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People & Profiles

Robert Nowakowski ’92 became the third Northwestern alumnus currently serving as a rear admiral or higher from the University’s Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps. He entered the ranks of the Navy’s senior executives in a tradition-filled ceremony at the Great Lakes Naval Station near Waukegan, Ill.

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rear admiral robert nowakowski and family
When Claudia López ’19 PhD began her doctorate in political science at Northwestern in 2011, she was already well known in her native Colombia as an activist, political researcher and fearless investigative reporter. Before López was awarded her degree last June, she had also served four years as a Colombian senator, beat cancer, run as the vice presidential candidate for the Green Alliance Party in 2018, triumphed over stereotypes as a proud lesbian and inspired a new generation of voters.

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claudia lopez mayor-elect bogota, colombia
In her new book, New York Times best-selling author Maria Goodavage explores the cutting-edge science behind how dogs are able to detect disease and help people who suffer from a wide range of physical and mental health conditions.

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maria goodavage and labrador
Last month, when Jayne Atkinson stepped out on opening night in her one-woman show, Ann, you first noticed the swirl of white hair. How could you miss it?

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jayne atkinson ann richards phone
Champion triathlete and medical researcher Jacquie Godbe is helping develop and improve stem cell treatments.

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jacquie godbe 2018 chicago triathlon
As a James Beard Award–winning journalist for New York Magazine, Sierra Tishgart ’12 ate at some of New York City’s finest restaurants, but she wanted to cook better meals at home and realized she needed different pots and pans. Frustrated by the potential expense and unsure about what cookware she needed and why, Tishgart set out to create her own line of kitchenware, Great Jones.

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sierra tishgart great jones cookware
Rosanna Hertz, author of Random Families, interviewed more than 350 children, their parents and gamete donors to explore how they used cultural narratives about genes and genetics to understand their relationship to their immediate families and donor networks.

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random families cover

Nod of Approval

Summer 2019
Phil Sklar co-founded the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum, which opened its doors near Milwaukee’s Historic Third Ward this past February. More than 6,500 bobbleheads are featured on location, a display so large that Guinness World Records may name it the largest bobblehead collection by this summer.

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phil sklar founder national bobblehead hall of fame and museum
When you’re the child of two Holocaust survivors, as I am, the enormity of that event stays with you forever. And yet, because it’s your own parents who suffered so greatly, you find it difficult — if not impossible — to talk to them about it.

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elie wiesel
Oklahoma highway patrolman Clinton Riggs was a student at the Northwestern Traffic Institute, now the Center for Public Safety, in 1939 when he created the yield sign as a class assignment. His goal was to improve public safety and determine liability in an accident.

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clinton riggs first yield sign