Christopher Lowe

What year did you start working at NIU?
2021

Where is your hometown? and where do you live now?
My hometown is Jackson, Mississippi, and I now live in Montgomery, Illinois.

Where did you attend school? What degree(s) did you earn?
McNeese State University – M.F.A. in creative writing and M.A. in English literature
Mississippi University for Women – B.A. in English

Describe your typical day—what do you do while at work?
As the program adviser for the Middle Level Teaching and Learning Program, I work closely with students. That includes delivering orientation advising to new Huskies, making sure current students are on track with the degree, troubleshooting transfer-related issues and generally being a point of contact for everything related to students' degree progress. I also work with the 2+2 PLEDGE Program for elementary education majors that NIU provides in collaboration with Elgin Community College.

What do you like about working at NIU?
I love the community feel of the campus and the emphasis on student success. Also, we're less than a week into the semester and I've run into Mission II on campus twice! I love working at a place where you can bump into an adorable husky and give him pets.

What advice would you give to students currently attending NIU?
Stay in touch with your advisor! We really are here to help you navigate your time at NIU. I know sometimes students worry about asking too many questions or being a bother, but I assure you, you're no bother at all! Our whole job is about assisting you, so if we can help in some way, we're always happy to.

What is your favorite campus event?
I've only been on campus since June, but I can't wait to go to an NIU football game! I'm from the south, where college football is pretty big as a pastime, and I'm excited to go cheer on the Huskies!

In what ways do you see your colleagues help foster student success?
I'm hugely impressed with the way my colleagues in the College of Education Office for Student Success work to help students in our college. The team here is so committed to making sure that students have a smooth and engaging university experience.

What did you want to be when you were growing up? Are you currently doing it? If not, what changed your path?
I knew from a relatively young age that I wanted to be a writer, and that's exactly what I am! In addition to my work in higher education, I write and publish fiction. I'm the author of a collection of short fiction and three prose chapbooks, and I regularly publish short stories in magazines and journals. My next book is slated to come out in 2022!

What do you do to relax or recharge?
I'm a huge sports fan, so much of my free time is spent watching or reading about sports of all different kinds. I never lived close to a professional baseball team until my family moved to Illinois, so I've adopted the White Sox. This has been such a fun season to watch them play, and I even got to take my daughter to her first baseball game in June at Guaranteed Rate Field!

Is there anything else you'd like to share about your NIU Huskie story?
Prior to coming to NIU, I spent my entire professional career at McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana. When Lake Charles was hit by two (!) hurricanes within a month of each other last fall, my family decided to relocate to northern Illinois. I knew I wanted to continue working in higher education, and I looked at positions at a lot of different schools in this area, but NIU was at the top of my list. I care deeply about public higher education, and my own education was at two regional public universities. Continuing to support students at a school like NIU is hugely rewarding for me, and I'm so glad to have found a new university home!