The Dees, '85: Fueling Student Success Through the Huskie Promise
By Lia Kizilbash Gillet

Thomas “Tom” J. Dee, ’85, and Mary Jane (Daneck) Dee, ’85, support student success through programs like the Huskie Promise. (Photo credit: Mary Jane Dee)

Tom, ’85, and Mary Jane (Daneck) Dee, ’85, know firsthand how the right opportunities can change a student’s life.

As first‑generation college graduates, they arrived at NIU with ambition and found the everyday experiences that shaped their futures: a class that sparked a new career direction, a residence‑hall job that built confidence, and relationships that grounded their lifelong Huskie pride.

Today, those early moments fuel their commitment to helping current students access the same kind of transformational experiences. That’s why the Dees are strong supporters of the Huskie Promise, a top funding priority of FORWARD: The Campaign for NIU.

“We firmly believe that today’s Huskie is tomorrow’s future, and no other school works harder to prepare leaders than NIU,” Tom said. “Supporting the Huskie Promise opens the door to meaningful, life‑shaping experiences for all students, regardless of their background or the obstacles they face.”

For the Dees, the Huskie Promise resonates because it goes beyond scholarships. It strengthens the full network of academic, financial and holistic resources students need to thrive and persist to graduation.

“Every student needs something a little different to succeed,” Mary Jane said. “The Huskie Promise makes room for all of them.”

The Dees' NIU experiences became the foundation for successful careers, community leadership, and decades of continued engagement with NIU — from athletics and alumni programs to scholarships supporting Chicago‑area students. Read their full story here.

Learn how you can help inspire the next generation of leaders at niuforward.com.