Harold Larsen

What year did you start working at NIU?
2024

Where is your hometown? and where do you live now?
My hometown is Columbus, Nebraska, and I now live in Sycamore, Illinois.

Where did you attend college and what degree(s) have you earned?
I attended Creighton University and earned a B.A. in history; I also earned an M.A. in business and security management from Webster University.

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

Were you a first-generation college student? If so, what advice would you offer to current first generation students?
Yes, work hard and live the golden rule. Help each other out and don't be afraid to ask questions.

What do you like about working at NIU?
I love the community that exists here. I was welcomed by all members of the university, and I felt at home immediately.

What advice would you give to students currently attending NIU?
Work hard and better your community. Make a positive impact on someone every day.

What do you enjoy most about mentoring students?
I enjoy sharing my experiences with them and knowing I'm making a difference in their future. It’s great to connect with the next generation and watch them grow and develop.

What is your favorite memory of NIU?
I have so many: running Mission III across the end zone the first time, helping my wife and daughter stock the Huskie Food Pantry, commissioning six new second lieutenants last semester, and recruiting prospective cadets to NIU and hosting them in our spaces in the Chick Evans Field House.

What fulfills you personally and professionally?
Training and mentoring cadets and developing the next generation of Army leaders!

Which of NIU’s core values align with your own?
My mission is to develop, train and commission leaders of character for the U.S. Army, which relates to NIU’s core values of ethics and integrity and service and stewardship. So many of NIU’s core values align with the Army’s values of loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage.

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 join the Army, and I’m still doing it, going on 19 years on active duty!

What community organizations are you involved in?
So far, not too many here, but I have helped coach my daughter’s softball team. I've been asked to support many local community engagements, from Boy Scouts to local veterans’ organizations to schools. I try to support as many as I can and love being a part of the local community.

What do you do to relax or recharge?
I like to be outside and moving. I have trouble sitting still. I’d recharge by walking around campus between meetings and classes.