Alumni Archives - College of Health and Human Sciences

Partnerships that Power Nursing Education

October 30, 2025 jdonahue Alumni, CHHS, College of Health and Human Sciences, Nursing, School of Nursing

The NIU School of Nursing recently welcomed approximately 30 guests including valued clinical partner organizations and members of the nursing faculty and staff for its Stakeholder Breakfast, a morning dedicated to collaboration, inspiration and shared commitment to advancing nursing education. The event

College of Health and Human Sciences hosts inaugural Advisory Board meeting

November 28, 2023 jdonahue AHCD, Allied Health and Communicative Disorders, Alumni, CHHS, College of Health and Human Sciences, FACS, Health Studies, Interdisciplinary Health Professions, NIU, School of Allied Health and Communicative Disorders, School of Family and Consumer Sciences, School of Health Studies, School of Interdisciplinary Health Professions, School of Nursing

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

Huskie Harvest is a win-win for NIU

March 28, 2023 jdonahue Alumni, alumni, CHHS, Health Studies, Nutrition

Nancy Prange is on a mission to fight hunger and help others. After joining forces with Campus Dining Services, the director of NIU Dietetic Internship program launched an innovative new food program, Huskie Harvest, to accomplish both. “All Huskies have a right to a healthy meal,” Prange

Brenda Malloy Leads the Search for Leaders as CEO of Herbert Mines Associates

November 17, 2022 jdonahue Alumni, CHHS, College of Health and Human Sciences, FACS, Family and Consumer Sciences, Fashion Merchandising, School of Family and Consumer Sciences

Being a leader has always come naturally for Brenda Malloy, ’83, but it took her years of developing her own leadership within the retail industry before she found her true passion for finding and placing executives in perfectly tailored roles. When she was growing

Hana Hinkle, ’18 Ph.D., Named Presidential Leadership Scholar

April 6, 2022 jdonahue Alumni, CHHS, College of Health and Human Sciences, Ph.D. in Health Sciences

The experience of growing up in the small town of Oregon, Ill., helped pave the path for Hana Hinkle’s, ’18 Ph.D., current positions advocating for healthcare in rural areas and in underserved populations. For that work, she was recently named a Presidential Leadership Scholar. Presidential

NIU alum gives voice to others

March 17, 2022 jdonahue AHCD, alumni, Alumni, CHHS, School of Allied Health and Communicative Disorders, Speech-Language Pathology

Leigh Shea, M.A. ’08, takes her work personally. As a speech pathologist, she literally can give a voice to the voiceless. At her private practice, Impulse Rehab & Wellness, in Westchester, Illinois, Shea sees seven patients each day for 45-minute sessions. Her

CHHS Alum Abigail Swidergal

March 8, 2022 jdonahue Alumni, CHHS, College of Health and Human Sciences, Health Sciences, Interdisciplinary Health Professions, School of Interdisciplinary Health Professions

When Abigail Swidergal became a master’s student in Health Sciences at NIU, she had a different perspective than when she was a Huskie undergrad. “As an adult learner with a goal, I think my perspective of appreciating all my courses and what

Family and Consumer Sciences alum, Marquita Davis, ’89

February 28, 2022 jdonahue AHDFS, Alumni, Applied Human Development and Family Sciences, College of Health and Human Sciences, FACS

For Marquita Davis, ’89, NIU will always be remembered as a crossroads of sorts—one that led her down the path of supporting families and children’s education her life’s work. “It was at NIU when I decided to change my major from business

NIU alumni make an impact

February 28, 2022 jdonahue Alumni, CHHS, College of Health and Human Sciences, Doctor of Nursing Practice, Nursing, School of Nursing

Cindi ‘73 and Earl Rachowicz, ’73, have a long history with Northern Illinois University. It’s where they met and fell in love; it’s where they each earned a degree that paved the way for successful careers. It’s where for the past three

Nutrition expert and influencer Elizabeth Shaw, M.S. ’10, ‘digests’ her success

December 16, 2021 a134221 alumni, Alumni, Dietetics and Wellness, Health Studies, News, Nutrition, Nutrition and Dietetics, Nutrition In yoU, School of Health Studies

Liz Shaw, M.S. ’10, has become a national nutrition expert, spokesperson and social media influencer. Even after five years of social media success, referring to herself as an “influencer” is still difficult for Liz Shaw, ‘M.S. ’10. Yet, that is exactly what

Dr. Diane Hillard-Sembell, ’82, reflects on award-winning ortho surgery career

December 1, 2021 a134221 AHCD, Alumni, alumni, Doctor of Physical Therapy, News, physical therapy, pre-Physical Therapy, School of Allied Health and Communicative Disorders

Dr. Diane Hillard-Sembell, ’82, is a senior partner and orthopaedic surgeon at Springfield Clinic in Springfield, Illinois. By the time Diane Hillard-Sembell came to NIU’s campus in 1978, she was already familiar with “The Hard Way.” Growing up in Alexis, Illinois—a small

Alumna Abby Jeppson earns national honor

October 13, 2021 a134221 AHCD, Allied Health and Communicative Disorders, alumni, Alumni, News, School of Allied Health and Communicative Disorders, Speech-Language Pathology, Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic

NIU alum, Abby Jeppson, was awarded the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Distinguished Early Career Professional (ECP) certificate. The certificate was created to recognize and identify early career professionals in the fields of audiology and speech-language pathology who are making an impact in