2017-2018 Alumni Association Impact Report Welcome Fellow Huskies: Table of Contents As I wrap up my term as president of the NIUAA, NIU Alumni Association Mission 1 I have had time to look back and reflect on how far this By the Numbers 2-3 organization has come. The NIUAA has always been a 2018-19 NIUAA Executive Board New Board Members great way for alumni to reconnect with each other and Board of Directors 4 our alma mater, but just like the relentless spirit of our Membership Scholarship Award Winners 5 alumni, we haven’t stopped improving. In my time, we Travel 6 have seen consistent growth in our event offerings, a high- Financials 8 performing travel program, development of our affinity Communications 9 groups, the launch of a new volunteer program and steady Events 10-11 improvement in our communications. NIU Nexus 12-13 I credit the leadership of the entire board and the NIU Alumni Award Winners 14-15 collaborative spirit of the staff for our achievements. Affinity Groups 16 NIU Foundation Steering an organization that serves 240,000 alumni is Mission: A Huskie Legacy Inside Back truly a team effort and we have had a great team. I have the Our Newest Huskies Back Cover utmost confidence in Pete Garrity, to whom I handed the gavel at the end of my term, to take us even further. It’s a great time to be a Huskie! Respectfully,

Bob Gallagher, ’91, ’92 MBA Past President, NIUAA

What a fiscal year 2017-2018 was! We saw significant growth in so many areas of your Northern Illinois University Alumni Association (NIUAA). We rolled out a new volunteer program so alumni could share their expertise and skills with faculty, staff and students, we executed more events, and sent out more newsletters and points of pride than ever before. This impact report is meant to help you understand what the NIUAA does — and hopefully, encourages you to get involved. Whether it’s volunteering through NIU Nexus, making a gift to support our amazing students, proudly displaying your diploma, or helping recruit a new Huskie, you can make a difference. You are a student for a short time, but an alumnus for life. Join us in supporting your alma mater. From 1996 to 2013, Go Huskies! Olive Goyle did not have a head because it was chiseled off. During that span, it was a NIU tradition to decorate Reggie Bustinza the stump with creative replacements. Olive Goyle is Executive Director, NIUAA one of 11 original grotesques adorning Altgeld Hall.

NIU Alumni Association Impact Report Approximately 30,000 visitors pass through the Barsema Alumni and Visitors Center each year.

Theresa Stack Building Manager

The Barsema Alumni and Visitors Center (BAVC), built in 2005, is not only the home of the NIU Alumni Association, but an ideal venue for hosting NIU Alumni Association Mission alumni gatherings, volunteer and donor events, student activities, faculty forums, The purpose of the association shall be exclusively educational and dignitary receptions, and charitable. It shall establish mutually beneficial relations between the community groups and university and its alumni, and promote the interests of Northern Illinois meetings. In FY18, the BAVC hosted 120 events. The University. The association has a mission to build long-term relationships center is also available to with NIU alumni and friends by communicating the message of excellence the extended NIU family for and creating opportunities for alumni and friends of the university to private occasions — interact with the university community. weddings, family reunions and other milestone events. The NIU Alumni Association is a 501(c)3 organization focused on building lifelong relationships with NIU alumni, prospective students, corporate partners and friends. The association offers programs, hosts special events and partners with various departments and organizations in support of NIU. All graduates of NIU are members of the NIU Alumni Association and are entitled to its benefits and programs. The association serves about 155,000 NIU alumni in Illinois and 241,000 alumni worldwide. This is accomplished by: • Offering programs and services that foster pride in the university, support its goals Renata Catlett and meet alumni needs. Office Manager • Developing a pool of committed alumni volunteers willing to involve themselves in the Alumni Association and university activities. • Developing alumni clubs and other constituency groups that further alumni affiliation with the university. • Representing alumni interests on university policy-making committees. • Sponsoring programs for students designed to develop university loyalty and to encourage lifelong relationships with the university as active alumni. • Developing and sponsoring programs that foster financial support for the university. The NIU Alumni Association and alumni relations are part of the Division of Jayne Holley University Advancement. Administrative Assistant

NIU Alumni Association Impact Report 1 By the Numbers 663 N/A 0.3% 1,659 90 years and more 0.6% College of Business 6,672 80-89 years 2.8% Total Living Alumni 52,888 21,117 22-29 years 8.8% Top Three Majors Living Alumni 1. Accountancy 12,160 by 2. Marketing 11,837 Age Group 3. MBA 9,134

29,121 College of Education 70-79 years Total Living Alumni 53,909 12.1% 44,681 Top Three Majors 30-39 years 1. Curriculum and Instruction 22,711 18.5% 2. Leadership and Education Policy Study 10,274 3. Teaching and Learning 7,129 47,690 60-69 years College of Engineering and Engineering Technology 19.8% Total Living Alumni 10,902 Top Three Majors 43,122 40-49 years 1. Technology 6,652 46,285 17.9% 2. Mechanical Engineering 2,075 50-59 years 19.2% 3. Electrical Engineering 1,862 College of Health and Human Sciences Total Living Alumni 30,313 Top Three Majors 1. Nursing 9,500 College of Visual and Performing Arts 5.8% 14,463 2. Human and Family Resources 6,494 3. Allied Health Professions 4,914 Living Alumni by College of Law College Total Living Alumni 4,030 College of College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Business 21.4% Total Living Alumni 81,241 52,888 Top Three Majors 1. Computer Science 8,106 College of Liberal Arts and 2. English 7,430 Sciences 3. Psychology 7,349 32.8% 81,241 College of Visual and Performing Arts College of Total Living Alumni 14,463 Education 21.8% Top Three Majors 53,909 1. Art 10,226 College of Health 2. Music 3,474 and 3. Theater and Dance 1,397 Human Sciences 12.2% 30,313 College of Law 1.6% 4,030 College of Engineering and Engineering Technology 4.4% 10,902

Total Number of

Living Alumni: 241,326

2 NIU Alumni Association Impact Report Top Regions for NIU Alumni (Outside of the Chicago area) 1. Rockford, Illinois 13,339 2. Phoenix, Arizona (including Phoenix, Mesa and Scottsdale) 3,207 3. Milwaukee, Wisconsin (including Milwaukee, Waukesha, West Allis) 2,498 4. Los Angeles, California (including Los Angeles, Long Beach, Anaheim) 2,198 5. Dallas, Texas (including Dallas, Fort Worth, Arlington) 1,835 6. Atlanta, Georgia (including Sandy Springs, Roswell) 1,777 7. Madison, Wisconsin 1,764 8. Denver, Colorado (including Aurora, Lakewood) 1,752 9. Minneapolis, Minnesota (including St. Paul, Bloomington) 1,522 10. Washington, D.C. (including Arlington and Alexandria, Virginia) 1,487 11. St. Louis, Missouri 1,474 12. Peoria, Illinois 1,423 13. New York, New York (including Newark and Jersey City, New Jersey) 1,351 14. Davenport, Iowa (including Moline and Rock Island) 1,291 15. Tampa, Florida (including St. Petersburg, Clearwater) 1,238 16. Houston, Texas (including The Woodlands, Sugar Land) 1,164 17. San Francisco, California (including Oakland, Hayward) 1,142 18. Seattle, Washington (including Tacoma, Bellevue) 1,050 19. San Diego, California (including Carlsbad) 996 20. Indianapolis, Indiana (Including Carmel, Anderson) 855 21. Miami, Florida (including Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach) 845 22. Austin, Texas (including Round Rock) 707 23. Orlando, Florida (including Kissimmee, Sanford) 702 24. Las Vegas, Nevada (including Henderson, Paradise) 697 25. Detroit, Michigan (including Warren, Dearborn) 688 26. Kansas City, Missouri and Kansas 666 27. Bloomington, Illinois 664 28. Champaign, Illinois (including Urbana) 608 29. Tucson, Arizona 605 30. Nashville, Tennessee (including Davidson, Murfreesboro, Franklin) 590

Alumni With Two Degrees 26,055 More than Alumni With Three Degrees 1,730 155,000 NIU alumni live Alumni With + Four or More Degrees 106 in Illinois. Degree Breakdown

198,841 Bachelor’s Degree

71,513 Master’s Degree

0-100 9,272 Doctorate Degree

100-500 4,030 Law Degree

050,000 100,000 150,000 200,000 500-1,000

1,000-10,000

more than 10,000

NIU Alumni Association Impact Report 3 2018-2019 NIU Alumni Association Executive Board

Peter Garrity Joseph Sener Michael Hughes Robert Gallagher ’71, M.B.A. ’76 ’93, M.S. ’10 ’92, M.A. ’93 ’91, M.B.A. ’92 President Vice President Treasurer Immediate Past President

2018-2019 NIU Alumni Association New Board Members

Marlo Barnett Michael Cahill Thomas Libert Jacqueline Marcus Kimberly Moore Sankat Patel M.S.Ed. ’12, ’12, M.A.S. ’13 ’74 ’72, M.S. ’79 ’01, M.M. ’04 ’00 Ph.D. ’17

2018-2019 NIU Alumni Association Board of Directors Peter Garrity ’71, M.B.A. ’76 Lane Coleman ’86 Kimberly Moore ’01, M.M. ’04 Robert Gallagher ’91, M.B.A. ’92 Richard Escalante ’74, M.A.P.A. ’78 Vinay Mullick ’00 Joseph Sener ’93, M.S. ’10 Carlos Fulcher ’90 Leanne Murphy ’86 Michael Hughes ’92, M.A. ’93 Patrick Funck ’88 Sankat Patel ’00 David Albright ’87 Jodie Hartman ’98, M.P.A. ’14 Daniel Rezin ’86 Louis Apostol M.B.A. ’74, J.D. ’78 Donald Hubbartt ’96, M.B.A. ’01 Anthony Roberts ’16 Rita Athas M.P.A. ’78 Ehren Jarrett M.S.Ed. ’04, Joe Sosnowski ’99 Marlo Barnett M.S.Ed. ’12, Ph.D ’17 Ed.S. ’06, Ed.D. ’09 Monica Wallace ’02 Michael Cahill ’12, M.A.S. ’13 Thomas Libert ’74 Thomas Cahill ’83 J.D. Jacqueline Marcus ’72, M.S. ’79

4 NIU Alumni Association Impact Report Membership Benefits • HOTELS/RENTAL CARS — Discounts up to 50 percent off hotels and 25 percent on Membership car rentals. The Northern Illinois University Alumni Membership Program • ORLANDO VACATION — Save up to was launched in 2008 to support alumni programming and offer 35 percent on your Orlando vacation. alumni additional benefits. The membership program is broken down • CITYPASS — Save at attractions around the into four levels: Cardinal and Black ($40), Cardinal and Black – Joint nation with CityPASS, which is part of your travel discount card. ($55), Legacy ($250) and Legacy – Joint ($300). • READING MATERIALS — Up to 66 percent All benefits listed are offered at each level, with off a one-year subscription to Crain’s Chicago the Legacy levels obtaining access to a few more Business; 25 percent off all purchases from exclusive benefits (including special events and NIU Press; and access to Founders Memorial Library. career services opportunities). Currently, the • TICKETS — Discounted season tickets to membership program boasts over 4,500 members NIU sporting events and discounted prices and is growing every day. All new graduates receive for NIU Alumni Association events, including exclusive members-only events and early a free Cardinal and Black 620 access to high-demand events. Colin Zvosec membership for their Cardinal Assistant Director 890 and • REC CENTER — Discounted one-day guest of Membership and first year. Cardinal Black passes at the NIU Student Recreation Center Special Projects and Joint Black can be purchased for just $5 by showing your NIUAA membership card. Paid Members — Total: 1,675 83 Legacy • DELL — Exclusive discounts on Dell products With new grads entered, total will be 4,525. Legacy Joint 82 through the Dell Member Purchase Program. 2018 NIUAA Scholarship Award Winners The NIU Alumni Association offers 10 $2,500 Merit Scholarships to continuing undergraduate students who will be sophomores, juniors or seniors in the 2018-2019 school year and are enrolled full time at NIU for both the fall and spring semesters ($1,250 each semester). Each applicant is eligible to receive only one merit scholarship per academic year.

Talia Barreto Christopher Becker Sarah Castle Marissa Dawson Cordnei Gibson Sophomore Senior Junior Senior Junior College of Health College of Engineering College of Liberal Arts and College of Health and College of Business and Human Sciences and Engineering Sciences Human Sciences Leadership and Gerontology, Nursing, Technology Mechanical Philosophy, Political Family Development, Management, 3.8 GPA Engineering, Science, Spanish, Psychiatry, Spanish, 3.8 GPA Chicago, Illinois 4.0 GPA 3.7 GPA 3.9 GPA Canton, Michigan Class of ’21 Arlington Heights, Illinois Crystal Lake, Illinois Waukesha, Wisconsin Class of ’20 Class of ’19 Class of ’20 Class of ’19

Margaret Hitchcock Lorrina Letterer Ian Pearson Shane Simonini Bianca Spalla Junior Junior Sophomore Junior Freshman College of Health and College of Business College of Liberal Arts College of Health and College of Liberal Arts Human Sciences Marketing, and Sciences Human Sciences and Sciences Gerontology, Nursing, 4.0 GPA Community Leadership, Nursing, Mathematics, Education, 3.8 GPA Roscoe, Illinois Political Science, 3.9 GPA Spanish, Chicago, Illinois Class of ’20 4.0 GPA Antioch, Illinois 4.0 GPA Class of ’20 Rockford, Illinois Class of ’20 Woodridge, Illinois Class of ’21 Class of ’22

NIU Alumni Association Impact Report 5 Travel NIU Alumni Association Travel Program The most popular program run by the NIU at least one trip this year). The program helps Alumni Association is our travel program, which support other alumni programs, such as the offers a variety of trips across the globe. Due to Merit Scholarship for continuing students and the popularity of the program, the association our student career success initiatives. Last year, increased the number of annual trips from six to the program brought in $133,726 in gifts. A gift eight this year. of $100 is part of the total trip cost, but many of The best marketing tool for the program has the travelers make additional donations. been word of mouth. After hearing about trips, If you haven’t traveled with the NIU family and friends have signed up through the Alumni Association yet, please join us! Our Pat Anderson years, and most of our travelers come back for trips are fun, educational and worry-free, so let ’00, M.S. ’04 another trip. During the last seven trips, we saw us help you go on your next adventure. For a list Director of 134 unique alumni travelers (those who took of upcoming trips, please visit myniu.com/travel. Alumni Relations

Oh, the Places Huskies Have Seen…as of September 2018

“There are so many reasons I book a trip with NIU, including the destination, the cost, the value for price, accommodations, safety and security concerns, companions and, most of all, the way Pat Anderson manages the group and her day-to-day coordination of all the details of our journey,” says Chris Kenar, ’74. “I have met some of the nicest people on these trips, and we have now become old friends and enjoy booking trips together, as well as visiting each other after NIU travel events.” Chris Kenar ’74

In FY18, NIU travelers Not including domestic Number of alumni travel, the NIU Travel made $133,726 and friends who Program has been to in gifts to NIU. traveled in 2018: 174 62 different countries.

6 NIU Alumni Association Impact Report Versailles, France

Quebec, Canada

Pompeii, Italy

NIU Alumni Association Impact Report 7 Financials

Revenues Expenses

$200,364 Investment Income $251,863 Programs $166,725 Programs $109,711 Operations $85,000 Sponsorships $67,919 Financial Services $54,014 Royalties $66,092 Contracts $27,285 Gifts $26,840 UBIT $22,740 Travel Program $26,750 Scholarship 0 50,000 100,000 150,000 200,000 250,000 050,000 100,000 150,000 200,000 250,000 300,000

Revenues 19% Events The overall financial health of the NIUAA at the 36% close of FY18 was strong. Revenues were driven by robust Investment Income market performance of our endowments (36 percent), Sponsorships 15% combined with healthy business partnerships (25 percent),

Programs 1% a successful travel program (4 percent), generous alumni Travel 4% 10% Memberships support in memberships (10 percent) and gifts (4 percent), Gifts 5% 10% Royalties and popular paid alumni events (19 percent). Gross revenues at the end of the year came in above budget, with an actual total of $556,127. Expenses were primarily programmatic in nature, Expenses 20% NIU Alumni Association with nearly half (46 percent) of all expenses going towards Operations programming (which includes events, affinity groups, 46% membership and communications). The second largest Programs 12% Financial Services category was operations (20 percent), then financial services (12 percent), followed by contracted services 12% Contracts (12 percent). Other expenses included scholarships Scholarship 5% 5% UBIT (5 percent) and unrelated business income tax (UBIT) (5 percent). Expenses were also above budget, at $549,175. Remaining revenue-neutral is a goal of the

Programmatic Expenses 6% Other Programs organization, although one that is difficult to achieve. The 4% Communications NIUAA receives no financial support for programming 3% Membership or operations from the university or state of Illinois, so it 87% is incumbent upon us to continue to expand our revenue Events streams while remaining austere in our approach to expenses. We are proud of the fiscal year we had and are dedicated to continuing that going forward. Respectfully submitted, Scholarship Endowments

Jodie Hartman 53% Treasurer Elzo and 42% Everett and Helen Shutt Helen Marshall Jodie Hartman, ’98, M.P.A. ’14 ’98, M.P.A. ’14 Treasurer, NIUAA

5% NIU Alumni Association Scholarship

8 NIU Alumni Association Impact Report Communications With the arrival of NIU Alumni Association Executive Director Reggie Bustinza in November 2016, the NIUAA began a path toward a more comprehensive and inclusive communications plan. That path began with expanding the communications team from a staff of one to a staff of three. Bustinza hired both Matt Brendich (director of communications) and Cody Carter (web specialist) in December 2017 to join Colleen Leonard (publicity promotion specialist). Matt Brendich Cody Carter Colleen Leonard Brendich’s first project was the transition of web Director of ’09, M.A. ’15 Publicity Promotion platforms from iModules to Alumni Magnet. Alumni Communications Web Specialist Specialist Magnet not only serves as our blast email tool, but in December in both digital and printed platform. Each also hosts our website, online giving platform and edition will have a theme for our 240,000 NIU alumni. event registration. With the website transition complete, the focus is on Fiscal year 2018 was all about aligning tools, adding the resurrection of the Northern Now alumni magazine. staff and evaluating channels. Fiscal year 2019 will be about Northern Now is tentatively scheduled for publication deployment and building pride and awareness of NIU.

Social Media Growth The NIU Alumni Association has repeatedly had the fastest growth on Twitter and Facebook of all NIU social media accounts.

Alumni Contact Information /niualumni 77 percent have usable home or Facebook cell phone numbers. Women account for nearly 60 percent of our fans on Facebook, with 47 percent of them being between the 59.4 percent have usable ages of 25 and 54. email addresses. 96 percent of our alumni can be Growth of our account on Facebook: reached via email, phone number ,837 Sept. ’15 14 or home address. June ’18 19,003

5 3,869 Twitter Sept. ’1 Men account@niu_alumni for 55.7 percent of our followers on Twitter. June ’18 5,025 The average age of our user is 29 years old. Sept . ’15 14,837 9 Sept. ’15 75 June Growth of ’1 8our19,0 account03 on Twitter: June ’18 5,025 Sept. ’1 5 3,869 June ’1 8 5,025

Sept. ’1 5 759 June ’18 Sept. ’15 14,837@niu_alumni 5,025 InstagramJune ’18 19,003 The NIUAA Instagram account increased by 20.8 percent From Jan. 1 to in FY18. 869 Sept. ’15 3, June 30, the NIU June ’18 5,025 Alumni Association Growth of our account on Instagram: sent over 1.3 million Sept. ’15 759 emails with an open June ’18 5,025 rate of 19.9 percent.

NIU Alumni Association Impact Report 9 Events Summary of Year-End Report

The NIU Alumni Association team planned and executed 94 events in FY18. This year, we achieved unique engagement of 78 percent of alumni participation in all event categories, up from 66 percent in FY17. The most highly engaged alumni come from the College of Business (20.8 percent) and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Amy Ogden Dana King Stephanie Poulos Karla Hernandez (26.7 percent). Half of all alumni who Director of Events ’05 ’08 Events Intern attended our events in FY17 were Assistant Director Assistant Director Class of ’19 of Events of Events donors. In FY18, 72 percent of those who attended our events made gifts to NIU. The 1,219 donors who attended our events collectively gave $3,766,476 in FY18. Sixty-three out of the 1,219 donors were new donors to NIU in FY18. 94 total events in FY18.

30 Total Number of Events by Category in FY18

23

12 12

6 6 4

1

Advocacy Affinity Athletics/ Regional General NIU Volunteer Foundation College Football Alumni NIU Nexus Partners

2,150 total number of event attendees in FY18. 1,684 is the total number of unique alumni who attended events in FY18.

90 years and older 1% 80-89 years 4%

Age Groups Event by Percentage 22-29 years Locations 10%

70-79 years 23 events 15% coordinated 30-39 years outside of 12% Illinois 24.5%

40-49 years 60-69 years 13% 24% 71 events coordinated in Illinois 50-59 years 75.5% 21%

10 NIU Alumni Association Impact Report Multicultural Reception

NIUAA staffers traveled more than 49,000 miles to host alumni events in FY18— Holiday Reception enough miles to cross the United States 18 times!

Black Alumni Council Picnic

Alumni Night at Hoffman Estates Biergarten

Holiday Reception

NIU Alumni Association Impact Report 11 NIU Alumni Association Partners NIU Nexus Advancement Northern Illinois University Alumni Athletics Association Volunteer Engagement Center for Latino In FY18, the NIU Alumni Association (NIUAA) committed financial and human and Latin American resources to the creation, launch and maintenance of a program meant to engage alumni Studies in volunteer opportunities throughout NIU. Liz McKee, director of alumni volunteer engagement, was hired in July 2017 and oversaw the creation of processes to track and Center for the Study recognize alumni volunteers, build relationships with partners on campus and in the of Women, Gender community. McKee identified and placed alumni in volunteer opportunities and hired an and Sexuality additional full-time staffer dedicated to alumni volunteer engagement.

CLAS Geography Category Total Total Alumni Volunteers Reported 690 CLAS Nonprofit and Volunteer Engagements Reported 586 NGO Studies Unique Volunteer Opportunities Reported 186 CLAS Political Science Total Volunteers by Graduating College College of Law 4% CLAS School of College of Health and College of Visual and Allied Health and Human Services Performing Arts 2% Communicative College of 5% Engineering and Liz McKee Disorders Engineering ’14 M.S.Ed. Technology 5% CLAS Student Professional College of Development Seminar Education College of 6% Business 44% COB Accountancy

COB BELIEF Ethics Program College of Liberal Arts and COB Passport Sciences 34% Jeanne Baxter COB Experiential ’96 Learning Center

COB Finance 82-91 years 1% COB Management 72-81 years 2% Unique Volunteer COB Marketing Age Ranges 62-71 years COB Operations 10% 22-31 years Management and 24% Information Systems

52-61 years College of Business 19% College of Education

College of Engineering 32-41 years 24% and Engineering 42-51 years Technology 20%

College of Health and Human Sciences

12 NIU Alumni Association Impact Report NIU Alumni Association Partners College of Law

Admissions

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Alumni volunteers range in age from 22 to 83, while the average age of a volunteer College of Visual and is 44 and the median is 43. The majority (76 percent) of our volunteers are 33 and older. Performing Arts From a demographic standpoint, our volunteers identify as 62 percent male and 38 percent female. Seventy-eight percent identify as Caucasian, 7 percent did not indicate Division of Enrollment their ethnicity, 5 percent identify as Asian, 5 percent identify as Hispanic and 4 percent Management, identify as African American. Marketing and Communications Alumni Volunteer Participation by Month 88 103 75 80 Division of Student 53 Affairs 33 35 13 18 8 0 3 Jobs Plus

v. rch y July Aug. Sept. Oct. No Dec. Jan. Feb. Ma April Ma June NIU Admissions This is the first year that the NIUAA was able to make a concentrated effort to recruit, NIU Association of track and analyze alumni volunteer engagement from a campuswide perspective. The Latino Professionals peaks and valleys in volunteer opportunities above mirror peak student activity levels. for America Alumni Volunteer Giving NIU President’s Office Our generous volunteers gave $766,125 more in FY18 than they did the prior NIU Student fiscal year. Accountancy Society FY18 NIU Nexus FY18 All FY18 All Volunteer Giving Volunteer Giving Alumni Giving NIUAA Board of 27% 30.3% 2.9% Percent that Give Directors Median Gift $210 $300 $100 Office of Student Engagement and Experiential Learning

Southeast Asian Studies

STEM Outreach

Student Involvement and Leadership Development

University Honors Program

Office of Academic Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

NIU Foundation

NIU Career Services

CHHS Nursing

NIU Alumni Association Impact Report 13 NIU Alumni Andrew Traver (B.A. sociology, James McCluskey (J.D., 1979) 1985), director of NCIS, was of Naperville is the recipient of chosen as the 2018 Distinguished the Alumni Achievement in Alumnus for achieving Public Service Award. He is extraordinary success in his field. the president of the Illinois State Traver of Quantico, Virginia, Bar Association and a founding leads the agency as it investigates member of the law firm Momkus and defeats terrorist, foreign McCluskey LLC, based in Lisle. intelligence and criminal threats to the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps via land, water and cyberspace. Joe Minoso (M.F.A. theatre arts, 2004) of Chicago was honored with Michael DeGiorgio (left, above) the Alumni Achievement in the (B.S. marketing, 2010), founder Arts Award. The actor stars in the and CEO of CREXi.com, and NBC show “Chicago Fire” and has co-founder Erek Benz (left, appeared in other TV shows, such below) (B.S. marketing, 2008) are as “Prison Break,” “The Beast,” this year’s Outstanding Young “Shameless” and “The Chicago Alumni. Based in California, Code.” He made his movie debut in CREXi is a multimillion-dollar the blockbuster “Superman: Man commercial real estate company of Steel” and has appeared in many that has 60,000 registered users Chicago theater productions. and 52,000 properties for sale. The company is changing the real estate business through its digital Marilyn Stromborg (B.S. platform, which allows buyers, biological sciences, 1964; Ed.D. sellers and brokers to search for, educational psychology, 1974; J.D., list and transact real estate deals. 1994) is receiving the Alumni Achievement in the Sciences Award. The Sycamore resident formerly worked as an assistant state’s attorney in DeKalb County, coordinator of the DeKalb County Lynne Waldeland, an English Drug/DUI Court and a professor professor emeritus and a former and chair of the NIU School of interim executive vice president Nursing. She also served as a and provost of NIU, is the captain in the U.S. Air Force F.R. Geigle Service Award Nurse Corps. winner for demonstrating outstanding service and Harlan Teller (B.A. English, 1973) commitment to the best interests is the recipient of the Alumni of the university. Achievement in Business and Industry Award. Teller, a Galena resident, has been a leader in corporate public relations for more than 40 years. He works out of Chicago as an executive director of APCO Worldwide, a global communications consulting firm and is the former interim vice president of NIU’s Division of Enrollment Management, Marketing and Communications.

14 NIU Alumni Association Impact Report Award Winners

NIU Alumni Association Impact Report 15 Affinity Clubs and Councils

Black Alumni Council Latino Alumni Council Our oldest affinity group, the Black Alumni The Latino Alumni Council is focused on Council, is dedicated to the retention and supporting Latino students and providing graduation of black students and serves as networking opportunities to alumni. BLACK LATINO ALUMNI a bridge between the university and its ALUMNI COUNCIL black alumni. COUNCIL

Computer Science Alumni Council NIU Huskie Marching Band This group provides networking and social Alumni Council opportunities for alumni of NIU’s computer One of our most popular groups, this group science program and other information brings former members of the “Pride of the COMPUTER HUSKIE SCIENCE technology professionals. ALUMNI Midwest” back to campus to perform during ALUMNI MARCHING COUNCIL BAND homecoming. Visit them on Facebook.

Greek Alumni Council NIU Rockford Alumni Club By bringing alumni from Greek fraternities The NIU Rockford Alumni Club, officially and sororities together, the Greek Alumni established in the fall of 1998, was formed Council promotes NIU’s Greek community. to fill a need of alumni in the Rockford area GREEK ROCKFORD ALUMNI ALUMNI to connect with NIU and each other. The COUNCIL CLUB Rockford Alumni Club welcomes all NIU alumni involved in the Rockford area community. NIU Foundation

As a proud NIU Huskie myself, I couldn’t be happier to have joined the NIU Foundation as President and CEO in 2015. It’s truly a privilege to be back at the institution that meant so much to me as an undergraduate, and as an alumna throughout the years. The Foundation is engaged in critical work in support of NIU at an important time. Our aspiration to serve the University in the most impactful way is dependent on a vibrant, effective partnership with the NIU Alumni Association, and I am pleased to say that partnership is thriving. At the root of all great advancement work is engagement: of alumni, donors, and friends. This is the very core of NIUAA’s programming. While we are technically separate organizations, we serve NIU together in seamless fashion to engage our constituents and steward lifelong relationships. We share many resources–business functions, programmatic staff, software, and more. But we also collaborate synergistically on everything from communications to events. Looking back on the previous year, it was a time of anticipation, growth and preparation. An important accomplishment was the addition of key staff, essential to our plans to continually and creatively align our resources with the University’s strategic priorities. We are now an organization poised to build upon the exciting and strategic vision of a new president, and help NIU achieve and even expand its goals. I look forward to the future of our great university and continuing our strong partnership with the NIU Alumni Association. Go Huskies!

Catherine B. Squires, CFRE ’80

President and CEO of NIU Foundation/Vice President for University Advancement Northern Illinois University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution. Printed by authority of the State of Illinois. niu.edu 50496 11/18

16 NIU Alumni Association Impact Report Affinity Clubs and Councils

Mission: A Huskie Legacy Our mascot Mission is an integral part of the NIU Mission Profile Alumni Association and the Huskie ROTC Battalion Mission was born Dec. 11, 2011, in Marengo, Illinois. The Siberian husky was brought to NIU in December 2013, thanks and is by far the star of the team. The NIU Alumni to the philanthropic support of proud alumni and donors Association books his events and ROTC Mission Support John and Cassandra McKearn. cadets act as his handlers at events. Mission regularly Favorite sport: Football attends alumni events, open houses for new students, Favorite toy: Football Huskie football games and other sports and Special tricks: He can take a bow, give a high-five and campus events and is available for private parties. shake hands. Favorite treat: Hot dogs and cheese sticks He can be booked for public and private events at Favorite things to do: Dryland mushing, meeting children go.niu.edu/BookMission. at events, swimming, visiting NIU and running with other dogs, including his buddy Victor E. Huskie Last fiscal year, Mission attended 35 college and Favorite places on campus: Huskie Stadium and alumni events and brought smiles to thousands. Founders Memorial Library Mission is also a big hit on social media. While he Characteristics of Huskies: Huskies are quick and light on draws a lot of engagement on alumni accounts, he draws their feet, and free and graceful in action. They possess even more viewers on his own pages. He has about power, speed and endurance. Their temperament is friendly 1,600 followers on his Facebook account, and gentle, but also alert and outgoing. Their intelligence and eager disposition make them an agreeable companion and @NIUAlumniAssociation; 800 on Twitter, a willing worker. Their expression is keen, but friendly; they @NIUMission; and 750 on Instagram, @niu_mission. show interest and can even be mischievous at times. We Welcome Our Newest Huskies!

Total Degrees 2,914

Top Majors 1. Business Accountancy 132 2. Business Marketing 98 3. MBA 79

231 N. Annie Glidden Road DeKalb, IL 60115