One alum elevates a new brewery’s offerings to gastronomic heights; the other earned praise for putting her own spin on lavish Southern desserts. Michael Reid and Rebecca Pendola, both alumni of Kendall College of Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management at National Louis University, have been featured in the news lately. Continue reading
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Black History Event To Feature Leaders Who Speak Truth to Power DelMarie Cobb, Maze Jackson to share historical perspective on African-American life and culture in Chicago
What can today’s students and recent alumni learn from two distinguished journalists and political strategists who have been intricately involved for nearly three decades in helping African-American political candidates gain office?
All are invited to attend the “Common Historical Challenges on Uncommon Ground” discussion event Thursday, Feb. 21 to find out. The event will be held from 3:30 to 5 p.m. in the McCormick Foundation Atrium on National Louis University’s Chicago campus, 122 S. Michigan Avenue, Chicago.
“All four of these individuals (panelists and moderators) are leaders in the Black community and they lead in different ways,” said Jacqueline Samuel, Ph.D., director of National Louis University’s Master’s in Public Administration program and an alum of NLU’s Community Psychology doctoral program.
“We want our students to see that. Some of these speakers lead with the power of the pen, or the power of the mic. Then you have the quiet leader who knows how to bring voices together and unleash the wisdom in the room, and finally, you have the soldier, out there waking up everyone and mentoring at the same time. I am not going to say who is who– you have to come to listen to them speak to figure it out– but I guarantee you will hear some very thought-provoking discourse.”
The panelists
Delmarie Cobb. A journalist and public affairs, political consulting and media relations strategist, Cobb has owned her firm The Publicity Works since 1990. She is also the president of Deleco Communications Inc., a television production company, which produced the award-winning newsmagazine program STREET LIFE on PBS affiliates. In 2016, Cobb served as the Illinois press secretary for the presidential bid of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. She also served as a consultant to candidates Jesse Jackson, Bill Bradley and Dan Hynes.
Maze Jackson. Jackson is a WVON radio personality, and his bio on the station’s website is as follows. “Political strategist, media personality, and urban marketing pioneer, Maze has a diverse array of experience in the worlds of business, politics and community engagement. Maze has spent over 20 years lobbying for high profile clients, creating community-based solutions and driving the discussions that shape impactful policies. Maze has been featured on ABC, CBS, The New York Times, Chicago Sun-Times, and a variety of other high profile media outlets, and is featured weekly on WVON.”
The moderators
Deveda Francois, Ph.D. Francois is an alum of NLU’s Community Psychology doctoral program, an NLU adjunct and subject matter expert in issues about gender, race and culture. Her dissertation was on “From the Doll House to the White House: Black Women and their Hair and Body Images.” She is interested in discussing how historical challenges in Chicago impact the Black community.
La’Shawn Littrice, Ph.D. Littrice is also a graduate of NLU’s Community Psychology program, an activist and an advocate for fighting for the rights of youth. She has spoken out on the Laquan Mc Donald case.
“When I talk to potential students they always tell me they want to be a change agent,” Samuel commented. ” Well, this is they why you start.”
Condolences: NLU Faculty Member, Alum, Curriculum Creator Nancy Naughten earned master's degrees in education, taught at elementary, middle school and college levels
Nancy Naughten, a lifelong educator who earned two master’s degrees at National Louis University and taught here for 15 years, passed away in early February at age 69.
Naughten started her career teaching at elementary and middle schools, including St. Raymond’s School in Mount Prospect, Illinois, and Glenview District 34 schools. In her first teaching position, she was a primary reading teacher. In order to learn more ways to meet the needs of her young readers, Naughten earned her first master’s degree in reading at Roosevelt University.
After 10 years as a reading teacher, Naughten accepted a position as an instructional specialist and reading coordinator in Glenview District 34, where she worked for 12 years. In this position, she developed an understanding of how teachers could provide educational opportunities to reach and teach young adolescents.
District 34’s Springman Middle School changed from being a junior high to a true middle school while she was working there. Springman is now a Horizon Award Middle School. This was a pivotal time in Naughten’s career which prompted her to earn a master’s degree in Middle-Level Education at National Louis University.
She began teaching at National Louis University in 2003, and earned another master’s degree as an educational specialist. Her passion was creating curriculum that engages and motivates students to want to learn.
Naughten wrote two of the Middle-Level endorsement courses for online learning which were later approved as Quality Matters Courses. Hundreds of NLU students earned their middle school endorsement in these courses.
Naughten enjoyed teaching for many reasons. She enjoyed working with energetic new teachers and those who were coming back for the Middle School Endorsement. She agreed with the philosophy of Parker Palmer, author of The Courage to Teach, “After three decades of trying to learn my craft, every class comes down to this: my students and I, face to face, (or online) engaged in an ancient and exacting exchange called education.” Naughten retired from NLU in June 2018.
The National Louis University community extends condolences to Nancy Naughten’s family and friends.
NLU Alum Nicole Johnson Running for 20th Ward Alderman An educator, she earned her Master of Arts in Teaching
Chicago’s South-side 20th ward is apparently fed up with corruption. The alderman who’s stepping down, Willie Cochran, was arrested on corruption charges and withdrew from the race. He will soon face a federal trial. Two other 20th ward aldermen, Clifford Kelley and Arenda Troutman, served prison time for corrupt dealings. according to the Chicago Tribune.
That has prompted 15 people to run in the race for 20th ward alderman, including Nicole Johnson, who graduated from National Louis University in 2013 with a master of arts in teaching (M.A.T.). Johnson also earned another master’s degree in education policy from the University of Pennsylvania, according to the Chicago Maroon. Continue reading
P.A.C.E. Students To Sing, Perform in ‘Creative Slam’ Sat. Feb. 16 Performance sketches will tackle daily-life topics like cooking, dating, school
Dating is always complicated, but it can get even more perplexing for young adults with multiple disabilities. On Saturday Feb. 16, students in National Louis University’s P.A.C.E. program will perform sketches about their lives, including dating, cooking, school, internships and more in Creative Slam, a fundraising event. Continue reading
Golden Apple Finalists for Principals’ Award Include NLU Alum Roscoe Golden Apple bestows the Stanley C. Golder leadership award on principals, heads of school
Jim Roscoe, who earned his Ed.D. in Educational Leadership at National Louis University, has been named a finalist for the Golden Apple Leadership award.
After the Golden Apple Foundation named three National University alumni as finalists this year for its highly-coveted teaching awards, it announced it has selected another NLU alum for its leadership award, bestowed on a principal or head of school.
Golden Apple named James Roscoe, Ed.D., a 2011 graduate of NLU’s Ed.D. in Educational Leadership program, as one of eight finalists for its Golden Apple Awards for Excellence in Leadership, presented in honor of founding Golden Apple board member Stanley C. Golder. Continue reading
NLU Among Top 50 Universities for Non-Traditional Students College Factual again ranks NLU highly for adult and returning students
Mentioning the term “college student” in conversation used to conjure up a distinct image for many people: an 18-21-year-old upper- or upper-middle-class student.
That’s rapidly changing as the number of non-traditional students rises dramatically and now rivals the percentage of 18-21-year-olds. Today’s college students may just as likely be in their later 20s, or 30s or 40s, trying to earn degrees after years of not being able to afford tuition. Or perhaps they raised children, started careers or amassed a patchwork of college credits but never graduated.
In addition to these adult students, non-traditionals may be military veterans or young lower-income people of color, who are overcoming financial barriers to earning college degrees.
NLU Ranks 26th out of 1,159
National Louis University has been at the forefront of accommodating non-traditional students through its flexible evening and weekend scheduling, online and blended classes, affordable tuition, financial aid programs and advising for adult transfer, returning and first-time students.
College Factual, an informational website which accrues and reports data on universities, has ranked National Louis No. 26 out of 1,159 colleges and universities it analyzed on factors helpful for non-traditional students. That places NLU in the top 5 percent of schools in the nation in College Factual’s rankings, for the second year in a row.
Top 5 percent in Illinois
Similarly, NLU ranked second in Illinois, out of 49 colleges and universities, placing in the top 5 percent. College Factual said it based its rankings on degree completions as well as flexibility and financial attainability.
See the full ranking of the Best Colleges for Non-Traditional Students.
Tribune’s Critic’s Choice Award Goes to Kendall Alum Jennifer Kim Chicago Tribune critic Phil Vettel named her 'Rookie of the Year'
Detail from Chicago Tribune photographer E. Jason Wambsgans photo portrait of Kendall College at National Louis University alum Jennifer Kim.
Chicago Tribune food critic Phil Vettel has been impressed with Jennifer Kim’s restaurant Passerotto ever since he first reviewed it last summer, 10 weeks after its opening.
This week, he bestowed his Chicago Tribune Critic’s Choice award on Kim, an alum of Kendall College of Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management at National Louis University. She earned his “Rookie of the Year” award for Passerotto’s debut. Continue reading
Golden Apple Selects 3 NLU Alums as Finalists for Teaching Award Prestigious non-profit selected just 32 teachers in Illinois as finalists
Golden Apple, a prestigious Illinois nonprofit which bestows highly-sought-after awards for exemplary teaching, has selected three National Louis University alumni as finalists for its 2019 awards.
For the first time, the organization has expanded the eligibility for its Golden Apple Awards for Excellence in Teaching to include all of Illinois. In a highly competitive process, Golden Apple received more than 550 nominations of excellent high school teachers from 71 Illinois counties. The organization asked master teachers, who recognize instructional best practices and professional standards, to narrow the pack down to 32 high school educators selected as finalists for the award. They represent just 6 percent of the nominees. Continue reading
Alum Aida Flores, Educator, Running for 25th Ward Alderman She faces four candidates in Feb. 26 race to succeed Alderman Danny Solis
Chicago’s 25th Ward has gotten a deluge of publicity lately with news about outgoing Alderman Danny Solis. Solis recently resigned as chairman of the city council’s Zoning Committee after the Chicago Sun-Times reported that federal prosecutors have prepared a document outlining wrongdoing and corruption on his part.
Months ago, however, Solis announced he would not run for office again, and one National Louis University alum, Aida Flores ’10, and four other challengers stepped up to run for the 25th ward alderman’s seat. Gazette Chicago has the details. Continue reading