Alumni Accomplishments

Congratulations to these College of Ed alums!

Mary P. Haynes
Mary P. Haynes

The NIU Alumni Association honored two College of Education graduates as part of the 2017 Alumni Awards.

Mary P. Haynes, an academic success coach at the College of Lake County, received the Outstanding Young Alumni Award. Ann E. Rondeau, president of the College of DuPage, was the college’s honoree in recognition of her outstanding professional accomplishments and civic, cultural and charitable involvement.

Haynes, M.S.Ed. Adult and Higher Education, ’14, worked as an academic adviser at Waubonsee Community College before joining the College of Lake County two years ago.

She has a reputation for making a positive impact on the more than 500 students enrolled in developmental education classes, and works closely with 20 faculty members to receive early alert notifications, follows up with student concerns and provides proactive, hands-on support for 300 students in her caseload.

Ann E. Rondeau
Ann E. Rondeau

Rondeau, Ed.D., Adult and Higher Education, ’10, became the sixth president of the College of DuPage in July 2016. She is a past president of the National Defense University, a consortium of five colleges and nine research centers in Washington, D.C.

After her 2012 retirement from the U.S. Navy as a three-star admiral – she is the second woman to achieve this rank – Rondeau brought with her to civilian life extensive leadership experience that included serving as commander of the Naval Service Training Command in Great Lakes, Ill.

Jason Bednar
Jason Bednar

Jason Bednar, M.S.Ed., Educational Administration, ’04, and Ed.S., Educational Administration, ’16, begins a new job July 1 as principal of Field Elementary School in Park Ridge-Niles District 64. Bednar is currently principal of Brook Forest Elementary School in Oak Brook. He previously has served as director of elementary core curriculum and instruction at Indian Prairie District 204 in Naperville and as principal of Owen Elementary School. Bednar continues to pursue his Ed.D. in Educational Administration from NIU.

Heather A. Brown
Heather A. Brown

Heather A. Brown, Ed.D., Adult and Higher Education, ’12, was elected in March as director of Membership & Outreach for the Southeastern Women’s Studies Association. Brown is executive director of the Women + Girls Research Alliance at University of North Carolina-Charlotte. Her research focuses on the intersections between weight and learning in women as well as on the ethics and practice of research with stigmatized populations. She also is the co-editor of the Journal of Research and Practice for Adult Literacy, Secondary, and Basic Education.

Lauri Haugen
Lauri Haugen

Lauri Haugen, M.S.Ed., Reading, ’96, will start a new job this fall as principal of Fabyan Elementary School in Genvea CUSD 304. Haugen, who began her career as an elementary school teacher, also has worked as a literacy specialist and reading specialist in the Kaneland and West Aurora school districts. She joined District 304 two years ago to serve as the student assistance coordinator at Harrison Street Elementary School.

Ken King
Ken King

Kenneth P. King, M.S.Ed., Curriculum and Supervision, ’90, and Ed.D. Curriculum and Instruction, ’98, received a 2017 Silver Buffalo Award from the Boy Scouts of America. Created in 1925, the Silver Buffalo Award for distinguished service to youth is Scouting’s highest commendation. King, an Eagle Scout, has developed outreach materials that educate school board members and elementary, middle and high school teachers and principals on the value of the Scouting experience. He is a professor of Elementary Education at Roosevelt University.

If you’re a COE grad with news to share, please let us know – and send a photo! Our email address is ceduednews@niu.edu.

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