News, alumni notes and updates from the Northern Illinois University College of Education
Many years after NIU students began visiting Indonesia’s Al Azhar Yogyakarta Islamic School to practice their skills as preservice teachers, Professor James Cohen can describe that Educate Global program in three words. A well-oiled machine. Such was not the case, however, for
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When Shuhaimi Salleh and Noripah Kamso hosted NIU College of Education Professor James Cohen in their Kuala Lumpur home, the couple loved their guest’s stories about Educate Global. And when they wondered aloud if Educate Global could come to Malaysia, it was
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 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 moreBefore Daisy Cruz went on the Summer 2025 Educate Global trip to Indonesia, she considered herself “a very shy person.” Now the senior Elementary Education major classifies that as “stepping into her voice.” “My biggest reason why I wanted to experience this
Read moreOlivia Warren had never really considered becoming a teacher. A part-time job as an elementary school cafeteria/recess aide changed that. “I was interested in going into social work because I really like the mental health aspect,” Warren says. “Then, I started working
Read moreFaculty and staff gathered Aug. 20 for the fall All-College Meeting, which culminated in the annual group photo in the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Commons and an invitation to Sunday’s picnic. Acting Dean Bill Pitney and associate deans David Walker
Read moreNicholas Koronkiewicz was born and raised in Bolingbrook, the only place he’s called home. Just coming to the cornfields of DeKalb as a transfer student in the Department of Computer Science supplied some stranger-in-a-strange-land sensations for suburban Koronkiewicz, who soon declared a
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 moreAfter two years as a Social and Emotional Learning coach in Indian Prairie School District 204, Geraldine Troczynski is returning to the classroom this fall to teach eighth-grade English language arts and social studies. Going with her is a fresh immersion in
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
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