Mindy Kinnaman, Ed.D. '21: The Life-Changing Truth About Student Engagement 
By Lia Kizilbash Gillet

Mindy Kinnaman, '21 (Photo: Jeff Tilma)

For Mindy Kinnaman, student engagement isn’t just a talking point — it’s a life-changing truth. It shaped her college experience, launched her career in higher education, and now drives her commitment to give back as an NIU alumna volunteer.

Since graduating from NIU with her doctorate in education in 2021, Kinnaman has stayed connected to NIU through volunteer work that helps current Huskies thrive. She evaluates scholarship applications, writes finals-week postcards, participates in interviews, and reviews graduate students' resumes.

“Student involvement changed my life,” she said. “Volunteering lets me help students create those same life-changing experiences.”

Her passion for engagement began during her undergraduate years at Missouri Western State University, where involvement in student housing introduced her to student affairs — a career path she hadn’t even known existed. That discovery shaped everything that followed: nearly two decades in higher education, roles in student life and conduct, and now a leadership position focused on equity and compliance.

Today, as associate director/senior deputy Title IX coordinator at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Kinnaman investigates allegations of discriminatory harassment, including sexual misconduct, and ensures fair hiring practices across the institution. She also prepares compliance reports for state and federal agencies and contributes data for institutional and grant reporting. 

Through it all, accountability has been her guiding principle.

“Leaders respect someone who owns their mistakes,” she said. “If something goes wrong, communicate quickly, correct it thoroughly, and always bring your best self.”

That mindset carried her through NIU’s Community College Leadership doctoral program. Drawn by its rigor and faculty expertise, Kinnaman embraced opportunities beyond the virtual classroom — forming close bonds with her cohort, attending annual in-person sessions in Naperville, and even studying abroad in Mexico.

“It was incredible,” she said. “I learned about higher education globally and how to build transformative experiences for students.”

Her biggest hurdle came during COVID-19, when her dissertation plans unraveled. Focused initially on student-led active learning, she pivoted to studying faculty implementation instead.

“I didn’t want to delay graduation,” she said. “So I pivoted and successfully defended in December 2020.”

Her message to fellow alumni is simple: Get involved.

“It doesn’t matter where you live or what you do — there are ways to make an impact,” Kinnaman said. “It’s rewarding to know your efforts help students succeed. Even small contributions, like reviewing scholarships, can make a big difference.”

NIU alumni volunteer their time in meaningful ways. Want to brainstorm ways you can get involved? Contact Liz McKee, M.S.Ed. '14, at lmckee1@niu.edu.