NUSAC News – Winter 2025

Emailed to Northwestern staff on January 15, 2025

Letter from the Chair

Cymon Kimmel Dear Northwestern Staff:

I hope the winter recess allowed you to recharge, reflect, and spend quality time with loved ones.

As we begin this new year, it’s a good time to think about what’s ahead for you and for our community. Each year brings opportunities to grow and make meaningful changes. I encourage you to take a look at the many resources Northwestern offers—whether it’s through Talent Development programs, academic opportunities, or simply celebrating your colleagues.

This time of year can also be a chance to relax and restore your well-being. Northwestern provides various Well-being programs that I hope you’ll take advantage of because caring for yourself is an important form of growth, too.

However you choose to begin this year, I hope you’ll explore available resources, including NUSAC. We encourage you to share your thoughts with us so we can amplify your voice, which is an essential pillar of this council.

We are excited to continue cultivating relationships with Northwestern leadership in the spirit of amplifying voices. On January 28, 2025, we invite you to a fireside chat with President Schill. You are welcome to submit your questions in advance and attend in person or online. Please use this Qualtrics form to submit questions and RSVP.

On behalf of NUSAC, I look forward to our continued growth and connection in the year ahead.

With gratitude,

Cymon Kimmel
NUSAC Chair

Upcoming Events

MLK Commemoration

The annual Northwestern celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King leans into Chicago’s history and ongoing efforts to reverse the harms of housing segregation.

Two weeks of programming kicked off Sunday, Jan. 12, at 3 p.m. with the Alpha Mu Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity’s 45th annual candlelight vigil at Alice Millar Chapel and concludes with a virtual MLK oratorical contest on Friday, Jan. 24, at noon.

The 2025 MLK Commemoration keynote event featuring Shermann “Dilla” Thomas, a historian, cultural worker and creator of “You Don’t Know Chi!” will take place Tuesday, Jan. 21 at 5 p.m. in Galvin Hall. Following his remarks, Natalie Moore, senior lecturer at the Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications, will join Thomas in conversation about MLK’s legacy in Chicago.

Many events are free and open to the public. For livestream links to hybrid events visit the Northwestern MLK website.

Visit the Northwestern Now article linked below for the full lineup of 2025 programming.

MLK Commemoration Story

Fireside Chat with President Schill

The Northwestern University Staff Advisory Council (NUSAC) will host the Annual Fireside Chat with President Michael Schill on Tuesday, January 28, from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. in the Norris Center’s McCormick Auditorium.

Vice President for Human Resources and Chief Human Resources Officer Lorraine Goffe will lead a conversation with President Schill that addresses University news, insights on Northwestern’s priorities and guiding principles, and other topics on the minds of staff.

Following the Fireside Chat, a reception will be held at Norris in the Lake Room from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Please complete this form to submit your RSVP and questions. Questions must be submitted by noon on Thursday, January 16. RSVPs will be accepted until capacity is reached.

The event will be streamed live on the NUSAC website.

Submit Questions and RSVP

National Girls and Women in Sports Day

Join the Wildcats Women’s Basketball team as they celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day on Sunday, February 9! The ‘Cats take on Penn State at 1 p.m., and doors will open at Noon for fans to meet and mingle with student-athlete role models from across Northwestern’s various female-identifying programs, receive an exclusive Northwestern NGWSD poster, and pick up a FREE tumbler while supplies last.

Have a future Wildcat that loves sports? Sign your child up for a chance to be selected as a Junior Role in honor of National Girls and Women in Sports Day! Junior Role participants will be paired with a full-time staff member to shadow their role during the game against Penn State on Sunday, February 9 at 1 p.m. for a special opportunity to get a look into the life of working in sports.

Junior Role requirements: Present on gameday (tickets required), 9-12 years old, female, Wildcats fan!

Reminders

California Wildfire Relief

As wildfires continue in the Los Angeles area, the Northwestern community is thinking of those who have been affected by this unprecedented devastation. Careful and organized giving is imperative to ensure resources that make the most impact.

LAist, a nonprofit newsroom that provides local and national news, NPR reporting, and information about the Los Angeles area, has published a list of suggested ways to offer support to those in need.

California Wildfire Relief

Center for Talent Development’s (CTD) Summer Program

Center for Talent Development’s (CTD) summer program applications are now open! CTD invites staff to spread the word and welcome PreK–12 students to our academic day and residential camps on the Evanston campus, at Chicago area sites, and online. With programs in science, engineering, writing, psychology, and more, they are helping students explore interests, build strengths, and reach their full potential. Discover CTD’s diverse offerings designed to fit a variety of learning needs and schedules!

Visit the Center for Talent Development website

W-2 Form Information

With the end of 2024, staff are likely preparing and collecting documentation for tax filing.

To ensure you understand the timing of W-2 information delivery, we encourage you to visit the Human Resources website for more information.

Visit the HR website

Medical/Parental Leave Do’s & Don’ts for Managers

Northwestern’s HR Business Partners recently developed new Guidance to assist managers with understanding their roles and responsibilities during employee leaves of absence. Guidance includes: Understanding university leaves and other resources that provide support, communicating clearly and compassionately, planning for coverage, and facilitating a smooth return from leave.

Staff Medical/Parental Leave for Managers PDF

Features

Promote Your Organization or Affinity Group

NUSAC would love to help promote your staff affinity group!

In an effort to help connect and engage staff, NUSAC is compiling a list of University staff organizations and affinity groups on NUSAC’s website.

If you would like to have your group included in the list, please complete our brief survey.

Northwestern's Valuable Personnel (NVP)

Did you know that Northwestern Human Resources hosts a Gratitude Wall which helps to celebrate and recognize the special contributions made by members of the Northwestern community? NUSAC is proud to highlight a staff member each term from the gratitude wall by spotlighting them in our newsletter and honoring them with a small token of appreciation and recognition as well. Our Winter 2025 staff member highlight is Klara Mueggenburg!

Visit NUSAC’s NVP Page

Student-Athlete Clothing Drive: Win a Signed Basketball or Free Appearance from Willie the Wildcat!

wo Northwestern student-athletes, Hannah Johnson and Kansas Robinson, as well as the Northwestern Wildcats Spirit Squad, are together hosting a clothing drive now through January 31. Children’s clothing will be donated to Cradles to Crayons, while adult clothing will be donated to Connections for the Homeless. This time of year, as many non-profits experience a drought of donations after the holiday season, we hope to keep the clothing supply full at both of these great organizations! New and used clothes of all sizes are welcome. We are currently not accepting shoes.

Donations are being accepted at the below locations through January 31. Additionally, donations will be collected during the January 12 Men’s Basketball game and January 19 Women’s Basketball game. Those who donate at games will receive a coupon from D&D Finer Foods, as well as the opportunity to enter a raffle for either a Chris Collins signed basketball or a free, 30-minute appearance from Willie the Wildcat – perfect for local non-profits, community, and campus organizations!

Donation Locations:

Walter Athletics Center – 3rd Floor, Slotnick Atrium, and Front Lobby
Anderson Hall
Trienens Performance Center
Northwestern University Women’s Center – Evanston & Chicago Campuses
Residential Halls – Schapiro, Sargent, Allison, and Willard
Robert Crown Community Center

Join the APIDA Staff Affinity Group (ASAG)

The APIDA Staff Affinity Group (ASAG) is excited to extend an invitation for staff to join! ASAG is a vibrant and welcoming community open to any Northwestern staff member who self-identifies as part of the APIDA (Asian Pacific Islander Desi American) community. Their group is inclusive of East Asian, Southeast Asian, South Asian, and Pacific Islander diasporic identities, as well as multiracial and multiethnic APIDA identities.

ASAG strives to create a supportive and engaging space where members can connect, share experiences, and build meaningful relationships. Whether you are looking to participate as a regular member or are interested in taking a more active role as a board member, we welcome you to join us! Becoming a board member offers a chance to shape the future of ASAG, plan impactful events, and advocate for the needs and interests of the APIDA community at Northwestern.

Please visit the ASAG website if you would like to become a member or apply for a position on the board.

ASAG website

Winter Chamber Music Festival

The Winter Chamber Music Festival at the Bienen School of Music runs weekends through January 26 and features a seven-concert lineup of internationally acclaimed chamber ensembles, offering classical and contemporary works.

This year’s festival welcomes notable Northwestern alumni back to campus, including Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate (whose works are featured by the Dover Quartet) and Third Coast Percussion, which is comprised of Wildcats.

The Winter Chamber Music Festival is directed by Bienen associate professor and former Chicago Symphony Orchestra violinist Blair Milton, founder of the annual event.

All performances take place in Pick-Staiger Concert Hall on the Evanston campus. Subscriptions and single tickets may be purchased by phone at 847-467-4000, online or in person at Pick-Staiger Concert Hall during ticket office hours.

For more information, please visit the Winter Chamber Music Festival website.

Past Events

Winter Drive 2024

This year’s winter drive was an inspiration for what is possible when we come together as a community to support each other. Our NUSAC coordinated efforts focused on providing holiday support to two organizations, Family Focus in Evanston and Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly in Chicago.

Staff across the University participated including staff from CTD, CCM, Feinberg, McCormick, Medill, NCA, NUIT, NUSAC, NU Tax and Regulatory Service, Student Affairs, TGS and WCAS. Together, we were able to provide holiday gifts for 129 family members across 31 families participating in the Family Focus program in Evanston. Additionally, winter coats were collected and shared with Family Focus for individuals in need of winter gear.

We continued our giving spirit by donating wrapping paper, bags of chocolate, and funds to Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly in support of the holiday giving they share with the elderly in the Chicago area.

We are so grateful to be able to provide such meaningful support to our community and represent some of the core Northwestern values. Thanks to the Northwestern staff for making this possible!