CHICAGO — Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU), a public university serving roughly 5,756 undergraduate and graduate students (as of fall 2026) throughout Chicago, relies more than most universities on alumni goodwill because it has a smaller footprint than other state universities. NEIU is unusual in having three bustling campuses in the North Park, Avondale and Bronzeville neighborhoods of Chicago. Few universities its size can claim such a feat by being in ethnically and culturally distinct neighborhoods. Alumni engagement is undervalued, and showing up for your alma mater pays off in ways people do not expect. The entire purpose is to reconnect with other people and connect with new people, and one of the best ways to connect with other people is over food—free food. Food is the social elixir at these meet ups.
Regardless of where a Chicagoan lives, NEIU’s three campuses put higher education within reach of far more of the city than most universities manage. It is meant to be a place that serves accessible and equitable higher education for locals of Illinois.
As a recent alumnus of Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU), I received the opportunity to attend several events on and off campus for fellow NEIU alumni. It was an occasion for individuals who graduated from NEIU to come together and celebrate the completion of at least one college degree from this university.
There were several events available to attend, but I opted to attend four events that took place on Sept. 17, 18 and 19, 2026. On Thursday, Sept. 17, during the late morning, I attended an arts and crafts get-together for alumni, staff, faculty and students at the El Centro Campus in the Avondale neighborhood of Chicago. It was an opportunity to create some art on canvases, glasses and wood stencils, while snacking and drinking hot chocolate.
On Thursday evening, I attended dinner at Chez Adele on Bryn Mawr Avenue, just three blocks east of the main campus in North Park. I was fortunate to meet several other alumni, who were also a part of the first cohort of the new doctorate program at NEIU. The highlight of the evening was socializing with them while having a selection of margaritas, wine and beer. The food included salad, cookies and a couple of meat dishes.
By attending this alumni event, I was able to learn about leadership transitions and NEIU’s investments in bringing alumni back into the fold. Some of the faculty and staff talked about upcoming news happening at NEIU like the new doctorate program and prospective master’s of nursing program. During the dinner, I was able to form connections and friendships with some new people.
According to speakers at the event, the new College of Education building is to be completed for a grand opening in November of 2027. According to Tom Philion, dean of Literacy, Leadership, Development and Special Education, he will be retiring towards the end of the fall 2026 semester, and he announced the individuals who will be stepping up to other roles within the College of Education.
On Friday, Sept. 18, I attended an afternoon of trivia at Alumni Hall of the Student Union on the main campus in the North Park neighborhood of Chicago. Walking Tacos were served during this event, which included an option of Nacho Cheese Doritos, Fritos and Flaming Hot Cheetos, with beans, cheese, lettuce, onion, salsa and jalapeños. There was also the option of meat instead of beans. The afternoon of NEIU trivia was able to give some historic memories of the university’s history and fun facts about campus life via a game of Kahoot with prizes for the top three winners of the crowd. During the NEIU trivia game, a NEIU staff member mentioned that a nursing simulation lab is being constructed within the El Centro campus’s building for the prospective masters of nursing program.
On Saturday, Sept. 19, I attended an afternoon of alumni events at NEIU’s Carruthers Center of Inner City Studies (CCICS) campus in the Bronzeville neighborhood of Chicago. Food, socializing, gaming and building tours were the highlights of the Annual Fun Fair. The food included a make-your-own-sandwich bar, more walking tacos (from the same caterer), waffles-on-a-stick with various toppings and a local vendor’s home made ice cream. In the parking lot, there was a food truck and a gaming trailer with sofas and some of the latest games from Nintendo’s Switch 2, Microsoft’s Xbox and Sony’s PlayStation. Beyond the free food, the gaming sessions were another opportunity for attendees to compete and get to know each other.
As a proud alumnus of NEIU, I am so happy that I attended several of NEIU’s events for alumni week. Some events were more fulfilling than others, but they all served the purposes of being reunited with NEIU’s three campuses and socializing with friends from my time at NEIU. It was absolutely worth it!
By attending these four events on NEIU’s campuses, I was able to reformulate a sense of belonging and friendships. I strongly encourage alumni of other universities to attend their universities’ alumni week and network with fellow alumni. When you get emails and paper mail from your alma mater, don’t just throw it in the trash! By saying ‘yes’ to more opportunities, there is no telling what the future has in store for you! You should actually consider attending at least one event that is offered at your alma mater!
