Northern Illinois University is a public research university in DeKalb, an affordable and growing community that is a commutable distance from Chicago and Rockford metropolitan areas. Our 16,000+ student body is diverse, with many first-generation and racially and culturally diverse students. NIU prides itself on student-centered approaches to teaching and research, and has social mobility, equity, and inclusion at the heart of its mission. Recently, NIU was nationally recognized as a top college for diversity and LGBTQ+ students and staff, and has been named one of the Great Colleges to Work For two years in a row. NIU’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion includes a thriving Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, six cultural resource centers, and six academic diversity centers.