NIU Office of Student Engagement and Experiential Learning

05/20/2026

Thank you to all who helped make CURE a great success! Bringing together over 300 students to share 208 projects, with 100 judges, we are thankful for all who participated. Congratulations to all award recipients!

Read more highlights here:

05/07/2026

We are still reminiscing about CURE! It was so wonderful seeing all of the research, artistry, and engagement projects from across campus last week. A big thank you to everyone who made this event possible and to all who attended to support these projects and students!

05/01/2026

Congrats to the newest Research Rookie cohort for presenting at CURE and completing the program! We celebrated tonight with pizza and bowling.

The application is open for the 2026-2027 year. Check out the comment section for more information.

04/29/2026

Mentorship Appreciation
In celebration of Undergraduate Research Month, researchers are showing appreciation to a mentor who has influenced them and their research. Today, we feature Dr. Anitha Saravanan from the School of Nursing in the College of Health & Human Sciences and undergraduate researcher Gina Kumar, NIU Department of Biological Sciences major in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at NIU.

“Anitha Saravanan is one of the most compassionate and intelligent individuals I have had the privilege of working with. Her knowledge and guidance not only strengthened my abilities as a researcher and student, but also helped me grow into a more focused and goal-driven person. She has had a meaningful impact on me both within and beyond research, and I am truly grateful for the opportunity to learn from her during my first year. I will carry the influence she has had on me throughout the rest of my college journey.”

04/27/2026

Mentorship Appreciation
In celebration of Undergraduate Research Month, researchers are showing appreciation to a mentor who has influenced them and their research. Today, we feature Dr. Allison Gladfelter from the School of Allied Health and Communicative Disorders in the College of Health & Human Sciences and undergraduate researcher Zoey Proper, Health Sciences major.

“I am grateful for Dr. G’s guidance and support throughout my research journey. Her mentorship has helped me develop my skills as a researcher and deepen my understanding of the research process. I continue to learn so much from her and I am thankful for these opportunities.”

04/24/2026

Congratulations to all of the University Honors students that are recipients of the Outstanding Honors Capstone Award!

Congratulations to our spring 2026 Outstanding Honors Capstone Award recipients! 🌟 The honors capstone is a significant research or artistry project where students work closely with a faculty mentor to develop personalized learning outcomes and strengthen their communication and critical thinking skills.

This spring we recognize the following students for their outstanding work on their capstone projects:

•Angelina Gutierrez, Anthropology
•Michelle Carbajal Hernandez, Psychology
•Rachel Stowers, Middle Level Teaching and Learning
•Maryana Kopyt, Marketing
•Charlie Vazquez Acosta, Mathematics
•Gina Fiorenza, Political Science and Nonprofit and NGO Studies

04/24/2026

Mentorship Appreciation
In celebration of Undergraduate Research Month, researchers are showing appreciation to a mentor who has influenced them and their research. Today, we feature Dr. Carmen Ramos from College of Health & Human Sciences and undergraduate researcher Osahennoma Okungbowa, NIU Department of Biological Sciences major.

“I'm very grateful to have Dr. Ramos as my mentor because she has been kind, supportive, and always willing to help me grow as a researcher. She has taught me new skills for my project and makes me feel comfortable sharing my ideas and asking questions. As a freshman, having her guidance has made my research experience at NIU especially meaningful.”

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at NIU

04/21/2026

Thank you to NIU University Libraries for celebrating Undergraduate Research Month with us! Be sure to stop by the library throughout the month to see the undergraduate research book display and check out the sphere for award winning CURE posters from 2025.

04/20/2026

Mentorship Appreciation
In celebration of Undergraduate Research Month, researchers are showing appreciation to a mentor who has influenced them and their research. Today, we feature Larissa Garcia from NIU University Libraries and undergraduate researcher, Carlisle White, NIU English Department major.

“Ms. Garcia has made an incredible difference in my research journey through her inspirational work in library sciences and education reform. Before I got to university, my primary goal was to become a librarian. However, that decision is no longer laced with trepidation or hesitancy as I see that that profession is as critical as ever with the tangible proof of Ms. Garcia's research and career.”

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at NIU

04/17/2026

Undergraduate researchers from the NIU Department of Psychology were well represented at the NCUR conference earlier in the week in Richmond, VA!

Isabella Hernandez and Michelle Carbajal Hernandez presented a poster session: Family Matters: Cultural Mismatch, Familial Suppport, and Latine College Students.

Dr. Ibette Valle served as their faculty mentor.

You can check out Michelle's Honors Capstone project, Navigating End-of-Life Cultural Considerations for Latine Patients at NIU'S CURE on April 28, Duke Ellington Ballroom, 11 to noon in the Social and Behavioral Sciences category.