During her early days at NIU as a rookie assistant professor, Jenn Jacobs was already dreaming of the sabbatical she would take someday. Not the destination or the purpose, of course, but just the concept. “As far as I knew, it was
Read moreKNPE career fair matches employers, students for potential internships, jobs
Jazmin Villa hit the gym floor moments after approaching the D1 Training table inside Anderson Hall for the Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education’s annual job and internship fair. She took a plank position. Three flat, circle-shaped lights lay in front of
Read moreKNPE doctoral students plan, carry out annual MSEPS conference’s NIU debut
Twenty-five students in the Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education planned and hosted the 2026 Midwest Sport and Exercise Psychology Symposium (MSEPS), which came to NIU for the first time in the event’s 35-year history. Held March 6 and 7, the student-led,
Read moreHello, Cleveland! Sport Sales students fill virtual Rolodexes at job fair, workshop
Entering the workforce after college can sometimes feel anything but comfortable. New settings. New faces. New responsibilities. New expectations – and tied not to grades but to paychecks. For NIU Sport Management majors who traveled this spring to Ohio with Department of
Read moreCongratulations!
Congratulations to these members of the NIU College of Education family! Gudrun Nyunt, associate professor in the Department of Counseling and Higher Education, was named a 2026 ACPA Diamond Honoree by the ACPA Foundation of the American College Personnel Association. Established in
Read moreDouble-alum Russ Dahmoff honored with hoops court sporting his name
Lyndon, Illinois, is a small village in Whiteside County, barely a 15-mile drive southwest from Sterling and hugging the Rock River. Agriculture powers the economy of “The Crow Capitol of the World,” where the population hovered around 650 during the 1950s and
Read moreNIU celebrates fall commencement
Congratulations to our newest NIU College of Education alumni! Two of our graduates were featured in videos shown during the ceremony. First, meet Jocelyn Campos Diaz, who earned her B.S.Ed. in Physical Education. Next, meet Emerson Baptist, who completed his M.S. in
Read moreAlumni stars of ‘A Teacher’s Shoes’ talk educational philosophies at film’s debut
NIU College of Education alumni featured in the new documentary, “A Teacher’s Shoes,” spoke about their work during a panel discussion held after the Nov. 12 debut screening. Educators Grace Desmsedt, Ashley Manor and Dominique Yackley told stories about creating routines that
Read moreNew P.E. grad Juel Mecklenburg follows destiny, father into teaching, coaching
Juel Mecklenburg is entering the family business. The new graduate of NIU’s Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education has a job secured for January – teaching P.E. at Crystal Lake’s Prairie Ridge High School – as she continues a McHenry County legacy
Read morePE alumni launch mentorship program
Members of the NIU Physical Education Young Alumni Network officially kicked off a mentorship program in the fall – and it’s already thriving. Forty-five alumni mentors are now working with current P.E. majors, sharing advice, stories and support. “It’s been inspiring to
Read moreApplause! ‘A Teacher’s Shoes’ stars walk red carpet, watch documentary’s debut
People who celebrate the power of education – and those who practice it – came together Nov. 12 to watch the debut of a new documentary that takes a walk in “A Teacher’s Shoes.” The locally produced film, created by the NIU
Read moreTeaching the ropes: Jim Ressler delivers workshop on adventure-based learning
Jim Ressler, professor of Physical Education Teacher Education, delivered a well-received Nov. 8 workshop on adventure-based learning at Glenbard East High School in District 87. The event drew a diverse group of participants from across Chicagoland, including preservice educators from community colleges
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