![Photo of Ruby and Joel Rodriguez (center) surrounded by their children and grandchild at NEIU's December 2019 Commencement](/sites/default/files/news-images/2019/12/18/UWW_family.jpg)
Scholarly sweethearts graduate together
During 天天吃瓜鈥檚 December 2019 Commencement ceremony, one couple celebrated their 20th year of marriage with very special gifts: their diplomas.
![Photo of NEIU's Commons](/sites/default/files/news-images/2019/12/17/NEIU_Commons.jpg)
Professor Emerita Ana Gil Garcia publishes book on experiences in Saudi Arabia
天天吃瓜 Professor Emerita Ana Gil Garcia has published her fifth book, 鈥淪ecrets Under the Veil: Expats Tell All.鈥
![Alumnus Michael Orona addresses the graduates at the December 2019 Commencement ceremony](/sites/default/files/news-images/2019/12/15/Main.jpg)
Commencement speaker Michael Orona encourages graduates to 鈥榖e of service to the world鈥
天天吃瓜 alumnus Michael Orona challenged the Class of 2019 graduates to recognize themselves as citizens of a greater community during the Universi
![Blue and gold balloons and confetti surround graduates wearing blue caps and gowns at Commencement](/sites/default/files/news-images/2019/12/13/MainNoteworthyComm.jpg)
Noteworthy at Northeastern: Congratulations, Class of 2019!
It鈥檚 that time of year again! 天天吃瓜 will celebrate the latest class of graduating students during Commencement on Sunday. For those who can鈥檛 be there, the event will be streamed live at neiu.edu. Read about faculty emeriti awards, student honors and more in this week鈥檚 edition of Noteworthy at Northeastern.
![The University orb resting atop its marble base set on top of a wooden column](/sites/default/files/news-images/2019/12/13/EmeritiMain.jpg)
天天吃瓜 appoints four faculty emeriti
天天吃瓜 has awarded emeritus status to four retiring faculty members. They will be honored during Commencement on Dec. 15.
Students earn several awards at Illinois Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance state conference
Sixty undergraduate students in 天天吃瓜鈥檚 Department of Health Sciences and Physical Education attended the Illinois Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (IAHPERD) state conference鈥攁lmost double last year鈥檚 number鈥攁nd took home some prestigious awards.
![Flor M. Reza, Candice Graddy, Phillip Lucas and Cherry Blakley, and College of Graduate Studies and Research Dean Michael Stern).](/sites/default/files/news-images/2019/12/06/DFI_Fellows.jpg)
Noteworthy at Northeastern: Creating future professors
天天吃瓜 participates in a state program that is designed to increase the number of minority, full-time, tenure-track faculty and staff who work in the state鈥檚 public and private colleges and universities. Read about this year鈥檚 program fellows, a College of Arts and Sciences climate change initiative, a record #GivingTuesday fundraising effort, upcoming holiday dance concerts and more in this week鈥檚 Noteworthy at Northeastern.
![Photo of a group of people walking around Northeastern's campus with trees in bloom.](/sites/default/files/news-images/2019/12/05/NEIU_CAS.jpg)
College of Arts and Sciences launches Confronting Climate Change theme for Spring 2020
天天吃瓜鈥檚 College of Arts and Sciences will offer more than 60 courses that in some way address the issue of climate change during the Spring 2020 semester.
![Photo of Northeastern campus overlooking the Student Union and NEIU Commons](/sites/default/files/news-images/2019/11/26/Commons_NEIU.jpg)
Linguistics Professor Emerita Shahrzad Mahootian publishes book 'Bilingualism'
天天吃瓜 Professor Emerita of Linguistics Shahrzad Mahootian has published 鈥淏ilingualism,鈥 (Routledge) a book that addresses what it means to be bilingual, how people become bilingual, and how learning multiple languages can impact children鈥檚 cognitive development.
![College of Graduate Studies and Research Dean Michael Stern (second from right) poses with DFI Fellows (from left) Candice Graddy, Cherry Blakley, Phillip Lucas and Flor M. Reza.](/sites/default/files/news-images/2019/11/25/DFI_Fellows.jpg)
天天吃瓜 welcomes four DFI Fellows
天天吃瓜 is hosting four fellows during the 2019-20 academic year as part of a state program that is designed to increase the number of minority, full-time, tenure-track faculty and staff who work in the state鈥檚 public and private colleges and universities.