For the first time since the birth of television, the media landscape is being fundamentally reshaped. New technologies are changing how people get information, how journalism is produced, and, most significantly, how money is made in the media industry. Medill professor Rich Gordon explores some of the trends shaping the future of media and their implications for journalism and civic engagement.
Soprano Constance Hauman (Mu83) shares a story in which she crosses paths with Gary Marshall and lands a leading role. In recognition of her distinguished career, Hauman received an Alumni Merit Award from the NAA at the 2008 Alumni Awards in Chicago.
David Corbett (WCAS60) talks about his book Portfolio Life: The New Path to Work, Purpose, and Passion after 50, which presents a new way to think and thrive in middle age—and move from a career to calling.
21:02 minutes (9.64 MB)
A thought leader on life transitions for executives and professionals, David Corbett (WCAS60) offers a 21st century alternative to traditional retirement. Corbett is founder and CEO of New Directions, which offers advice to people making the transition from work to life after a career. He talks about his book Portfolio Life: The New Path to Work, Purpose, and Passion after 50, which presents a new way to think and thrive in middle age—and move from a career to calling.
Fay Lomax Cook, professor of human development and social policy at the School of Education and Social Policy and director of the Institute for Policy Research, explores some of the myths surrounding an issue that affects Americans of all ages.
24:18 minutes (11.13 MB)
Is it true that Social Security will go bankrupt in 2041? Are young adults more likely to believe in UFOs than to think they will get Social Security when they retire?
Susan Kraus Jones (J71, GJ72) shares her memories of student protests at Northwestern during the height of the Vietnam War.
2:26 minutes (1.12 MB)
A Professor of Marketing at Ferris University and a 2007 inductee into the Medill Hall of Achievement, Susan Kraus Jones discovered her knack for advertising inside Evanston-campus classrooms. Outside, she joined fellow students in protests of the Vietnam War. In this edition of 'Cat Tracks, she remembers the turbulent time of her student years.
In recognition of her many contributions to Northwestern, Jones received an Alumni Service Award from the NAA at the 2008 Alumni Awards in Chicago.
In Part 1 of this interview, conducted by Carol Ross (McC83, GMcC87), Catherine Kaputa (WCAS70) outlines the career strategies discussed in her book U R A BRAND! How Smart People Brand Themselves for Business Success. Kaputa received a BA from Northwestern, an MA from the University of Washington, and is currently a PhD candidate at Harvard University. Visit Kaputa's web site, SelfBrand.
In this edition of 'Cat Tracks, William Kroll (McC67, GMcC71) shares the story of how he came to Northwestern.
3:09 minutes (1.45 MB)
William Kroll (McC67, GMcC71) turned his bachelors and masters degrees from the Robert R. McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science into a highly successful career. His dream to attend Northwestern (a desire inflamed by the evangelism of a family friend) was nearly unrealized due to financial hurdles. But with the help of financial assistance he gained the opportunity to attend the University and chose a field of study (not his first choice) that would change the course of his life.
Recorded in November 2007 at the National Press Club at the NAA's A Night with Northwestern in D.C., this compelling three-part podcast explores the major issues affecting U.S. foreign policy and the future of U.S. diplomacy.
Recorded in November 2007 at the National Press Club at the NAA's A Night with Northwestern in D.C., this compelling three-part podcast explores the major issues affecting U.S. foreign policy and the future of U.S. diplomacy.
Recorded in November 2007 at the National Press Club at the NAA's A Night with Northwestern in D.C., this compelling three-part podcast explores the major issues affecting U.S. foreign policy and the future of U.S. diplomacy.
In Part 2 of this interview, conducted by Carol Ross (McC83, GMcC87), Catherine Kaputa (WCAS70) outlines the career strategies discussed in her book U R A BRAND! How Smart People Brand Themselves for Business Success. Kaputa received a BA from Northwestern, an MA from the University of Washington, and is currently a PhD candidate at Harvard University. Visit Kaputa's web site, SelfBrand.
Dr. Peter G. Traber (GFSM84, 86) reflects on an experience during his residency at the Feinberg School of Medicine that became a "landmark" in his life and career.
1:59 minutes (930.45 KB)
In this edition of 'Cat Tracks, Dr. Peter G. Traber (GFSM84, 86) reflects on an experience during his residency at Northwestern's Feinberg School of Medicine that became a "landmark" in his life: when he encountered a patient with a severely fatal condition and experienced first-hand how "humanistic care, high technology, intensive care, and research" come together to care for individuals.
Professor William J. "Bill" White (McC60) discusses how to start your job on the right foot in "Water Cooler Talk from a CEO: What You Don't Know Can Hurt You."
Susan Butts (G77, 80) recalls a different era of Northwestern athletics.
2:03 minutes (968.82 KB)
In this edition of 'Cat Tracks, Susan Butts (G77, 80) reflects upon a time at Northwestern when the football team wasn't known for racking up the winning seasons it boasts today. (This was the era that ushered in the tradition of "laking the posts" in Lake Michigan.)
Bob Vanderhye (McC68), specialist in environment- and energy-related technology, explores the benefits of renewable energy.
10:34 minutes (4.84 MB)
Renewable energy isn’t just for the future. Many technologies are currently available that can greatly improve national health, enhance national security, and create all levels of domestic jobs. In part 1 of this edition of Learning Tracks, Bob Vanderhye (McC68), a specialist in environment- and energy-related technology, explores the many benefits of renewable energy.
An extremely ambitious student, Mark Goldston (KSM78) found little time for socializing while studying in the MBA program at the Kellogg School of Management. Along with some classmates, he found an outlet in the Evanston-area flag football leagues.
2:26 minutes (1.12 MB)
In this edition of 'Cat Tracks, Mark Goldston (KSM78) reflects upon his time in the MBA program at the Kellogg School of Management, where he discovered a little success outside the classroom: on the Evanston-area flag football fields.
Bob Vanderhye (McC68), specialist in environment- and energy-related technology, explores the benefits of renewable energy.
14:58 minutes (6.86 MB)
Renewable energy isn’t just for the future. Many technologies are currently available that can greatly improve national health, enhance national security, and create all levels of domestic jobs. In part 2 of this edition of Learning Tracks, Bob Vanderhye (McC68), a specialist in environment- and energy-related technology, explores the many benefits of renewable energy.
James Connaughton's career has been devoted to environmental policy, but when he attended Northwestern Law School, he made time to take advantage of Chicago's rich cultural life, not only as an audience member, but as a performer.
2:00 minutes (943.51 KB)
In this edition of 'Cat Tracks, James L. Connaughton (L89) describes his life as a student at Northwestern Law School in the late 1980s when the campus was experiencing significant growth. Off-campus, he took advantage of the rich cultural life Chicago had to offer, not only as an audience member, but as a performer. Along the way, he formed friendships that have lasted up to the present day.
Rob Sullivan (GJ90) explores why a career change is challenging, but also exciting. This informative and lively session was recorded as part of his presentation during 2009's A Day with Northwestern in Evanston.
40:29 minutes (18.54 MB)
Rob Sullivan (GJ90) is is a corporate trainer, inspirational speaker, and professional development coach. He is also the author of Getting Your Foot in the Door When You Don’t Have a Leg to Stand On, which has begun to replace the top-selling What Color is Your Parachute? as a text in college career development. Rob has been featured in the Wall Street Journal and on WGN, ABC, and NBC where he served as a guest expert on Starting Over, an Emmy-winning reality show.
Bob Vanderhye (McC68), specialist in environment- and energy-related technology, explores the benefits of renewable energy.
11:57 minutes (5.48 MB)
Renewable energy isn’t just for the future. Many technologies are currently available that can greatly improve national health, enhance national security, and create all levels of domestic jobs. In the third and final part of this edition of Learning Tracks, Bob Vanderhye (McC68), a specialist in environment- and energy-related technology, explores the many benefits of renewable energy.
We asked alumni to sit down with us during 2008's reunion weekend and share their stories of life at Northwestern. Jack Koefoot took us up on our invitation and proved to be a true raconteur.
4:26 minutes (2.04 MB)
In this edition of 'Cat Tracks, Jack Koefoot (McC46) shares his memories of arriving at Northwestern as a wide-eyed and eager young freshman. His account of life on campus is vivid with the details of a natural-born story-teller. Jack sat down with us during 2008's Reunion Weekend.
'Cat Tracks is a production of the Northwestern Alumni Association. If you would like to share your Northwestern story, please email cattracks@northwestern.edu.
"President Obama Faces the World" covered the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as hot spots Iran and Pakistan. Stephen Kinzer brings considerable expertise to the subject. He is an award-winning correspondent who spent more than 20 years working for the New York Times. Stephen has also written books on Turkey, Iran, and most recently A Thousand Hills: Rwanda's Rebirth and the Man Who Dreamed It.
We asked alumni to sit down with us during the 2008 Reunion Weekend and share their stories of life at Northwestern. For Eddie Deerfield, his years on campus were only the beginning of a life spent traveling the world as a member of the U.S. Foreign Service.
8:45 minutes (3.51 MB)
In this edition of 'Cat Tracks, Eddie Deerfield (J50) shares his memories of how he realized his dream of attending Northwestern in the years following World War II and launched a career that spanned the globe as a member of the U.S. Foreign Service. Eddie sat down with us during 2008's Reunion Weekend.
Nationally-recognized author, consultant, and career strategist Marilyn Moats Kennedy (J65, GJ66) explores strategies for people who have been engaged in a job search for an extended period and want to seek new approaches.
6:50 minutes (2.74 MB)
The current employment market presents new challenges, and Northwestern is providing its alumni and friends with the resources and support to meet them. Marilyn Moats Kennedy (J65, GJ66) is a nationally-recognized author, consultant, and career strategist. In this Career Tracks podcast, Marilyn explores strategies for people who have been engaged in a job search for an extended period and want to seek new approaches.
In this edition of 'Cat Tracks, Bob Boone (GSESP75) remembers a professor who became a mentor to him and a life-long friend, even after an unlikely start.
4:04 minutes (1.63 MB)
Bob Boone earned his PhD in English education from the School of Education and Social Policy in 1975. He taught in Chicago, New York, and Germany before coming to Northwestern. In 1991, Bob founded Young Chicago Authors (YCA), which has helped thousands of underprivileged youths access their untapped skills in creative writing and personal expression. For his work with Young Chicago Authors, as well as for his overall dedication to teaching, he received the title of Chicagoan of the Year in 2002 from Chicago magazine.
Nationally-recognized author, consultant, and career strategist Marilyn Moats Kennedy (J65, GJ66) explores strategies for people who are re-entering the job market after a lapse in employment.
9:36 minutes (3.85 MB)
The current employment market presents new challenges, and Northwestern is providing its alumni and friends with the resources and support to meet them. Marilyn Moats Kennedy (J65, GJ66) is a nationally-recognized author, consultant, and career strategist. In this Career Tracks podcast, Marilyn explores strategies for people who are re-entering the job market after a lapse in employment.
ESPN Radio morning show co-host Mike Greenberg (J89) reflects on his career decision to “invest everything in something that means absolutely nothing” from his standing room only session at 2009's A Day with Northwestern.
32:01 minutes (12.83 MB)
For ESPN Radio Mike and Mike in the Morning co-host Mike Greenberg (J89) talking to the biggest names in sports is all in a day's work. He has been a guest on Late Night with David Letterman and Good Morning America and is author of The New York Times bestseller Why My Wife Things I'm an Idiot. Greenberg, however, manages a high-profile career with a healthy dose of perspective for what professional sports really means in the context of life as a husband and father.
In this edition of 'Cat Tracks, Howard Geltzer (J58, GJ59) reflects on his years at Medill.
3:19 minutes (1.33 MB)
Howard Geltzer (J58, GJ50) wanted to be a baseball player, but a high school coach dashed his hopes. So, he decided to cover athletics for the school paper instead. Geltzer’s interest in journalism brought him to the Medill School of Journalism. After Northwestern, he started a PR agency with his wife Sheila. In 2000, Geltzer and Company was sold to advertising giant Publicis, who named him vice president and marketing director.
Nationally-recognized author, consultant, and career strategist Marilyn Moats Kennedy (J65, GJ66) explores strategies for people who don't want to do more of what they've been doing.
8:39 minutes (3.47 MB)
The current employment market presents new challenges, and Northwestern is providing its alumni and friends with the resources and support to meet them. Marilyn Moats Kennedy (J65, GJ66) is a nationally-recognized author, consultant, and career strategist. In this Career Tracks podcast, Marilyn explores strategies for people who don't want to do more of what they've been doing.
In this edition of 'Cat Tracks, Sally Glick (SCS98) describes her return to Northwestern as an undergrad after a long, and very productive, time away.
5:44 minutes (2.3 MB)
Sally Glick (SCS98) was already a successful professional when her son convinced her to return to Northwestern to complete her undergraduate studies. She served as marketing director and firm administrator for her family's business, H. Leftwich and Associates. Since completing her BA in psychology, Glick went on to earn an MBA from the Lake Forest Graduate School of Management.
Visiting Crown Professor of Middle East studies, Dr. Elie Rekhess is one of Israel's leading experts on the Arab minority in Israel, Jewish-Arab relations, Palestinian politics, and the Islamic resurgence in the West Bank and Gaza. He is a faculty member in Tel Aviv University's Department of Middle Eastern History. For 2009's A Day with Northwestern in Evanston, Dr.
In this edition of 'Cat Tracks, Frank Galati (C65, GC67, GC71) describes how his role as a Northwestern faculty member developed and nurtured his distinguished theatre career.
5:16 minutes (2.12 MB)
Frank Galati (C65, GC67, GC71) is an accomplished professor, director, and playwright. His work has been produced by Chicago's renowned Goodman and Steppenwolf Theatres and on Broadway, where he received two Tony Awards for his direction and adaptation of The Grapes of Wrath. In Evanston, he is professor emeritus of performance studies at Northwestern's School of Communication.
Genevieve Thiers (GMu04) studied to be an opera singer, but you're more likely to hear others sing her praises as the founder and CEO of iVillage’s Sittercity.com®, an award-winning, online care-giving site for child care, pet care, senior care, home care, and tutors. She shared her story as part of 2009's A Day with Northwestern in Evanston.
32:16 minutes (12.93 MB)
As an undergraduate at Boston College, Genevieve Thiers (GMu04) babysat for over 30 families. That experience foreshadowed her career to come as the founder and CEO of iVillage’s Sittercity.com®, an award-winning, online care-giving site for child care, pet care, senior care, home care, and tutors. Thiers has appeared extensively in the media including The Today Show and CNN, and has been featured in The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times.
We asked alumni to sit down with us during the 2008 Reunion Weekend and share their stories of life at Northwestern. In this edition of 'Cat Tracks, Julie Koenig (WCAS63) and Linda Shirer (J63) remember their sorority, which was a source of fun and lifelong friendship.
2:54 minutes (1.17 MB)
In this edition of 'Cat Tracks, Julie Koenig (WCAS63) and Linda Shirer (J63) share their memories of their time at Northwestern as sorority sisters. It was a time filled with fun, friendshiop, and more than a little mischief. Julie and Linda sat down with us during 2008's Reunion Weekend.
Associate Chair and Associate Professor of English Dr. Susan Phillips describes herself as a medievalist with Early Modern leanings. Her current project traces the cultural history of the dictionaries, phrasebooks, and guides to conversations that flooded the early modern marketplace. Dr. Phillips discussed her research during 2009's A Day with Northwestern in Evanston in an engaging and entertaining presentation.
We asked alumni to sit down with us during the 2008 Reunion Weekend and share their stories of life at Northwestern. Ira Sherman (WCAS68) took us up on our offer.
3:22 minutes (1.35 MB)
In this edition of 'Cat Tracks, Ira Sherman (WCAS68) shares his memory of life at Northwestern. He is a clinical psychologist, but that's not what he expected to study when he arrived on campus. Ira sat down with us during 2008's Reunion Weekend.
'Cat Tracks is a production of the Northwestern Alumni Association. If you would like to share your Northwestern story, please email cattracks@northwestern.edu.
Dr. Regina Lopata Logan (GSESP84,93) received her second master's and PhD from Northwestern. Today, she is research assistant professor at the Foley Center for Lives. Dr. Logan's research and interest areas include generativity, as defined by the renowned psychologist Erik Erikson, which was the topic of her 2009 A Day with Northwestern in Evanston session, "Giving Back: Midlife Career Change and Generativity."
We asked alumni to sit down with us during the 2008's Reunion Weekend and share their stories of life at Northwestern. Yolanda Baker (WCAS98), Audra Savage (C98), and Anticia Whitehead (McC98) were happy to oblige...all at once!
3:25 minutes (1.37 MB)
In this edition of 'Cat Tracks, Yolanda Baker (WCAS98), Audra Savage (C98), and Anticia Whitehead (McC98) tell a tale of smart student athletes and meeting Charlton Heston. They sat down with us during 2008's Reunion Weekend.
'Cat Tracks is a production of the Northwestern Alumni Association. If you would like to share your Northwestern story, please email cattracks@northwestern.edu.
Dr. Gregory Dumanian is a respected plastic surgeon in his native Chicago. As part of a collaborative project between Northwestern's Division of Plastic Surgery and the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, he is pioneering more intuitive controls for amputees' prosthetic limbs. Dr. Dumanian's work was the subject of the session "The Bionic Arm: How Nerve Transfers Improve Control in Prosthetics."
One of the highlights of 2009's Reunion and Homecoming Weekend was the Friday afternoon session, "A Conversation with the University President and Notable Alumni." A full-house enjoyed a lively discussion moderated by the University's new president and a panel that certainly lived up to its billing; Patrick G. Ryan (Bus59), James Di Pasquale (M64), Wayne D. Watson (SESP69, GSESP70, PhD72), Bonnie Swanson Daniels (WCAS69), George de Lama (J79), Smita N.
Pat Colbert (WCAS73) is an alumni interviewer for prospective Northwestern students. During the 2008 Reunion Weekend, we turned the tables and interviewed her regarding her memories of life at Northwestern.
3:35 minutes (1.23 MB)
One of the questions we ask when we conduct 'Cat Tracks interviews is, "What advice would you have for today's Northwestern students?" Pat Colbert (WCAS73) talks to a lot of prospective students, so she's had ample opportunity to consider that question. This interview was recorded during the 2008 Reunion Weekend.
Carol Ross (McC83, GMcC87) returns to Career Tracks with an interview with Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences alum and author Daniel Pink about his new book of career advice aimed at, but not exclusively for, Generation Y.
49:44 minutes (19.92 MB)
Daniel Pink graduated with honors from Northwestern and went on to Yale Law School. He served several roles in government including chief speechwriter to Vice President Al Gore before embarking on a successful career as an author. He spoke about his most recent books, Drive and The Adventures of Johnny Bunko, with Carol Ross (McC83, GMcC87) , career coach, social entrepreneur, and founder of Carol Ross and Associates.
