Public Affairs Office

The Office of Executive Secretary for the Alumni Association was established in 1937 for the purpose of securing alumni support for the Northern Illinois State Teachers College. Elected by an ad hoc committee, Dr. Paul Street became the first full-time alumni secretary responsible for student, faculty, and administrative publicity. The Association and its quarterly publication, Northern Alumnus, served as a bureau for alumni information for seventeen years. In 1947, Dr. William Froom joined the office under its new title, Alumni Activities and Public Relations. In 1953 President Leslie A. Holmes introduced a plan for administrative reorganization. Anticipating growth and the need for additional services, the administration established Regional Services, one of four new divisions on campus. Assuming responsibilities of the Alumni Activities and Public Relations Office, Regional Services managed and operated five major areas: the News Bureau, the Alumni Office, the University Radio Station, the Publications Service, and the Speakers Bureau and Program Service. One year after reorganization Dr. Froom became acting director of Regional Services. Under the direction of William Froom, the Division of Regional Services employed nine professional people with a wide range of experience in public media and education. Regional Services expanded publications to include NIU News Items, NIU Facts, and News in a Nutshell. As the University continued to grow, Regional Services continued to evaluate and review its traditional services. During the academic year 1967-1968 the Division of Regional Services changed its title to the Division of University Services. In 1972, the Division reorganized as the Office of Information and Public Affairs under the Assistant to the President. This office assumed complete coordination of alumni and public relations, news service, and publication. The Office of Information continued to report the activities, achievements, and research of faculty and staff and the academic progress of students. Thomas Montiegel was named the University’s first Vice President for Development and University Relations, taking office on May 1, 1986. Reporting to him were five separate offices: Alumni and Development; Corporate Relations; Public Information; Publication and Printing; and WNIU-FM. The Office of Public Information’s main responsibilities included the writing and distribution of news releases; the maintenance of a clipping file that includes NIU events, organizations, and personalities; and keeping faculty information and photographs. Further streamlining gave the Vice President for Development and University Relations oversight over three offices: the Director of Development (which encompasses Annual Giving, Corporate Relations, Prospect Research, and Alumni Relations); the NIU Foundation Controller; and the Assistant to the Vice President who oversees the offices of Publications, Printing, Public Information, Periodicals, Records and Systems, and Northern Public Radio. On May 1, 1995 the Office of Public Information became the Department of Public Affairs.

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