What Does Northern Illinois University Do?

Total employees6326
HeadquartersDeKalb
Founded1895

Northern Illinois University (NIU) is a comprehensive public research institution located in DeKalb, Illinois, with a strong focus on student career success, research, and regional engagement. Founded in 1895, NIU offers a wide array of undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs across seven colleges, including highly regarded programs in business, engineering, education, visual and performing arts, and health sciences. NIU is committed to providing an accessible and affordable education, fostering a diverse and inclusive environment, and contributing to the economic and social development of its region through innovation and community partnerships. The university emphasizes hands-on learning, research opportunities, and a supportive campus community to prepare students for their future careers and civic responsibilities.

Where Is Northern Illinois University's Headquarters?

HQ Function

The main campus in DeKalb serves as the primary hub for academic instruction, research activities, student life, and administrative operations for Northern Illinois University.

Notable Features:

Iconic Altgeld Hall (the 'castle'), Holmes Student Center, Founders Memorial Library, state-of-the-art research facilities, diverse residential halls, Recreation Center, and numerous green spaces.

Work Culture:

As an educational institution, the campus culture fosters learning, research, collaboration, and community engagement. It's a dynamic environment with a mix of academic rigor, student activities, and diverse cultural events. For employees (faculty and staff), it offers a mission-driven environment focused on student success and scholarly pursuits.

HQ Significance:

The DeKalb campus is the heart of NIU, home to the majority of its students, faculty, and academic programs. It's a significant driver of education, research, and economic activity in the northern Illinois region.

Values Reflected in HQ: The campus design and operations reflect NIU's values of student-centeredness, academic excellence, research and artistry, equity and inclusion, and regional commitment.

Location:

Northern Illinois University fosters a global perspective through a variety of international initiatives. This includes a robust Study Abroad Office offering programs in numerous countries, international student and scholar services supporting a diverse campus community from around the world, partnerships with universities globally for research and exchange, and curricula with international focus. NIU's outreach extends to international recruitment, alumni engagement worldwide, and hosting international conferences and events, reflecting its commitment to global learning and engagement.

Street Address:

1425 W Lincoln Hwy

City:

DeKalb

State/Province:

Illinois

Country:

USA

Where Else Does Northern Illinois University Operate Around the World?

Naperville, Illinois/USA

Address: 1120 E Diehl Rd, Naperville, IL 60563

Provides accessible higher education and meeting facilities for the populous DuPage County and surrounding suburban areas, fostering university-community engagement and professional advancement.

Rockford, Illinois/USA

Address: 8500 E State St, Rockford, IL 61108

Extends NIU's educational reach to the Rockford metropolitan area, supporting local industry and healthcare sectors through targeted academic programs and collaborations.

Oregon, Illinois/USA

Address: 1414 N River Rd, Oregon, IL 61061

Provides unique hands-on learning experiences in a natural setting, supporting NIU's commitment to environmental education and community outreach in the Rock River Valley region.

Buying Intent Signals for Northern Illinois University

Highperformr Signals uncover buying intent and give you clear insights to target the right accounts at the right time — helping your sales, marketing, and GTM teams close more deals, faster.

Notable news
Hiring actively
Corporate Finance
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Corporate Finance
*Example signal, not calculated in real time

Who's Leading Northern Illinois University? Meet the Executive Team

As of April 2025, Northern Illinois University' leadership includes:

Lisa C. Freeman - President
Laurie Elish-Piper - Executive Vice President and Provost
George Middlemist - Vice President for Administration and Finance and Chief Financial Officer
Gerald Blazey - Vice President for Research and Innovation Partnerships
Clint-Michael Reneau - Vice President for Student Affairs

Who's Investing in Northern Illinois University?

Northern Illinois University has been backed by several prominent investors over the years, including:

State of Illinois
NIU Foundation (Private Donors and Endowments)
Federal and State Granting Agencies
Students and Families (Tuition and Fees)

What Leadership Changes Has Northern Illinois University Seen Recently?

Hire3
Exits1

Northern Illinois University has experienced key leadership appointments and transitions over the past year, reflecting its ongoing commitment to strengthening its academic and administrative functions. These changes aim to enhance student success, research endeavors, and community engagement.

Departures

Beth Ingram, Beth Ingram concluded her tenure as Executive Vice President and Provost.

New Appointments:

Laurie Elish-Piper, Laurie Elish-Piper appointed as permanent Executive Vice President and Provost after serving in an interim capacity since June 2023.
Clint-Michael Reneau, Clint-Michael Reneau appointed as the new Vice President for Student Affairs, began his role in July 2023.
George Middlemist, George Middlemist appointed as permanent Vice President for Administration and Finance and CFO, effective July 2023, after serving as interim.

What Technology (Tech Stack) Is Used byNorthern Illinois University?

Discover the tools Northern Illinois University uses. Highperformr reveals the technologies powering your target accounts — helping your sales, marketing, and GTM teams prioritize smarter and close faster.

Northern Illinois University Email Formats and Examples

Northern Illinois University primarily utilizes an email format combining the first initial of an individual's first name with their full last name, followed by '@niu.edu' for faculty and staff. Variations may exist for common names or specific departments. Student emails often follow a format based on their Z-ID (e.g., z123456@students.niu.edu), but faculty/staff generally use the name-based format for official university communication.

[first_initial][last]@niu.edu

Format

lfreeman@niu.edu

Example

85%

Success rate

What's the Latest News About Northern Illinois University?

NIU TodayApril 10, 2024

Northern Illinois University news title: NIU’s Laurie Elish-Piper named executive vice president and provost

Northern Illinois University has appointed Laurie Elish-Piper as its permanent Executive Vice President and Provost. Elish-Piper had been serving in an interim capacity and brings extensive experience from her various leadership roles within the university, including Dean of the College of Education....more

NIU TodayApril 18, 2024

Northern Illinois University news title: NIU Convocation Center to host IHSA Boys and Girls Basketball State Finals through 2029

The Northern Illinois University Convocation Center has secured a contract extension with the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) to host the Boys and Girls Basketball State FinalS tournaments through 2029, underscoring NIU's role as a key venue for major regional events and its positive economic impact....more

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