Stories of Impact

Being an international student from Malaysia wasn't easy. I had to learn how to navigate public transportation, shop for groceries, cook, file taxes, adapt to a new culture, and even survive a Chicago winter. Thankfully, the NLU community made that transition much easier, and I'm grateful to everyone who supported me along the way. I'm thankful for the opportunity to learn from professors with real-world experience, gain hands-on knowledge through capstone projects, and stay actively involved on campus — from working part-time across departments to mentoring students. Those experiences shaped my journey to becoming a Marketing Leader and Go-To-Market advisor. Happy 140th anniversary, NLU!

My undergraduate experience shaped my understanding of the world and my expectations for the relationships educators could build with students. From dinners in professors' homes to student-teaching in England and a life-changing backpacking journey through Europe, those years on the Evanston campus expanded my perspective and deepened my confidence. What stays with me most is the connection and encouragement I felt from faculty who treated students as whole people with potential worth investing in. Now, as a full-time staff member at MIEC-NLU, I carry those lessons with me daily, hoping to give others the same sense of opportunity, belonging, and discovery that changed my life.

NLU became more than just a place to study; it became a community where I could grow, belong, and connect with others who shared my cultural background. As an alumna who arrived from Mexico with English as my second language, stepping into a new culture was both exciting and challenging. Two years later, I returned as a graduate student, this time navigating pregnancy while pursuing my master's degree. Once again, NLU stood by me with understanding, flexibility, and encouragement, proving that they truly value students' unique journeys. I am proud to be part of NLU — a place where diversity is celebrated and every student is given the opportunity to succeed.

National Louis University changed the trajectory of my life. I stumbled into the Behavioral Sciences program while simply trying to finish my degree after transferring schools and changing majors, but it turned out to be the best decision I ever made. In just 18 months, I learned more than I had in the previous three and a half years combined. The program challenged me to think differently, communicate effectively, understand people on a deeper level, and lead with empathy and confidence. The professors and my cohort pushed me to grow academically, personally, and professionally — lessons that still shape how I lead, build relationships, and navigate the world today.

My degree from National Louis University has played a meaningful role in shaping my personal, professional, and community journey. As a student ambassador at the Wheeling Campus, I balanced my academic responsibilities while serving as a resource for students and families, which strengthened my leadership, communication, and time-management skills. NLU’s supportive environment encouraged me to stay engaged in my education while gaining real-world experience. Personally, the university helped me build confidence and resilience as a first-generation college student navigating higher education. Professionally, my experiences prepared me to work collaboratively, advocate for others, and take initiative. Most importantly, NLU empowered me to give back to my community by being a positive role model and demonstrating the value of education through service and involvement.

NLU has impacted my journey by allowing me the flexibly to be a mom, teacher and student, seamlessly. After an 8 year “break” in my college journey, NLU helped me get back into the groove of school so I could accomplish my professional goals. When I am not taking classes, I find myself having too much time on my hands!

Attending NLU is where I was introduced to the concept of a cohort — working toward a shared goal while building strong relationships with others on a similar educational journey. While attending, I lost my father, and I will forever remember the support I received that allowed me to continue and earn my MA in Curriculum and Instruction. The curriculum was rich and relevant; the books we read and the meaningful discussions facilitated by our cohort leader set the foundation for my action research study using constructivist theory — the very foundation of my educational practice today. Earning my MA from NLU nourished my creative spirit and sparked a lasting love of lifelong learning. NLU was just the beginning!

My experience at National Louis University has taught me to be a confident, future-oriented leader. Through my academic and extracurricular pursuits, I've gained strong communication skills, an understanding of collaboration and strategic thinking, and the ability to translate ideas into meaningful action. NLU has pushed me to grow as an individual — honing my voice, building my confidence as a leader, and helping me navigate environments with intention and purpose. My discipline and self-awareness have sharpened, and I feel compelled to impact the communities I'm part of. Most importantly, NLU has taught me that growth comes from initiative — through participation, responsibility, and seeking new opportunities.

I left Cuba with my parents in 1960 after Castro came to power, arriving with just one year of college. My bilingual skills opened doors to a career in International Logistics, eventually landing me a job at Stepan Chemical Company. Their tuition reimbursement program led me to National College of Education (now part of NLU), which recognized my Cuban credits and work experience. I earned my BA in Applied Behavioral Science, was named to Who's Who Among Students in American Universities & Colleges, and later completed my MBA at Kellogg. I became Director of Marketing and Sales for a multinational company. I'll always be grateful to NLU for giving me my start.

As a doctoral student going back to the late '90s, I am an alumna of 2002, graduating from the Curriculum and Social Inquiry Program. I am extremely grateful to the faculty I had, whose focus on social justice and the act of teaching extended study beyond the university classroom into community and society. I researched public curriculum through community and mass media for my dissertation.That experience was transformational and remains impactful today. I've become a global educator focused on relationships that matter, and I'm now furthering my research through a Critical Auto Ethnography — still grateful, over two decades later.

After 35 years running restaurants and hotels, I didn't expect a graduate program to change me. It did.

Hospitality leadership teaches you confidence. NLU taught me humility. The special education coursework, the focus on asset-based teaching, the push to meet every learner where they are — none of that came from the boardrooms and kitchens I'd spent my career in. It came from NLU.

My industry experience fills the room. My NLU education shapes what I do with it.Now I teach Restaurant Mathematics and Introduction to Hospitality at Kendall College, part of the NLU family. That full circle — from student to instructor, under the same roof — is something I don't take lightly.

My journey with National Louis University began in 2003 as a new Latin teacher, taking graduate classes while working at Baker Demonstration School. This early exposure to NLU's commitment to educational excellence shaped my teaching philosophy. After transitioning to public K-12 education, I continued my growth at NLU, earning my first master's degree in 2017 — deepening my understanding of how education transforms lives.

After 20 years in the classroom, I discovered my next calling: helping other educators pursue their own growth. Today, as part of NLU's enrollment team, I guide teachers on their educational journeys, creating a full-circle moment of transformative education.