Each year, the NIU Alumni Association rewards the accomplishments of incredible alumni who have achieved outstanding professional and personal successes while pursuing civic, cultural or charitable activities. This year, the NIU Alumni Association Awards will be handed out during NIU's 119th Homecoming weekend.

"Our alumni continue to be the greatest reflection of NIU's mission, pushing boundaries and shaping a better world through their leadership and service.  We are incredibly proud to celebrate their remarkable achievements, and we honor the profound impact they continue to make in their fields and communities," said Liz McKee, the NIU Foundation's Interim Executive Director of Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving.

These three 2026 award winners personify the ultimate spirit of excellence and resilience that define our Huskie community.

•    Thomas J. Dee, '85 (COB) – Distinguished Alumnus Award
Thomas J. Dee has built a distinguished career in healthcare and biotechnology leadership while remaining deeply connected to the values and experiences that shaped him at NIU. Dee currently serves as chief executive officer of Endsulin Inc., a pre-clinical gene therapy company focused on developing treatments for Type 1 diabetes. Previously, he was senior vice president and chief financial officer of AveXis, Inc., where he helped guide the company through the successful development of a groundbreaking gene therapy for spinal muscular atrophy, now marketed by Novartis as Zolgensma. Prior to AveXis, he worked as an independent business development consultant and spent 24 years with Abbott Laboratories, holding numerous senior leadership positions in finance and international operations.

A certified public accountant, Dee earned his bachelor's degree from NIU and later received an MBA from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management. He has also served on the boards of several companies and educational institutions. Dee hopes his legacy will be measured by the impact he has had on young people, dedicating his time and resources to helping children and young adults gain opportunities for a brighter future. Dee met his wife, Mary Jane (Daneck) Dee, ’85, while a student at NIU and both have been loyal and steadfast supporters of their alma mater.

•    Linda B. Grandolfo, '73, M.S.Ed. '77 (COE) – F.R. Geigle Service Award 
Linda Grandolfo has devoted her life to education, service, and philanthropy, creating a legacy of advocacy and support that has benefited countless students, families and communities.

Grandolfo credits NIU's educational opportunities and financial support with helping launch her career serving deaf and hard of hearing students. From 1974 to 1984, she worked as a guidance counselor at Whitney Young High School before spending 30 years as a classroom teacher with the North Suburban Special Education District. In 2004, she began a second career as a family therapist with Warren Youth and Family Services, where she continues to serve today.

Grandolfo's commitment to helping others extends far beyond her professional career. A dedicated volunteer and advocate, she has contributed her leadership and time to numerous organizations, including the Arthritis Foundation, Mothers Trust Foundation, Chicago North Shore Alumnae Panhellenic and Alpha Omicron Pi. Her volunteer service with the Arthritis Foundation earned her the Champion Award in 2021 and the Charles B. Harding Award for Distinguished Service in 2024. An engaged and passionate NIU alumna, Grandolfo serves on the Golden Huskie Alumni Network and the NIU Center for Greek Life fundraising committee and has been a strong supporter of scholarships and student success initiatives.

Grandolfo has also been a long time Alpha Omicron Pi Sorority volunteer, serving on the Executive Board, Foundation Board and Properties Board. In 2021 she received the prestigious Barbara Daugs Hunt Award intended to honor alumnae who demonstrate exceptional service, leadership and commitment to Alpha Omicron Pi. She currently serves in several volunteer positions. Through decades of service, generosity and community engagement, she exemplifies the spirit of public service and the transformative power of giving back.

•    Nicole Struthers, '17 (CHHS) – Outstanding Young Alumna Award
Nicole Struthers has distinguished herself as a healthcare educator, mentor and board-certified pathologists’ assistant whose commitment to excellence continues to impact both students and patients. Since graduating from NIU, she has built an impressive career that reflects a dedication to advancing healthcare, education and service. Struthers serves as an instructor in the Pathologists’ Assistant Program at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, where she helps train the next generation of pathology professionals.

Her commitment to clinical education was recognized in 2019 with the College of Health Professions Clinical Education Award. She has also contributed to the advancement of her field through research and professional publications, including an article published in *The Cutting Edge*, the journal of the American Association of Pathologists’ Assistants (AAPA), and through her work on the AAPA’s Macroscopic Examination Guidelines.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Struthers remains deeply connected to NIU and its students. She frequently returns to campus to speak with Medical Laboratory Science students about careers in laboratory medicine and pathology, providing insight, encouragement and mentorship. She has also supported university recruitment efforts through NIU’s Admissions Letter Writing Campaign and the Student Recruitment and Retention Team (START), helping prospective and newly admitted students envision their future as Huskies. Struthers’ commitment to service extends beyond the classroom and laboratory. She has volunteered with organizations including Bernie’s Book Bank, the Medical Explorers program and Goldy Fights Cancer, while also serving as a mentor through the American Society for Clinical Pathology and in leadership roles within the AAPA.

In addition to her NIU degree, Struthers earned a Master of Health Science degree from Rosalind Franklin University and holds certifications as both a medical laboratory scientist and pathologists’ assistant through the American Society for Clinical Pathology.
 
The annual awards banquet will be held at noon on Friday, Oct. 9, at the Barsema Alumni and Visitors Center on campus.