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When Rena Cotsones came to NIU in 1999 to establish the university’s first Office of Community Relations, little did she know she would go on to earn her master’s and doctoral degrees there and help build NIU’s Division of Outreach, Engagement and Regional Development (OERD) into a force for good in the region and beyond.
Over the years, Cotsones has cultivated relationships with nonprofits, community colleges, and civic and industry leaders. She’s helped to establish community-based, industry-integrated programs and develop shared leadership for community engagement across NIU. Her ambitious vision has built upon the legacy of former OERD Vice President Anne Kaplan and helped NIU secure its position as a Carnegie Engaged Institution and a trusted partner in the region.
“Engagement is a central pillar of NIU’s mission,” NIU President Lisa C. Freeman said. “In her role as vice president, Rena has advanced an inclusive, collaborative and institutionally aligned vision for community engagement across our university.
“Her steadfast commitment to authentic partnership has strengthened community trust and established a strong foundation for continued growth and impact in the years ahead.”
Looking back, Cotsones says she was always interested in civic and community issues in her small hometown of Kankakee, Illinois. She studied journalism and started her career as a television reporter but soon became unsatisfied to just observe and report.
“I wanted to be an active participant, bringing people together to solve the problems and capitalize on the opportunities I was seeing,” Cotsones said. “NIU was the perfect place to make that happen.”
Cotsones’ colleagues recently summed up her contributions with four key words: “strategic,” “effective,” “collaborative” and “fun.” They also added “panache,” reflecting Cotsones’ penchant for ensuring lively, colorful environments for meetings.
Cotsones is most proud of the collective work OERD, the NIU Engagement Task Force and the Engagement Roundtable have accomplished over the past six years.
“Community engagement has always been part of NIU’s DNA, but right now I believe the momentum and support for community engagement across the university is the highest it’s ever been,” Cotsones said. “We’ve brought people together around a shared vision, all working for the common good, and it is a joy to see the results around campus and beyond.
“I can’t wait to see what happens next.”