Less than a week after her inauguration, Northeastern Illinois University President Gloria J. Gibson had some exciting fundraising news to share. Read about the successful completion of the Goodwin Gift Challenge, the 2018 Alumni Awards winners and the newest tenure-track members of the faculty in this week’s edition of Noteworthy at Northeastern.
Around the Commons
Goodwin Gift Challenge
With more than three months to spare, Northeastern has met its annual $500,000 Goodwin Gift Challenge fundraising goal. This philanthropic donation will be matched by Daniel L. Goodwin (pictured above with President Gloria J. Gibson) and will complete his $1.5 million contribution to the challenge. In total, Goodwin pledged up to $2.5 million to Northeastern. He made an initial $1 million grant to the NEIU Foundation in December of 2014. The remainder of the gift came in the form of the Goodwin Gift Challenge, in which he encouraged others to contribute to the NEIU Foundation by matching gifts up to a total of $500,000 annually through 2018.
Distinguished Alumnus Award
Northeastern presented National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture Chief Executive Officer Billy Ocasio with the Distinguished Alumnus Award during the Golden Gala Alumni Awards. The award is the highest honor the University bestows upon alumni. As is tradition for winners of the Distinguished Alumnus Award, Ocasio (B.A. ’92 Board of Governors) will deliver remarks to the graduates during Commencement on Dec. 16. “We cannot live in the past,” Ocasio said when he accepted the award. “We need to get up every day and say, ‘How is today going to be better than yesterday? How can I make today better for someone else?’” View the videos and read the stories of four other Alumni Awards winners.
Meet the new faculty members
Northeastern’s new tenure-track faculty members were introduced at the Board of Trustees meeting on Sept. 20. “It is a pleasure to welcome these 13 new members of the faculty to the Northeastern community at the same time we welcome new President Gloria J. Gibson,” Acting Provost Wamucii Njogu said. “These professors are committed to serving our students from the time they arrive to the day they graduate. I look forward to seeing all that they accomplish.” Meet the new members of the faculty for the Fall 2018 semester.
And there’s more!
- Northeastern will host a Graduate Open House on Oct. 3 and an Undergraduate Open House on Oct. 17.
- View photos from Inauguration Week and President Gloria J. Gibson’s Inauguration Ceremony.
- The Department of Women’s and Gender Studies will host a fundraiser at Alarmist Brewing on Sept. 27.
In the media
Fishing mantises?
Praying mantises have been spotted catching fish in the wild for the first time. In a story about the behavior, National Geographic reached out to Biology Instructor Frederick Prete, who does not find this behavior out of the ordinary. “Small [vertebrates] are a normal part of what they will catch, if the prey meet certain visual criteria,” Prete told the magazine.
Youth company
The YAS! Youth Arts Showcase will take place on Sept. 22 at Millennium Park, and the Chicago Sun-Times highlighted the Ensemble Español Youth Company, which will perform at 4:50 p.m. “Having guest artists come from Spain for workshops and master classes is a great opportunity to further our training, which is very intensive,” youth dancer Abigail Mosquera told the Sun-Times. “The teachers really push and challenge all the dancers to do their best.” The article also features Vincent Molden, the son of Associate Professor of Mathematics Nancy Wrinkle. Molden spent the summer touring the country as the lead in “School of Rock: The Musical.”
Also in the media ...
- The Polish Daily News published a story about the inauguration of President Gloria J. Gibson.
To do
Open House Chicago
Northeastern’s Carruthers Center and El Centro locations will participate in Open House Chicago on Oct. 13. The Chicago Architecture Center presents the two-day free public event that offers behind-the-scenes access to more than 250 buildings across Chicago. No tickets are required and everyone is welcome.
Harmonic Brass Munich
The 2018-19 Jewel Box Series will kick off Sept. 28 with a performance by Harmonic Brass of Munich. Since 1991, Harmonic Brass has been renowned for big elegant brass sound. Harmonic Brass travel around the globe playing around 120 concerts a year with changing programs. For the Goethe Institute, Harmonic Brass has been a cultural ambassador all over the world since 2000, and the musicians from Munich also hold numerous international workshops.
Mark your calendar!
- Erik Geschke exhibition, through Sept. 28, Fine Arts Gallery
- “Other Men’s Women” screening, 7:30 p.m. Sept. 26, Auditorium
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Pedroso Center
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Do you have a story tip? Let the Office of Public Relations know!
Mike Hines, Director of Strategic Communications, m-hines@neiu.edu, (773) 442-4240
