David Gomel, ’94, has spent more than three decades building a career in behavioral healthcare, rising to CEO of Rosecrance Behavioral Health and earning recognition this year as a Crain’s Chicago Business notable leader in healthcare.

Under his leadership, the organization expanded by 50% while maintaining an exceptional satisfaction score of 93%.

“I work hard for our team members and clients, so it was meaningful to have that work recognized,” Gomel said. “But the people who truly deserve recognition are those who relentlessly serve our clients and communities every day.”

The recognition marks a milestone in a journey that nearly took a very different turn.

While Gomel was at Evanston Township High School, colleges regularly set up recruiting tables in the hallways. Students who stopped to talk to a recruiter could receive a pass to excuse a late arrival to class. Running behind one day, Gomel, who had already secured an apprenticeship as a mechanic, stopped at the NIU table hoping to secure a tardy pass.

Instead, it changed the course of his life.

At the time, college felt far beyond reach. Raised by a single mother in a financially struggling household, Gomel began working at the age of 15 just to get by. By his senior year, he was working at the Evanston YMCA while also working at a service station, changing oil, pumping gas and doing minor mechanical work. He loved working on cars and had begun mapping out a future in the automotive industry.

Gomel’s father, who lived with a serious mental illness, was not part of his life. The impact of mental illness, however, would later shape his personal journey and professional calling.

When Gomel explained that he probably wasn’t college-bound, the recruiter listened and encouraged him to explore NIU’s CHANCE Program, which provides personalized academic, financial, social and organizational support to students admitted through NIU’s holistic admissions process. The recruiter explained that financial aid could make college possible.

“I had no idea what I was doing,” Gomel said. “I filled out the NIU application and even walked into a local bank to ask for help with student loans.”

That conversation earned him more than a tardy pass. It led him an opportunity. He was accepted into NIU and the CHANCE Program, where he found far more than financial assistance.

“The CHANCE Program taught me how to be a college student through tutoring, weekly check-ins and help with foundational courses such as algebra, biology and mathematics,” Gomel said. “The first few semesters were difficult, but once I learned how to learn, I began to do very well academically.”

Gomel ultimately chose psychology as his major.

“It connected my lived experience, my interest in people and my growing desire to help others,” he said.

Along the way, he found mentors who further shaped his path, including Gary Coover, Ph.D., then chair of NIU’s Psychology Department.

“He took me under his wing,” Gomel said of Coover. “Dr. David Ballantine in the chemistry department was also an important mentor, and Ken Mundy, who led NIU’s payroll, became like family. Until the day he passed away, my children called him ‘Papa Ken.’”

Without NIU, Gomel believes he would now be turning wrenches instead of leading a top behavioral health organization in the Midwest.

“The CHANCE Program and the mentors invested in me,” he said. “NIU gave me an opportunity and a community that believed I could succeed before I fully believed it myself.”

NIU also introduced Gomel to another life-changing opportunity: his wife, Jennifer, ’94, whom he met while attending NIU.

“I proposed to her on the bridge by the East Lagoon. Thirty-one years and three adult children later, asking her to marry me remains the best decision of my life,” he said. “Today, we still attend Huskie football games and support NIU through donations to the NIU Foundation.”

Before his senior year at NIU, Gomel accepted an entry-level position at Rosecrance in Rockford. It paid $8 an hour and included health insurance. He quickly fell in love with the Rosecrance mission and worked there full-time while finishing his bachelor’s degree.

Over the next three decades, he served in nearly every level of the organization, including as Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President, before being named Chief Executive Officer in 2021. While building his career, he continued his education, earning an M.S. in health services administration from the University of St. Francis and a Ph.D. in public policy and administration from Walden University.

Gomel’s connection to behavioral health is deeply personal. At 55, he continues to live with mental illness himself, an experience he says has made him a more compassionate leader.

“I received access to care that helped save my life,” he said. “Others deserve that same opportunity, and the necessary resources must be available when they reach out for help.”

Rosecrance has more than 70 locations in four states, and Gomel is proud to work alongside its 1,600 passionate team members who serve approximately 77,000 people each year.

“I am not being modest when I say this success is the work of an exceptional team,” he said. “No single leader could accomplish it. My role is to create an environment where talented people can do their best work, remove barriers when I can, and help tell their story. Our high satisfaction scores among clients, referral partners, and team members reflect the compassion and excellence our staff delivers every day.”

While deeply committed to his work, Gomel is careful not to let it define him.

“I am also a devoted husband and father, a coach, a community leader, a philanthropist and a volunteer,” he said.

The teenager who once envisioned his future under the hood of a car could not have predicted that a conversation with an NIU recruiter would change the course of his life.

“Never let your starting point determine your destination,” Gomel said. “Sometimes all it takes is one person who believes in you, an open door and the willingness to keep moving forward.”

At NIU, the journey is more than academic, it’s transformational. Learn more at NIUForward.com.

When Chi Chi Wonuigwe, ’04, thinks about NIU, she remembers the place where she “lived, loved, worked and learned.”

She came to NIU from a boarding school in Nigeria, originally planning for a career in medicine before discovering her passion for public health.

As a student, she built lifelong friendships, worked in the dining hall and at the front desk of Lincoln Hall, and served as a student senator in the Student Association. She found community through the African Student Association, which strengthened her commitment to education, a turning point she said enabled her to proudly walk across the stage at graduation.

Wonuigwe went on to earn master’s degrees in project management, public administration and business administration from Keller Graduate School of Management.

Today, she serves as director of operations and logistics for Chicago Public Schools, overseeing a $146 million operating unit and directing a workforce of over 800 employees. She is also an entrepreneur, running the event planning business Events by CHI.

In 2022, a visit to DeKalb reignited Wonuigwe’s Huskie pride.

“Deciding to volunteer was a completely organic decision,” she said. “After attending Homecoming back in 2022, the wave of nostalgia I felt was incredibly inspiring and solidified my desire to give back.”

Alongside fellow Black Alumni Council volunteers, Wonuigwe and the council’s Homecoming committee create meaningful experiences that bring alumni together. The committee also works to raise scholarship support for incoming and current students.

Wonuigwe’s professional experiences have strengthened her volunteer impact. The same skills she uses to manage large-scale operations and events are now helping shape the Black Alumni Council’s Homecoming traditions.

“Every day, I spend my time building and managing complex systems and leading large teams. It only made sense to bring those exact executive skills to the table to help propose, plan, and execute these events and traditions,” she said.

Despite the natural fit, Wonuigwe says the work is about much more than planning events.

“When I experience a profoundly good thing, I naturally want everyone else to experience it, too,” she said. “As a proud Huskie, my ultimate goal is to create rich experiences that motivate current students to reach graduation, celebrate exactly where they come from, and build a powerful legacy for the incoming classes.”

As a volunteer, she is equally passionate about highlighting the accomplishments of NIU alumni — from all backgrounds.

“I want to amplify the message that NIU is a highly reputable choice,” she said. “We have a network of pretty awesome alumni who are boldly breaking barriers and trendsetting across varying industries, and they deserve to be seen.”

Wonuigwe’s advice to anyone considering volunteering at NIU:

“5, 4, 3, 2, 1 — just do it!”

Stay up-to-date with the Black Alumni Council on their on their Facebook page.
Interested in other ways to get involved? Contact Director of Volunteer Engagement Taylor Curry, M.P.A. ’25, at tcurry4@niu.edu.

Shatoya Black’s journey to higher education did not begin with a carefully mapped plan. It began with survival.

Before moving to DeKalb, Black, ’13, M.S. ’15, Ed.D. ’20, experienced a period of profound hardship marked by housing instability and the loss of nearly everything she owned. At the time, college was not her primary focus. She was trying to rebuild her life.

Yet even amid uncertainty, Black held onto the belief that her circumstances did not have to determine her future.

A turning point came when she learned she was approved for a low-income apartment at University Village in DeKalb.

“I had previously applied, and when that call came, it changed the direction of our lives,” she said. “My daughter and I moved to DeKalb, and for the first time after everything we had experienced, we had a stable place to call home again.”

What may have appeared to be a simple housing opportunity became something much greater.

“After losing nearly everything, having a place to live in University Village gave me the stability to rebuild,” she said. “Over time, NIU became more than a university I attended; it became part of the environment where I found support, strengthened my voice, clarified my purpose and developed relationships that helped me feel that I belonged.”

Throughout her time at NIU, Black found support through faculty, classmates, mentors and programs that helped her develop a sense of belonging. She credits experiences in TRIO, student leadership, the Center for Black Studies, graduate assistantships and the Diversifying Faculty in Illinois Fellowship with helping shape her path.

In fact, she continued to work with TRIO programs into her career, creating a full-circle moment.

“I went from being a TRIO student to becoming a TRIO Advisor, then a TRIO Student Support Services Director, and eventually serving as president of the Illinois TRIO Association,” she said. “That progression was deeply personal for me. I went from needing someone to help me understand and navigate the system to becoming the person responsible for helping other first-generation students navigate it. I once needed someone to help create a pathway for me. Eventually, I became someone creating pathways for others.”

With that foundation in place, Black began an educational journey that would transform her life. Each degree earned, however, represented far more than academic achievement.

“Every milestone reflected persistence, sacrifice, recalculation, and the decision to continue moving forward even when the complete path was not visible,” she said.

Mentors and professional networks helped Black build confidence, expand her leadership capacity, and understand how educational support programs can change the trajectory of individuals, families and communities.

NIU also helped prepare her for opportunities she never expected.

While pursuing doctoral studies, Black developed expertise in adult learning, leadership, program development, qualitative research and systems thinking. More importantly, she learned how to connect lived experience with scholarship and practical solutions.

Those skills ultimately opened doors beyond traditional higher education roles.

As a first-generation college student, transfer student and nontraditional learner, Black learned firsthand that success in higher education requires more than intelligence and determination. Students also need stability, mentorship, resources and a community willing to help them navigate unfamiliar systems.

Equally important was the diversity of perspectives she encountered on campus.

Growing up in Chicago Housing Authority’s Stateway Gardens community and later rebuilding her life in DeKalb gave Black a unique perspective. Interacting with people from different backgrounds reinforced her belief that effective leadership requires listening deeply and understanding the varied barriers and strengths people bring with them.

That perspective continues to influence her work today.

Today, Black is a full-time entrepreneur, higher education and workforce development strategist, author, speaker and social entrepreneur. She is the founder and CEO of Legacy Life Navigators LLC, where she develops leadership training, workforce readiness initiatives, professional development programs, and student success strategies for educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, government agencies and community partners.

She is also the founder and executive director of Unique I.M.P.A.C.T. (Individuals Making Plans And Changing Together), a nonprofit dedicated to creating college, career, leadership, workforce development and experiential learning opportunities for first-generation students, families and communities.

In addition, she authored the three-book L.E.G.A.C.Y. Series and created The L.E.G.A.C.Y. System, a framework designed to help individuals connect personal purpose with educational, professional and life navigation strategies.

Today, Black encourages students to pair ambition with information. She urges them to seek mentorship early, build relationships across campus, pursue leadership opportunities and fully utilize available resources. She also emphasizes the importance of financial literacy and understanding the long-term implications of educational borrowing.

Above all, she reminds students not to mistake unfamiliarity for inability.

“You may be the first in your family to navigate college,” she said, “but that does not mean you are unprepared, undeserving or incapable of succeeding.”

NIU is also a place where her daughter grew up as Black was navigating her higher education journey. She looks back on that time and shared with pride that she was working at Illinois State University when her daughter gained her own college degree from ISU in 2025, and she was able to present her daughter’s degree to her on the commencement stage.

“She became my ‘Huskie baby,’ growing up alongside me as I navigated college as a nontraditional, first-generation student and single mother,” Black said. “She watched the entire journey unfold. She saw people help care for her so I could attend class. She experienced the College Parents Group with me. She watched me study, work, persist, and continue earning degree after degree. In many ways, we grew up in higher education together.”

Looking back, Black sees NIU as more than the institution where she earned her degrees. It was the place where she strengthened her voice, expanded her scholarship, found community and transformed personal adversity into a platform for service and impact.

Her story is proof that beginnings do not define destinations.

This is just one example of how NIU prepares students for impactful careers. Discover how NIU is fortifying our future at niuforward.com.

When students arrive at NIU, they are immersed in a community of people who often begin as strangers. Together, they navigate challenges, build friendships and create memories that last a lifetime.

More than three decades after graduating, Carlos Fulcher, ’90, wanted to recreate that experience.

The former NIU gymnast recently organized a weeklong Appalachian Trail adventure that brought together fellow Huskie alumni to hike 100 miles through Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park. Like college, the journey would test participants physically and mentally while creating new connections along the way.

With a detailed plan developed by a small team of fellow alumni and others, the group completed the 100-mile trek over seven days.

The hiking trip grew out of an alumni reunion Fulcher hosted at his home in North Carolina’s Outer Banks, where former NIU gymnastics teammates spent a week reconnecting and sharing stories.

“We had such a great time that I decided to bring us together again,” Fulcher said.

Though he wasn’t a serious hiker himself, Fulcher found inspiration in his sister, Celia, who lives in Portugal and had completed a portion of the Rota Vicentina, a network of trails along the country’s coast.

“As she shared her experience, the idea was born and got the wheels moving,” he said.

The Appalachian Trail segment through Shenandoah National Park seemed like the perfect challenge.

“The 100-mile length of trail seemed like a feasible distance and a nice goal,” Fulcher said.

To turn the idea into reality, Fulcher assembled a planning team that included Celia; his brother, Felipe, who lives in Brazil; and fellow NIU alumni Bob Genis, ’89, and Vincent Walsh, ’92.

“The core team met virtually almost monthly for about nine months prior to the hike and created a very detailed plan, including daily trail maps, lodging info and activities,” Fulcher said.

While the goal was ambitious, Fulcher was determined to make the experience welcoming and enjoyable rather than competitive.

“Anyone could participate and completion of the hike or hiking every day was never a goal, plus comfort was a must. I am too old for camping or roughing it!” he said. “We paid particular attention to the difficulty of the routes. Terrain and elevation have a huge impact on the difficulty of the hike, so we deliberately mapped out the daily routes to make it as easy as possible.”

Fulcher reached out to more than 30 alumni he knew from college and throughout his professional career. Ultimately, eight participants joined the adventure.

For Fulcher, reconnecting with old friends was as rewarding as the hike itself.

“Life pulls us in different directions; it’s just the way it is,” he said. “I find it fascinating to learn about people’s unique life journeys.”

Each day, the group covered between 12 and 15 miles, hiking from about 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. One day was reserved for recovery, and evenings were spent sharing meals and stories. On one night, Fulcher prepared a Brazilian barbecue.

“Each day was unique,” he said. “The park is so beautiful and well-maintained, and the overlooks and flora are incredible. We also benefitted from having someone hiking with us who was a self-proclaimed botanist and explained the flora along the trails. It made for interesting conversations.”

Preparation for the trip varied among participants. Fulcher trained by hiking two or three times each week, while Genis followed a 10-month routine that included three seven-mile hikes every week.

Even so, the trail proved challenging.

“Walking in the flatlands of Northern Illinois is nothing like the Appalachian Trail,” said Genis, who lives in Rockford and retired last year. “The first three days of our hike were hot and humid, while the last three days were cold and rainy. Both could be considered miserable conditions for a 13-mile hike, but good friends and interesting conversation made the time fly.”

For Genis, the most memorable part of the journey was not the weather or the miles logged.

Most of the participants had never met one another before arriving in Shenandoah National Park. By the end of the week, that had changed.

“Most of us had not met before and we came from different backgrounds, kind of like the people I met at NIU,” Genis said. “Being thrown into community with strangers, learning about others and yourself, and emerging friends is what my college experience was about.”

That sentiment is exactly what Fulcher hoped to create.

A native of Brazil who came to NIU on a full athletic scholarship as an internationally competitive gymnast, Fulcher went on to build a career spanning multiple industries before founding the fintech company IMSI in 2008.

Looking back, he sees clear connections between his NIU experience and the Appalachian Trail adventure.

“Organization, foresight, teamwork and friendships are principles ingrained in me during my time in DeKalb,” Fulcher said.

Those same principles guided the weeklong trek through Shenandoah. Alumni from different backgrounds and different stages of life came together around a common connection, shared a challenge and left with new memories and friendships.

Much like their time at NIU, the experience began with strangers and ended with a stronger community.

This is just one example of how NIU prepares students for a life of adventure. Discover how NIU is fortifying our future at niuforward.com.

Most friendships are measured in years.

For Northern Illinois University alumni Jim Lipuma, ’83, and Dr. J.D. McCourt, ’83, their friendship will soon be measured in miles.

This August, the two Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity brothers will climb onto their bicycles in Minnesota and begin a 2,500-mile journey following the Mississippi River to the Gulf. Over roughly 30 days, they’ll pedal through heat, humidity, unpredictable weather and sore muscles — all while raising money for Tunnel to Towers Foundation, a nonprofit organization that supports veterans, military families and first responders.

“It’s the 25th anniversary of 9/11 and the 250th birthday of America. We’re riding 2,500 miles to raise over $25,000,” Lipuma said. “We want to honor the men and women who put their lives on the line to keep us safe, healthy, free, and never ask for anything in return. Ninety-three cents on every dollar goes to affected families. We don’t take a penny of it.”

With their original fundraising goal already in the rearview mirror, Lipuma and McCourt have set their sights even higher as they push towards exceeding $30,000 for Tunnel to Towers.

The fundraising goal is impressive. The ride is ambitious. But perhaps even more remarkable is the friendship that has carried them for nearly five decades.

Their story began in Grant North residence hall at NIU, where they met as freshmen. Lipuma grew up on Chicago’s South Side; McCourt grew up on the North Side. They quickly became friends, joined the Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity — known to many as the “Skulls” — and built a bond that has remained strong through careers, marriages and children.

“I consider him a brother,” Lipuma said of McCourt. “I’ll always be there for him. It’s just a special friendship.”

They admit, like many male friends, their friendship isn’t defined by long conversations or emotional check ins. Yet their connection has never faded.

They met their wives, Diane Lipuma, ’84, and Kim McCourt, ’84, at NIU. In fact, after Jim started dating Diane, they set Kim and J.D. up on a New Year’s Eve date. Today, the families remain close.

Despite the years that have passed, NIU remains a centerpiece of their friendship.

They share countless memories of campus and Greek life, and experiences that shaped them. They speak about Northern with the kind of affection that only comes from a place that was truly life changing.

“I love NIU and DeKalb; I miss the cornfields,” said J.D., now an emergency medicine physician in Nevada who also trains military medical personnel. “NIU doesn’t get enough credit as a place for pre-med majors, but it teaches the same topics. It’s just how bad you want it and what you put into it, but NIU offers it.”

Every evening after dinner, J.D. went to the library. Jim followed.

Because fraternity life offered plenty of distractions, Jim said that those nightly study sessions helped keep him focused on his future.

“J.D. really helped me through college,” Jim said. “He was disciplined. We saw people who didn’t make it because they didn’t have that discipline. He probably doesn’t even realize how much that helped me.”

After graduation, J.D. built a career in medicine, while Jim entered the business world and remained connected to NIU by sitting on the sales advisory board and judging pitch competitions.

In 2024, Jim suffered a pulmonary embolism and retired from his chief revenue officer role at Tarro soon after. The health scare served as a reminder of how quickly life can change, making the upcoming ride even more significant.

“You know, as you get older, we want to make sure that we stay healthy,” said Jim, determined to embrace the challenge while he still can.

The idea originated with J.D., a former runner and marathoner, though not as a bicycle trip. His initial proposal was a cross-country motorcycle ride.

“Our wives put the kibosh on that,” J.D. said.

Since the two had done a couple of longer bike rides together, one around Lake Michigan, they moved to plan B.

“Diane agreed because I’m riding with a doctor,” Jim said laughing.

J.D. didn’t miss a beat.

“The problem is, I don’t take Jim’s insurance!” he said.

The joke brought plenty of laughter, but both admitted the challenge ahead is very real.

Their route will average roughly 85 miles per day, with stops ranging from campgrounds to motels. Along the way, they’ll reunite with their families in St. Louis before continuing south.

“We can handle 85 miles a day,” Jim said. “We’ll reach 2,500 miles one pedal stroke, one mile and one day at a time. We’ll get where we need to go because we’re doing it for other people.”

The pair chose Tunnel to Towers because its mission mirrors the values behind their ride: honoring those who put their lives on the line to keep others safe and remembering 9/11. Through programs that support veterans, military families and first responders — including building veteran villages to combat homelessness and smart homes for those severely injured — Tunnel to Towers provides tangible assistance to those who have sacrificed for their communities and the country.

“You get to a stage of your life where it’s not just about yourself anymore,” Jim said. “It’s about how you can help. These are our true American heroes. That’s why we call it We Ride for Heroes. We believe we should be focused on helping the people who put their lives on the line every day.”

Follow Lipuma and McCourt on their Facebook page as they prove that some NIU friendships go the distance.
Visit their website to support their fundraising efforts for Tunnel to Towers.

Cybersecurity advisor and U.S. Navy Reserve veteran Arvin Verma, ’11, knew he wanted to build a strong business foundation in college.

But like many students, his more immediate focus was on gaining independence and figuring out who he was.

Raised in a South Asian household in Downers Grove and Naperville, Illinois, Verma often navigated between cultures.

“I grew up balancing my cultural identity and American culture,” he said, noting that his early life was carefully guided and many responsibilities were handled for him.

Wanting a university close to family, NIU stood out for its right balance of academics and affordability.

“NIU wasn’t just a practical choice,” Verma said, “It was the right fit for everything I needed in a university experience. It became my first real introduction to life beyond the structure and the familiarity of home.”

Finding his Path at NIU

Verma majored in Operations Management & Information Systems and credits faculty members Nancy Russo, Chang Liu, Chuck Downing, and Kathleen McFadden with shaping his path. Their influence extended beyond coursework, challenging him to think more critically about success, career sustainability and work-life balance.

Getting involved on campus also played a key role in his development. As a member of Delta Upsilon and several other business organizations, Verma deepened his appreciation for effective teamwork.

“Seeing how shared goals come to life through collaboration reshaped my perspective on partnership, communication and collective problem-solving, and it ultimately strengthened how I approach both leadership and teamwork today,” he said.

The College of Business opened doors to major organizations, where Verma gained experience through internships with McDonald’s and Navistar (now International Truck Corporation), as well as student consulting projects with Caterpillar and McKesson. These opportunities gave him early exposure to the scale and complexity of enterprise environments — and the confidence to navigate them.

“Student consulting projects with the Experiential Learning Center were one of the most rewarding parts of my experience at NIU,” he said. “Working through real-world problem scenarios for actual organizations pushed me to think beyond theoretical coursework and challenged me to be both innovative and practical. It also encouraged me to step outside the boundaries of my own area of study and consider perspectives from other disciplines.”

Those experiences reinforced an important lesson.

“Regardless of major or specialty, the problems we solve all connect back to broader business challenges that require collaboration and diverse ways of thinking,” he said.

Building a Cybersecurity Career

Verma began his career at Boeing before joining EY, where he led a team conducting cybersecurity and risk assessments for Fortune 500 organizations. That role marked a turning point, setting him on a path in cybersecurity that would take him to PepsiCo, Abbott and ultimately his current role as a virtual chief information security officer and senior advisor at Sentinel Technologies.

There, he advises organizations that may not have the resources to maintain dedicated cybersecurity teams, helping leadership understand the risks and make informed decisions.

“A key part of my work involves translating complex cybersecurity challenges into clear business terms, helping leadership teams understand the value proposition behind cybersecurity and IT investments,” he said.

Among his proudest professional achievements is contributing to the development and patenting of a new technology platform focused on payments, identity management and security at Boeing. The patented system allows multiple users to securely maintain separate, private data on a single removable memory card. Its significance lies in enabling stronger security and simpler credential management across mobile, enterprise and high-security environments.

“Contributing to something that brings together such critical and interconnected areas of technology has been both challenging and deeply rewarding, and it remains a defining milestone in my journey,” he said.

Service and National Recognition

For more than eight years, Verma served as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve as a special-duty cryptologic warfare officer.

“Cryptologic warfare officers deliver secure, battle-ready global networks and lead information operations capabilities,” he said, reflecting on the discipline and perspective the role instilled.

His commitment to service extends well beyond his military and professional roles. Verma received the Presidential Volunteer Service Award, a national honor recognizing individuals who dedicate significant volunteer service to their communities or professions. He earned the award through his work as a Cyber Warfare fellow for the Cyber Security Forum Initiative, contributing to research on critical infrastructure and cyber threats, including vulnerabilities in the air traffic control system.

Verma also remains active in collaborative cybersecurity efforts through InfraGard — a partnership between the FBI and private-sector leaders — where he currently serves as the National Sector IT Chief.

Giving Back to NIU

Verma went on to earn a master’s degree in information systems from DePaul University, yet remains closely connected to NIU. He has attended Homecoming events and returned to campus to speak with students on the panel “Protecting Yourself and Your Organization from Cybercrime.”

“Returning to NIU has been a meaningful way to stay connected, but also a reminder of how influential those formative years are,” he said. “Even small conversations with students can have a lasting impact on how they think about their own paths.”

He offers this simple but powerful advice to current students:

“Adaptability is essential. Some of the most meaningful opportunities come from directions you didn’t originally plan but choose to explore.”

At NIU, the journey is more than academic, it’s transformational. Learn more at NIUForward.com.

“Get involved. Give back what you received.”

For Tennille Drayton Snodgrass, ’98, those words are more than advice — they are a way of life, guided by a quote she carries with her daily:

“Be the person you needed when you were younger.”

– Ayesha Siddiqi

A proud Huskie and dedicated volunteer, Snodgrass brings that mindset to everything she does, turning gratitude into action and Huskie Pride into lasting impact.

Snodgrass first connected with NIU when she attended a Homecoming football game during her senior year of high school.

“I instantly fell in love and knew this was where I wanted to go,” she said, despite having applied to other universities.

NIU quickly became a family affair. Snodgrass shared her college experience with her older sister, who was also her roommate. Both of her sisters graduated from NIU, and both of her sons are Huskies — one attended, and one is set to graduate in 2027.

At NIU, Snodgrass pursued a bachelor’s degree in textiles, apparel and merchandising with a marketing minor, inspired by her lifelong love of fashion.

“I view fashion as art,” she said.

Her time at NIU was rich with involvement — from joining Pi Sigma Epsilon to working in the Study Abroad Office — and she built lasting friendships she still cherishes today.

“My student experience at NIU was incredible,” Snodgrass said. “I was accepted through the CHANCE Program, and to this day, I am beyond grateful. The things I learned as an undergrad were priceless. They carry over in life, and it all pays off.”

That experience, coupled with her professional journey, fuels her passion to give back.

As assistant director of business services for Elementary School District 159 in Matteson, Illinois — where she has been for ten years — Snodgrass understands the educational landscape from multiple perspectives: student, parent and administrator.

“I hope to contribute my expertise to support African American students at NIU from an academic, social and cultural standpoint,” Snodgrass said. “Outside of that, I want to help future Huskies prepare for the real world while understanding the impact of volunteering.”

Service has always been part of Snodgrass’ life. Introduced to community engagement by her mother at a young age, she grew up volunteering through church, festivals and community events. Today, she continues that legacy through her volunteer work with NIU.

She serves on the Homecoming committee for the Black Alumni Council and is entering her third year. The committee plans a full weekend of programming for Black alumni, working closely with campus partners to coordinate everything from sponsorships and budgeting to event planning and marketing. The work also creates opportunities to engage with current students through programming, networking and visibility during Homecoming weekend.

Her professional experience informs her approach.

“I understand the challenges as an African American professional and a woman,” she said. “Bringing my knowledge and experience to my volunteer roles ensures that students at NIU have advocates and demonstrates that their voices matter.”

She also remains committed to NIU students through her membership in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, where she supports students through her graduate chapter.

Prior to working in education, Snodgrass built a career in buying and merchandising with companies including Sears Holdings and Macy’s. She also served as a youth director for New Faith Baptist Church. She earned an M.B.A. from Keller Graduate School of Management and is pursuing both a Chief School Business Official (CSBO) licensure from NIU and a Ph.D. in leadership and higher education from Concordia University Chicago.

“Whether it’s in your career, service or personal life, follow your passion and be okay with the journey that leads you there,” she said.

Stay up-to-date with the Black Alumni Council on their on their Facebook page.
Interested in other ways to get involved? Contact Assistant Director of Volunteer Engagement Taylor Curry, M.P.A. ’25, at tcurry4@niu.edu.

When Virginia Martinez (née Munoz), ’76, passed away, her husband, Fernando “Fred” Martinez, found it difficult to let go of her closet full of high-quality professional attire.

“I didn’t just want to drop it off at any donation center,” he said. “Virginia’s career was marked by excellence, and the clothes she wore reflected that.”

Virginia had just retired from her role as vice president of revenue management for Franciscan Alliance before her passing in 2022 after a 13-month battle with stage 4 glioblastoma. Prior to that, she was vice president of business services for Loyola Medicine.

Virginia’s close friend and fellow Huskie, Pat Gregolunas, ’77, was serving on the NIU Alumni Association Board of Directors (2018-23 member; 2023-24 vice president) when Fred was considering what to do with Virginia’s attire.

NIUAA staff told Gregolunas about the Huskie Closet — a welcoming location in the Chick Evans Field House where students can shop for donated clothing free of charge. She knew it would be a perfect place for Fred to donate some of Virginia’s clothing to support NIU students.

“Virginia was always the first to help someone when they needed it,” Gregolunas said. “She would have been extremely happy to know that her clothes are helping students who need something nice to wear for an interview or a professional experience.”

“I met Virginia in seventh grade. Even in a uniform, she was always noted for her clothes,” Gregolunas continued. “She always had the latest style. In recent years, whenever we went to dinner, she would walk in with a beautiful suit, and I mean not just a suit; she had the shoes and accessories to go with it.”

Gregolunas and Fred brought Virginia’s items to the Huskie Closet and met some of the students who shop and volunteer there.

“I had an emotional moment with a student who was very appreciative of my donation,” Fred said. “She explained that she wouldn’t have anything nice to wear for a presentation if it weren’t for the Huskie Closet. I felt really good about my decision when I left.”

Fred also met with Julie Ann O’Connell, Huskie Closet director and assistant director of the Center for Nonprofit and NGO Studies. Inspired by his visit, Fred made a monetary donation to further support Huskie Closet’s operations.

“We are so grateful to Mr. Martinez for his support,” O’Connell said. “The Huskie Closet is a program of the Center for Nonprofit and NGO Studies that was orginally dreamed of by students. It is run like a nonprofit start-up and is led and staffed by students. Not only are Virginia’s clothes in outstanding condition, helping students feel confident in professional settings, but Fred’s monetary gift will cover an internship stipend for a student enrolled in NNGO 490: Nonprofit Internship class to work at the (Huskie) Closet. This support ensures that a student gains a full internship experience while working at the (Huskie) Closet and earning course credit.”

Through NNGO 490, students gain real-world experience supported by professional speakers, interview preparation, networking opportunities, and presentations that mirror future work in the nonprofit sector.

Fred’s contribution helps ease the burden of annual crowdfunding efforts, which O’Connell continues each year to fund stipends for multiple student interns. It also ensures access to this meaningful, career-building opportunity, directly aligned with the Huskie Promise — NIU’s commitment to ensuring nothing stands in the way of students’ success.

What began as a way to help students access casual and professional clothing has also become a powerful investment in an experiential learning environment that connects service to aspiring careers.

“There are a few charities dear to our hearts that Virginia and I always contributed to,” Fred said. “She would be happy to know that I added the Huskie Closet to the list.”

Virginia was an active student while at NIU. She was a member of the Delta Gamma sorority and participated in a study abroad program, spending a semester in France before graduating a semester early.

“Not only was she beautiful, she was also incredibly smart,” Gregolunas said.

When careers and family took off, Gregolunas and Virginia remained friends. Gregolunas and her husband, Bob, ’77, NIU Football Hall of Fame member, enjoyed it when Virginia and Fred attended a Huskie football game with them annually.

“I was really looking forward to retirement with Virginia,” Pat said. “I am sure she would have enjoyed being among those of us retired, engaged Huskies.”

“She was the best mom, wife, friend, and grandmother; family meant everything to her,” Pat continued. “Her three beautiful children — Tristan, Matthew, Rebecca — and, especially, her seven grandchildren, were the light of her eyes. She wanted nothing more than to spend more time with them. Her legacy will live on through them…and a bit of her style through the Huskie Closet.”

A gift to the Huskie Closet helps students access both the essentials they need today and the opportunities that shape their future. Click here here to learn more about the Huskie Closet or to make a gift.

Instead of taking on his senior design project elsewhere, recent mechanical engineering graduate Joseph Rayner, ’26, saw an opportunity to build one with the company where he already worked — Assurance Technologies, Inc.

“I realized I could either partner with another company on the work they were doing, or I could make a stronger impact at ATI,” said Rayner, who completed the project as a senior and now continues his role as an application engineer at the Elgin-based company.

At NIU’s College of Engineering and Engineering Technology, senior design projects serve as a culminating, hands-on experience that brings classroom learning into practice. Working alongside industry partners, community organizations and faculty mentors, students take on complex challenges — applying theory and developing solutions that deliver tangible results.

The impact of these projects underscores why FORWARD: The Campaign for NIU is committed to creating more opportunities for hands-on discovery, collaboration and innovation.

When ATI agreed to sponsor the project, it gave Rayner the opportunity to carry an idea from concept to completion within his own workplace. For ATI, it brought fresh thinking to an engineering need while also developing Rayner’s talent as a contributor to their team.

“What initially stood out about Joseph was his initiative,” said Dustin Smith, Training and Applications Manager at ATI. “We hired him knowing the valuable skill sets he was gaining at NIU, and that he was close to finishing his degree. This project was a natural extension of those skills.”

Rayner partnered with classmates Scott Crane, ’26, and Sujit Kirin, to address a real challenge facing ATI — a provider of measurement, calibration and quality assurance solutions that help manufacturers improve accuracy and efficiency. The company relies on precision metrology — the science of accurate measurement — using machines equipped with specialized brackets. But the bracket systems are designed for specific machine models, making them costly and inflexible.

The team set out to design a universal, cost-effective bracket system that could work across multiple machines without sacrificing precision. Working under the guidance of faculty advisor Bo Zhang, Ph.D., the students transformed classroom concepts into practical solutions. With his mentorship, they developed detailed CAD designs, prototypes and tested multiple iterations — gaining a deeper understanding of not just what works, but why.

“This project provided students with valuable hands-on engineering experience on a real industry-supported problem,” said Zhang. “It was rewarding to see them combine technical creativity, teamwork and practical problem-solving in collaboration with ATI.”

The process required more than technical knowledge. The team considered materials, cost, manufacturability and usability — real-world constraints engineers navigate daily. Using aluminum and steel, they produced a modular design that proved both adaptable and cost-efficient, meeting key project goals while offering a scalable, sustainable solution.

“Joseph and the team demonstrated exactly what we look for — technical skill, curiosity and a willingness to take ownership of the challenge,” Smith said. “They worked together, collaborating with ATI when needed, but with the motivation and independence to get the project done.”

The team shared their work at the Senior Design Showcase on May 1, 2026, among nearly 200 other engineering students.

Following the showcase, Rayner continues to refine the design at ATI, preparing it for broader use and future distribution.

“Being able to apply what I’ve learned at NIU in my professional role has taken learning to another level,” Rayner said.

See how NIU advances student success through student, faculty and industry partnerships to inspire discovery and innovation at NIUForward.com.

Tony Aguilar, ’19, carries two lessons from his time at NIU that continue to guide him through his engineering career and entrepreneurial pursuits, which include founding his own clothing company and publishing his first book.

“Growth happens outside of your comfort zone. Success rarely comes from having all the answers; it comes from being willing to learn, adapt and keep moving forward,” he said.

“Another lesson from NIU was the importance of relationships,” he continued. “The people you meet, the conversations you have, and the opportunities you pursue often become just as valuable as what you learn in the classroom.”

Aguilar earned his Bachelor of Science in industrial management with an emphasis in manufacturing and now works as a process engineer for Molex in Naperville. Troubleshooting complex manufacturing challenges is a major part of his role, and one he genuinely enjoys.

“One of the most rewarding aspects of engineering is solving problems that initially seem impossible,” he said. “I enjoy being able to create systems and processes that make things work more efficiently. The biggest challenge is balancing multiple projects, deadlines and priorities while ensuring quality and consistency. Engineering teaches you to stay calm under pressure and trust the process.”

His curiosity for how things work began long before he stepped onto NIU’s campus. Growing up in Chicago as the son of Mexican immigrant parents, Aguilar learned early lessons about hard work, sacrifice and family. Those values shaped both his love of engineering and his approach to life.

“Looking back, I was always curious about how things worked. I enjoyed taking things apart, solving problems and creating solutions,” he said.

That same curiosity and appreciation for family eventually inspired him to take on a new creative challenge: writing. His first book, “La Risa del Guerrero: Wisdom and Humor for Life“, grew out of the stories and lessons his father shared throughout his childhood.

“My parents immigrated from Guerrero, Mexico, and my father has always had a unique way of teaching through stories, humor and personal experiences,” Aguilar said.

Organizing years of memories into something meaningful was no small task, but completing the final chapter was a moment he’ll never forget.

“It felt less like finishing a project and more like preserving a legacy,” he said.

Writing isn’t his only venture outside engineering. Aguilar also launched his own clothing brand, GANAS Apparel, which reflects the ambition and resilience that have shaped his journey.

“GANAS Apparel is a brand centered around ambition, resilience and self-belief,” he said. “Whether through engineering, business or writing, my goal is to create things that inspire others to believe that their background does not determine their future.”

Aguilar’s drive to build, create and uplift others took root at NIU, a place he chose for its practicality — location and affordability — but stayed at because of its community.

“Being surrounded by people who wanted to see students succeed made a significant difference in my college experience,” he said.

He describes his time at NIU as transformative, both academically and personally.

“It challenged me academically while helping me develop confidence and independence,” he said. “NIU gave me exposure to perspectives and opportunities that helped shape how I view leadership, problem-solving and community today.”

Faculty support played a major role in that growth. Aguilar recalls many professors who pushed him to think critically, but one mentor stands out: Nicholas Pohlman.

“I was involved in the Research Rookies program my freshman year and had the pleasure of working with Dr. Pohlman on his granular project,” Aguilar said. “We would meet every week and discuss the project but also other topics about engineering and college life. His patience, people skills, charisma and knowledge were unique and something I looked up to.”

Today, Aguilar encourages current students to embrace opportunities and take bold steps.

“Many students underestimate what they are capable of accomplishing while they are still in college,” he said. “I would encourage my younger self to take more calculated risks, build more connections and understand that opportunities often come from simply taking action.”

Looking ahead, Aguilar hopes to continue creating through writing, speaking and content that inspires others to rethink what’s possible.

“As the son of Mexican immigrants and a first-generation college graduate, I hope my story serves as a reminder that success is not reserved for a select few,” he said. “With faith, perseverance and a willingness to learn, anything is possible.”

This is just one example of how NIU prepares students for impactful careers. Discover how NIU is fortifying our future at niuforward.com.