to itemize your deductions for the 2018 tax year?

If

You are at least age 70 1/2

And

You need to take a required minimum distribution

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You can donate up to $100,000 to the NEIU Foundation as a qualified charitable distribution

In order to

Reduce your taxable income— even if you don’t itemize your deductions

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Feel good about making a difference for Northeastern students If you want to give or you have questions, contact Director of Individual Giving Lisa Domkowski at (773) 442-5814 or l-domkowski@neiu.edu.

NORTHEASTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY I magazine

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Class Notes 2000s JADE MAZE (B.A. ’04 University Without Walls) Maze recently published “Walk Until Sunrise,” a memoir about her experiences as a 15-yearold runaway. Her book received a review from windycityreviews.org. She is currently a member of the voice faculty at Merit School of Music and a teaching artist for Ravinia.

AARON N. DURNBAUGH (M.A. ’05 Geography and Environmental Studies) Durnbaugh presented as the keynote speaker at this year’s Green Initiative Conference at Northeastern. He is the director of sustainability at Loyola University Chicago.

REBECCA (BECKY) SARWATE (M.A. ’07 English) Sarwate recently published a book featuring Chicago Cubs fans called “Cubsessions: Famous Fans of Chicago’s North Side Baseball Team.” The book is co-authored with Randy Richardson.

Sarwate is a Chicago-based freelance writer whose work appears in Contemptor, The Broadway Blog, Wrigleyville Nation, PoliticusUSA. com, RootSpeak magazine, EDGE Media Network, NewCity, Make It Better and StreetWise.

She is a manifold IWPA award winner and has been recognized for her work eight times by the National Federation of Press Women.

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NORTHEASTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY I magazine

MONEEN JONES (M.A. ’06 Geography and Environmental Studies; M.S. ’06 Biology) Jones recently taught a series of beekeeping classes at Northeastern through the Community and Professional Education program. She earned a Ph.D. in Entomology from the University of Illinois.

2010s ELLA WHITEHEAD (B.A. ’11 History) Whitehead was awarded the 2018 Black Heritage Alumni Award at the annual Black Heritage Awards Ceremony, which took place at the Carruthers Center for Inner City Studies. She works as the manager of the Career and Transfer Center at Oakton Community College in Des Plaines, Illinois.

STEPHANIE GÓMEZ (B.A. ’12 Sociology) Gómez was featured by the Mujeres’ Young Professionals Advisory Council. She is the co-director of programs and training at Public Allies Chicago, where she is involved with innovating the training and learning curriculum.

Her role offers the opportunity to work with young adults from the city of Chicago.

CAROLYN M. HODRICK (B.A. ’14 Justice Studies; M.A. ’17 Inner City Studies) Hodrick launched a new program called F.E.E.D. (Family, Education, Economics, Acts of Self-Diligence). The initiative hosts book drives for educational programs in Chicago.

BILL HARRISON (M.A. ’15 Clinical Mental Health Counseling) Harrison published an article titled “Counseling people in the performing arts” in Counseling Today, the membership magazine of the American Counseling Association.

ASHLEY AGRON (B.A. ’16 Interdisciplinary Studies) Agron was recently highlighted in an online story featuring the Northeastern Alumni Relations Student Philanthropy efforts. Agron currently works as the assistant director of alumni relations at Northeastern and is pursuing a master’s degree in Community and Teacher Leaders at NEIU. ELISE TAYLOR (M.A. ’17 Communication, Media and Theatre) Taylor was admitted into a Ph.D. program in Communication at Purdue. Her research will focus in media, technology and society.

SHERRY WILLIAMS (B.A. ’17 Nontraditional Degree Program) Williams is the president and founder of the Bronzeville Historical Society, founded in 1999. Over the years, Williams has documented Chicago’s black history.

The organization has provided historical presentations, exhibits and seminars in schools, churches, libraries and park districts.

DANIEL WILLIAMS (B.A. ’14 History) Williams was recently named librarian at the Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture in recognition of his strong leadership in promoting local history and cultural institutions. He is currently a library associate at Teen Services at Chicago Public Library.

FALL 2018

OZMA

AMAAN

MADIHA HUSNA

Northeastern Legacy

Siddiqui Family Northeastern Illinois University does not track sibling data, but it’s safe to assume the Siddiquis are a rarity—if not a first—for the institution. Ranging in age from 20-24, all five Siddiqui siblings—Amaan, Husna, Madiha, Ozma and Seema—are currently enrolled as undergraduates at the University. “We’ve always gone to school together, so being together at Northeastern doesn’t feel that unusual to us,” said Seema Siddiqui, who like her twin, Ozma, is pursuing a major in the Daniel L. Goodwin College of Education. The family’s connection to Northeastern actually began with an uncle who earned his degree in Computer Science in the 1980s. Like their uncle, the younger Siddiquis feel at home at Northeastern. “I was shy when I first arrived,” said Madiha, the first of the five siblings to enroll at Northeastern. “Now I’m totally comfortable and I think of my academic adviser as my best friend.”

FALL 2018

SEEMA

NORTHEASTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY I magazine

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NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID CHICAGO, IL PERMIT NO. 2929

Office of the President 5500 N. St. Louis Avenue Chicago, IL 60625

www.neiu.edu

NEIU

weekend September 14-15

Come home and meet our new president, Gloria J. Gibson.

Bring the family to sway to the music, picnic on the Commons, win the bag toss, get fancied up to celebrate incredible alumni, and most importantly, add your voice to support Northeastern.

Highlights include: • Fall Fest outdoor concert • Golden Eagle Family Picnic • Golden Gala Awards Dinner

neiu.edu/neiuweekend2018