Tricia Despres

Tricia Despres is communication studies alumni from Palos Heights, IL

Hometown: My hometown is Palos Heights, IL. I now live in Bolingbrook.

Class of: 1994

What is/was your profession? And, if applicable, what is your current title and employer?
I am a freelance writer for People magazine and many other publications.

Why did you choose to attend NIU?
I loved the feel of Northern Illinois from the very start. My father graduated from NIU in 1970 and was quite an active alumni member all my life. So, once it was time to pick a college, it really was an easy choice.

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 writer. I honestly don't remember a time when I didn't want to write stories or interview people. From the first essay I wrote in third grade to the article I just finished for People magazine, the excitement of telling someone's story has always brought me excitement.

How did NIU prepare you for your current profession?
During my years at NIU, I immersed myself in the journalism program. I worked at the Northern Star for two years and the remaining two years at TV-8, and I learned all I needed to know about the direction I wanted my life to take.

Describe what a typical day at your job looks like.
Luckily with my job, no day is typical, and that's what I love about it. Take my day yesterday, for example. I followed up on emails, interviewed Ann Wilson from Heart, received two more assignments, and wrote up stories on Brooks & Dunn and Blake Shelton. And if it was a weekend, my night would probably be spent at a concert, interviewing country music artists coming through town.

What are you most proud of in your professional career?
Breaking into People magazine has to be my biggest accomplishment. It was a goal of mine since the beginning, and while I held a number of impressive titles through my writing career and wrote for tons of high-profile publications, my goal was always to get a print piece in People. I received rejections from them for years and years but finally got a yes in 2018.

In a few sentences, please share the impact NIU has had on your life. How would your life be different if you hadn’t attended NIU?
NIU was a strong bond between my dad and me. It's where I met my husband. It's where I met my best friends to this day. I would not be who I am without NIU.

Who at NIU had a significant impact on you? What valuable lesson did you learn from them?
I had many professors (though I can’t remember their names right now) who truly taught me all I needed to know about the field of journalism.

Did you form any long-lasting friendships or personal/professional relationships as a result of attending NIU? Tell us about them.
Too many friendships to count. At the time I attended, the Greek system was thriving, and the people who made up that Greek system during those years still count as some of the most wonderful people I know.

What is one of your favorite memories from your time at NIU?
One? There are so many. Football games and tailgates, parties and lecture halls, studying till the early morning and walking to my classes. I loved everything about NIU.

What advice would you give to a student who is considering attending NIU?
NIU has changed greatly over the years, but I pray that the foundation that has always been there remains.

What advice would you give to a student who is currently attending NIU?
Take advantage of alumni. There is a whole band of your fellow Huskies ready to help the right people.

What made you decide to complete this survey and share your NIU story with other Huskies?
I have no idea. I lost my dad in 2023, and I have been thinking about how he gave back to NIU through his life. I decided that maybe it was time for me to do the same thing.