Future Health Professionals hosted a blood drive on the main campus on March 30-31.

Friday, April 3, 2015

The calendar just got packed: Northeastern Illinois University is planning a diversity conference, the launch of a disability program, an economic inequality initiative and a budget lobbying trip to Springfield. Read all about those plans and lots more!

Around the Commons

Diversity conference

Northeastern’s Diversity Council will host its inaugural conference, Spotlighting Diversity Matters: Celebrating Our Intersectional Identities, on Tuesday, April 7, in Alumni Hall. The purpose of the conference is to have conversations that empower members of the University community to become agents of change.

(Dis)ability Project

Led by the Office of Student Disability Services, the (Dis)ability Project is a comprehensive training and resource program that will launch on Thursday, April 9. Guest speaker Isabel Garcia, president of Parent to Parent of Miami, Fla., will talk about how Northeastern can support Latino students with disabilities in the transition from K-12 to higher education.

Economic Inequality Initiative

Northeastern will launch its participation in the Economic Inequality Initiative on April 6. The College of Arts and Sciences and the Division of Student Affairs invite the University community to join the national discussion on economic inequality.

Asian American Heritage Awards Gala

The Asian and Global Resource Center will host the 5th Annual Asian American Heritage Awards Gala on Friday, April 10, at 5:30 p.m. in Alumni Hall. A tribute to Asian and Asian-American traditions, the gala celebrates the achievements of Northeastern graduates and members of the community.

Smoke-free Northeastern

By Illinois law, all state university property will become smoke-free beginning July 1. Visit neiu.edu/somkefree to read about what that means for Northeastern’s locations.

And there’s more!

  • More than 100 people participated in the Mini-Kane Mini-Golf event on March 26 that raised money for the Chuck Kane Scholarship. Check out the photos, and stay tuned for details on next year’s event, which will include even more holes.
  • President Sharon Hahs and Executive Director of Government Relations Suleyma Perez have invited the University community to participate in the Annual NEIU Lobby Day in Springfield on April 23 as part of Northeastern’s budget advocacy efforts.
  • The Student Center for Science Engagement will host a transfer event for STEM students on April 10.
  • President Sharon Hahs announced that College of Business and Management Associate Professor Qiumei Xu has been appointed as the 2015-2016 presidential fellow, effective July 1.

In the media

‘Fascinating and often hilarious’

Kirkus published a positive review of English Assistant Professor Julie Iromuanya’s new book, “Mr. and Mrs. Doctor,” which is due out next month. The review raves: “Iromuanya presents a fascinating and often hilarious drama of marriage, highlighting the discrepancies between who we say we are and who we really are.”

Also in the media ...

  • An Examiner column about Indiana's religious freedom law quoted Political Science Chair Jeffrey Hill.
  • Lake Country Now newspaper in Wisconsin interviewed former Northeastern basketball player Brad Bestor about his experience playing college hoops.

To do

Forensic anthropology speaker

Lori Baker, an associate professor of Anthropology at Baylor University who specializes in molecular and forensic analysis of skeletal remains, will speak at Northeastern on April 9. Baker is the founder and director of the Reuniting Families Project, which was created to establish a system for the identification of the remains of deceased undocumented immigrants found along the U.S. border with Mexico.

‘Salsa Dancing’ author visit

Northeastern’s chapter of the Illinois Education Association will host alumna Tammy Oberg De La Garza, co-author of the book “Salsa Dancing in Gym Shoes: Exploring Cross-Cultural Missteps with Latinos in the Classroom.” The event will be held from 4:30-6 p.m. April 9 in the Pedroso Center. Books will be available to purchase from Beck's if guests would like to get a signature.

Mark your calendar!

#FollowFriday

Student Disability Services

The Office of Student Disability Services provides academic and technical assistance to students and works closely with faculty to ensure student access. The office also has some mad Twitter skills! Follow @NEIUsds for SDS news and updates, event information, resource guides and a whole lot more.

Do you have a story tip? Let the public relations office know!
Mike Hines, director of public relations, m-hines@neiu.edu, (773) 442-4240