Lise Schlosser
What year did you start working at NIU?
2003
Where is your hometown? and where do you live now?
DeKalb and DeKalb.
In what department do you work?
Center for the Study of Women, Gender and Sexuality
Where did you attend school? What degree(s) did you earn?
B.A. in anthropology with minors in women's studies and English, 1997, NIU
M.A. in English, 2006, NIU
M.S.W. (in progress), anticipated graduation 2026, SIU
Describe your typical day—what do you do while at work?
Most of my job consists of general office duties, but it's the daily interactions with students who come into the office that most make my job rewarding. I'm thrilled to be back in a job that gives me opportunities to meet, encourage and assist our students.
What do you like about working at NIU?
In my 20 years of working here, I've had the privilege of working with some of the most amazing colleagues. Supporting the life-changing mission of NIU is satisfying, but the people I work alongside make it worthwhile.
What advice would you give to students currently attending NIU?
Relax. You don't have to have everything figured out right now. Ask for help when you need it; there are a lot of us here who want to help you reach your goals. And advocate for what you need and what you see that others might need.
What is important for students to know about the office/department that you work in? What student services does your office provide?
In addition to the really cool courses we offer around women, gender and sexuality studies, we work hard to create a space where students feel welcomed, supported and safe. Our students learn quickly that they have people here who care about them.
In what ways do you see your colleagues help student success?
I see my colleagues working every day to help our students succeed. But it's not just that students get the classes or information they may need. Students know they will be seen and heard here, and that is as important to their success as classroom best practices.
What is your favorite memory of NIU?
Stepping into a family tradition when I started as an undergraduate. My grandmother got her first degree from NIU in 1938, and her older brother not too long before that. My mother had worked in the University Bookstore since I was in grade school. When I began my first degree here in 1990, I felt like I was taking my place in a Huskie legacy.
What accomplishment(s) are you most proud of?
I'm most proud of the relationships I've been able to build while here at NIU. My colleagues like to joke that I know everyone, and while I don't (of course), I do feel very lucky to be a part of this community. Moreover, I cherish the relationships I have with students I've worked with over the years. Many of them keep in touch, and I thoroughly enjoy seeing them out there making a difference. I'm proud to have been a part of their education here.
What fulfills you personally and professionally?
What I have found most fulfilling in recent years both personally and professionally is finding opportunities when my talents, inclinations and abilities intersect in activities that feel purposeful. Whether it has been sharing my love of Shakespeare with members of the Lifelong Learning Institute, challenging students in the courses I've gotten to teach or supporting youth in crisis in my volunteer work, it's those magical moments where what I love, what I'm good at and what I enjoy come together.
Which of NIU’s core values align with your own?
I think one of the reasons I continue to work at NIU even after two decades here is the institution's core values very closely align with my own. Each of them, curiosity and creativity, equity and inclusion, ethics and integrity, and service and stewardship, are values I strive to practice in my life and work.
Have you contributed to any NIU Foundation fundraising campaigns such as the Day of Giving or Huskies United? If yes, why did you decided to support NIU?
I have contributed to the NIU Foundation for years in support of scholarship opportunities for our students. I have contributed to various campaigns over the years, most recently having helped to reach the fundraising goal to restore the presses housed at the NIU Libraries.
What did you want to be when you were growing up? Are you currently doing it? If not, what changed your path?
I wanted to be a schoolteacher just like my grandmother. I have had many opportunities to be an educator in my adulthood including three years working as a paraprofessional with my local school district, conducting trainings and workshops, and adjuncting for the last 16 years teaching English and women’s and gender studies. I'm not the kind of educator I imagined when I was a kid, but I continue to have experiences that are way better than I had imagined.
What do you do to relax or recharge?
I love good stories, so whether it's reading them in books, watching them on television or attending performances of them at the theater, I always find good stories to be something that fills my cup. I also cherish the time I get to spend with my godchildren, who are 10 and 12 years old. They challenge and inspire me every day.
Do you have any hobbies or interesting personal pursuits you're involved with in your spare time?
I enjoy houseplants. After believing I had a brown thumb for most of my life, I have learned to care for and find joy in the plants I have at home and in the office. I still can't keep all of them alive, but I learn a lot from my successes and those times I just can't figure out what the plant needs to thrive. I've learned a lot about patience and paying attention from the hobby.