Ð

Northwestern University

N

E

O

.

NEO -- Northwestern Emeriti Organization

Office of the Provost > NEO


 Read the Northwestern Observer story on NEO in the October 30, 2003 issue
The Northwestern Emeriti Organization -- NEO -- was founded in 2001 with support of the Office of the Provost to further the social and professional life of its emeritus community and to continue benefiting from their abilities and knowledge in the University. (NEO maintains contact with the Big Ten Retirement Association and the Association of Retirement Organizations in Higher Education.)

Activities
Bimonthly Luncheons
NEO members gather for lunch at 12:15 PM on the first Wednesday in even-numbered months. For 2007-08, we will continue our practice of holding these luncheons at Zhivago's Restaurant, 9925 Gross Point Road in Skokie (847-982-1400).
Thrice-Yearly Dinners
Each academic quarter features a dinner or luncheon at Zhivago's Restaurant for NEO members and invited spouses, partners, or friends followed by a program of learning or entertainment, usually by a member of Northwestern's rich community of scholars, teachers, and performers. This is the program for 2007-08:
November 8, 2007 (dinner, 6:00 pm)
Neena Schwartz, Emeritus Professor of Neurobiology and Physiology, "A Lab of My Own: Keeping Up With the Boys."
February 6, 2008 (luncheon, 12:15 pm)
John Disterhoft, Professor of Physiology, "Learning in the Aging Brain: Relevance of Basic Research to Personal Experience."
April 15, 2008 (dinner, 6:00 pm)
Patrick Ryan, Chair, Board of Northwestern Trustees, "Chicago 2016."
View photos of previous years' dinners

Membership

The Provost's website contains a Statement on Appointment to Emeritus Status. Briefly, faculty members who retire at age 55 or later after at least ten years of continuous service on the Northwestern faculty are eligible for appointment to emeritus status. However, the appointments require the recommendation of the school dean, endorsement by the Provost, and approval of the Board of Trustees. See the statement for more information.

In 2007, thirty-five faculty members were appointed to emeritus status. NEO now has more than 540 members. Over 60% are full professors, and over 41% are from the medical school. About 70% of NEO members still live in Illinois, and one-third of those in Evanston. (See graphs of NEO members as of 2004 .)

Membership in NEO, moreover, extends as well to retired professional staff who performed a core academic function (e.g., librarians) and retired senior administrative staff subject to a vote by NEO's Executive Council. (See NEO's Charter for more information.)


Governance

As specified in its Charter, NEO's administrative functions are discharged by an elected President, a Vice-President, and a Secretary-Treasurer. NEO is governed by an Executive Council consisting of the three administrative officers, the immediate past President, and six other council members elected to staggered two-year terms. (See the current and past NEO officers.)

For 2007-08, NEO's President is Al Farbman ; Vice-President is Jack Snarr ; and Secretary-Treasurer is Louis Allred. The Executive Council consists of Ralph Westfall, David Wojtowicz, and Dan Zelinksy (serving terms for 2006-08), and Rae Moses, Bob Ten Eick, and Al Telser (serving terms for 2007-09). Laura Ann Wilber serves on the Executive Council as immediate Past President. The Provost is a member ex-officio.