Dean Kelly Fiala welcomed members of the inaugural College of Health and Human Sciences (CHHS) Advisory Boardto campus on Oct. 13. For Fiala, who has been leading the college since June, assembling a team to support the college was a critical priority and goal she set soon after arriving on campus.
Kelly Fiala, dean of the College of Health and Human Sciences
“Our board members are alumni, practitioners, community members and professionals within the fields of health and human sciences,” Fiala said. “They will be instrumental in advancing the college and its mission and providing guidance on activities and events to support our strategic plan.”
The founding members have an impressive array of credentials, experiences and connections to NIU and the community, which Fiala said makes them uniquely qualified to serve on the board.
“I am grateful because it gave me a strong indication of how passionate folks are about NIU and their experiences here,” Fiala said. “Our board members are setting aside time to help our college, students and faculty. I am just so humbled by that. This really is an amazing group.”
Twenty-three of the 36-member CHHS Advisory Board gathered in-person at the NIU Health, Wellness and Literacy Center on a Friday afternoon. Over the course of meeting, they discussed enhancing recruitment and retention efforts to support the college. Members heard from NIU leaders including Laurie Elish-Piper, interim executive vice president and provost, and Sol Jensen, vice president for Enrollment, Management, Marketing and Communications. CHHS directors Nicole Holland (Advising), Giselle Navarro (Area Health Education Center), and Tracy Ash (Pre-Health Professions) also presented, while Debi Gillette, senior director of advancement, NIU Foundation, discussed the impact of scholarships on Huskie students.
In addition to NIU staff presenters, part of the meeting showcased current Huskie students. Fiala said she couldn’t be more proud of what they shared.
“I was so amazed with the experiences our students have had, what they’ve already accomplished and how they articulate that,” Fiala said. “I think the board members felt the same way.”
In turn, the students appreciated meeting board members who have extensive experiences in their fields of study and were able to share memories of their time at NIU.
“Our students are seeing different opportunities available for them in the workforce because of the people who stepped up to serve on the board,” Fiala said.
As events over recent years have highlighted deficiencies in the healthcare workforce as well as the disparities that exist in the health and human sciences landscape, Fiala said the college is ready to meet those needs.
“Our college is poised to serve the local community as well as the country at large by leading workforce development and educating future professionals,” Fiala said. “We are eager to strategize around ways to equip our students for interprofessional practice in this waiting world, and our board members will help us with that mission.”
Elish-Piper shared the sentiment.
“The creation of the CHHS Advisory Board is an important step for the college in building alumni relations and support,” said Elish-Piper. “I congratulate Dean Fiala and her team for establishing and convening the board so quickly. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting the members of the board and was impressed by their passion for CHHS and its programs.”
Learn more about the CHHS Advisory Board.
