Sally Stevens

Longtime secretary to NIU presidents
makes gift to alumni, visitors center

by Joe King

Serving six presidents over a span of 32 years, Sally Stevens devoted her life to the betterment of NIU. She is still doing so eight years after retirement, this time in a very tangible and generous manner.

Stevens, a DeKalb native, has made a “leadership gift” toward the Alumni and Visitors Center to be built on Annie Glidden Road at Stadium Drive. Leadership gifts are defined as those of more than $100,000. Stevens also has made additional commitments to provide substantial gifts to support a number of other university projects and programs to be announced at a later date.

“I always knew that someday I would leave a legacy to NIU,” Stevens says. “I just decided that it would be more exciting to make that ‘someday’ now. This way I can enjoy seeing the good that can happen with a little help from a friend.”

Those who know her best say they were surprised at the size of the gift, but agreed that it was completely in character for Stevens.

“If you were to take a family portrait of NIU, Sally Stevens would be sitting front-row center,” says NIU President John Peters, the only NIU chief she has not served as secretary in the last 40 years. “We have always known her to be an ardent supporter of the university, but this gift is extremely generous and we are very grateful.”

“Sally has supported several scholarship funds since her retirement, but the magnitude of this was something none of us anticipated. She is justifiably proud, and seems to relish the knowledge that she surprised all of us,” says Mallory Simpson, president of the NIU Foundation.

The Alumni and Visitors Center is expected to become a new crossroads on campus. The centerpiece of the 36,000-square-foot, $6.2 million building will be a great hall dedicated to highlighting the accomplishments of NIU alumni. It also will include a ballroom and a faculty library, and will serve as the stepping-off point for campus tours.

Stevens’ gift helps bring the total amount of money raised for the project to $4.2 million.

In recognition of the gift, the conference suite in the facility will be named in Stevens’ honor. The suite includes three meeting rooms equipped with the latest in audio-visual equipment, suitable for lectures, colloquia and other events.

“I am delighted to see such facilities on campus. There were many times that I wished for something just like this as I organized university events,” says Stevens, whose skill at putting together parties, receptions and other events earned her the unofficial title of “campus hostess” during her years at NIU.

Indeed, while her job description read “secretary,” those who worked closest with her say that hardly begins to describe what she did for NIU.

“She was a presence in the president’s office,” recalls William Monat, who led the university from 1977 until 1985. “She was always very gracious and a constant source of cheer, and she knew everyone - faculty, staff, and members of the community.”

“I loved my job at NIU. I looked forward to work everyday because every day was different,” Stevens says.

Outside of work hours, Stevens made a habit of taking full advantage of all the university had to offer. Plays, concerts and recitals offered by the College of Visual and Performing Arts were among her favorite pastimes, and she has been a holder of season tickets for football and men’s and women’s basketball since she began working at the university.

Though she retired in 1996 (her farewell reception attracted more than 1,000 people), Stevens remains a regular at university events and also maintains a busy volunteer schedule in the community. She serves on the boards of several local organizations, including the Kishwaukee Symphony Orchestra, the Kishwaukee Family YMCA and the Sycamore Women’s Club. She is an active member of the Federated Church in Sycamore, serves as editor of the bi-monthly newsletter at the Oak Crest Retirement Center and is an avid bridge player. She also travels extensively, having visited more than 100 countries to date.

While those things are satisfying, few things have brought her as much satisfaction as making this gift.

“I have always had a real commitment and love for the university,” Stevens says. “And it brings me great pleasure to be able to lend a helping hand.”

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