NLU Faculty Senate
The Senate is the board of the Faculty Association, the principal agent of faculty governance at National Louis University.
Shared governance provides an avenue for faculty and administration to collaborate on decisions regarding the structures, policies, and processes at the University used to make decisions and set policy for faculty and academics. This includes a number of stakeholders: Students, Administration, Adjunct Council, Faculty Senate, and the Board of Trustees, for example.
To learn more about the history and mission of NLU, please read about NLU.
NLU Shared Governance is guided by the Faculty Association Constitution, which outlines the structure of the shared governance model for the university, among other guidelines. As stated in the constitution’s preamble:
“The Constitution and Bylaws of the Faculty Association of National Louis University (NLU) is established in order to promote the effectiveness of the University in the discharge of its institutional responsibilities; effect a closer coordination among the various faculties, campuses and centers; provide a forum for the fullest possible communication and discussion of problems and concerns pertinent to the welfare and adequate functioning of the faculty and the University; and offer opportunities for using the special and creative competencies of the faculty in the formation and implementation of the educational programs of the University.”
In short, the Shared Governance model exists as the mechanism to broker communication and deliberation to ensure the effective operation of academic programs and to address problems and concerns of the faculty.
We encourage the full participation of faculty and other interested persons in the deliberations of the Faculty Senate and Faculty Association. All Senate meetings are open and held on the third Friday of every month from 12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
DEI and Black Lives Matter Resolution of the Faculty Senate
Senator Profiles
Senate Leadership
Orinna Clark, Chair (Undergraduate College)
Orinna Clark is the Science Department Chair for the Undergraduate College at NLU. She is a fierce advocate for students, a lifelong learner, a researcher, and a STEM educator whose mission is to design equitable, culturally relevant science curricula and programs for both science and non-science majors—with the goal to simultaneously empower and engage students. She completed her B.S. in Marine Science at Long Island University and then went on to get her M.S. in Marine Biology, Conservation, and Environmental Science as well as an M.A.T. in STEM teaching and assessment at the University of South Carolina. In her EdD program, she focused on undergraduate science literacy and STEM programs. Her work blends real-world projects, community partnerships, and cutting-edge tools like AI and participatory photography. She creates joyful, engaging learning spaces that inspire students across disciplines. As one of her students said: “Prof Clark cares about us and shows us that we can love science and that we can make a difference!”
Michael Krause, Past Chair (Kendall)
Michael Krause is a retired hotelier with nearly 40 years in hospitality. As an owner-operator, Mr. Krause's properties included major brands at multiple levels and the first non-gaming all-suite hotel in Las Vegas. After his hotel ownership/management tenure, Mr. Krause continued his hospitality career as the Executive Director of The Alaska Hotel & Lodging Association and then as an Advertising Director of the largest travel publishing company in the U.S. He has served as President of the Southern Arizona Innkeeper's Association, the Arizona Hotel & Lodging Association, the Arizona Director Representative to the AH&LA, and was the Governor-appointed Chairman of the Arizona Office of Tourism. Additionally, he served on many community-based business and charitable associations. Mr. Krause believes strongly that one of the roles of a good hospitality owner/operator/manager is to be visible and supportive in the community. He presently serves on the Board of Directors for the Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association Educational Foundation. Throughout his career, he has been devoted to preparing students for hospitality careers. He is one of the founders of the Hospitality School at Pima Junior College (Tucson, AZ). He has taught at Chicago City Colleges, Evelyn Echols Hospitality School, Triton College, Kendall College/National Louis University. Mr. Krause is a Certified Hotel Administrator (C.H.A.) from the AH &LA and its Michigan State Hospitality Program, a Certified Hotel Industry Analyst (CHIA), earned a Bachelor of Arts (BA) Degree from the University of Arizona and holds a Master of Science in Higher Education (MSEd) with a concentration in teaching and learning.
Sarah Leeman, Senate Chair Elect (University Library)
Sarah Leeman is Associate Professor and Teaching and Learning Librarian with the NLU University Library. She holds a Master’s of Library and Information Studies from UW Madison and a Master of Science in Written Communication from National Louis University. As library faculty, Sarah teaches in a variety of modalities and settings, including offering one-on-one consultations, online workshops, and guest lectures through the University Library, as well as teaching Gen Ed courses in research, writing, and student success. She works to support NLU students in becoming engaged researchers and responsible creators and consumers of information. She is especially interested in critical information literacy instruction and user experience as it relates to online learning and course development.
Karin Steinbrueck, Senate Secretary (Undergraduate College)
Karin Steinbrueck, Ph.D. (she/her) is Assistant Professor with a dual appointment to the Humanities and Social Science Departments in the Undergraduate College. She teaches World History and courses in the Humanities Minor. Karin holds a Ph.D. in modern European history from Northwestern University with a specialization in Eastern and Central Europe and the former Soviet Union and a minor in Ottoman studies. Her research interests include totalitarian systems, disaster response, and the political police. Her first book Disaster Response by Ceausescu's Communist Regime in Romania: The 1977 Earthquake (Routledge, 2025) is the first comprehensive history using extensive primary sources to trace the 1977 earthquake disaster response by the Ceausescu communist regime, contextualizing its contribution to the public risk that remains in Romania's capital Bucharest. Before teaching, Karin was a photojournalist and education program evaluator and served as a Peace Corps Volunteer and Boren Fellow in Moldova and a Fulbright scholar in Romania. Before her term as the UGC Faculty Senator (2024-27) she served on the Faculty Professional Standards and Compensation Committee (FPSCC) and the Institution Promotion, Tenure, and Recognition Committee (IPTRC). Outside of NLU you can find her running daily, playing tennis competitively, and spending time with her spouse and two high school-aged kiddos.
Senate Committee Rosters AY2025-2026
Learning Quality Committee (LQC) - creates a vision for teaching and learning environments and set standards for excellence in the delivery of instruction in all modalities
Faculty Professional Standards and Compensation Committee (FPSCC) - ensures that the interests of all full-time and adjunct faculty are represented in regard to faculty salaries, fringe benefits, work environments, travel reimbursement, and other aspects of the quality of work life.
Faculty Development Committee (FDC) - ensures professional opportunities are available to support faculty excellence in teaching and in scholarly work and manage the sabbatical and faculty performance review processes.
Institutional Promotion, Tenure and Recognition Committee (IPTRC) - conducts reviews for promotion and tenure, faculty awards, and emeritus status in alignment with the Academic Promotion and Tenure Policy, Faculty Awards Policy, and Emeritus Policy.
Student Academic Standards Committee (SASC) - develops University-wide student policies related to academic standards, admission, retention, academic probation, dismissal, plagiarism, appeals, graduation of students, financial scholarships, and fellowships. SASC shall recommend these policies to the Senate.
University Curriculum Committee (UCC) - oversees the academic planning and curricular process to ensure that the institution demonstrates excellence across its curriculum portfolio. It shall recommend and monitor policies for review, assessment, and accreditation of programs at the university.
Adjunct Council Senator
Susan Neustrom (Chair of Adjunct Faculty Council)
Dr. Neustrom has been teaching at NLU since 2007 in a variety of undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs, including the MBA program, Business Management, Applied Behavior Science, McCormick Center for Early Childhood Education, Masters in Human Services, Masters in Organizational Leadership, and Doctor in Business Administration. Currently, she serves as a Professional Adjunct Lecturer (PAL) for the Master of Human Resource Management in the Graduate School of Business and Leadership and is the chair of the Adjunct Faculty Council. With over 30 years of experience in corporate and nonprofit leadership positions, she holds an Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership from Argosy University, an M.A. in Organizational Leadership with a concentration in Training and Development from Lewis University, a B.S. in Management from National Louis University, and a certificate in Wholebeing Positive Psychology.
College of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Senators
Suzzette Fromm Reed
Dr. Suzette Fromm Reed, Associate Professor, founding director/chair of National Louis University’s (NLU) Ph.D. program in Community Psychology. Prior to NLU, she led national and local child welfare organizations. She holds an MA in Clinical Psychology and a Ph.D. in Psychology in the Public Interest. Her research focuses on the buffering role of community resilience against Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs).
Ray Legler
Ray Legler is a faculty member in the Community Psychology PhD program in the College of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences. Dr. Legler earned his PhD in Ecological/Community Psychology from Michigan State University and has been working on youth development and education issues in the Chicago area for over 25 years. Prior to joining the faculty at National Louis, he served as Director of Research and Evaluation at After School Matters in Chicago. Dr. Legler’s current work involves supporting a local youth and community development organization called My Block My Hood My City. In addition to serving as a member of the Board of Directors, he consults with the organization to help build its capacity in program evaluation and asset-based community development. Dr. Legler has published research and policy work on school-to-work transition, academic achievement gaps, and school-community partnerships. In addition, he has led program evaluations of educational technology and after-school programs and supported the development of school-community partnerships in the Roseland, Brighton Park, and Bronzeville neighborhoods of Chicago.
Kendall Senator
Chef Jack Campbell
Chef Campbell started his cooking career in high school at Ground Round Restaurants in the Chicago area. He studied electrical engineering in college and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in engineering from Southern Illinois University. Throughout college he worked in various restaurants and by his senior year he was working full time as a cook and still studying for his BSEE degree. After graduating from SIU, Chef Campbell went to the Culinary Institute of America where he graduated as valedictorian with his culinary degree. His first chef position was at an off-premise catering company, but was then hired by Lettuce Entertain You, as a sous chef. He helped open The Big Bowl Café as well as Wildfire Steakhouse, followed by a position of Executive Chef at The Mity Nice Grill in Water Tower Place, and then at Maggiano’s.
A career move to Boston led him to the executive chef position at Legal Seafoods. He then worked at an Italian steakhouse where he was tapped to help open a new seafood concept as corporate chef. This concept, Naked Fish, won the NRN’s Hot Concept Award in 2000. After helping to grow the concept to ten locations he then left to own his own restaurant, Tullio’s. This was an Italian Restaurant located just south of Boston. After 5 years he sold the restaurant and moved back to Chicago. Chef Campbell worked as the operations manager at Chili-U in Libertyville for five years. During that time, he also worked as an adjunct instructor at Kendall College. In 2019, he was hired to be a full-time instructor at Kendall College and in 2022 Chef Campbell earned his MBA from National Louis University. He was recently promoted to Assistant Professor at Kendall College. Chef Campbell lives in Libertyville, has three sons, and his favorite hobby is golf, or better yet watching his three sons play golf.
Library Senator
Sarah Leeman
Sarah Leeman is Associate Professor and Teaching and Learning Librarian with the NLU University Library. She holds a Master’s of Library and Information Studies from UW Madison and a Master of Science in Written Communication from National Louis University. As library faculty, Sarah teaches in a variety of modalities and settings, including offering one-on-one consultations, online workshops, and guest lectures through the University Library, as well as teaching Gen Ed courses in research, writing, and student success. She works to support NLU students in becoming engaged researchers and responsible creators and consumers of information. She is especially interested in critical information literacy instruction and user experience as it relates to online learning and course development.
National College of Education Senators
Hyeju Han
Hyeju Han is an Assistant Professor in the National College of Education at National Louis University and serves as a co-chair for the Curriculum and Instruction program within the Advanced Professionals Program. She is a dedicated advocate for equitable and inclusive education for all students in K–12 classroom settings. Prior to joining NLU, Hyeju worked as an elementary school teacher, university instructor, and research coordinator, gaining extensive experience in diverse educational settings with culturally, linguistically, and ethnically diverse students. She earned a Ph.D. in Language, Literacy, and Culture from the Department of Teaching, Learning, and Leading at the University of Pittsburgh.
Xiuwen Wu
Dr. Xiuwen Wu is an associate professor of special education at National Louis University (NLU). Dr. Wu primarily teaches the mathematics methods course, Methods and Content in Mathematics for Students with Disabilities. Dr. Wu’s research focuses on using effective strategies and game-based learning to help all learners—including those with mathematical learning difficulties or dyscalculia—develop procedural and conceptual proficiency in mathematics. She has conducted grant-supported research and presented her work, including workshops, at conferences such as the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM), American Educational Research Association (AERA), and Council for Exceptional Children (CEC). She is particularly interested in supporting pre-service and in-service teachers in implementing game-based learning and mathematics interventions.
Graduate School of Business and Leadership Senators
Jacqueline Samuel
Jacqueline Samuel, Ph.D., is the Program Director of the Master of Public Administration and an Associate Professor. Jacqueline returned to NLU after earning her MA in Public Policy and Ph.D. in Community Psychology. Previously, Jacqueline was the Project Manager for the Housing Authority of Cook County, South Suburban Safe and Thriving Communities Program to address youth violence in 3 suburban townships. She also facilitated and developed quality-of-life programs for 10 years in the South Chicago Area. She has served on the Health and Healing Committee/ Mayor Emanuel’s Commission for a Safer Chicago, the Mayor Emanuel’s Kitchen Cabinet Commercial Development Advisory, Advocate Trinity Hospital Community Health Council, Community Advisory Review Council for the Institute for Translational Medicine (CARC), and the Illinois ACE’s Response Collaborative. Her dissertation was about community engagement titled, “Advancing the Block Club Model as a Violence Reduction Strategy.” She was also a Co-Investigator for Community Academic Collaboration to Prevent Violence in Chicago, Research for Lurie Children’s Hospital, and Strengthening Chicago’s Youth. Her most recent awards include the AWBC Magazine, Egretha Award for Community Health and Wellbeing, National Louis University REACH Award, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital Courage Award, and the Chicago Police Department CAPS Award for the 4th District area. Jackie was born and raised in Chicago. She loves the arts and has performed in numerous plays and films in Chicago. She is currently the Board President of the Chicago Blues Revival, NP.
Recent Publication: https://press.rebus.community/communitypsychologypractice/
Undergraduate College Senators
Karin Steinbreuck
Karin Steinbrueck, Ph.D. (she/her) is Assistant Professor with a dual appointment to the Humanities and Social Science Departments in the Undergraduate College. She teaches World History and courses in the Humanities Minor. Karin holds a Ph.D. in modern European history from Northwestern University with a specialization in Eastern and Central Europe and the former Soviet Union and a minor in Ottoman studies. Her research interests include totalitarian systems, disaster response, and the political police. Her first book Disaster Response by Ceausescu's Communist Regime in Romania: The 1977 Earthquake (Routledge, 2025) is the first comprehensive history using extensive primary sources to trace the 1977 earthquake disaster response by the Ceausescu communist regime, contextualizing its contribution to the public risk that remains in Romania's capital, Bucharest. Before teaching, Karin was a photojournalist and education program evaluator and served as a Peace Corps Volunteer and Boren Fellow in Moldova and a Fulbright scholar in Romania. Before her term as the UGC Faculty Senator (2024-27) she served on the Faculty Professional Standards and Compensation Committee (FPSCC) and the Institution Promotion, Tenure, and Recognition Committee (IPTRC). Outside of NLU you can find her running daily, playing tennis competitively, and spending time with her spouse and two high school-aged kiddos.
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Faculty Policies
To see a list of faculty policies, please visit the Faculty Guidebook.
Faculty Senate SharePoint Site
Minutes of Senate meetings and other important documents related to the work of the Senate can be found on the Faculty Senate SharePoint site. We hope that you will use this to keep informed about faculty affairs at NLU.
