Northwestern University School of Professional Studies

Happy Labor Day from the School of Professional Studies! We'd like to take a moment to recognize all our SPS faculty and staff for their hard work and dedication to bringing students the best possible Northwestern experience.
As we near the start of fall quarter, we hope everyone takes today to relax, spend time with loved ones, and enjoy the last of summer. ☀️

Trivia Thursday: The original construction of Wieboldt Hall, home of SPS, was made possible through a generous donation from the Wieboldt Foundation. Between 1883 and 1986, the Wieboldt family owned a chain of department stores with 15 Chicago-area locations, including Wicker Park, State Street, Ford City, and Evanston.

We love how the ivy enhances the gothic revival details. 🍃

Michele Ortiz's journey back to school reflects her commitment to lifelong learning. After raising her two teenage children, Michele returned to pursue her bachelor's degree in Communication Studies. Balancing work, family, and studies, she's applying her new skills in Northwestern's Office of General Counsel and reaching personal goals. Whether you're 18 or 70, it's never too late to pursue your education. http://spr.ly/6185lTCFP

How a Part-time Bachelor's Degree Fit into Michele Ortiz’s Full-time Life: School of Professional Studies | Northwestern University For Northwestern SPS student Michele Ortiz, pursuing her part-time bachelor's degree in Communication Studies was an obvious choice, since the courses covered skills she could put to use both at work and in life.

From the stage to the lab, Oliver Sterling-Angus ’25 brought a unique background in acting and neuroscience to Northwestern SPS. Initially drawn to the school for an undergraduate certificate in AI, Oliver ultimately pursued a customized post-baccalaureate program tailored to his interests in neuroprosthetics and robotics.

He believes his theater background enhances his scientific work. “What I got from a theater degree was communication: telling a story, knowing your audience, and connecting with people,” Oliver says. Learn more about Oliver’s journey and how Northwestern SPS can support your career advancement. http://spr.ly/6182c4zep

Northwestern’s Post-Baccalaureate Program Propels Oliver’s Future in Neuroprosthetics and Robotics: School of Professional Studies | Northwestern University Oliver Sterling-Angus ’25 was working as a research technician in Northwestern University’s neurology department when he learned about the Northwestern SPS Specialized Studies for Career Advancement post-baccalaureate program.

In the latest Northwestern SPS Word Café blog, MFA Fiction alum Ankur Thakkar writes on the impact of technology on art and storytelling. From converting his MFA graduate thesis into a swipeable story, to launching digital collaborative projects with writers like Roxane Gay, Ankur's visual and written work interrogates how we live in our digital age: https://sps.northwestern.edu/masters/word-cafe/stories/ankur-thakkar-synergy.php

Meet Ahmed Karrar '17, a dedicated civic engagement advocate and leader in public policy. His journey began with volunteering for Barack Obama's presidential campaign and led him to earn an MA in Public Policy and Administration from Northwestern University SPS. Now, as a principal at Ichor Strategies, Ahmed leverages his expertise in statistical analysis, leadership, and community collaboration to drive social impact. https://sps.northwestern.edu/stories/news-stories/mppa-ahmed-karrar.php

You did it, Class of 2024 🎓! Congratulations on your remarkable achievement and enjoy these highlights from your special day.

“I leave you with these two thoughts, informed by my experience: Education will transform your life. Learning leads to new opportunities. The pursuit of advanced education has given me many opportunities to grow, both personally and professionally. It has given me a rewarding career and a family life that has taken many unanticipated yet exciting twists and turns. In the end, I ended up exactly where I was supposed to be. I wish the same for all of you.” - Mary Lee Schneider, SPS Convocation Keynote Speaker

"I am grateful for the compassion and empathy that I have not only received from the faculty but also from our fellow classmates. I must confess that this challenged my own bias here, as I never expected to receive such profound ubuntu from people who have never even met me in person. Ubuntu is an essence of our humanity. Ubuntu expresses that 'I am because you are, you are because we are'. We are truly a community, united by a shared purpose." - Nomsa Khanyile, SPS Convocation Student Speaker

Join us in commemorating the journey of a graduating student by making a contribution in their honor. Your support will contribute to their inclusion in Northwestern University Leadership Circle at a special rate for new alums: http://spr.ly/61865H8Bi

Dean Thomas Gibbons proudly congratulates the Northwestern Class of 2024 at today's SPS Convocation. 🎓🎉

Convocation is almost here! Join us in person at Ryan Fieldhouse or remotely on Saturday, June 8, 2024, from 2:30-4:30 pm CT. Get ready:

Convocation Ceremony, Northwestern University School of Professional Studies: School of Professional Studies | Northwestern University Information about Northwestern University School of Professional Studies graduation, convocation, and commencement ceremonies.

Five years after receiving his associate degree from Oakton College, Nathaniel Hall ’23 became a “double purple graduate,” earning both his bachelor’s in Organization Behavior and MS in Regulatory Compliance at Northwestern University. Today, Nathaniel is passionate about supporting community college students interested in continuing their undergraduate studies at SPS. “Northwestern is making way for people to feel more welcomed. So, know that you do belong here and that you can reach out to people for help,” he says. https://sps.northwestern.edu/stories/news-stories/regulatory-compliance-nathaniel-hall.php

Designed for high school educators, our online Advanced Placement Summer Institute (APSI) will expand your teaching skills. Explore workshops in 14 AP course subjects, including English, History, and Calculus AB. Next session starts July 9. https://sps.northwestern.edu/professional-development/ap-high-school-teachers-summer/

Northwestern's MA in Sports Administration podcast, Revenue Above Replacement, celebrates 100 episodes of interviews with sports industry leaders like Milwaukee Bucks President Peter Feigin, ESPN's Sara Spain, and NHL Chief Marketing Officer Heidi Browning. Co-hosts and faculty members Brice Clinton and Adam Grossman discuss the podcast’s impact on their audience and the Sports Administration program with SPS. https://sps.northwestern.edu/stories/news-stories/sports-administration-podcast-revenue-above-replacement-2024.php

Last month, students, faculty, and sports industry leaders gathered for the annual MA in Sports Administration Symposium. This year’s theme was Diversity in Sports: How Unique Voices are Shaping the Landscape. Thank you for joining us!

📸: Annette Corbin

Congratulations to MFA faculty member and author Naeem Murr who has received a Pushcart Prize for his short story, "Sorrow Corner," published last summer in The Missouri Review.

Please join us in congratulating Master's in Health Analytics student Dr. Francis Ajang Magaji, who had his capstone project paper accepted for publication in the BMC Public Health journal. https://sps.northwestern.edu/stories/news-stories/health-analytics-capstone-francis-magaji.php

"Small presses are able to take risks that large presses are unwilling or unable to take. Taking chances, filling the gaps, finding the weird, placing the unplaceable, these are all vital enterprises in a publishing world that seems to grow more homogenous year by year," writes MFA Fiction alumnus Jeremy T. Wilson.

MFA Fiction Alumnus Jeremy T. Wilson on Publishing a Novel with an Independent Press: School of Professional Studies | Northwestern University When I was putting my short story collection "Adult Teeth" together, the work often felt doomed from the start.

Sunny Yurasek ‘20 discovered a love of learning in Northwestern’s online MS in Data Science program. "I learned the art of possibility, not just within the industry I worked in, but also about the power of understanding data science and using it to transform various industries in the world we live in,” she says. http://spr.ly/6184ZwHVw

The Data Science Student Becomes the Teacher: School of Professional Studies | Northwestern University SPS alum Sunny Yurasek ‘20 discovered a love of learning in Northwestern’s online MS in Data Science (MSDS) program — one so strong that she wants to share it with other students.

To our Spring '24 graduates — congratulations on reaching this significant milestone in your academic journey! Share your achievement with us: use or tag our account in your posts.