Cover Story
Stopping Gun Violence
Professor Andrew Papachristos uses network science to curb gun violence.
Winter 2025
Voices
From a Rose Bowl upset in 1949 to a buzzer beater basketball win in 2017, alumni recall their favorite Wildcat moments.
Led by Megan York Roberts, the Reduce the Wait project provides virtual autism diagnostic evaluations to more than 1,000 toddlers across Illinois — focusing on families from underserved areas — with the goal of creating a diagnostic pathway that is more efficient than the current system.
Hillary Simms, doctor of musical arts student in Northwestern’s Bienen School of Music and the first woman trombonist on the faculty at the Juilliard School, explains her love-hate relationship with the trombone.
News
Professor Judith Moskowitz developed a toolkit of eight skills, including practicing self-compassion and savoring positive events, that have been proven to reduce anxiety, boost your mood and improve well-being.
On the men’s soccer field, brothers Reese Mayer and Bryant Mayer have found an honorary brother in Nigel Prince. The three student-athletes shore up the Wildcats’ back-line defense on the pitch, but they’ve got each other’s backs off the field too.
Students in the Class of 2028 hail from all 50 states and 90 countries. Meet some of these rising stars.
The first Black woman to become a certified public accountant in the United States, Mary T. Washington Wylie ’41 broke barriers and opened doors for a new generation of Black CPAs.
Through Kellogg’s Levy Inspiration Grant Program, young entrepreneurs conduct firsthand research abroad to investigate potential business ideas. Students have traveled to Guyana, Switzerland, Vietnam, Japan and Australia to look into innovations in rum production, dairy farming, last-mile delivery services, mental health treatments using psilocybin, and putting insects on the menu at restaurants.
Alumni
For Lindsay Vahl Dean, the opportunity to shape how Northwestern interacts with its global alumni community was too good to pass up. “I am thrilled by the chance to create spaces where alumni can deepen their experiences with the University and one another,” says Vahl Dean, who became assistant vice president of alumni engagement and executive director of the Northwestern Alumni Association (NAA) in July after a national search.
Recently elected president of the NAA Board of Directors, Kristin McDonnell is excited to lead an organization dedicated to the personal and intellectual growth of a diverse, international community of more than 260,000 alumni. A graduate of the McCormick School of Engineering, McDonnell mentors student entrepreneurs and serves on the Farley Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation Advisory Board and Kellogg Tech Council.
My Northwestern Direction
Shonali Ditz’s time in Northwestern Formula Racing led her to found SparkShop, a nonprofit delivering engineering curricula to Chicago students underrepresented in STEM.
Impact
Launched in 2015 in a converted space within a campus parking structure, The Garage has helped more than 10,000 students explore the world of entrepreneurship. Ten years later, it has expanded beyond the Evanston campus, utilizing Northwestern’s academic space in San Francisco to offer programming for Bay Area alumni who are a part of the startup ecosystem.
The Block of Museum of Art’s Woven Being exhibit showcases Chicagoland’s many Indigenous art histories, with more than 80 works of various materials — including painting, basket weaving, bead work, sculpture, photography and mixed media.
Northwestern’s Institute for New Music organizes workshops, symposia and residencies for visiting composers and ensembles and gives students opportunities to interact with and learn from prominent figures in the new music world.
People
In 2024 interdisciplinary artist Lilli Carré ’16 MFA won a prestigious Guggenheim Fellowship in the film-video category. Northwestern Magazine asked Carré about the inspiration behind her artwork and what she’s exploring next.
André Crump ’91 MBA founded the World Dog Surfing Championships, which brings thousands of canine lovers to the shore of Linda Mar Beach outside San Francisco to watch the world’s best four-legged surfers catch some waves each summer.
Jehana Ray founded PackLess Travel, a clothing rental service helping tourists travel lighter.
Katlyn Gao is co-founder and CEO of League One Volleyball (LOVB), the largest youth volleyball community in the U.S. The organization is launching LOVB Pro, a women’s volleyball professional circuit that’s set to begin regular season play this January with franchises in six U.S.
After struggling to get his young daughter to learn the rules of football, Mike Schroder launched Future Fans, a series of activity boxes that help kids learn the rules of the game through picture books and fun games. It’s about creating opportunities intergenerational connection, he says.
Susan Avery ’90 MS founded the Pacemakers, a dance team fighting stigma around aging. The group has developed a worldwide following.
Stephen Polozie ’96 JD shares the serendipitous way he met his future wife on a campus tour.
Ajit Kalra ’20 MBA spent his childhood traveling and tasting new foods with his late father, Jiggs Kalra, a renowned restaurateur, food writer and TV personality in New Delhi. Now Kalra is bringing his culinary adventures to his newest restaurant, Indus Progressive Indian, which he opened with his wife, Sukhu.
Anamaria Sayre ’21 is co-host of NPR Music’s Alt.Latino, where she celebrates Latinx culture as NPR’s youngest-ever full-time host. She also produces El Tiny, the Latin music version of Tiny Desk Concerts.
