We take great pride in what our alumni have accomplished! These alumni of Northern Illinois have built on their experiences here at their alma mater and are making their marks on the world.

From Hollywood to Broadway, the board room to the 50-yard-line, here are just a few of the thousands of notable alumni.

Dennis Hastert, M.S., '67
Former Representative, 14th District of Illinois
Hastert served four terms as Speaker of the House of Representatives, the third highest elected official in the U.S. government.

Tim Bennett, '71
President, Harpo Productions, Inc.
Bennett is president of Oprah Winfrey's media enterprise, Harpo Productions, Inc., where he oversees the daily business operations of her television/film studios, O magazine and oprah.com.

John McKearn, '75
Senior Vice President, Pharmacia Discover Research
As a scientist with the Pharmacia Company (formerly Searle/Monsanto), McKearn established the groundwork for new studies that drove the company's entry into arthritis and oncology research. He is responsible for more than 1600 scientists worldwide and the strategic planning for six therapeutic areas and three major technical areas.

Dennis Barsema, '77
Chairman, Blue Lane Technologies Inc.
Dennis' generosity to his alma mater has provided important support for student programs and scholarships, but in a much more visible way, has changed the landscape of Northern's campus. Making several trips to NIU each year, Dennis generously devotes his time and expertise to the College of Business as a teacher and mentor.

Cherilyn G. Murer, J.D., '78
President and CEO, The Murer Group
A former director of rehabilitation medicine at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, Murer and her colleagues now represent hospitals and health systems throughout the United States, providing strategic planning services and assistance in complying with complex state and federal regulations. Murer was appointed to NIU's Board of Trustees in 2005, and named its chair in 2007. She also is a member of the NIU Foundation Board of Directors.

Cheryl I. Niro, J.D., '80
Executive Director, Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism
President, Judicial Dispute Resolution, Inc. As the first female president of the Illinois State Bar Association (1999 to 2000), Cheryl presided over 37,000 members and established the Illinois Conference of Bar Presidents and the Academy of Illinois Lawyers. She also is president of Judicial Dispute Resolution, Inc., where she serves as a mediator, trainer, and consultant to the legal and business communities.

Joan Allen, '89
Actress
This three-time Academy Award nominee is respected by her peers for her professionalism and the intense preparation she brings to her roles. Her film credits include Bonneville, The Upside of Anger, The Bourne Supremacy, The Notebook, The Contender, The Crucible, and Nixon.

Dr. Christine Sobek, Ed.D., '96
President, Waubonsee Community College
Christine Sobek has demonstrated strong leadership skills as President of Waubonsee Community College. The college serves over 10,500 students a semester and employs 1,400 faculty and staff. Sobek is active in the community, serving as a board member for the Rush-Copley Medical Center, the Geneva History Center, and the Aurora Economic Development Commission.

Vinay Mullick, '00
Educator, Chicago Public Schools
Managing Director, Monroestar, Inc. Leaving a high-paying career as an engineer with Intel, he chose to start a teaching career with inner-city kids in Chicago; preparing them for technical careers. Vinay has served on the Engineering and Technology Alumni Society (ETAS) Board of Directors since 2002 where he has spearheaded a marketing committee and the overhaul of the ETAS website.

Garrett Wolfe, '07
Running Back, Chicago Bears
While at NIU, Garrett broke numerous school records including single-game rushing yards and single-season total points (124 in 2004). He was named Mid-American Conference Offensive Player of the year in 2005 and 2006.