Alex Blake

What year did you start working at NIU?
2019

Where is your hometown? and where do you live now?
Hometown: Freeport, IL
Current: DeKalb, IL

In what department do you work?
College of Health and Human Sciences Academic Advising

Where did you attend school? What degree(s) did you earn?
Highland Community College: AA (2012)
NIU: Bachelor of General Studies (2014)
NIU: Master of Arts in communication studies (2016)

If you attended college, were you a first-generation student? If so, what advice would you offer to current first generation students?
Yes, I am! My biggest piece of advice for first-gen students is to not be afraid to ask questions. The world of higher education can be extremely daunting if you don't have someone to guide you, and no one here expects you to do it alone. There are plenty of people around who have been in your place before and will answer questions or just listen to your experiences.

Describe your typical day—what do you do while at work?
Every day is different, and that is one of the things I love about my job! Typically, my days are filled with advising appointments and helping students solve their problems.

What do you like about working at NIU?
I love the sense of community that comes with working at NIU. I have experienced this university in a variety of roles: undergraduate student, graduate student, instructor and professional. This university has touched so many lives, and I love knowing I have had a part in that.

What advice would you give to students currently attending NIU?
This is a little selfish, but prioritize your advising appointments every semester! We are here to help you stay on track for graduation. Beyond that, we are a one-stop shop for solving all of your issues. Even if we can't help you directly, we usually know where you can get the help you need.

What is important for students to know about the office/department that you work in? What student services does your office provide?
We have a really well-rounded CHHS advising team, and we have dealt with it all at this point. We really do offer a full-service stop for students. We will help you with any of your academic needs and support you until graduation. Beyond that though, we are knowledgeable about campus and love to connect our students with the resources they need.

In what ways do you see your colleagues help student success?
Let me start by saying that I do truly work with the best people on campus. Everyone is incredibly student centered and every decision we make as a team is to better serve our students. We help our students succeed by keeping them on track for graduation, connecting them to resources across campus and helping them navigate the university system.

What is your favorite memory of NIU?
It is sappy, but meeting my husband. In August, it will be 10 years since NIU brought us together!

What accomplishment(s) are you most proud of?
Earning my master's degree at NIU. I was a first-generation student and faced a lot of barriers, both personally and institutionally. I really had to push myself to make it to the end of my program. But now I get to hang that piece of paper up in my office to see every day!

What fulfills you personally and professionally?
Getting to interact with students on a daily basis and listening to their experiences at the university and in the world in general. It is a very different environment than when I was in school, and it amazes me how our students face some of the most difficult challenges and still push themselves to earn their degrees.

Which of NIU’s core values align with your own?
I think they are all really important, but equity and inclusion are probably the most important to me personally. I think we all deserve a chance to succeed and belong in the NIU community, regardless of past experiences we may have had or who we are as humans.

What did you want to be when you were growing up? Are you currently doing it? If not, what changed your path?
I always wanted to be a teacher growing up. And that is what I went to grad school with the intention of doing with my life. I did teach at the community college level for a while, but I decided that I wanted to be involved in student success in a more holistic way. I use a lot of the same skills in my current role, even though my days are no longer spent in the classroom.

Are you participating in or have you participated in any NIU shared governance or professional development groups? If so, how has your participation enhanced your experience as an employee?
I was just elected to the newly formed Advising Council, and I am really excited to get started with that!

What do you do to relax or recharge?
I read a lot. And I like to spend a lot of time outside hiking, camping, etc.