John Freeman

What year did you start working at NIU?
2025

Where is your hometown? and where do you live now?
My hometown is Somonauk, Illinois, and I now live in Earlville, Illinois.

Where did you attend college and what degree(s) have you earned?
Undergraduate: 2016-2020, B.S. in marketing, sales certificate
Graduate: 2019-2020, accelerated M.S. in digital marketing

In which department(s) do you teach?
Department of Marketing

Were you a first-generation college student? If so, what advice would you offer to current first generation students?
Yes. Imagine how proud the generations that came before you are and use that energy to break more and more barriers. Push harder than the folks to your left and right, and you'll succeed. Keep being the "first" to do new things, in work and in your community.

What do you like about working at NIU?
Huskies are fighters. Many are working while attending classes, and many have a vested interest in working hard to build a future for themselves and others. NIU has such a beautifully diverse culture of students and professors. It's a wonderful space for challenging the norm and building new ideas. I'm proud to call myself part of that culture!

What advice would you give to students currently attending NIU?
Get out to events and guest-speaker events hosted by members of the community. You can set yourself apart from your peers by making friends with local employers and former Huskies, and those connections can lead to future career ventures and lifelong partnerships. What you do in the classroom is important, but what you do in the community can open doors that will help you for the rest of your life.

Tell us about a research or engaged learning project you have led.
Leading multiple career workshops and guest-speaking events has been awesome! Huskies who show up to gain an edge in a difficult job market are setting themselves up to win, and I'm glad to have left a mark on so many resumes and LinkedIn profiles. At this point, I've edited or made suggestions on over 125 NIU resumes!

What do you enjoy most about mentoring students?
Mentoring students is an incredible feeling, and if even one student benefits from my advice or ideas, I will go home happy and fulfilled.

What do you hope students take away from their college experience?
Memories, dozens and dozens of lifelong memories. College is a time to make mistakes and put yourself in stressful situations while in a safe and constructive environment — do so while you are here. This institution is a place of growth, in both academia and in building the person you want to be.

What is your favorite memory of NIU?
A snowy walk to Domino’s Pizza from the library after finishing a 25-page research paper. I ate an entire large sausage and pepperoni pizza by myself, and the paper came back as a 96%, so I felt like a winner in every regard.

What’s one thing about NIU that’s surprised you?
I’m surprised that the folks I met at school continue to have such an impact on my life after college. My connections, who all went in different directions, still keep in touch, and a few have even become clients in my full-time job! The network from NIU continues to pay dividends for me.

What fulfills you personally and professionally?
I flip houses in the evening with my hands, and I now teach students with my mind. I am most fulfilled when I go to bed after a good meal and exhausted from everything I got done, so fulfillment to me is the soreness you feel after an incredibly productive week!

Which of NIU’s core values align with your own?
Service and stewardship are vital. Help your neighbors, and they become friends. Help your friends, and they become best friends. Make an impact on those around you and be a positive influence in the lives of those you care about. Suddenly, in your time of need, many will come to help you.

Have you contributed to any NIU Foundation fundraising campaigns such as the Day of Giving or Huskies United? If yes, why did you decided to support NIU?
Not as of yet in building my career and home since 2020, but hopeful to as I'm able (and more financially liquid).

Who has influenced your professional path?
Jenny Redisi, the now sales director, played a huge part as my Intro to Sales instructor and motivated me to enter the sales program. That led to multiple job offers and incredible pathways to follow!

What did you want to be when you were growing up? Are you currently doing it? If not, what changed your path?
I wanted to be a farmer, which I am not currently doing! My path changed due to how many doors were opened to me at school. After taking on roles in sales, an opportunity in recruitment opened up that leveraged my love of working with businesses and candidates.

What community organizations are you involved in?
Habitat for Humanity and PAWs rescue for pups, although not local to DeKalb. Just wrapping up my move and planning to get more involved.

What do you do to relax or recharge?
Relaxing? What's that? I keep busy with the house rehab, full-time job and other little side projects. When I'm fully caught up, usually a good movie or quick few hours of Xbox will calm the nerves.

Is there anything else you'd like to share about your NIU Huskie story?
I’m proud to be a Huskie and inspire others, and I’m always open to help with resume reviews or career prep!