2025 College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Alumni, Faculty and Staff Distinguished Awards

Friday, Oct. 24

Photo of a table with red and black table cloths where several Distinguished Award plaques are displayed. There are red and white flowers in a center piece also on the table.

 

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Distinguished Awards are presented to outstanding members of the college community who are celebrated for their prominence in their professional field or through their civic, cultural or charitable service, or who have made major contributions to the college and its reputation for excellence.


The CLAS Distinguished Awards began as part of the college's 50th anniversary in 2009, at which time we honored 50 distinguished alumni who had achieved prominence, along with ten faculty and staff who have made an impact on the college through their careers.


To date, the college has honored 202 alumni, faculty and staff. This fall, we will honor a new class of individuals who have made significant positive contributions to the college and its reputation for excellence.


Please RSVP no later than Friday, October 17.  After completing your ticket purchase, please be sure to answer the questions on the following page to add a guest and indicate any dietary restrictions.

Contact Dana King, ’05, at 815-753-5421 or dking1@niu.edu if you have any questions. 

Event Information

Cost: $60 (FMV $50) 

5:30 p.m. Reception with cash bar
6:30 p.m. Welcome from Dean Brinkmann and dinner
7:15 p.m. Awards program begins
Cardinal and Black business attire

When:

5:30PM Fri 24 Oct 2025, Central timezone

Where:

Barsema Alumni and Visitors Center
231 N. Annie Glidden Road
DeKalb, IL 60115

[ Get Directions ]

 
2025 CLAS Awards Honoree Class

Alumni

David Kalinowski B.S., '89, Political Science
 

Mark Lamb B.S., '73, Journalism
 

Mark Pienkos B.S. '72, History; M.S.Ed. '74
 

Sandi Smith B.A. '08, History
 

Faculty
Gerald C. Blazey,
Retired Faculty, Department of Physics
 

Christopher McCord
 

Karen Samonds,
Department of Biological Sciences
 

Staff
Denise Burchard,
Department of Public Administration
 

Melissa Burlingame Greenhagen,
Institute for the Study of Environment, Sustainability, and Energy
 

Darius Jackson, Center for Latino and Latin American Studies

Dean’s Service Award
Matt Streb, Chief Strategy Officer, Liaison to the Board of Trustees