Peter Chlebanowski

Where is your hometown, and where do you live now?
DeKalb, IL

Where did you attend school? What degree(s) did you earn?
I earned my B.A. in history with a minor in geography from NIU in 2017.

Why did you choose to attend NIU?
It was close to home.

What year did you start working at NIU?
2022

In what department do you work?
Founders Memorial Library

Walk us through how your role connects to the student experience at NIU.
I help students find materials for their research at the library. I even answer questions they may have about where to find a book, how to request a book, where an office is on campus, etc.

What do you love about working at NIU?
I love working with the students. I feel like I was a student not so long ago, so the experience is still fresh in my mind, and that helps me relate to the students more. I enjoy seeing their excitement at being on campus and helping them succeed with their careers as students. I also love the diverse community NIU has and seeing all the events for different groups on campus. It’s such a welcoming environment.

Did you always plan to end up in higher education? What brought you to NIU?
No. My wife and I moved to Dekalb in 2020 because we liked the community and we enjoyed our time at NIU when we were students. I was thrilled when I was hired in 2022 because I would be working for my alma mater and helping the next generation of Huskies succeed, just like the staff and faculty did for me when I was a student.

How do you see NIU's mission reflected in your day-to-day work?
I help create a sense of belonging and help contribute to student success by doing my job to the best of my ability.

What keeps you motivated and energized in your work at NIU?
Making a difference in the lives of the students here at NIU. Just simply answering questions or having a small conversation with them can really make such a difference.

What's one thing about NIU that has surprised you?
Nothing really surprises me about what NIU does due to the services it already provides for students and its focus on student success.

How does your work support students who face financial, academic or personal challenges on their path to a degree?
I help find books or services students may need on campus, which helps them to feel less stressed and more relaxed and helps them focus more on their studies.

What is most important for students to know about the office or department you work in, and what services do you provide?
We have such great services in the library such as tutoring for classes and the writing center, where they can get help with their papers. We also let students check out calculators and chargers for their phones and laptops. We also have quiet places to study in the library.

How does your team show up for students every day?
We're eager to help our students every day by answering questions they may have.

What advice would you give to students currently attending NIU?
Know what resources there are on campus to help you with your classes and know we are here to help.

What do you hope students take away from their time at NIU?
I hope they take away the advice we give them to help them succeed in the world and that they learn from their experiences while they are here.

What is something a student told you that has stayed with you, a moment where you saw NIU make a real difference in someone's life?
When I had student workers, they were from many different backgrounds, and they told me that NIU has helped give them a chance for a better life.

Who has been the most influential person in your professional journey, and how have they shaped your approach to your work?
My supervisor, Ron Barshinger. He has worked here for nearly 40 years, and he is one of the most optimistic people I have ever met. He is very kind and helpful to the students, staff and faculty. He helped me learn how to not let things get to me and how to take an optimistic approach.

Beyond your role at NIU, how are you engaged in your profession and your community, and how does that work inform what you bring to your job?
When I am out and about in the community, and even on social media, I see people asking questions about NIU, and I answer them to the best of my ability. People always appreciate that I take the time to answer.

As a student, how did NIU help you find your community: the people, places or experiences that made it feel like home?
I enjoyed my floor in Stevenson C Tower. I met one of my good friends who was the same age as me, and we attended events on campus. My second year I got involved in the Residence Hall Association and made many friends — a couple of them were part of my wedding. I attended conferences, presented programs and really got involved in my last two years as an undergrad, which is when I received the two highest honors anyone could receive from that organization.

How did the diversity of people and perspectives you encountered while a student at NIU shape who you are professionally and personally?
Being a neurodivergent person, I have had challenges and still have challenges to this day. The diverse community at NIU has helped me grow not only professionally but also personally. Coming here I discovered myself as a person, who I was and who I can be, and it has helped me realize my potential.

Which NIU resources, offices or facilities were most valuable to you, and how did they help prepare you for life after graduation?
The Disability Resource Center. Since I had received accommodations for my classes, it helped me explain to people about my autism and how my brain works. It also helped me to not be afraid to ask for help.

Describe a specific project, internship, class or hands-on experience at NIU that directly shaped your professional path.
In order to graduate I had to write a thesis paper. The class was a whole semester long, but the only project was the thesis. I had to do research and talk to one of my professors who was an expert in Chinese history since my thesis was about Nixon's trip to China in 1972. I enjoy research, and I like to talk about history because history tells a story.

What skills, perspectives or experiences from NIU have set you apart in your field, and how?
Being able to identify sources. There are several sources in regards to research such as primary sources, which are someone’s own words. Secondary sources are a record of what someone else said, and historians are always asking questions like, who, what, where and why. As time goes on events becomes history, questions arise, such as, “Why did it happen?” and “Where did it happen?” Sources help answer these questions.

Looking back, in what ways did your NIU education prepare you for things you did not expect?
I realized my potential, and I use the skills I have gained here to be successful not just in the workplace, but in life in general.

How would you describe the value of your NIU degree to someone weighing the cost of college?
I know the current times make it difficult to choose between going to college or going straight to work. The only advice I can give you is that you can do anything as long as you put your mind to it.

What advice would you give to someone considering NIU?
Know the services and resources the campus has, get involved and remember why you are here: to get that degree.

Were you a first-generation student? What advice would you offer to current first-generation students at NIU?
Yes. There are resources available such as scholarships, and there are events on campus that provide you with a network and a chance to connect with other first-generation students.

What advice would you give to a student who is currently attending NIU?
Enjoy, and remember why you are here.