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Longtime residents of DeKalb County, Jim and Linda Mason came to DeKalb in 1964 when they entered NIU as students. Over four decades later, both are strong members of the DeKalb and NIU communities. The Masons also have gained a sense of responsibility to their adopted home.
On their participation in the Barsema Alumni and Visitors Center project:
When people really get involved in the community, they have a responsibility to pay it back in any way their abilities allow them to. It’s time to show the community that the relationship is solidified. There is a time and place to get involved. This is the time – and this is the place.
What does it mean to you to be involved in a project of such importance for the university?
It’s quite an honor to have our names there. We both grew up in the suburbs, we both came to NIU to attend school and we ended up staying in the community. We have been very pleased with the direction President John Peters is taking NIU. He’s taking it to a new level, and he’s interested in the quality of education and just how the university is perceived in the community, statewide and nationally. We think he’s doing an excellent job.
What is your personal philanthropic philosophy?
We both feel very strongly about giving back to the community, and that’s why over the years I’ve done a lot of volunteer work,” says Linda, who is involved with Kishwaukee Community Hospital’s auxiliary and foundation and serves on the Board of Trustees for Kishwaukee Community College. “When you do volunteer work, you get back much more than you give."
What does NIU mean to you?
Northern taught us how to think. It gave us the opportunity to organize our thoughts and thought processes, and to interface with all types of personalities. It also made us appreciate divergent views, whether in business or sociologically. DeKalb County is very diverse, and it’s stimulating to us to be among all these different cultures and philosophies.
Is there anything that you’d like to say to those who will enjoy the center?
We want them to realize that Northern has arrived – and that we appreciate the presence of new faces. This is a world-class university, and a world-class building. This is an additional tool the university can use to attract alumni back and hopefully get them to be involved with the university and make donations. It becomes more important each year as we see what’s happening with state funding. NIU needs alumni support to do the extra venues.
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Barsema Alumni and
Visitors Center
231 N. Annie Glidden Rd.
DeKalb, IL 60115
815.753.1534
815.753.0278 (fax)
Located on the campus of
Northern Illinois University |
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