Former NIU women’s soccer player Courtney Ksiazek, ’14, has an impressive off-field game.

As senior director of partnership marketing for the Angel City Football Club (ACFC), Ksiazek elevates women’s soccer, inspires youth, and serves the Los Angeles community—and ESPN noticed.

At the 2024 Annual ESPN Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly (ESPY) Awards, Jennifer Garner, one of a lineup of celebrity ACFC investors, took the stage to accept the award for “Sports Humanitarian Team of the Year” on behalf of the club. The Indianapolis Colts, Miami Heat, and Philadelphia Eagles were also nominated, but the ACFC took home the title for the birth and success of its unique sponsorship model.

Founded in 2020, ACFC was built around being bigger than a women’s soccer club, including a first-of-its-kind sponsorship model, relocating 10% of each of its corporate sponsorship dollars back to community programs in Los Angeles. At the helm since its foundation, Ksiazek leverages the ACFC platform to build, strategize, maintain, and grow relationships with corporate sponsors. Brands like Doordash, Sprouts Farmers Market, Klarna, Birdies, Chevrolet, Heineken, HubSpot, Gatorade, PNC Bank, and 24 Hour Fitness are all committed ACFC partners.

“There was no blueprint manual for how to put such a powerful program together,” said Ksiazek. “We’ve successfully brought this program to life by focusing on the big picture and maintaining strong relationships. It is validating to show the impact we set out to make just four years ago, and I am extremely proud of our ESPY award. With the power of incredible teammates, we have built something that is so unique to sports and equally as powerful to the community we represent.”

Through this model, Ksiazek says the ACFC has committed at least $7 million to the Los Angeles community over the next 3-5 years. In addition to funding, the club hits the streets with more than 1,700 volunteers contributing over 5,400 collective hours of service at year-round events for local community programs. Most recently, ACFC announced its Angel City Impact Fund in partnership with the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks to provide low-cost, or no-cost, soccer opportunities for Los Angeles youth.

“The club stands for equity and treating women’s sports like the prized product that it is,” Ksiazek said. “We believe that it takes resources to actually move the needle to create change in all aspects, which is why we chose to build this model.”

Ksiazek’s desire to work in the sports industry came from a realization she had during the week of her last soccer game as a senior at NIU.

“When the rhythm of playing competitive soccer in my life was ready to come to a close, I thought about how to keep sports in my life,” she said. “Later, through some connections, I started learning about the behind-the-scenes of professional and collegiate athletics.”

Ksiazek earned a bachelor’s degree in OM&IS from NIU and a master’s degree in sports administration from Ohio University. At NIU she found family amongst her teammates and other Huskies, especially being part of the College of Business. She was involved in the Business Honors Society and Student Athlete Advisory Committee. Ksiazek said she enjoyed that her parents, also alumni, Mark Ksiazek, ’83, and Carol Ksiazek, ’83, lived in a nearby suburb close to DeKalb so they could watch her soccer games.

“I also can’t forget about Fatty’s! I loved going there!” she remarked.

Ksiazek landed a dream job at the U.S. Soccer Federation, first in events and then in corporate partnerships, leading her on a path to professional soccer. After working for over two years in major league soccer with the San Jose Earthquakes, she saw the ACFC was going to be an expansion team as the first professional women’s soccer team in Los Angeles in about 10 years and wanted to be a part of it.

“It has been a dream to build Angel City Football Club with an insanely talented group of people,” said Ksiazek.

Growing up in Naperville, Illinois, Ksiazek was constantly playing soccer. It afforded her the opportunity to travel from a young age and opened her eyes to the world by allowing her to visit different cities. She still plays a little soccer when she can. Ksiazek credits her parents’ supportive nature and no-pressure parenting, along with driving her long distance to games and practice, for her success.

“I always had an inner drive that came from the space my parents and family created for me to grow in the ways I wanted to,” she said. “And when I saw the U.S. Women’s National Team win the 1999 World Cup, I wanted to be like Mia Hamm and Brandi Chastain. It drove my love for the game and showed me a different level to aspire to.”

Today, Ksiazek aspires to help change the global narrative around women’s sports and break down the barriers that have held women’s sports back the way the ACFC did it. She says there were many firsts and pioneering moments the ACFC had to overcome. It challenged her mentally, and she is proud of how she persevered.

“I learned to ride the wave of unknowns and build something from scratch,” she said. “It surely wasn’t easy. It took a ton of problem-solving and pivoting, but it built skills and muscles I didn’t know I could have that I will use forever through this experience.”

What’s been most significant, however, is how Ksiazek has grown as an advocate for equity.

“The barriers in women’s sports are the same in other industries, other spaces, and just everyday life,” she said. “I’ve grown as an advocate in these other spaces the best I can, and I look forward to doing more of it. The most fulfilling part of my job is knowing there are young girls and boys out there who don’t know a world where there aren’t sold-out stadiums for a women’s sports team. That is our legacy. Let’s change the narrative that women’s sports are ‘less than’ forever.”

Courtney Coleman has had to endure a variety of economic hardships as a student, but thanks to the generosity of donors, she is on her way to finishing her hard earned NIU degree in biochemistry, with an anthropology minor, with a plan to graduate in the spring of 2025.

Coleman grew up highly interested in the sciences, receiving gifts of a telescope and microscope as a child, and being enraptured by the teachings of Neil deGrasse Tyson. Later, she became interested in forensic science from watching the TV shows “Bones” and “CSI” in high school.

“I absolutely loved the spontaneity, ever changing work environment that the team worked in, and satisfaction of solving a crime, it drew me in,” she said of forensic science.

As a high school senior, she and her classmates participated in a tour of the local coroner’s office. It was a field trip that sealed her future career aspirations.ations.

“We were able to talk to the current coroner who worked for Kankakee,” she said. “He gave us a tour of the lab, where we were able to get a rundown of what a typical day looks like, from the time a body is transported to the lab all the way to the viewing by the victim’s family. I absolutely loved the trip; it influenced my decision to change my career path from astrophysics to forensic science.”

Coleman graduated from high school in May 2020, just as the COVID pandemic hit. Both she and her mother lost their jobs because of COVID and they struggled to catch up financially. To save money, Coleman attended community college for two years before transferring to NIU in the spring of 2023.

“The first two years of my college journey were quite stressful due to my financial situation weighing against me,” she said. “There were times where I felt pretty intimidated by my situation, and I questioned if this path was for me. I graduated in the top 10 of my class in high school, yet I was struggling to pay for just one semester of college.”

Coleman worked hard during her first semester at NIU, and that following fall, she received financial help in the form of the Chemistry Department Scholarship Fund, funded by the generosity of Arlene and Bill, ’77, M.S. ’78 Mickols. Coleman is incredibly grateful for the Mickols’ philanthropy and the ability to concentrate on her studies other than the stresses of paying bills.

“There was a time in my freshman year of college where I envisioned myself being a senior, solely focusing on academics and improving myself,” Coleman said. “Without the help of NIU and the donors, I would have had to take out more loans this semester. Thanks to Bill and Arlene Mickols, my senior year of college has come upon me! Two years ago, I honestly didn’t know if I would continue my educational path, and I am so grateful that I did not give up. I appreciate generous donors for seeing something in me and supporting me through this journey.”

To give to the Chemistry Department Scholarship Fund or to support NIU students in other ways, please visit the NIU Foundation website.

Established in 2019, the Space Force ensures the United States maintains its leadership and security in an increasingly contested space domain. Colonel Nathaniel Peace, ’00, leads and works alongside Space Force Guardians to protect satellites that provide essential services critical to mass communications, public safety, weather monitoring and military technology.

“Space Force is vital for the United States’ prosperity and security,” said Colonel Peace. “As space becomes increasingly congested, protecting these assets is crucial, particularly against threats from other nations. Space has become a contested warfighting domain, with record-setting launches and military satellite deployments from U.S. competitors and adversaries.”

As U.S. Space Forces – Space (S4S) Director of Intelligence, Colonel Peace oversees assessments that help uncover and understand threats in space. He supports space operations that create deterrent and responsive actions to discourage adversaries from making those threats a reality.

“Located at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, S4S plans and conducts global space operations that protect and defend our nation and enable us to deliver combat relevant space effects to the warfighter,” explained Colonel Peace. “Through day-to-day competition, S4S has five distinct and geographically dispersed operations centers, two Command and Control Deltas, and Space Force combat squadrons and combat detachments that preserve the United States’ strategic advantage and enables non-escalatory responses. Should deterrence fail, the Space Force must protect the Nation and its Allies from space-enabled attacks.”

Proudly selected for the United States Air War College in Montgomery, Alabama, Colonel Peace graduated in 2023 with the highest academic honors and a Master of Strategic Studies with a concentration in grand strategy.

Deeply Rooted Pursuits

Colonel Peace has dedicated his career to serving and protecting his Nation, although he never thought it would expand to space.

At age 11, Colonel Peace moved from Freeport, Illinois, to Anchorage, Alaska, when his father became an air traffic controller. He would watch F-15Es, C-5s, and C-17s flying into the Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. In 1990, he developed a profound interest in the Iraq War, often skipping school to watch press conferences or coverage of military operations on TV. After moving back to Illinois in 1991 to finish his senior year at Rochelle Township High School, he enlisted as a communications operator and maintainer in the Air Force. At only 18 years old, Colonel Peace fulfilled his goals of serving in the Air Force and working closely with pilots while maintaining radios connected to satellites in space.

Grant Gratitude

For the rest of his career, Colonel Peace expressed deep appreciation for and credited the state of Illinois and its great residents for their unwavering support of military veterans through the Illinois Veterans’ Grant.

“The Illinois Veterans’ Grant is one of the most transformational educational programs in the United States,” said Colonel Peace. “This grant allows honorably discharged veterans who have resided in Illinois for six months before entering service to receive free tuition at all Illinois state-supported colleges, universities, and community colleges. When I was honorably discharged from the U.S. Air Force in 1997 to attend Northern Illinois University, this grant was instrumental in achieving my educational goals. It fundamentally and positively changed my life, enabling me to dedicate my life to serving the Nation and the local communities I have been part of since graduating from NIU.”

Colonel Peace frequented NIU’s campus while at Rochelle Township High School. He attended musical performances, theatre productions, and lectures open to the public. He always felt a sense of belonging and positive energy when on campus. While an NIU student, he studied economics and business and aspired to learn a foreign language. When the Spanish and French classes were full, Colonel Peace chose Russian as it was the only available language class that fit his schedule.

“This unexpected choice proved to be fortuitous,” he said.

Colonel Peace graduated with academic honors. His emphasis on international politics, with a focus on Russian language and history, provided the foundation he needed to become a successful officer in the Air Force and now in the Space Force.

After enduring a year-long application process for the highly competitive Officer Training School, Colonel Peace commissioned in 2002 and secured a spot in his field of choice: intelligence. He has held positions at varying military echelons over his 27 year career from the detachment and squadron-level to staff tours at headquarters U.S. Air Force and U.S. Central Command. He is grateful for his military adventures and lasting memories with fellow service members from all military branches.

Reflecting on Military Moments

“I’ve seen Wonders of the World to architecture marvels,” Peace said. “I have had the opportunity to visit all 50 states and travel to South Korea, Japan, Cuba, Spain, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Italy, Germany, Turkey, Iraq, Afghanistan, Jordan, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Uzbekistan. I enjoy traveling, learning about different cultures and histories, and trying new foods.”

Colonel Peace says his career flourished through the support of his loving family.

“My wife, Maria, is my hero and the most pivotal person in my life,” he said. “Military spouses are our nation’s unsung heroes, resiliently managing family life while their partners are often deployed or on temporary duty assignments. She has endured three deployments, two one-year geographic separations, and three military moves. Her unwavering love, support, and resilience have been fundamental to our family’s strength—she is the one person I strive to make proud every day.”

Colonel Peace makes it a point to tell Maria and their son, Zachary, how much he loves them every day because “tomorrow is not a guarantee,” he says. They, along with friends and co-workers, have provided support and encouragement while navigating the transition to Space Force, which brings Colonel Peace’s interests full circle.

“I became fascinated with outer space when I was a child watching space shuttle launches on television,” Colonel Peace said. “This early interest in space exploration stayed with me throughout my life and was pivotal in my decision to transfer to the United States Space Force.”

Colonel Peace is honored to prepare Space Force Guardians for an increasingly unpredictable space environment.

“Nations like China and Russia are actively seeking to militarize space to usurp the United States’ strategic advantages militarily and economically,” he said. “Our preparation is vital for addressing the complex challenges of this evolving global order and ensuring that our Guardians are organized, trained, and equipped to handle technological, strategic, operational, and tactical demands. Dedication to excellence and readiness is crucial for maintaining the United States’ strategic advantage, prosperity and security.”

The Department of Defense requested that the following disclaimer be provided: The views and opinions presented herein are those of Nathaniel Peace and the author and do not necessarily represent the views of DoD or its Components. The appearance of external hyperlinks does not constitute DoD endorsement of the linked websites, or the information, products or service therein.

Managing the daily nutritional needs of professional athletes is a demanding career for Meagan O’Connor, M.S. ’15, RDN, CSSD, ISAK-1, LDN, the dietitian of the USA Weightlifting team, and Nici Mense, ’13, RD, the team dietitian for the New York Jets.

Mense, who recently completed her seventh season with the team, is the team’s first full-time dietitian. Properly fueling players so they feel the difference in their performance is something she learned while playing soccer at NIU. That experience led her to earn a Master of Science in nutrition and dietetics and pursue a career in sports nutrition.

“Growing up, my mother introduced me to a healthier lifestyle by providing nutritional snacks after school and before sports practices,” she said. “I remember her putting flaxseed in our pancakes. When I went to college, I found soccer to be more demanding on my body than I had anticipated, and I needed to fuel myself properly to match my performance on the field. This realization changed my perspective. I’ve always loved sports and food, so bringing them both together made the most sense, and I knew I wanted to help other athletes experience what I did.”

For O’Connor, it was a similar, natural progression leading her to work as the team dietitian for the Iowa Cubs (a Chicago Cubs triple-A affiliate team), the Chicago White Sox, the Charlotte Hornets and as a scientist/sports dietitian for Gatorade Sports Science Institute. Growing up playing sports, O’Connor says she was interested in finding ways to make her a better and healthier athlete and individual.

“One of my high school teachers, Mr. Latorre, gave us a project to take a deep dive into three potential careers we were interested in pursuing, and we had to choose one to present to the class,” she shared. “This was when I realized I wanted to be a sports dietitian.”

Working with USA Weightlifting for six years, O’Connor attends team camps and international competitions and meets with athletes individually. She also has a private practice, Plate to Platform, LLC, specializing in strength athletes and team sports. She meets one-on-one with athletes from all over the country, collects scientific data and speaks at conferences or to groups of athletes.

“I am part of something bigger than myself,” O’Connor remarked. “It makes me so proud to see the progress athletes make while working with them.”

Committed to the New York Jets, Mense is in lockstep with the team’s schedule.

“My days differ depending on what time of year it is,” she said. “It’s the busiest during training camp through the end of the season. We will work seven days a week unless it’s our bye week. In the mornings, we make shakes, stock our fueling stations and do body composition testing. We ensure players fuel and hydrate properly before, during and after practice. They receive recovery shakes, snacks and fruit for post-practice recovery. While they are in meetings throughout the day, that’s a time to get work done or plan for the weeks ahead, whether planning the travel menu for the airplane or the post-game food menu for the week.”

Occasionally, athletes need a warm-up period when working with a dietitian.

“It can take time after first educating a player,” said Mense, “but it’s always so awesome to see when it starts clicking for them. Unfortunately, there are times when a player doesn’t listen to the education and injures themselves or continues to not make changes.”

“It can be challenging proving to teams, athletes and coaches that dietitians are here to help them and that we are not the food police,” O’Connor said. “It sometimes takes time before people trust you as part of their team.”

Still, both O’Connor and Mense feel fulfilled in their roles and continue to push their athletes, knowing that nutrition is key to fueling performance, recovery and long-term health.

“Sports dietitians are finally being recognized as an important part of a high-performance team,” said O’Connor. “Some organizations and sports are still playing catch-up, and including dietitians on the team will only continue to expand.”

NIU helped Mense in more ways than she imagined.

“NIU truly helped me grow into the person I am today,” Mense said. “I received an athletic scholarship. I met some of my best friends there, and my student-athlete experience really helps me to connect with other professonal athletes. Having been in their shoes, knowing the work and sacrifies they put in to achieve what they want to achieve, is a tremendous asset to my role.”

O’Connor, who came to NIU for her Master of Science and dietetic internship combination, agreed.

“I truly grew during my time at NIU,” she said. “Both the coursework and internship helped me to see the big picture and to logically apply what I was learning in the real world.”

The two dietitians are far from finished learning. O’Connor describes herself as “obsessed” with her field, constantly evolving and gaining knowledge.

“If I am the same human or sports dietitian three years from now, then I am doing something wrong,” she declared. “The more open-minded I am, and the more I am able to learn and grow as a professional, the better I can help athletes with their goals.”

Never think something is too big to attain,” said Mense. “I’m so glad I stepped out of my comfort zone applying for my role, and I will continue to push myself throughout my career.”

By staying at the forefront of their field, Mense and O’Connor provide essential advice and strategies to the athletes they work with, helping them to achieve their goals and perform at their best. With their dedication and expertise, it’s clear that pro athletes are truly eating their way to victory.

Noripah Kamso, ’80, has had a successful career in banking and wants to be an ambassador for her home country of Malaysia and her alma mater through her new position as a member of the NIU Alumni Association Board of Directors. Kamso joined the board on July 1, 2024.

“It gives me great joy in life to introduce Malaysia to NIU and vice versa,” she said. “This includes mentoring new students and sharing the cultural, economic and social diversity in Asia and Malaysia.”

Kamso continues to visit the DeKalb campus. She estimates she has visited NIU 10 times since she graduated in 1980 and keeps in touch with her two host families who housed her while at NIU, the Deweys and the Johnsons.

“NIU influenced my life to the core, specifically through my involvement with host families,” she said. “The experience was so impactful that I have reciprocated and to date have hosted 14 students from all over the world at my home. I feel so blessed.”

Kamso is the founder chairman of Arabesque Malaysia, a London-based sustainability FinTech company, and the founder advisor of Pantas Carbon Solution Management, a software company.

Kamso has been a speaker at conferences across five continents over the past 20 years. She authored a book, “Investing in Islamic Funds: A Practitioner’s Perspective,” in 2014. She was a global practitioner in residence at Drake University in Iowa in 2015.

Kamso served as chairman of Bank Rakyat Malaysia, one of the top 10 largest Islamic banks in the world in terms of assets and profitability. She was ranked in 2019 by Cambridge International Financial Advisory as the Most Influential Woman in Islamic Business and Finance for breaking barriers and creating new possibilities.

In addition to her bachelor’s degree from NIU, Kamso earned a diploma in business studies from Institute Technology Mara in Malaysia and a Master of Business Administration from Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia.

Kamso believes being on the board will help NIU in a variety of ways.

“For NIU, me being on the board will assist the university in its scholarly aspirations to collaborate with Malaysian institutions, universities, alumni and government,” she said. “I will also assist more students to have access to good quality education by exploring scholarships or to host for internships. Let them embrace a worldview and ultimately be part of NIU alumni who can contribute back to the university and the planet’s future.”

She continued, “For me, being on the board will also increase an opportunity for global networking. I want to introduce the broad NIU community to Malaysian culture and its social tapestry.”

Click here to learn more about volunteer opportunities at NIU, or contact us at volunteer@niu.edu or 815-753-2586

Retired high school math teacher, Robert Cherry, ’73, teaches math part-time and supervises student teachers as an adjunct professor at Elmhurst University. As a life-long educator, Cherry brings his passion for learning and for NIU as one of seven new members of the NIU Alumni Association Board of Directors effective July 1, 2024.

Cherry joined the board because he wants to take NIU to new levels of success. He hopes to support efforts to increase engagement among his fellow alumni and from students.

“I want to help direct the NIUAA to fully engage the more than 180,000 alumni especially in the Chicago suburbs as well as DeKalb,” he said. “I also want to see a huge improvement of undergrads supporting sports or music by attending events. I see too many vacant seats, undergrads. Come on out and show your Huskie pride!”

As an alumnus, Cherry has participated in a variety of alumni events, and he and his wife, fellow NIU grad Pamela, ’73, M.S.Ed. ’77, regularly attend and travel for Huskie football games. He also reviews scholarship applications and helps undergraduate students practice job interview skills.

“I’ve participated along with my wife because I wanted to make NIU a better place for all in the future,” he said.

Cherry said he wanted to become a teacher and majored in math at NIU because he wanted to make a difference in students’ lives.

“I had some boring math teachers in my time and wanted to have kids appreciate math using humor and real-life applications in their lives,” he said. “I wanted to help students learn math, which can be a very difficult, challenging subject to master.”

In addition to teaching at Elmhurst University, Cherry has taught math at NIU, Wheaton College, Triton College, and College of DuPage and taught high school students at Northwestern University’s talented student summer school program.

During his time as a high school teacher, Cherry was the math department chairman at Wheaton Warrenville South High School and was also the boys’ varsity tennis coach at the school. He taught high school in Wheaton from 1978 until 2009. He was also math department chair at Oak Park and River Forest High School after leaving Wheaton. Prior to his tenure as a high school math teacher, he taught junior high school math.

“I taught for 36 years and coached boys’ tennis for 29 seasons, having over 100 state qualifiers,” he said.

Cherry’s teaching and coaching expertise will bring to the NIU Alumni Association Board of Directors the ability to inspire and guide others toward achieving their indivual and collective goals.

Click here to learn more about volunteer opportunities at NIU, or contact us at volunteer@niu.edu or 815-753-2586

Kate Durham, ’96, is bringing her experience as a veteran communications executive, most recently in the position of vice president of communications and events for Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA), to the NIU Alumni Association (NIUAA) Board of Directors as she joined the board on July 1.

For Durham, who is taking a professional break after leaving WBA in January, joining the NIUAA Board of Directors is a way of giving back to the university that gave her many important life lessons.

“This seems like a great opportunity to use my professional strengths for the good of the university,” she said.

NIU is also special to Durham because it’s where she met her husband, DeKalb native and fellow Huskie Craig Hammett, ’97, M.S. ’05.

While at NIU, Durham worked as a reporter and anchor for WNIJ radio and as a paid public relations intern for Family Service Agency.

“I learned my professional chops during these experiences and they truly helped shape me into my career,” she said.

As an alumna, Durham helps mentor students and shares stories of her experiences at NIU.

“I try not to overwhelm students when they ask for advice but often make the point that many of the decisions you make at ages 18 through 22 set the foundation for many years to come,” she said.

Although hard work and long hours were involved, those lessons learned during Durham’s internships and jobs while at NIU were invaluable.

“I often find myself pointing to hard work as a key differentiator in one’s career path and that’s something Huskies can relate to,” she said. “One notable experience of mine at NIU that always makes people gasp is that I worked every Saturday and Sunday morning 5:30-9 a.m. for about 18 months at WNIJ. Christmas and New Year’s fell on the weekends twice within that time frame and I never missed a shift. I look back so fondly on that time even though it was hard work. My assistant news director and other professionals I met via the university helped shape me into an adult and gave me world class advice.”

Durham often goes out of her way to help fellow Huskies who need a connection or a helping hand.

“I hope to give back to NIU some of what I received there,” she said. “Being an engaged alumna is important to me because alumni were really good to me when I was learning and plotting out my career.”

Click here to learn more about volunteer opportunities at NIU, or contact us at volunteer@niu.edu or 815-753-2586

NBC’s American Ninja Warrior Michael Silenzi, ’10, M.S. ’12, a.k.a. “The Stallion,” was a student at NIU when some of his friends had the wild idea of auditioning for the show. A few weeks later, they were accepted to compete on American Ninja Warrior’s fourth season, and Silenzi has competed in 10 seasons ever since.

“I didn’t know about the show at the time.” said Silenzi. “When a few guys told me they thought I’d be good at it I decided to go for it. I ended up doing very well and making the finals. I was instantly hooked. I knew immediately after competing that this was going to change my life.”

The show, which Silenzi describes as “the hardest obstacle course you can imagine,” takes place over water with a live audience. Contestants use their strength, stamina and serious grit to maneuver through a television-worthy obstacle course to hit the buzzer at the course’s finish line. Those who successfully reach the finish line compete in a series of other courses culminating with the American Ninja Warrior finals in Las Vegas. If all four stages of the finals are completed successfully, one ninja will take home the grand prize of $1M. Silenzi has hit semi-final buzzers for three seasons in a row (seasons 13, 14, and 15) and has competed in Las Vegas seven times.

“Being in my mid-to-late thirties and still competing well on American Ninja Warrior has made me very proud,” he said.

After completing his first season on the show, Silenzi was inspired to open a gym, partly to help him train for future shows.

“I wanted others to experience how challenging and fun obstacles can be,” he said. “I knew if I enjoyed the challenge of doing obstacles that other people would too.”

In 2017, Silenzi partnered with Ultimate Ninjas founder Jeff Piejak and opened an Ultimate Ninjas location in Libertyville, Illinois. Silenzi is now co-owner of three locations and is part of the Ultimate Ninjas Franchise Group, helping to start future locations.

“We quickly learned that 99 percent of people who want to participate in obstacles are kids,” Silenzi said. “Coaching kids has been extremely rewarding. Being a positive role model and having a life-changing impact on some kids is very fulfilling.”

Despite his busy schedule and leadership responsibilities, Silenzi doesn’t stop having fun at work.

“We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing,” Silenzi said. “Working hard and spending countless hours working feels different when you do something you love.”

Silenzi says following his passions has never led him astray. He grew up as a competitive gymnast and noted that by age 12, he ranked 37th nationally.

“I moved around a lot growing up and lived in almost every state in the Midwest,” he said. “Moving every couple of years forced me to learn to adapt to different situations and environments and how to make friends quickly. My youth was a bit unusual because not many boys did gymnastics, but the sport taught me how to work hard, deal with injuries, and stay humble with success. I was a state champion multiple times.”

Silenzi came to NIU not precisely sure what he wanted to do. He joined the NIU gymnast club team, but an injury in his sophomore year helped him realize he wanted to be a physical therapist. After earning his bachelor’s degree in health sciences, Silenzi pursued a master’s in physical therapy and went on to practice physical therapy for five years before opening his first Ultimate Ninjas facility.

“I enjoyed my time at NIU a lot,” he said. “I made lifelong connections, and I owe a lot to the physical therapy class of 2012. I never thought I’d be a successful competitor on a TV show and play on obstacles for a living, but I can’t think of a better outcome!”

James Joost, ’07, joins the NIU Alumni Association Board of Directors with a clear perspective on what it means to be a Huskie.

As a past College of Business volunteer reviewing resumes and conducting mock interviews, Joost served as a sounding board answering students’ questions as they began their career search. In his new board member role, effective July 1, Joost is excited to increase his impact and reach to the overall NIU community.

Despite his commitment to the board, Joost says engaging with NIU doesn’t have to mean giving a lot of your time.

“Engaging can mean advocating for the university by sharing positive experiences or articles related to the university, mentoring and providing advice to students or recent grads, or even attending events like football games,” he said. “Being engaged provides many benefits—and not just to the university. When engaged alumni network with fellow Huskies, they meet new people and reconnect with old friends.”

Joost looks forward to attending events and getting to know other members of the NIU community, both alumni and non-alumni.

“A true Huskie is anyone who aims to support the university and its mission,” he said. “Anyone can be a Huskie, regardless of their alma mater.”

Joost grew up on the Northwest Side of Chicago and was one of six children. In addition to his parents, his grandfather and uncle were influential role models. They prioritized spending time with him and instilled in him positive values that he draws upon today. After becoming a parent, with his wife, Yessie, to their son, Patrick Noah, Joost became hyperaware of the sacrifices that his parents made and said without them he likely wouldn’t have been able to attend NIU.

“NIU is a place that challenged me to grow intellectually and as a person,” he said. “Any success I have had in my life is a direct result of my experiences at NIU. The education I received served as the foundation for my career. It provided me with experience interacting with others from backgrounds that were different from mine. For this reason, I want to give back to a community that has provided me with an unparalleled experience.”

Joost earned a master’s degree from DePaul University with two concentrations: finance and strategy, execution and valuation. Continuing his education stimulated his intellectual curiosity and natural inquisitiveness.

“I love solving complex problems,” said Joost. “I also tend to lean into uncomfortable situations and feelings with the knowledge that being outside my comfort zone is the path to personal growth and development.”

Today, with a long, successful career at Golub Capital, Joost serves as director, operational risk management, leading a team of professional risk managers.

“Together, we strive to ensure the potential risks to the organization are mitigated through the implementation of sound processes and controls,” he said.

When he’s not working in Chicago, Joost is often piloting his drone as an amateur drone photographer. He spots opportunities to capture picturesque cityscapes and views from above. Through the same lens, seeking opportunities while looking at the broader landscape, Joost is eager to get to know other Huskies, hear their ideas, and identify opportunities through his new role on the board. He hopes this will help to offer fresh perspectives and increase the overall effectiveness of the NIU Alumni Association.

Click here to learn more about volunteer opportunities at NIU, or contact us at volunteer@niu.edu or 815-753-2586.

Rebecca Tole, ’07, is living her dream as a mother and wife. Still, her faith in God and entrepreneurial spirit led her to open her own business in the construction industry without any prior experience or training.

Located in Barrington, Illinois, but serving clients nationwide, Division Six Details is a trusted service partner to commercial clients with complex millwork projects. Its model bridges the gap between skilled carpenters and the companies looking to hire them while managing projects from start to finish. Tole and her team bid out jobs and coordinate and communicate every detail. In 2022, its first year of operation, Division Six Details saw more than $1.2M in revenue.

The business idea originated from a comment from one of Tole’s family members in the construction industry. To begin, Tole and her husband, Brandon, ’07, analyzed the numbers of potential projects and contacted installers they knew could deliver. They started with one initial investment to augment a single project and quickly added several others. Today, they remain as the company’s sole investors.

“As time progressed, I felt even more confident Division Six Details is where I was supposed to be putting my energy,” said Tole. “There are many facets to the construction industry, and every project or company we work for does things just a little differently, which keeps me continuously engaged and learning.”

After earning a bachelor’s degree in child development from NIU (where she also met met Brandon), Tole spent a year teaching family, consumer, and nutrition sciences in high school and then almost two years teaching preschool before leaving education to stay home with their first daughter. Later, she owned and operated Bronzed Spray Tanning in Mundelein, Illinois. With Brandon in the Marine Corps, many moves were inevitable. While stationed in Germany for three years, Tole created a blog and website, “Family Values Travel.” Upon returning to the United States, the couple settled in Barrington, Illinois, and are now a family of five with three daughters.

“I prayed to God to make evident an opportunity for me to work from our new home,” said Tole. “I sought a few sales job opportunities, but there was not a good, clear fit until a family member shared with me the need to find skilled carpenters for large-scale projects.”

Tole is most proud of her success in getting Division Six Details up and running quickly. She built a website, grew social media, taught herself QuickBooks, became a Certified Women Business Enterprise, and learned the basics of commercial millwork installation.

“Everything was happening very fast, but with the help and support of my husband and some mentors in the field, I was able to stay a small step ahead of what needed to be done,” she said.

With relationship building at the core of the business, Tole spends much of her time meeting with carpenters, booking travel and accommodations, and getting to know everyone involved in the project. She can do this all remotely to remain a present mom to her daughters.

“I have to remain flexible to be successful,” said Tole. “From adjusting my schedule to checking emails with a sleeping child on my lap, I work around both my family and business needs and move things around on the fly.”

She tries to embrace challenges and changes and accept things when they don’t turn out as she anticipated.

“Fair seas don’t make a good sailor,” Tole said. “Sometimes I ask myself, ‘What is the worst that can happen?’ and if my husband and I agree that said storm would be worth weathering, we go for it.”

Tole grew up near Manhattan, Illinois. Her dad was a Marine infantryman in Vietnam, who, after his service, became an electrician. Her mom worked in a school. Growing up, watching her father’s faith, Tole developed a strong relationship with God and a desire for community. In addition to her faith, she credits her parents’ support for her entrepreneurial confidence.

“In elementary school, I gathered, painted, and sold rocks door-to-door in my subdivision,” recalled Tole. “I also hand-wrote a quarterly neighborhood newsletter and distributed photocopies to paid subscribers for a quarter. The simple fact that my parents allowed me to see my small business ideas through gave me the confidence to organize projects, plan events and start businesses in adulthood. My parents always told me they would support my decision to pursue any education and career path.”

Tole came to NIU for the former Family, Consumer, and Nutrition Sciences Program (now School of Family and Consumer Sciences), specifically for the opportunity to observe and teach as a student in the Child Development and Family Center. She wanted a degree that would allow her to teach the high school child development class that she fell in love with as a student.

“I remember my course in human development or ‘womb to tomb’ as my professor called it,” Tole said. “There is not an area of my life where I have not applied some knowledge of human development or education, so I still have the textbook and my notes. Emily Reily was also a great role model when I was teaching at the Child Development and Family Center. I valued her supervision and instruction. Although I am no longer employed in education, I am grateful for my NIU experiences and degree.”