The week started with the exciting announcement that Northeastern Illinois University had secured a $40 million grant to be overseen by the Center for College Access and Success. You can end it by reading more about the award and other news from around Northeastern.
Around the Commons
GEAR UP grant award
Northeastern has been awarded a $40 million grant over seven years by the U.S. Department of Education to help at-risk students prepare for success in postsecondary education. The Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs award—the largest in the country—will serve 7,229 students across 14 Chicago public high schools and 36 elementary and middle schools.
Greetings from Saudi Arabia
Education professor Ana Gil-Garcia has recently arrived in Khobar, Saudi Arabia, to to spend the academic year teaching at Prince Mohammad bin Fahd University. She wrote back home to tell us how she’s adjusting and what she hopes to learn.
Siobhán Cooke digs in
The assistant professor of anthropology is settling back into the classroom after spending the summer performing field work in Colombia and the Dominican Republic. Cooke’s ultimate goal: Take students with her.
And there’s more!
- Northeastern President Sharon Hahs delivered her State of the University address on Tuesday, Sept. 23. The transcript will be posted soon at this link.
- Northeastern’s hybrid course model of peer-led learning for the social sciences, led by Maureen Erber, Linda Rueckert and Christopher Merchant, was recognized for its success by Tennessee Tech University
- More than 170 students from Northeastern—more than any other school—signed up to be election judges via the Chicago Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Student Leaders in Elections initiative.
- Remember: There will be a large systemwide computer outage from 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, to 6 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 28, for network upgrades.
In the media
Her first High Holidays
Northeastern English language program instructor Teodora Burian led a Chicago Tribune article about people who have recently converted to Judaism. "I was always searching," she told the Tribune. "But now I can say that I'm finally home."
Also in the media ...
- Jim Bell (B.A. ’12 Interdisciplinary Studies and Social Work), the health and wellness coordinator for Chicago's BUILD Inc. (Broader Urban Involvement and Leadership Development) nonprofit for at-risk youth, was featured in the Chicago Tribune.
- Zella Palmer (B.A. ’05 Bilingual-Bicultural Education and Elementary Education - Teacher Education), new chair of the Ray Charles Program in African American Material Culture at Dillard University, was quoted in a Times-Picayune story about a culinary effort the program is launching.
- Northeastern professor emeritus Ed Stuart appeared on WTTW’s “Chicago Tonight” to talk about Apple’s new iPhone and the economy.
- In a story about pop culture nostalgia, Chicago Magazine cited a 1975 story by the Chicago Tribune in which former Northeastern professor Fred MacDonald addressed the beer can’s potential.
To do
El Centro grand opening
Northeastern President Sharon Hahs has invited the University community to celebrate the new El Centro location at the Grand Opening and Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony on Tuesday, Sept. 30, at 1:30 p.m. The University will provide shuttle services to and from the main campus, the Caruthers Center and the Chicago and Halsted site.
Get out the vote
Leaders of the faculty and staff governance groups on Tuesday announced the launch of TurboVote at Northeastern. This new system helps more students register to vote and also provides a mechanism for them to sign up for text and e-mail reminders on upcoming elections and voting locations.
Mark your calendar!
- “Latino Americans: Prejudice and Pride” film screening (free), noon Thursday, Oct. 2, Pedroso Center east lounge
- “Latino Americans: Peril and Promise” film screening (free), noon Tuesday, Oct. 7, Pedroso Center east lounge
#FollowFriday
Hispanic Heritage Month
Northeastern’s Latino/a Resource Center is just getting started on programming for the year. Be sure to check the Facebook page for information on an array of Hispanic Heritage Month events. (Pro tip: You won’t want to miss Noche de Familia, which is scheduled for 6 p.m. Oct. 15 in Alumni Hall. RSVP on the LRC Facebook events page.)
Do you have a story tip? Let the public relations department know!
Mike Hines, assistant director of public relations, m-hines@neiu.edu, 773-442-4240
Dana Navarro, director of public relations, d-navarro@neiu.edu, 773-442-4227
