Northwestern University School of Professional Studies

10/16/2026

Northwestern’s graduate writing programs have a lot to celebrate—and much of it can be found on the shelf. MA in Writing and MFA in Prose and Poetry students, alumni, and faculty have published recent work across genres. Explore some of their latest books and find your next read.

Recent Books by Northwestern part-time Writing Students and Alumni that offer a snapshot of recent work from Northwestern’s writing community, with publications spanning fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and work across genres.

10/13/2026

10/06/2026

Interested in applying to an online, part-time Northwestern master's program? You don't need to navigate the application process alone. With the Winter Quarter application deadline fast approaching on October 15, now is the time to connect with our enrollment advising team. They can answer your questions and guide you every step of the way. Call or text 312-503-2579 or email [email protected] for personalized support.

10/02/2026

Many students return to school because they want to find a better career opportunity or pursue a lifelong interest, or ultimately attend graduate school. But for others, it’s simply about fulfilling a dream.

If you delayed higher education—or started but didn’t finish—you’re not alone. Many working adults considering going back to college wonder: Can I realistically earn a bachelor’s degree while working, raising a family, and managing everything else life requires?

Read how alums Julio Santiago Haag, Dallas FitzPatrick, Ellen Gladish, and others earned a bachelor’s degree without putting life on hold:

Many working adults considering going back to college wonder: Can I realistically earn a bachelor’s degree while working, raising a family, and managing everything else life requires?

09/16/2026

'23 already had 14 years of experience in healthcare when she applied to the MS in Global Health program. After graduation, Kargbo saw a need for her expertise in a part of the world that struggles with health inequality: rural America.

“There are parts of the Midwest that are so rural that access to healthcare is as dire as access to healthcare in the Global South,” she says. Her experience has been “insightful, eye-opening, shocking, unimaginable, and unpredictable at the lack of access to care in one of the richest countries on the planet.”

Read the full story: https://sps.northwestern.edu/stories/news-stories/global-health-rose-kargbo.html

08/31/2026

We sat down with Northwestern SPS faculty member Lauren Liss, a human-centered designer and educator, to discuss how the MS in Information Design and Strategy prepares students for UX/UI career paths and why a collaborative spirit, deep empathy for users, and a mindset focused on understanding business problems before proposing solutions are still essential. Read the full story via link in bio.

08/21/2026

As a teenager, Pardhasaradhi ("Pardhu") Namburi, ’26 thought he would become a monk. Today, he's combining AI, public policy, and nonprofit leadership to cultivate kindness and strengthen communities.

His passion for technology—and his belief that positive human virtues transcend any one religion—led him to Northwestern's MA in Public Policy Administration. Today, he leads Joyful Rise, a nonprofit using AI-assisted tools to support personal growth and civic engagement.

"Figure out what you really want to do that benefits society. Then work backward,” he says. “It's not just about wanting to use AI. It's about asking whether AI helps you achieve your goal.”

Read the full story: http://spr.ly/6180B1mT1m

08/10/2026

How are AI and analytics changing the role of information systems leaders? Northwestern SPS spoke with MS in Information Systems faculty members Faisal Akkawi, Amul Chapla, Terry Cottrell, James DeMarco, and David Ostrowski about what skills matter most in today’s technology workforce and how the MSIS program is preparing professionals for the future of enterprise technology. Read the full story: http://spr.ly/6189B11Dpc

07/18/2026

Northwestern SPS had the opportunity to recognize outstanding students—including student leaders, veterans, distinguished thesis award recipients, and Alpha Sigma Lambda Honor Society inductees—honoring adult learners who exemplify academic excellence while balancing their professional and personal lives and responsibilities. Congratulations to all of our students!

06/25/2026

What would you say to data scientists who are concerned about AI “taking over”? Northwestern MS in Data Science faculty director Tom Miller weighs in on one of the most common misconceptions about AI.

Read how AI is changing data science and how Northwestern’s MS in Data Science is changing with it: https://sps.northwestern.edu/stories/news-stories/msds-ai-is-changing-data-science.html