Stories of Impact

Earning my Master’s degree from National Louis University in 2016 was a transformative milestone in my life. The education, mentorship, and unwavering support I received at NLU empowered me to grow both personally and professionally. Shortly after graduating, I launched my nonprofit organization, Blue Freedom Project, which has since raised over $20,000 to support victims and survivors of human trafficking. In 2019, I founded Provision Ecommerce Company, a consulting startup that achieved six-figure revenue in its first year. NLU sparked my entrepreneurial spirit and gave me the confidence to lead with purpose. In January 2025, I took a bold step by moving to Dubai to expand my consulting business globally and begin a new venture as an international real estate agent with DAMAC, one of the region's premier luxury developers. My NLU experience gave me the foundation to dream big, lead change, and make a meaningful impact in the world.

The last eight years teaching at Kendall College at NLU in Chicago have been transformative, shifting my professional focus even more toward meaningful mentorship with our students. Serving as a culinary instructor has profoundly deepened my connection to the hospitality industry, offering the immense reward of watching hundreds of students tap into their passion in the kitchen and launch successful careers within Chicago’s vibrant food scene.
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This role requires constant professional evolution; I’ve had to stay aware of industry trends, learning and practicing new techniques in both the kitchen and classroom, which has sharpened my technical and pedagogical expertise. Teaching at Kendall College continues to refine my communication and leadership skills, building greater patience, adaptability, and the ability to motivate diverse learners.
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Ultimately, the shared passion of NLU’s students, and my own, has recharged my enthusiasm for the culinary arts and demonstration-based instruction, turning my job into a deeply fulfilling vocation.

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As a student at NLU, balancing motherhood, a full-time job, and my studies has been one of the most challenging yet transformative journeys of my life. I decided to become a teacher after working as a long-term substitute in one of the most difficult classrooms I’d ever encountered. That year brought tears, headaches, and frustration—but also moments of connection and understanding. I realized those children needed someone who believed in them—and that someone could be me.
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NLU has given me the knowledge, guidance, and support to grow as both an educator and a person. Through my studies, I’ve learned to meet students where they are, advocate for their needs, and create inclusive, supportive classrooms. Becoming a Fulbright participant was a dream I never imagined and became the catalyst for my transformation and empowerment.
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NLU has shown me how to turn challenges into purpose and approach every student with empathy and dedication. I am forever grateful for the community and mentorship that have shaped me into the teacher and person I am today.

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National Louis University has truly changed my life in the most wonderful way. From the start, I felt welcomed, supported, and understood. The instructors believed in me even when I struggled to believe in myself. That encouragement meant everything—it gave me the freedom to grow, take chances, and see just how much I’m capable of. Being part of this caring community helped me find confidence I didn’t know I had and brought out talents I wasn’t sure I could pursue. During my time at NLU, I learned it’s never too late to keep learning and growing. That message gave me hope and motivation to keep going, no matter where I began. The courses inspired me and showed how what I was learning fit into my dreams and future. More than that, NLU helped me discover who I truly am. I’ve learned to believe in myself, appreciate my strengths, and feel proud of who I’m becoming. This confidence and sense of purpose will stay with me forever.

National Louis University has been more than a workplace. It has been a space of growth, reflection, and purpose. My work here has allowed me to live out my passion for student success by meeting each student where they are and nurturing their development as whole people, recognizing their stories, strengths, and goals. Each interaction is an opportunity to listen deeply, affirm their experiences, and help them build confidence in their potential.

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Through these moments, I’ve witnessed the transformative power of connection—the shift that occurs when students feel truly seen, supported, and challenged to grow. NLU’s commitment to excellence and equity has strengthened my belief that every student deserves opportunity, high expectations, and care that honors who they are and who they can become. This work is more than a role; it is a calling that reminds me daily why I chose this path.

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My time at National Louis University was a turning point in my life. When I first stepped onto the Chicago campus, I had big dreams but was also managing real-life responsibilities. NLU became the place where those dreams were supported and shaped. As part of the first cohort of the Community Psychology PhD program, balancing school, work, and family was challenging, but it taught me resilience and revealed my inner strength. I was especially inspired by my professors—Dr. Viola, Dr. Fromm-Reed, and Dr. Olson—whose guidance and encouragement left a lasting impression. Through their mentorship, I discovered my gift for writing, which led me to become a two-time published author now working on my third book. Since earning my PhD, I’ve been promoted three times and now serve as Deputy Chief of Staff for the Division of Rehabilitation Services, serving as a statewide resource for people with disabilities. NLU didn’t just shape my career—it shaped my purpose, my heart, and the woman I am today.

I’ve spent 11 years with National Louis University, as an Advisor/Career Advisor, Associate Director, and Executive Director of Academic Advising. The opportunity to serve not only our student population, but oversee a team of dedicated and caring higher ed professionals, has been the cornerstone of my professional journey of service. I will be forever grateful for both the possibilities that National Louis University has afforded me and the chance to give back to our growing student community. National Louis believed in my potential, and I believe in each and every one of our Advisors to embody that same potential as well.

I always heard that National Louis University was the College of Education—a place where educators are made. My first experience with NLU was as a student at the Wheeling campus, completing my Master’s in Bilingual Education. I still remember standing near the American flag during graduation, thinking about what the American Dream meant to me. As I looked at the professors on stage, I wondered, Could that ever be me? That same year, I began teaching at NLU as an adjunct professor. Almost eight years later, I’ve completed my Doctoral degree and have had the honor of serving countless students as an Associate Professor and Chair of ESL/Bilingual Education. NLU has been more than a university—it’s been a community that believed in me, inspired me, and helped me grow into the educator I am today. Its impact has truly been life-changing.

NLU had an incredible impact on my life. As a marketing executive with a long career in mission-driven and higher education organizations, the program at NLU gave me a clear advantage. There was nothing better than learning from instructors who were active in the field, sharing real-world examples and case studies. These subject-matter experts were extremely effective and helped propel me to another level of leadership. The relationships built within my cohort will last a lifetime. We bonded both virtually and on campus, often gathering for lunches, visits to the Art Institute, and exploring nearby sites as we enjoyed our city beyond the classroom. All of that—along with earning another degree—was amazing and is why I will always have such fond memories of NLU.

NLU will always hold a special place in my heart. It’s where I discovered who I am as an educator. My time there taught me what it truly takes to inspire students, support their growth, and create meaningful work that lasts a lifetime. At NLU, I was fortunate to have wonderful professors, excellent coaching, and an unforgettable learning experience. It was there that I found not only who I am, but who I could become. NLU has had a profound impact on my educational journey and the teacher I am today. Thank you, NLU, for shaping both my professional path and personal growth.

Audre Lorde wrote, “Without community, there is no liberation.” National Louis University was that community for me—the place where I was seen, stretched, and poured into until I began to see myself differently. My professors didn’t just teach me; they believed in me in ways that made healing possible. My cohort became my chosen family—people who still show up, have shared my guest room, and remind me that distance can’t separate purpose. At NLU, I discovered that research can be love in action, equity can be practiced with tenderness, and belonging is both a right and a responsibility. The lessons I carry into my work as cofounder of New York University’s Institute for Healing & Belonging in Schools were born at National Louis. NLU didn’t just prepare me for a career; it transformed my life and gave me a community that continues to shape who I am. With deep respect and gratitude, I’m honored to be part of its legacy.