Northeastern Illinois University Alumni Association

We’ll see you all in the new year! 🫶💙💛 The University is closed for winter break from Monday, December 23rd to Thursday, January 2nd. Campus will reopen on Friday, January 3rd. The Office of Alumni Relations will reopen on Tuesday, January 7th! We wish everyone a happy, safe, & peaceful holiday and a happy new year! ❄️✨
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From students to alumni 🥹 We are very ! 💛💙🦅

Happy Graduation to our 2024 NEIU graduates!!! We are so excited to welcome you all to the Alumni Association! 💙💛🦅

Commencement is this weekend!!! We can't wait to welcome all of our new NEIU alumni on Sunday! 💙💛

By day, Kevin McCaffrey (‘17) taught history to high school students and, by night, he was taking classes at Northeastern to earn his Master’s degree in History. “The best part about pursuing my degree at NEIU was working with the outstanding professors and fellow students in my various courses. My professors were scholarly without being arrogant, challenging while still being encouraging, and [they were] truly interested in my success,” he shared with us. “My fellow students constantly amazed me at how much thoughtfulness and energy they put into their classwork while having full-time teaching positions every bit as time-consuming as mine.”

Having since retired from teaching, McCaffrey is taking on a new challenge within the world of coffee. “In pursuing my MA, I began to see much more clearly how connected the world has been over the last two millennia,” he said. “And as I begin to delve into the fascinating world of coffee, I see even more clearly how much the events and ideas in one part of the world are profoundly connected to events and ideas around the globe.” McCaffrey is the owner of Poppa Mac’s Roastery located in Skokie, Illinois. You may recognize McCaffrey and his business from our - owned business series on our social media pages!

Poppa Mac’s Roastery sources their beans from around the world with a focus on supporting women-owned farms. Unlike other coffee roasters, Poppa Mac’s roasts their beans with electricity rather than direct heat. This allows the coffee beans to have a fuller flavor overall. McCaffrey roasts and blends his coffee beans in-house at his Skokie location. You can visit PoppaMacsRoastery.org to learn more and to support your fellow Golden Eagle.

Meet the Alumni Team (Staff Edition) 💙💛

It’s time for us to officially introduce ourselves 👋

Watch this message from President Katrina E. Bell-Jordan https://loom.ly/Skp7pMQ about ! Giving back is part of our calling at , so get ready to participate and support! Champions from across the University are reaching out to alumni and friends to raise vital dollars for their upcoming initiatives, scholarships and activities.

Watch for messages from your favorite departments and programs about their fundraising initiatives and support how you can. Share on social media! Brag about your support and love for NEIU using the hashtag and/or . Wear your NEIU gear or blue and gold on Dec. 3 and share pics on social media! Share your memories and good times at NEIU using the hashtag and/or .

From all of us here in the Office of Alumni Relations, we wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving! 🦃 We are so thankful for all of you! 💙💛 Have a great holiday weekend!

is one week away! Join your fellow Golden Eagles by donating to NEIU on December 3rd! Every donation, no matter how big or small, supports current NEIU students. Visit neiu.edu/give for more information on how you can give back. 💙💛🦅

As an alum, Nic F. Anderson (B.A. ‘19 CMT) is a strong advocate and supporter of the NEIU Department of Communication, Media and Theatre program, department, and faculty. “The journalism and video production classes offered at NEIU gave me the building blocks I needed to help me become the journalist and filmmaker I am today…Edie Rubinowitz and Cyndi Moran were both pivotal in helping me succeed in undergrad. They are not only knowledgeable and great teachers, but their support meant the world. I am eternally grateful.”

As a student, many of Anderson’s favorite memories included working for the NEIU Independent, the student-run newspaper. It was there that Anderson felt engaged with the NEIU community and befriended many of their fellow Golden Eagles. “We were always teaching and supporting one another. Many of the people during my time at the Independent are still my dear friends today.”

Anderson’s advice for current Golden Eagles is “to be brave and try something new, take advantage of all of the resources available, and network as much as possible. What you [accomplish] in undergrad will help you out in the long run.”

In 2024, after completing an internship and being a freelance News Assistant with CNN in New York City, Anderson was hired full-time as a News Associate. In their spare time, Anderson makes films and art. They’re currently working on a documentary about LGBTQ+ nightlife spaces in New York City.

Meet the Alumni Team (Student Edition) 💙💛

We wouldn’t be able to do our work without acknowledging the hard work of the students on our team!

Enjoying the fall colors before they slip away 🍂

Sara Jennetten (B.S. ‘17 Business Management: Accounting) would tell current Golden Eagle students to “take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way. Say yes to new experiences… Don’t be afraid to get involved and network with people outside your major or comfort zone. College is the time to explore, grow, and discover who you are, so embrace every moment and be open to learning from unexpected sources.”

While a student at NEIU, Jennetten enjoyed collaborating with her classmates on projects and within study groups. This helped her build strong connections and learn from others around her. “I may not have been involved in clubs, but the academic projects and shared experiences with my peers played a big role in my professional development.”

Jennetten credits Northeastern in helping shape her into the person she is today. “Northeastern played a pivotal role in shaping both my personal and professional life,” she shared. “The university’s focus on experiential learning taught me to value hands-on experience and adaptability. The diverse academic and social environment pushed me out of my comfort zone, encouraging me to think creatively and build resilience. Through my coursework and involvement in business-related activities, I developed a strong entrepreneurial mindset, which has been fundamental in growing and franchising my own business, Blank Mason Candle Bar.”

Jennetten is celebrating three years of her business, Blank Mason Candle Bar, this weekend, November 8-10! Recently, the NEIU Alumni Team got the chance to visit Jennetten and check out her space. Check out her - owned business feature on our social media pages! And learn more about Blank Mason Candle Bar by visiting their website: https://www.blankmason.com/.

Thank you all for a wonderful (& spooky) month of October! 🍂This month was filled with wonderful alumni visits, our Alumni Awards, the President’s Inauguration, a Chicago Fire game, beautiful weather on campus, and some local haunts. 👻💛💙

David Montalvo (B.A. ‘16 Communication, Media and Theatre) has always pursued various creative projects – especially throughout his time as a student at NEIU. Montalvo, along with fellow student Victor Collaso, joined forces to form the first film and photography club on-campus! During his tenure, Montalvo served as the Vice President.

In 2014, Montalvo, Collaso, and other NEIU students, created and starred in a YouTube sitcom web series called “Take One, Pass it Back.” Their show focused on a group of friends enduring a variety of conflicts, both in and out of school. Montalvo and his team produced three seasons of the show.

After moving out of Chicago to Nevada, Montalvo started a podcast in 2020 titled “Outlet To Reality,” which focuses on mental health, relationships, and faith. In addition to his podcast, he currently works as an charity event assistant at St. Jude’s Ranch for Children, Nevada.

Montalvo finds inspiration from his childhood upbringing and his mother. Growing up Hispanic and Jewish in his single parent household, Montalvo published a book in 2023 titled, “Shabbat in Chicago: An Inspiring Latina Woman Who Shares Her Love With The Community,” to discuss his mother’s struggles and faith, but also to celebrate her hard work and perseverance.

This past September, Montalvo was invited back for a presentation at the Angelina Pedroso Center for Diversity and Intercultural Affairs at NEIU for their 2024 Latinx Heritage Month Celebration. Montalvo’s presentation, “Finding Your Voice,” focused on his various struggles throughout the pursuit of his goals at school and within his career. Montalvo also spoke about his successes and thanked several of his NEIU classmates and faculty for all their help!

📚 Your journey starts here! 🚀 Apply for our Spring 2025 scholarships today! 💫 Applications are due November 1, 2024.

For more information, visit NEIU.edu/futurealumni.

Check out this event happening next week on the main campus!