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 moreZach Wahl-Alexander receives new title of Lane-Zimmerman Endowed Professor
Growing up in Long Island, Zach Wahl-Alexander knew exactly what he loved. Baseball. Pitching? Playing shortstop? Yes, please. Game on. And the Big Apple boy was good at it, too, even suiting up for some of the higher-end travel teams in the
Read moreAll-college: Dean Mary Earick outlines vision, map to thriving communities
Mary 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 moreProject FLEX basketball tourney hosts youth from five juvenile justice centers
Three dozen youth in the secure custody of the State of Illinois showed off their hoops skills this spring during the inaugural “FLEX Lloyd Tournament of Champions” basketball tournament at Northern Illinois University’s Anderson Hall. And, between the whistles, they enjoyed another
Read moreStudent Research Symposium exhibits oral, poster presentations of discovery
When Matteo de Leon came to NIU to earn a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology, he wasn’t sure where he wanted that path to lead. Now he knows. “I knew that I loved personal training, but I knew that I could always do
Read moreProject FLEX hosts hoops tournament, cuts ribbon on new Anderson Hall space
Since Project FLEX launched in 2018, its young participants in the secure custody of the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice have become regular visitors to NIU and Anderson Hall. Now a new experience has taken place for everyone engaged in the initiative
Read moreNIU curricular innovation grants enable faculty to try new tech, teaching styles
In 2023, NIU’s Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning piloted a Curricular Innovation Grant Fund. Congruent “with university goals and priorities,” the program was “established to provide competitive grants for experimenting with innovative teaching methods such as transdisciplinary learning, virtual reality, digital
Read moreNIU curricular innovation grants enable faculty to try new tech, teaching styles
In 2023, NIU’s Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning piloted a Curricular Innovation Grant Fund. Congruent “with university goals and priorities,” the program was “established to provide competitive grants for experimenting with innovative teaching methods such as transdisciplinary learning, virtual reality, digital
Read moreCOE²: College of Education team gathers for pre-finals Celebration of Excellence
The NIU College of Education family came together May 3 in the ballroom of the Barsema Alumni and Visitors Center to celebrate another year of teaching, learning, scholarship, service and success. Acting Dean Bill Pitney recognized several faculty and staff members, including
Read moreProject FLEX earns $2.55M to maintain, advance work in juvenile justice centers
Project FLEX has secured a five-year, $2.55 million grant from the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice (IDJJ) to continue and expand its work providing positive interventions with youth who are in secure custody of the state. The NIU Department of Kinesiology and
Read moreMore to life? Project FLEX participants discuss how NIU program changed them
Different situations. Different backgrounds. Different races. Different traumas. Different struggles. Yet the four young men facing the audience in the Sky Room of the Holmes Student Center do share one reality – and, for many, it’s potentially insurmountable. Prison. Two already have
Read moreProject FLEX participants to tell stories of how sport offered healing behind bars
Project FLEX somehow continues to surprise Jenn Jacobs and Zach Wahl-Alexander. More than four years have passed since the associate professors in the NIU Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education launched their initiative to deliver structured physical activity and positive life lessons
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