NIU Alumni Volunteers
We are proud of our Huskies and enjoy seeing your successes after graduating from NIU. We especially appreciate those who look back to NIU and volunteer to offer their support to the next generation of Huskies. Many alumni connect on-campus, off-campus or online to support students and share NIU’s impact with their networks. Read their stories and learn more about how our Huskies are donating their time back to their alma mater.
Interested in volunteering with NIU? Check out NIU Nexus, our alumni volunteer community!
-
Andrew Morgan, '87, Leads Hawai'i Opera Theatre As General Director
Guided live performance organization during COVID as it celebrated 60th anniversary
-
Michael Crawford, ’05, M.S.Ed. ’08, Supports Current Students Through Black Alumni Council
Crawford found support through mentors at high school, college levels, and now gives back to NIU
-
Students Work to Increase Awareness During Advocacy Week
NIU Foundation Fellows and NIUAA Student Worker Help Important Cause
-
Volunteer Spotlight: Reyna Gilbert-Lowry, '01
Virginia Tech Sr. Associate Athletic Director Volunteers at NIU Remotely
-
Volunteer Spotlight: Randee Drew, ’04
Huskie Football’s Drew Shares Journey With NIU Students
-
Volunteer Spotlight: Rachel Lattner, ’11
Service-minded nurse practitioner mentors Huskies from long distance
-
Volunteer Spotlight: Madi Bernhardt, ’72
First-generation alumna mentors students about importance of Huskie grit.
-
Volunteer Spotlight: Joel Brock, ’00, M.S. ’09
Brock serves as an alumni advisor for the College of Engineering and Engineering Technology
-
Volunteer Spotlight: Travis Matthews, ’08
Peace Corps veteran shares his unconventional path of service with Huskies.
-
Volunteer Spotlight: Tony Briscoe, '19
Three years into a successful IT career, Briscoe serves as a career development mentor
-
Volunteer Spotlight: Brian Gross, ’02, M.P.A. ’05,
Gross Co-Founded NIU Program to Mentor Black Business Students
-
Volunteer Spotlight: First-Generation College Student James Alford, ’16, M.S.Ed. ’17, Mentors Hu
To Alford, NIU is "family and a way of life."
-
Volunteer Spotlight: NIUAA Board Member Tom Libert, ’74, Stays Connected Through Giving Back
Libert encourages alumni to come back to campus and say "thank you" through volunteering.
-
Volunteer Spotlight: Jonathan Abejuela, ’11, M.B.A. ’17, Mentors Underdogs
Abejuela helps students grow from mistakes and fulfill ‘big dreams.’
-
Volunteer Spotlight: Kevin Delaplace Haro, M.B.A. ’16, Brings Int'l Experience to Students
As regional business development manager of ABDG, he is working to create Kuwait’s first-ever professionalized soccer center.
-
Volunteer Spotlight: Natalia Dmitruk, ’21, Feels 'Strong Bonds' at NIU
As a biomedical engineer, she volunteers her time at open houses, helping prospective engineering students.
-
Liz McSpadden, ’10, M.B.A. ’16, Gives Back to NIU Through Grace, Grit and Gratitude
McSpadden gives her time and talents to NIU, even as she goes through cancer treatments.
-
Volunteer Spotlight: Nicole Pomerleau, ’13
A teacher at heart, Pomerleau volunteers to impact NIU's SEED students.
-
Volunteer Spotlight: Melissa Lugo, ’06, M.S.Ed. ’08
First-generation graduate Lugo-Noun makes impact as counselor and volunteer
-
Volunteer Spotlight: Fred Vinciguerra, ’88
From "no clue" to CEO, NIU helped Vinciguerra land ideal job
-
Volunteer Spotlight: Tim Pierce, ’90, M.A. ’92
Pierce volunteers with NIU from thousands of miles away!
-
Volunteer Spotlight: Steven Andersson, ’86, J.D. ’92
Through a life of service, Andersson is making a difference ‘one life at a time’
-
Volunteer Spotlight: Anabell Rodriguez, M.S.Ed. ’14
Former international student and Fulbright Scholar encourages Huskies.
-
Volunteer Spotlight: Erin Hernandez, ’18
Changemaker Hernandez gives back to Huskies, helps shape future leaders.
-
Volunteer Spotlight: Dominick Archer, ‘80
As an athletics volunteer, Archer makes a difference for the sports he loves.
-
David Joens, ’83, Brings History to Life as Director of Illinois State Archives
Joens’ background in records management and his understanding of both state and local government operations have helped him to lead the archives for the last 17 years.
-
Volunteer Spotlight: Lark Lewis, ’17
Lewis volunteers for NIU from her home in Washington, D.C., where she works a manager at the National Women's Law Center.
-
Marty Johnstone Felt Something Was Missing, So He Started Giving Back to NIU
Johnstone's love for NIU is apparent in his attendance at alumni events, his volunteer role as president of the NIU Huskie Marching Band Alumni Council, and his stepping up as one of the youngest members of the Alumni Association’s Board of Directors.
-
Retired RN Karen Guy, ’68, Thanks NIU by Mentoring Future Nurses
As a first-generation student at NIU, Karen Guy, ’68, like so many others, got her start in nursing at NIU. Now, after retiring from nursing and nursing education, Guy mentors future nurses on campus.
-
NIUAA Board President Peter Garrity Calls Campus Experiences Transformative
As the NIUAA Board president and a regular volunteer on campus, Peter Garrity, '71, M.B.A. '76, says his campus experiences continue to enlighten his perspective on the world.
-
Volunteering Offers Marcie Rogers, ’69, M.S.Ed. ’79, “New Dimension to Retirement””
After a 34-year career as a high school English teacher, Marcie Rogers, ’69, M.S.Ed. '79, is enjoying unforeseen opportunities and adventures through her volunteer work and travel with the NIU Alumni Association (NIUAA).
-
Dave Templin, ’89, Credits Accounting Faculty for Teaching Him to “Care for People”
First-generation student Dave Templin, ’89, discusses how NIU prepared him for a long, successful career in accounting while instilling in him the importance of people over numbers.
-
Sherry Reynolds-Whitaker Says “Doors Opened for Her” Because of NIU Education
Sherry Reynolds-Whitaker, M.B.A. ’09, MS.Ed. ’13, Ed.D. ’16, was a non-traditional and first-generation student during her time at NIU. Now, as CFO and chief school business official, she knows how to make the most of school resources.
-
Dan Chamberlain, ’92, Learned Valuable Life Lessons at NIU
From first-generation student at NIU to Marketing Lead at Capgemini, Dan Chamberlain used his time on the NIU campus as the basis for his career.
-
Illinois Human Rights Commissioner Steven Andersson Reflects on NIU’s Many Gifts
After a successful career as an attorney, a member of the Illinois House of Representatives, and now the Human Rights Commissioner for the State of Illinois, Steven Andersson, ’86, J.D. ’92, credits NIU with important lessons.
-
Accounting Professor Emeritus Dave Sinason, ’15, Shares His Non-Traditional NIU Story
Accounting Professor Emeritus Dave Sinason, ’15, has had a unique experience as an NIU parent, professor, student and volunteer.
-
First-Generation Student Ellen Strebar Strives to Be a Servant Leader
As director of marketing and program development for Inte Q in Oak Brook, Illinois, Ellen Strebar works every day to cultivate partnerships and build lasting relationships across a variety of industries. She also volunteers on campus, mentoring students
-
Don Hubbartt, ’96, M.B.A. ’01, Mentors and Solves Problems Through Work and Volunteering
As director of compensation at Siemens USA and a member of the NIU Alumni Association’s (NIUAA) Board of Directors, Don Hubbartt, ’96, M.B.A. ’01, finds fulfillment in helping employees plan their career paths at his company. He’s also happy to gu
-
Michelle Gorham, ’89, M.S. ’92, Serves her Community with Pride
As the chief advancement officer at YMCA of Rock River Valley, Inc., in Rockford, Illinois, Michelle Gorham, ’89, M.S. ’92, feels most fulfilled when she can be helping her community. She is an experienced fundraising professional who uses the practic
-
From Non-Traditional Student to Successful Engineer, Joseph Sener Set His Own Course
Joseph Sener, ’93, M.S. ’10, didn’t take the traditional route to earning his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in industrial engineering. His dedicated work ethic and desire to give back to NIU set him apart from other alumni.