Share this story!

When Mark Lamb, who graduated in 1973 with a journalism degree, sent his own children to college—a daughter to University of Wisconsin and a son to University of Michigan before law school—he began to realize how much his own alma mater gifted him.

“Personally, I went to NIU at a time when it didn’t cost a lot to go to a state university,” Lamb said. “As a matter of fact, I could almost make enough money on my summer job to pay tuition and room and board. Coupled with the fact that I received a talented student scholarship, which paid for tuition and books, and had paid staff jobs at the University radio station, yearbook/magazine and TV-8 News, I actually made money going to NIU!”

Lamb began reflecting on what he might owe NIU—how little he paid for that great education and experiences, not to mention meeting his wife Donna, ’73, and a raft of lifelong friends. Knowing that college is much more expensive for students today and that many Huskies are first-generation students or come from families without financial resources, he decided to find a way to try to repay his good fortune.

After starting as a journalist, at first, and then enjoying a 50-year career as an executive in the gift card printing industry, Lamb looked for ways to make a difference. He began working with the NIU Alumni Association to encourage students who were considering coming to NIU.

“There’s something about talking to prospective NIU students and young Huskies that is so fulfilling and fun for me,” he said. “I love seeing who is coming to the University, and really they are the same kinds of kids who attended NIU when I was there—hard-working students who are making their way in the world.”

In addition to donating funds, he also began serving on the Advisory Board for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

“I’ve served on a number of boards in my life, and I didn’t want to be a part of something where I just listened and didn’t have any input,” Lamb said. “I agreed to be a part of the advisory board on one condition—I wanted to actually be able to help make decisions for the betterment of the college and the students. I think, for the most part, we have been able to do that.”

Today, as president of Optimum Card Solutions, based in Addison, Illinois, Lamb leads a team at the forefront of the gift card industry, having innovated the business to provide more eco-friendly, paper gift card options, alongside more traditional plastic cards. He credits his time at NIU for teaching him the ins and outs of running a business and managing people.

“I don’t think too many people who go to college have the opportunity to run a small business while they were going to school,” he said. “As editor of the Norther, I had to manage writers, photographers, secretaries—a diverse group of students. Herding all those cats, I became an expert. I had to motivate and talk to people all differently because everybody is different.”

Lamb hopes other alumni will consider what opportunities NIU made possible and that they may volunteer their time and donate funds, as well.

“Maybe there are more alumni out there who haven’t considered the ‘value’ they received going to Northern when they did,” he said. “Now we find ourselves in times where students and families are having to take out tens of thousands of dollars in loans to be able to complete a college degree. Places like NIU and most of their students need all the financial help they can secure.”

“How could I not give back now? NIU gave me my friends, my wife, my career… My whole life.”