Professional Development
Our professional development connects you with fellow faculty members and experienced practitioners from many disciplines, so you can gain practical tools to improve your engaged teaching and research.
Learn how to:
- Build effective, lasting partnerships
- Conduct community engaged research – and get it published
- Use community-engaged teaching to energize your classroom
- Integrate community engagement into a sustainable work plan
- Fund your community engagement efforts with external grants and awards
Brown Bag Lecture Series
This casual lunchtime series from noon to 1 p.m. is your chance to learn from NIU faculty and staff about their experiences in community-engaged research, teaching and learning, and collaboration. Hear their stories, ask your questions, make connections and leave with tools and inspiration to pursue your community engagement goals. The events are free, and registration is encouraged.
Upcoming Brown Bag Events
NIU Community Engagement Week
Join us to learn with and from communities April 14-17, 2026!
Events include:
- Community Engagement Exemplar Symposium: Discover NIU's community-engaged scholarly projects, hear from community partners, and learn from experts in engaged teaching, learning and research.
- Brunch and Build: Learn from community experts and network with potential community partners over a casual brunch (for faculty and staff).
- Engagement in Action: Growing Community at the Edible Campus: Dig into NIU's Edible Campus gardens to experience food system innovation in action.
Engagement Executive in Residence
Past Speakers
Past Engagement Executives in Residence have included:
- Diane Doberneck, Ph.D., Director for Faculty and Professional Development, Office for Public Engagement and Scholarship at Michigan State University. Her workshops and resources in the series titled, "Yes, You Can Get Your Community Engaged Work Published!" are available on our SharePoint website. Anyone with an NIU email address can access the link.
- Jim Woodell, Ph.D., CEO Venn Collaborative.
- Lina Dostilio, Ed.D., Vice Chancellor of Engagement and Community Affairs at the University of Pittsburgh.
- Kwesi Brookins, Ph.D., Vice Provost for University Outreach and Engagement and Professor in Ecological-Community Psychology at Michigan State University.