News, alumni notes and updates from the Northern Illinois University College of Education
Educators in North Macedonia are, Lulzim Mehmedi said, the same as their counterparts around the world. They want to move from research to practice. They want to move from practice to reflection. They want to move from reflection to improvement. And not
Read moreGraham, Gabel, Cole and Patterson halls came alive the week of June 8 to welcome and host NIU’s Summer Camp for Responsive Education. The eighth edition of the camp focused on the Culturally Responsive Teaching and Leading Standards adopted by the Illinois
Read moreLess than 72 hours after NIU’s 2026 Summer Camp for Responsive Education came to a triumphant close, the four faculty organizers remained euphoric as they reflected on the event designed and delivered with the best interests of students at its heart. James
Read moreThe College of Education team commemorated the end of the academic year at our May 1 Celebration of Excellence event that started with university and college updates and concluded with engagement activities and competitive fun. Dean Mary Earick, who made her debut
Read moreCongratulations to these members of the NIU College of Education family! College of Education shines in 2026 Presidential Commission Awards The NIU Presidential Commissions play a vital role in shaping a campus where everyone feels seen, supported and valued. Serving as advisory
Read moreA pair of collaborative research projects between the NIU College of Education and the University of Tetova are accelerating toward final analysis and writing this spring. One study focuses on trauma-informed and resilience-focused practices in North Macedonian schools while the other focuses
Read moreWhen NIU received the national Robert Frank Outstanding Counselor Education Program Award this fall, Suzanne Degges-White was thrilled. But she wasn’t surprised. Just look at the facts, she says. The first in Illinois to receive the seal of approval from the Council
Read moreOne year after representatives from the University of Tetova visited DeKalb to nurture and advance the longtime partnership, an NIU delegation continued the discussions during a September trip to Macedonia. And, for new College of Education Dean Mary Earick, her first visit
Read moreMary Earick is visibly excited and honored to become the new dean of the NIU College of Education. During the Aug. 19 all-college meeting, Earick told stories of many “critical incidents” in her life that led to DeKalb while also presenting her
Read moreExactly 12 hours later, the challenge to follow her example – and the fortitude, reflection, work and commitment that requires – was made plain. Michael Manderino, one of the four camp counselors with James Cohen, Joseph Flynn and Dana Isawi, delivered a
Read moreJames Cohen remembers well the closing moments of the first Social Justice Summer Camp for Educators in 2017. The plan for the future, as announced by Cohen and his fellow camp counselors from the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, was to host
Read moreby Michael Manderino I have had the tremendous fortune of being a NIU Social Justice Summer Camp co-counselor since Dr. Joe Flynn invited Dr. James Cohen and me back in 2016, and Dr. Dana Isawi in 2019, to help him build his
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