Moving NIU forward: Why Allison Gladfelter gives back

For Allison Gladfelter, working with NIU students is a privilege that continually leaves her impressed and amazed. 

“Our students are truly inspiring,” shares Gladfelter. “It is a joy to teach and advise them as they begin their journeys as future clinicians and leaders. No doubt about it, our students are what I love most about working at NIU!” 

Gladfelter is an assistant professor of speech-language pathology in the School of Allied Health and Communicative Disorders.  She has been at NIU since the Fall of 2014 and serves in a variety of roles, including teaching students studying communicative disorders and speech-language pathology, serving as faculty advisor for the Communicative Disorders Student Association, and conducting research.

“My primary area of research explores how children with autism learn new words and how their language and motor systems interact during tasks of learning,” shares Gladfelter.  “I love sparking a passion for research in students, especially those who have gone on to publish or present their work.  I’ve had the pleasure of mentoring over 25 students as their theses or dissertation advisor, honors capstone mentor, independent study mentor, Research Rookie or SROP mentor, and for the first time this summer, as their discussion facilitator for a bi-weekly research discussion group.”

Gladfelter also serves as Deputy Director for NIU’s Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of Language and Literacy which helps the NIU community engage in meaningful conversations and collaborations to tackle important challenges our society faces.  And if that’s not enough, Gladfelter is a founder and facilitator for the NIU Autism Caregiver Group. 

Her deep commitment to NIU students and the campus community has compelled Gladfelter to make donations through the NIU Foundation.

“I donate because I profoundly care about our students. Donating is an easy way for me to help alleviate a burden that many students carry as they pursue their studies at NIU,” shares Gladfelter. “I can’t think of a better way to show our students how much we truly care about them.” 

Move NIU Forward during Huskies United June 24-25

You can join Gladfelter in moving NIU forward June 24-25 by making a gift during the NIU Foundation’s Huskies United event.  Huskies United will begin at 4:25 p.m. on June 24 and will run for 1,895 minutes, a nod to the university’s founding year. The campaign will focus on raising support for the university’s strategic funding priorities including emergency student funds, diversity, equity and inclusion, scholarships, and research, artistry and innovation.     

You can also help spread the word about Huskies Uninted as an NIU Social Media Ambassador.  Sign up at go.niu.edu/dogambassador.

For more information about Huskies United, visit the website at https://dog.niu.edu or email NorthernFund@niu.edu.