Huskie Spotlight

Hear from the Huskie pack

Our Huskie Spotlight Q&As elevate the variety of voices across NIU’s diverse campus community. Experience the stories of students, professors and staff members in their own words.

Melanie Regan

Melanie Regan

Nutrition and dietetics graduate student


Lise Schlosser

Lise Schlosser

Office manager, Center for the Study of Women, Gender and Sexuality



Olivia Zapf

Olivia Zapf

History and political science double major


Jennifer Jacobs

Jennifer Jacobs

Assistant professor in Kinesiology and Physical Education



Dheeban Kumar Srinivasan Sampathi

Dheeban Kumar Srinivasan Sampathi

Industrial and systems engineering major


Meredith Eskoff

Meredith Eskoff

Academic advisor, LRS Undergraduate Student Success Center



More Spotlight Students

Zoe Halatek
Medical laboratory sciences major

Gina Fiorenza
Political science major, with minors in history and social change leadership

Hunter Stanis
Transfer environmental studies major

Omobolanle Wunuken
Rehabilitation counseling graduate student

Skylar Stanis
Transfer psychology major

Hollis Harris
History Ph.D. student, with M.A. in history from NIU

Viviana Cortes
Transfer communicative disorders major, with a minor in deafness

Isiah Bryant Camarao
Biological sciences major

Becca Katz
History major, theatre studies minor

Madeline Smith
Nursing major

More Spotlights

Jyosna Vasili
Management information systems graduate student

Blake Howle
Mechanical engineering major

Andrea Carranza
Mathematical sciences. world languages and cultures double major

Jonah Parra
Communication studies major, emphasis in advocacy and public communication

Madelin Richards
Nursing major

Henry Tomiser
Psychology major

Sophie Elliott
Biomedical engineering major

Sergio Dondiego
Nursing major, nutrition minor

Nicholas Dertinger
English literature doctoral student

Cassandra Phillips
Physics doctoral student

Isidora Kostic
Psychology major

Hannah Goerke
Physical therapy doctoral student, with NIU degree in pre-physical therapy

Adelaide Parr
Communicative disorders major

Kenny Hernandez
English and communication studies double major

Chloe Hardy
Elementary education major

Emma Walsh
Finance major with a minor in economics

Ashanti Ford
Sport management major

Zachary King
Transfer human development and family sciences major

Madison Wescott
Political science major

Jailynn Carter
Chemistry major

Alea Akers
Higher education and student affairs graduate student

Alexandra Alcantar
Computer science and political science double major

Abdelrahman Osman
Counseling master's degree graduate, with specialization in school counseling

Jonnie Kullens
Transfer management major

Maria Talania
Juris Doctor (J.D.) law student

Jozi Dever
Speech-language pathology graduate student, with an NIU undergraduate degree in communicative disorders

Alexis Garza
Accountancy graduate major

Cody West
Transfer English major

Treveda Redmond
Multiple education degrees from NIU, most recently an Ed.D. in educational leadership and policy studies

Hoa Vo
Psychology and human development and family sciences double major

Kobe Baumgartner
Nutrition, dietetics and wellness major

Onique Bryson
Health sciences major with emphasis in pre-physical therapy

Laura Passe
Educator licensure in secondary science, post-baccalaureate student

Joshua Henderson
Industrial and systems engineering major

Genesis Miranda
Special education major, Latino and Latin American Studies minor

Allyson Thompson
Transfer biological sciences and environmental studies double major

Dhruvit Patel
Transfer computer science major

Rutba Khan
Transfer communicative disorders major

Cecelia Haase
Elementary education major

Etiemana Ikpidungise
Mechanical engineering major

Diana Alvarez
Health sciences major, with minor computer science

Jake Barber
Higher education and student affairs graduate student

Jesika Pabello
Computer science major

Bramma Sakthi Panneerkai Perumal
M.S. Management information systems graduate

Dakota Montavon
Transfer management major

Paige Butauski
Human development and family sciences master's student

A'Jah Davis
Kinesiology major, sport management minor

Arianna Alba
Chemistry major

Tae Adams
Transfer physical therapy doctoral student

Grace Sherburne
Transfer management major

Ruchika Jain
Marriage and family therapy Master's student

Michael Ian Rabanal
Transfer management major

Darby McGowan
Elementary education major

James Keppler
Business administration and finance major

Judith Facio
Transfer psychology major

Vilaya Sirivong
Management major

David Schmidt
Mechatronics engineering major

Kalilah Chears
Human development and family sciences major

Laci Sligar
Transfer physical education major

Aidan Bengford
Political science and history major

Jahrita McNeal
Nursing major

John Paul Dela Rosa
English doctoral student

Emma Hazen
Political science, nonprofit and NGO studies major

Chyna Bennett
Communicative disorders major

Luis Barbosa
Transfer elementary education major

Noam Greene
Master of Public Health student

Achenyo Helen Asimegbe
Recent graduate, Global MBA program

Katie Krogman
Transfer elementary education major

Yousuf Khan
Biological sciences major, marketing minor

Emily Darnell
Transfer elementary education major

Liz Wyman
Biology doctoral student

Jonas Arvin Sales
Nursing major

Hannah Kofoid
Marketing major

Arielle Willman
Special Education major

Hailey Kofoid
Leadership and management major

Raginee Kumari
Graduate student in management information systems

Nathan Scheibe
Sport management major

Emelina Johnson
Audiology doctoral student

Kellyanne Critzer
Elementary education major

Harold Nii-Aponsah
Health sciences doctoral student

Rafael Casas
Athletic training graduate student

Paula Veyhle
Finance graduate student

Jennie Espinoza
Human development and family sciences graduate student

Andriana Williams
Special Education major

Paxton Kennedy
Economics major, with minors in business administration and marketing

Jeremy Peel
Finance major, transfer

Kaitlin Miller
Health sciences major

Karli Waldrep
Physical Education major

Amanda Rullan Vilanova
Law student, with bachelor's degree in marketing from NIU

Sherwin Thomas
Management and hospitality and tourism management major

Haley Mosley
Nursing major

Katherine Lavoie
Accountancy major

Jorge Fernandez
Mechatronics engineering major

Monserrat Garcia
Transfer political science major, English minor

Rachael Yoder
MFA acting student

John Patten
Accountancy and political science double major

Deja Harris
English major

Ajibola Taiwo
Nursing major

Anna Webster
Mechanical engineering major

Carley Ackland
English major

Nicole Smalley
Human development and family sciences graduate student

Lauren Crews
Transfer psychology major

Jasmine Willis
Management major

Erin McNally
Communicative disorders major

Brian Meyer
Management major

Madison Shales
Pre-physical therapy major

Brandon Bunch
Operations management and information systems major

Mariela Ortiz
Health sciences major

UnD're Wilson
Mechanical engineering major

Sarah Nash
Middle level teaching and learning major

Liza Buhr
Communicative disorders major

Keelyn Sarmiento
Philosophy major

Michael Archambault
Transfer psychology major

Ella Agolli
Transfer elementary education major

Tieara McLaren
Health sciences major

Jonathan Kurzeja
Political science major

Madelynn Parrott
Communicative disorders major

Miriam Rodriguez-Aguilera
Marketing major

Kaylin Lee
Music education major

Summer Fitzgerald
Communication Studies major

Bogusia Wrzosek
Applied management major

Hannah Clark
Elementary education major

Dottie Blanchard
Transfer nutrition, dietetics and wellness major

Andy Hernandez
Visual communication major

Morgan Hooper
Marketing major

Angel Avery
Human development and family sciences major

Evan Brostoff
Transfer political science major

Sarah Fane
Psychology major

Ariana Nava
Hospitality and tourism management major

Caleb Plumb
Marketing major

Audrey Ledermann
Human development and family studies major

Ramses Garcia
Transfer accountancy major

Elaine Warren
Nursing major, transfer

Bliss Eash
Transfer human development and family sciences major

Olivia Monteiro
Higher education and student affairs graduate student, majored in art history as an undergraduate

Izaiah Webb
Sport and exercise psychology graduate student

Emily Staples
Business administration and marketing major

Courtney Bradley
Transfer electrical engineering major

Courtney Bradley
Electrical engineering major

Kaylee Bearden
Elementary education major

Kayla Jones
Business management major with an emphasis in entrepreneurship

Logan Andrews
Visual communication major

Elizabeth Acosta
Sociology major

Matthew Zebrowski
Sport management major

Samantha Pinnock
Business Management major

Megan Nordstrom
Communicative disorders major, emphasis on speech-language pathology

Kelly Wakefield
Special Education major, emphasis in visual impairments

Matt McCoy
Mechanical Engineering and Saxophone Performance: Jazz Studies double major

Jason Rivera
Business Administration major

Kaelyn Nannini
Biological sciences major

Jordyn Crosby
Physical Education major

Joanna Rataj
Nursing major

Maddie Mackey
Sport management major

Caroline Melsa
Rehabilitation and disability services major

Anjishnu Chakrabarti
Psychology major

Emely Hernandez
Geographic information science graduate student

Peytonn Weaver
Elementary education major

Jasmine Ivy
Higher education and student affairs graduate student

Luke Harmon
Theatre Design and Technology major

Princess Jeremie
Computer science major

Michael Rhode
Management major

Isabelle Vondra
Biomedical Engineering major

Diamond Williams
Management major

Madalynn Derro
Industrial and Systems Engineering major

Guzette Espinal
Nursing major

Anica Protity
Biology Ph.D. student

Maricela Cruz
Nursing major

Corey Brown
Business Administration major

Wilfredo Najarro
Political Science and Nonprofit and NGO Studies major

Myah Sauer
Special Education major

Zachary Juan Villegas
Special education major

Zayra Estupinan
Transfer operations management and information systems major

Randi Reis
Kinesiology major

Jahleel Shepherd
Sociology major

Cassandra Mohr
Cassandra Mohr is a general mathematics, Spanish language and literature double major, and a computer science minor

Judith Gil
Public health administration major

Margaret Hitchcock
English and Philosophy double major

Diana Jarocki
Transfer communicative disorders major

Skyler Imhoff
Communication studies major

Robert Bishop
Accountancy major

Erin Hernandez
Political Science major, Spanish major

Olivia Elliot
Business administration major

Josh Helsper
Mechanical Engineering major

Luis Hernandez
Kinesiology, exercise physiology graduate student

Tyler Hayes
Kinesiology major

More Spotlight Faculty & Staff

Carrie Zack
Associate director of Accreditation, Assessment and Evaluation

Gudrun Nyunt
Assistant professor, Counseling and Higher Education

Dan Libman
Instructor, Department of English

Brigid Findley
Academic advisor, School of Music

Michelle Sands
Assistant professor, Department of Special and Early Education

Jui-Ching Wang
Professor, School of Music

Jason Akst
Instructor of journalism, Department of Communication

Mary Gardner
Instructor, Department of Curriculum and Instruction

Quiana Jones
Program Coordinator, Public health program, School of Health Studies

Reed Scherer
Professor, Department of Earth, Atmosphere and Environment

More Spotlights

Bethia King
Professor, Department of Biological Sciences

Teresa Wasonga
Professor, Department of Leadership, Educational Psychology and Foundations

Hamid Bateni
Associate professor, School of Allied Health and Communicative Disorders

Jennifer Koop
Associate professor, Department of Biological Sciences

Carolyn Law
Thesis/dissertation advisor, Graduate School

Ryan Shepherd
Associate professor, Department of English

Scott Metlicka
Flute instructor, School of Music

Amanda Smothers
Teaching and Learning Coordinator, Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning

Fred Markowitz
Professor, Department of Sociology

Mahesh Subramony
Professor, Department of Management

Molly McNett
Instructor, Department of English

John Acardo
Senior Associate Vice President for HRS and Chief Human Resources Officer

Lichuan Liu
Professor of Electrical Engineering

Darius Jackson
Program assistant/academic advisor, Center for Latino and Latin American Studies

Doreen Mace
Office support associate, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences advising

Mark McGowan
Communications manager, College of Education

Anitha Saravanan
Assistant professor, Nursing

Tony Calderala
Academic advisor, Kinesiology and Physical Education

Steph Horgan
Academic Advisor, Management Department, College of Business

Rana Jaber
Assistant professor, Health Studies

Bill Cassidy
Professor in Department of Communication

Erin Reid
Academic advisor, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Tao Xu
Professor, Chemistry and Biochemistry

Mary Lynn Doherty
Assistant Director of the School of Music, Associate Professor and Coordinator of Music Education

Tim Michaelis
Assistant professor of Entrepreneurship

Laura Johnson
Associate Professor of Educational Technology, Research and Assessment

Gregory Beyer
Professor and Director of Percussion Studies in the School of Music

Christy Muasher-Kerwin
Clinical assistant professor in physical therapy

Amy Jo Clemens
Assistant vice president and director of the Center for P-20 Engagement

Farah Ishaq
Assistant professor, Sport Management

Holly Jones
Associate professor, Department of Biological Sciences

Brandon Male
Instructor, Kinesiology and Physical Education

Karen Samonds
Associate professor, Department of Biological Sciences

Passion Williamson-Bandele
Academic advisor, School of Nursing

Jifu Tan
Assistant professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering

DeAnna Harris-McKoy
Associate professor, Family and Consumer Sciences

Andrew Notebaert
Associate Professor, Interdisciplinary Health Professions

Timothy Keller
Office manager, Department of Counseling and Higher Education

Biagio Palese
Assistant professor, Operations Management and Information Systems

Anna Cannone
Clinical assistant professor, Speech-language pathology program

Clayton Camic
Associate Professor of Exercise Physiology

Andrea Guzman
Associate professor of Journalism, Department of Communication

Henna Muzaffar
Assistant professor, Nutrition and Dietetics

Theodore Hogan
Associate professor, Engineering Technology

Nicole LaDue
Associate Professor, Department of Earth, Atmosphere and Environment

Wesley Swingley
Associate professor, Department of Biological Sciences

Amy Newman
English professor

Natalie Young
Assistant Professor, Early Childhood Education

Tao Li
Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Joseph Flynn
Executive Director for Equity and Inclusion, Associate Professor, Curriculum and Instruction

DeKol Austin
Family coordinator, Child Development and Family Center

Victor Gensini
Associate Professor in Earth, Atmosphere and Environment (EAE)

Rachel Kowal
Instructor, Kinesiology and Physical Education

Christine Mooney
Barsema Professor of Social Entrepreneurship, Department of Management

Christine Nguyen
Associate professor, Industrial and Systems Engineering

Kunal Patel
Assistant professor, Public Health

Kim Wedoff
Director of Clinic Finance and Operations, Allied Health and Communicative Disorders

Kanjana Thepboriruk
Associate professor, Department of World Languages and Cultures

Stephanie Uhr
Instructor, School of Nursing

Marc Macaranas
Assistant professor of dance, School of Theatre and Dance

Shondra Clay
Assistant professor, Interdisciplinary Health Professions

Amanda McCarthy
Associate professor and program coordinator, Interdisciplinary Health Professions

Mahdi Vaezi
Assistant Professor of Engineering Technology

Lauren Teso
Senior Associate Director of Residential Life, Housing and Residential Services

Nick Pohlman
Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering

Monique Bernoudy
Assistant Vice President, Academic Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Cathy Doederlein
Director of Career Services

Andrew Pemberton
Assistant director of internal communications

Abu Bakarr Bah
Professor, Department of Sociology

Nahal Salimi
Assistant professor, Rehabilitation Counseling

Danica Billingsly
Clinical assistant professor, Audiology

Chuck Howlett
Instructor and Director of Professional Sales Program

Paul Kassel
Professor, School of Theatre and Dance, Dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts

Suzanne Degges-White
Chair and professor, Counseling and Higher Education

Taylor Atkins
Professor of History, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Affairs

Jeanne Isabel
Chair and associate professor, Health Studies

Christopher Lowe
Program adviser, Department of Curriculum and Instruction

Mark Pietrowski
Director of Central Advising Office, College of Engineering and Engineering Technology

Abbey Stine
Clinical instructor, School of Nursing

Jessica Madrigal
Simulation laboratory specialist, School of Nursing

Thomas Pavkov
Chair, School of Family and Consumer Sciences

Shakaria Smith
Student success coach, TRIO Student Support Services

Beverly Henry
Interim dean, College of Health and Human Sciences

Paul Priester
Chair, School of Interdisciplinary Health Professions

Laura Vazquez
Board of Trustees Professor, Undergraduate Program Director, Department of Communication

Christopher Goodman
Assistant professor, Department of Public Administration

Melanie Costello
Lorado Taft campus director/outdoor education coordinator

Sean Farrell
Professor, Department of History

Rose Henton
Director of Coordinated Education, Training and Outreach Programs

Michael Tiema
IT support associate, College of Business

Ferald Bryan
Associate Professor, Rhetoric and Public Communication

Courtney Vinson
Senior Associate Athletic Director for Sport Administration, Intercollegiate Athletics

Sarah O’Connor
Clinical Supervisor, Allied Health and Communicative Disorders

Judy Santacaterina
Bachelor of General Studies Director and Director of Forensics

David Walker
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Professor of Educational Technology, Research, and Assessment

Brittany Wereminski
Coordinator of Recruitment, College of Education

Ray Earl-Jackson
Senior Director of Advancement, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Jorie O’Brien
Middle Level Program Advisor, College of Education

Jennifer “Jenny” Johnson
Director of Teacher Preparation and Development

Dan Pedersen
Director of NIU Housing and Residential Services

Xiaodan Hu
Assistant professor of higher education

Charles Pudrith
Assistant professor of audiology

Anne Britt
Professor of cognitive and instructional psychology

Kristie Crane
Undergraduate Advisor in Department of Sociology

Janice Hamlet
Associate Professor in Department of Communication

Pettee Borissova
Director of the National Safety Education Center at NIU

Simón E. Weffer-Elizondo
Associate Professor of Sociology

Myoungwhon ‘Myoung’ Jung
Associate professor of Special and Early Education

Ron Barshinger
Library Operations Associate

Kathryn ‘Kate’ Cady
Associate professor, Department of Communication

Timothy Ryan
Associate English Professor

Leila Porter
Professor of Anthropology

Susana Das Neves
Director of Migrant Education Services

Jeffrey Einboden
English Professor

Mary Strub
Assistant Director of Center for Governmental Studies

Laurence Lurio
Physics Professor

Karinne Bredberg
Assistant director for Commercialization and Innovation for the Division of Research and Innovation Partnerships (RIPS)

Shanthi Muthuswamy
Associate professor in Department of Technology

Christina Abreu
Director of Center for Latino and Latin American Studies and Associate Professor of History

Alan Clemens
Director of the Illinois Interactive Report Cards office

Jie Chen
Associate professor of Nursing

Mylan Engel Jr.
Professor of Philosophy

Liam Teague
Professor of Music and Chair of Steelpan Studies

Philippe Piot
Physics professor

Paul Wright
Kinesiology and Physical Education professor

Jeremy Benson
STEM educator in the NIU Center for P-20 Engagement

Walker Ashley
Professor of Earth, Atmosphere and Environment

Julie Miller
Electronic Research Administration (eRA) coordinator for the Division of Research and Innovation Partnerships (RIPS)

Amanda Littauer
Professor of History and Study of Women, Gender and Sexuality

Debbie Rempfer
Scholarship coordinator in the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office

Jessica Labatte
School of Art and Design Instructor of Photography

Katy Whitelaw
Information Technology Accessibility Officer

Blythe Kitner
Audiology instructor

Jeanette Rossetti
School of Nursing Professor

Alex Gelman
Distinguished Engagement Professor, School of Theatre and Dance

Tom Smith
Professor of Educational Technology, Research and Assessment

Katja Wiemer
Psychology Professor

Diane Rodgers
Associate Sociology Professor

Abul Azad
Professor, Department of Technology

Douglas Klumpp
Chemistry and Biochemistry Professor

Michelle Demaray
Psychology Professor

Lynn Retherford
Coordinator of Teacher Certification for the School of Music

Jay Monteiro
Assistant to the dean, College of Visual and Performing Arts

Jo Burke
Director of the NIU Art Museum

Laura Lundelius
Director of Campus Services

Theresa LaRocco
Records Supervisor for the Graduate School

Melissa Burlingame
Assistant Director

Ruperto Herrera
Application Programming Analyst

Gulsat Aygen
Professor of Linguistics in the Department of English

Jason Hanna
Professor of Philosophy

Swapan Chattopadhyay and Omar Chmaissem
Presidential Research Professorships

Greg Barker
Director of Testing Services and Academic Affairs Research Support

Cheng-Hou Lee
Professor of cello, School of Music

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