Sam Glaab-Lanigan

What year did you start working at NIU?
2024

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

In what department do you work?
Gender and Sexuality Resource Center (GSRC)

Where did you attend school? What degree(s) did you earn?
I am a double Huskie! I got my undergraduate degree in disability and rehabilitation services. I was also able to have minors in LGBTQ+ studies, psychology, and women’s and gender studies. My master’s degree is in higher education and student affairs.

Describe your typical day—what do you do while at work?
I do not have a typical day but if I am not at a program, event or training, I am in my office in the Peters Campus Life Building. When I am in my office, students can drop in to see if I (or another GSRC staff member) is available. You can also find me co-coordinating the Period Project at NIU, putting on events for Women’s History Month, collaborating with campus partners and thinking of innovative ways to support and engage students.

What do you like about working at NIU?
I enjoy the community as well as my colleagues, who are just as committed to student success as I am. I have had times when I do not know the answer to a student’s question, but I do know someone who might know more. My NIU colleagues have always helped me get students to the correct person to help them with their issues.

What advice would you give to students currently attending NIU?
My advice would be to build your network. Find ways to get involved that inspire you! Find clubs you enjoy; find departments to connect with; find faculty whose research interests you. I think one of the best things about NIU is there are many places to be engaged with, and people are always looking for more folks to get involved.

What is important for students to know about the office/department that you work in? What student services does your office provide?
I want students to know more about the Period Project at NIU. This is a resource where students can pick up free period products. One of the locations is at the Gender and Sexuality Resource Center in the Peters Campus Life Building, room 132. We are typically open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Students are able to learn more about period poverty, the Period Project at NIU and ways to get involved with the Period Project. Outside of the Period Project, we also host educational events about gender, sexuality, equity and social constructs/implications on these topics. We hope to create spaces for meaningful discussions and building community. We also support students’ growth and learning and help them navigate campus.

In what ways do you see your colleagues help student success?
I think I have a great network of colleagues who want to see students succeed. I have colleagues who will go out of their way to make sure a student understands the next steps of a process or has a place where they can ask questions. I think what is hard about being a college student is feeling like you should know everything about a process you may be unfamiliar with; this can lead to not asking questions.

What is your favorite memory of NIU?
I am a double Huskie, so I have many wonderful memories of NIU. I think some highlights have been when I got to present my undergraduate research at the Center for the Study of Women, Gender and Sexuality’s Research and Artistry Symposium. When I was an undergrad, I would rarely put my work in the same category as others, and I was nervous to present. The symposium is a wonderful space to present student scholarship and research. I have many memories about all the campus lore!

What accomplishment(s) are you most proud of?
I am always proud that I was able to make it to graduating not once but twice. I never gave up, and I was able to continue even when people said I couldn't/shouldn't.

What fulfills you personally and professionally?
It is the greatest honor to see students succeed. I think it is so wonderful when they reach both their big and small goals. I am always so proud of students stepping out of their comfort zone and then succeeding. Or when they don’t succeed immediately but try again; it’s just so wonderful to witness.

Which of NIU’s core values align with your own?
I try to show service and stewardship as my values every day. I believe the only way we can improve is together. I hope to help students build their own skills and network, so they do not feel alone.

Have you contributed to any NIU Foundation fundraising campaigns such as the Day of Giving or Huskies United? If yes, why did you decide to support NIU?
I have supported the Day of Giving in the past. I typically support the Center for the Study of Women, Gender and Sexuality (CSWGS), which helped me so much in my undergrad career, and the Undocumented Student Resource Center (USRC). I think the work they do at the USRC is amazing, and I want to support an office doing amazing work.

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 am so thankful to be a part of the governance council for the Center for the Study of Women, Gender and Sexuality. This was important to me after I can back to NIU. When I was an undergraduate student there wasn’t a major. I am thrilled that there is and being on this council helps me feel like I can give back to the program that gave me so much as an undergrad. I also benefit from attending the CSWGS symposium to learn more about current students’ research and artistry. I am also the liaison for the Presidential Commission on the Status of Women.

What do you do to relax or recharge?
I enjoy going for walks with the Goosechase app. I can put my local forest preserves in the app and follow along on challenges. This helps me find new places to go for a walk and also have reasons to look at the scenery. It helps me to get outside in any season!

Do you have any hobbies or interesting personal pursuits you're involved with in your spare time?
I sew in my spare time. I think it’s a skill I am very proud to have.