Outstanding Staff Contribution to International Education

The purpose of this non-monetary award is to recognize an NIU civil service staff member who, over time, has significantly contributed to international education at NIU. The announcement of the awardee will be made during International Education Week.

Please contact Sarah Lindell at 815-753-9526 or slindell@niu.edu with questions.

Eligibility and Criteria

Nominees must be current full- or part-time status civil service employees. Previous recipients of the award, as well as staff members of the Division of International Affairs, are not eligible.

The award recipient will have made sustained contributions over time to the enhancement of international education at NIU through public service and/or student service efforts. Not every nominee will have done something in every category.

Recipients will have made a lasting contribution by a combination of efforts such as:

• Offering active and sustained involvement with NIU Study Abroad Programs: e.g., advising students about study abroad, engaging returned study abroad participants, and providing significant contributions to the planning, marketing and/or implementation of a study abroad program.
• Offering active and sustained involvement with international students and scholars at NIU: advising, mentoring, or hosting international students, working with international student organizations, assisting the International Student and Scholar Services Office in their work with international students.
• Demonstrating significant involvement with international exchange or training programs, including hosting international visitors and scholars.
• Active and sustained international activity in the NIU community, e.g., involvement in international events to promote international understanding; organizing or participating in international activities, projects or programs; etc.
• Providing continued contributions toward international education and multicultural understanding.

Nomination Process

We encourage individuals to nominate deserving colleagues and units for awards. Once a nomination is received, the nominee, whether an individual or unit, will be notified and invited to collaborate with the nominator in preparing and submitting the supporting materials required for committee review and consideration.

• Outstanding International Award Nomination Form (nominees can self-nominate)
• An InfoReady link will be supplied to complete the submission process.
• Up to three supporting attachments that describe the individual’s contributions to international education.

The nomination deadline is 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, September 30, 2026.

Selection Procedure

A Selection Committee established by the Division of International Affairs will review the nominations and select award recipients. The committee may request additional information or clarification from the nominees or nominators.

The selection committee will notify nominators of the selection outcome before the beginning of International Week, November 16, 2026.

Past Award Recipients

Year	Recipient
2025	Chynar Amanova, Department of Curriculum and Instruction
2024	Jessie Alex, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
2020	Ted Moen, Office of External and Global Programs, College of Education