International Programs Business Manager wins National Award



Pam Rosenberg

At its annual conference March 31 – April 1, Phi Beta Delta, the Honor Society for International Scholars, will present its 2011 Edward S. Blankenship Outstanding Staff Award to Pamela K. Rosenberg, Business Manager for the Division of International Programs and Treasurer of Zeta Gamma Chapter of Phi Beta Delta. 

The Blankenship Award recognizes outstanding leadership and support of the development and activities of a local chapter of Phi Beta Delta. As Treasurer of NIU’s Chapter, which was founded on November 18, 2004, Rosenberg has been instrumental in maintaining a very high level of continuing support from NIU faculty, staff and students inducted into the Chapter.  

Pam with the PYLP Group

“Pam’s outstanding performance as our Chapter Treasurer has greatly facilitated the development and growth of Zeta Gamma Chapter,” noted Deb Pierce, Associate Provost for International Programs, who nominated Rosenberg for this national recognition.  “To her business acumen she adds a passionate dedication to the goals of international education and to those of Phi Beta Delta.” 

Anne Seitzinger, Director of Study Abroad, and Sara Clayton, Administrative Assistant, also appreciate Rosenberg’s leadership in insuring the financial viability of Zeta Gamma Chapter.  “She welcomes any challenge and has the capacity to go above and beyond in dealing with everything from finances, policies, and customer service to new initiatives, projects, and more.”  

Pam and PYLP Group

With a strong base of continuing members and with excellent faculty leadership, including current Chapter President Christopher M. Jones, Chair of the Department of Political Science, Zeta Gamma Chapter has twice been named “Outstanding Midwest Regional Chapter” of the international society. “Membership in Phi Beta Delta is an excellent way to recognize NIU faculty, staff, and students engaged in international education and a superb conduit to promote global understanding across the university community,” said Jones.


Dancing with PYLP Group



Study Abroad Program Director Jeffrey Chown named 2011 Board of Trustees Professor

Northern Illinois University has named Jeffrey Chown one of three 2011 Board of Trustees Professors—an honor that recognizes international prominence in research as well as excellence in all facets of teaching.

Professor Chown is the founder of NIU’s Media and Culture program in Ireland.  The program was founded in 1991 and is the result of an ongoing institutional relationship between NIU Departments of Communication and English and Dublin City University.  The program is coordinated by the NIU Study Abroad Office.

For more information regarding Professor Chown and the Board of Trustees Professor award, please see the NIU Today.

School of Music Forges Partnerships in Costa Rica

The NIU School of Music recently began partnerships with two universities in Costa Rica.  Working with La UNED, Universidad Nactional de Educatión a Distancia, and The Instituto Nacional de Música, School of Music Director Paul Bauer, Dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts Rich Holly, School of Music Professor Robert Chappell, and School of Music Technician Dan Nichols traveled to San Jose, Costa Rica March 11 to 16 and demonstrated the use of Internet2 technology to administrators, faculty, and staff of the two institutions. 

The culmination of the weeks' meetings and events was a real-time, high-definition master class presented through Internet2 technology.  Professor Rodrigo Villanueva, from the School of Music in DeKalb appeared on a 50 inch monitor in San Jose and provided instruction to an audience of more than 20 students from Instituto Nacional de Música. The master class was hosted at a studio in the headquarters of La UNED. 

The School of Music brought five backpacks to San Jose, each filled with one laptop, two microphones, a small speaker bar, and various cables in order to demonstrate how inexpensively it is possible to access Internet2 technology.  At the conclusion of their visit, the School of Music left one of the backpacks with Instituto Nacional de Música so the School of Music can continue to provide master classes and private lessons to students there.