I am a teacher with many years of classroom experience. I love teaching and helping every student reach their goals. I believe that everyone can learn with patience and support.

Hi, my name is Jake Meline and I'm a second year student at Loyola University Chicago. It is my goal to tutor you to the best of my abilities and to equip you with the tools to succeed in the classroom. I look forward to meeting you!

I am a second year student at Loyola University Chicago pursuing a double major in Spanish and Cell & Molecular Neuroscience!I have a strong background in science and mathematics, especially in biology, anatomy, and medical terminology as well as algebra, geometry, and trigonometry. Additionally, I am incredibly passionate about history and social sciences, haven taken AP United States History, AP Human Geography, and AP Psychology in high school.As a language student that has been learning Spanish for seven years (and counting), I am very comfortable in helping you improve your language skills and guiding you on how to adapt learning a language in a way that suits your learning style best.In the past, I have been a teacher at a learning center for students ages 3+, teaching them in mathematics and English reading. As a teacher, I was able to acquire the skills of adapting my teaching style to individualize and meet a student's specific needs and learning style.Outside of my academics and tutoring, I enjoy photography, art, and music and I play the violin, guitar, piano, as well as sing.

I am a graduate student, working towards my Master of Public Administration and Master of Diplomacy and International Relations from Seton Hall University. I recently graduated from Loyola University Chicago with degrees in International Studies and French.I love learning, reading, and exploring the world around me through kayaking, skiing, hiking, and biking! I am also an avid opera fan and enjoy the fine arts in general. Languages and different cultures have always been a passion of mine, and I love to make connections from around the world in my learning and teaching. I enjoy tutoring French at all levels. Reading and writing are favorite pastimes of mine, and I was a student who actually thoroughly enjoyed taking the SAT, ACT, and PSAT reading/writing sections!I have a passion for helping others find enjoyment in standardized test taking (no matter what it takes!) and securing the best strategies for their success. Editing is another 'hobby' of mine, and I am always eager to work through a paper with someone. My goal in a learning environment is to facilitate a patient but still energized atmosphere in regards to knowledge. I am looking forward to working with your student!

I am currently a 4th year PhD student conducting research in the topics of Organic, Organometallic, and Computational Chemistry. I graduated with a BS in Biochemistry from Loyola University Chicago. I have over 7 years of experience mentoring undergraduate students in organic chemistry. I have over 2 years of experience as a teaching assistant and over 5 years of experience as a research assistant in organic chemistry.I know that organic chemistry can be a tough subject to tackle, but with the right approach it is more than possible. I want my students to understand the basics of organic chemistry and the "why" behind the questions. I want to help my students map out the logic of organic chemical reactions and to understand the basic principles that guide organic reactions. With this this kind of approach students are able to develop a much more in depth understanding of chemistry and this makes it easier to approach and solve various problems in organic chemistry.Please feel free to contact me with any questions and I will be more than happy to set up a session as soon as possible!

Anything I set out to do, I put forth 100% of my effort. I am a college graduate from Loyola University in Chicago with a BS degree in Physics. I will pursue a PhD in Chemistry.I am a very logical and rational person, and I believe that is reflected in how I teach my students. I do my best to have students understand concepts rather than just memorizing them, which will help problems become much easier in the long run.I try not to force students into doing something but rather, encourage them. I do appreciate a little sense of humor. I am known to be able to put a smile on anyone's face.

I am a graduate of Loyola University Chicago. I received my Bachelor of Arts in Journalism with a minor in sociology. After graduation, I worked as staff writer at a local newspaper in Wooster, Ohio for three years. Then, I served as an AmeriCorps VISTA, working to coordinate and support a grassroots mentorship program for middle and high schoolers. Currently, I am in the process of preparing to apply for graduate school to pursue a doctorate in psychology.I tutor reading and writing from elementary to high school as well as ACT English and essay revision. Writing is my favorite subject to tutor because I get to witness the evolution that takes place as one's craft improves. I would describe my tutoring style as catering to the unique needs of each individual and my teaching philosophy to is to create a safe space where learning will be possible.

I graduated from Loyola University Chicago. I am a Molecular Neuroscience major with a minor in Chemistry! As you can tell from my major and minor, I love science! Because of my major, I have learned a lot of material in certain subjects and with teaching experience, would love to share and teach some material to those who want/need it! I found my passion with medicine ever since I was little, but I recently just found my passion in teaching!

I gained the majority of my tutoring experience from working as a high school science teacher for a prestigious independent school in Chicago. With our small class sizes, I gave lots of one-on-one attention to students both during and after class. Though I decided a teaching career is not for me, I miss the one-on-one interactions I had with students and helping them with their individual needs. I learned that patience, attention, and time will get almost any student anywhere they may want to go academically. While some students may not receive the accolades they desire to obtain, if a student begins to appreciate the path and process of learning by itself, they will find they are rarely disappointed with their academic results.Although my degrees are in Chemistry, I really enjoy tutoring physics and statistics. Those two subjects are notorious for producing a fair amount of anxiety in students, so I relish in showing how manageable physics and statistics can be for anyone. I help students learn how to overcome their anxieties by guiding them to become better problem solvers. The problem solving skills they will develop under my tutelage will be useful not only in those subjects but carry over to other academic subjects and life in general.My academic background includes graduating from Loyola University Chicago with a BA in Chemistry and Physics minor. I received a MS in Chemistry from Carnegie Mellon University specializing in Theoretical/Physical Chemistry. I will be starting a Master’s program in the fall for Data Science at IIT. During that time, I will continue to tutor. When I am not "nerding" out on programming and science, I relax over video games, board games with friends, and playing the piano.

I am currently a senior at Loyola University Chicago pursuing degrees in Psychology and Social Work. In the fall, I'll begin my Master's of Social Work with a focus on working with children and families. I am passionate about helping students gain confidence in their academics through a gentle yet direct approach. My areas of specialty are Psychology, English, and ACT prep. When working with others, I have a goal of empowering them to see and achieve their full potential, which I accomplish through directive strategies that allow students to explore different theories and learning practices than they'd considered. I will provide individual-based tutoring that is catered towards the student's needs to ensure their success.

I started working with an after-school program in late 2012. I tutored K-8 in various subjects. I then moved on to tutor adults, and I currently tutor freshman and sophomores in the Chicago Public High School setting. I believe education is vital to advance in life and I want to make it fun for whoever I come across.

A graduate of Loyola University, where I completed my Bachelors of Science in Psychology with a minor in English as well as a Masters of Education in Special Education. I also completed endorsements in Educational Leadership at National Louis University and Director of Special Education at the University of St. Francis. I am an experienced Special Educator and Educational Coordinator with thirty-one years of experience with students of various academic abilities. I have a strong background in social sciences and am skilled in Microsoft Office, Google Suite, public speaking, leadership, Junior High and Secondary Education, communication with staff, districts, and families, IEP writing and implementation, and training and evaluation.

I am a graduate of Loyola University Chicago with an Honors BS in Biology and an Honors BA in French, and have been a tutor for years. Having worked in countries all over the world, I am comfortable working with a diverse range of people, regardless of their language fluency and subject expertise. Since graduating, I have been attending a post-bac program at the University of Toronto in intensive Spanish and Arabic, before continuing on to medical school. I have also been tutoring numerous subjects for over 10 years, including Math, French, and Biology. I truly believe that it is with individual attention helps maximize one's full potential. Tutoring has shown me that everyone has the ability to succeed with hard work and the right means of studying.

Education is the key to success!

I believe firmly that learning and exam preparation is a journey and I like to help students create their own path. I am a graduate of Loyola University Chicago, where I majored in political science. I am currently a law student at Chicago-Kent College of Law, and aspire one day to practice corporate law with a focus on financial compliance.I grew up in Silicon Valley and have seen what intense pressure to succeed does to young minds. Given my life experiences, I told myself that if I ever were to tutor, I would do so to assure students that everything would be okay and to work with them in a reduced-stress environment. My top three goals are to give students skills to succeed in life, to help them manage stress during this trying time in their lives, and to give them guidance for future success.My biggest joy in tutoring comes from working with students to figure out what works best for them and building relationships with them. Tutoring to me isn't just about giving information for them to recycle for a test, but rather giving students longstanding skills for problem-solving, exam preparation, and navigating high school and college.In addition to working with students on content for exams, I also program calculator programs for TI-84 calculators so that students can spend more time on problems that may take up more time.In my free time (when I have it), I work on curriculum for students, spend time with my friends and cat, and enjoy watching Frasier and Portlandia.

I am currently a Product Designer. I graduated from Loyola University with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. Aside from work, I am a dancer teacher and love to teach core school subjects well! Specifically Math and sciencesI strongly believe in education. You are always a student, no matter the age, you are always learning.As a tutor, I strongly believe in incentives. Setting small goals and rewards will definitely motivate you to do better as long as you set your mind to it and work hard. I have a passion to teach and see others grow better as a student! I hope that as your tutor, I can help you be a more confident, successful student!

I am a graduate of Loyola University Chicago. I received a Bachelor's in Environmental Engineering with a minor in History. I have 3 years of experience working with kids from elementary school to high school. I was also a TA and mentor for younger engineering students in college. I encourage students to ask questions, and my goal is to help them become independent problem solvers. I love to learn and challenge myself, and I try to make learning fun and engaging so that enthusiasm rubs off on my students.

Hello, my name is Sam and I am an accounting major at Loyola University Chicago. I was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri before moving to Chicago. I decided to move here because of the vast career opportunities in accounting. I became a tutor because I have always enjoyed helping my fellow classmates with their homework. My personal goal in tutoring is to not only aid students in learning material, but also teach them how to learn material on their own.

I earned my Bachelor of Science in Biology degree at Loyola University Chicago and graduated with laudatory honors in 2015. My goal is to earn a Master of Medical Science in Physician Assistant degree in order to become a Physician Assistant. I will be matriculating to a P.A. program in May 2017. I am passionate about helping others and it is fulfilling to see my efforts have a positive effect on another person, whether it be in a medical or educational setting. My favorite part about being a tutor is helping students gain confidence and become excited about subjects they have struggled with in the past. I enjoy tutoring Mathematics and Science because there is typically more than one approach to understanding concepts. In Mathematics, there are multiple methods to solving problems and relating their applications to the real world. With Science, there are many ways to explain processes, including through the use of analogies and metaphors. However, standardized exam preparation is my favorite subject to tutor because it requires the development of strategies as well as knowledge. It allows students to improve critical thinking skills that will not only be useful for exams, but in their future academic, professional, and personal ventures. As a tutor, my aim is to provide students with the assistance they need in the present and the motivation to continue to succeed in the future.

I am a patient and encouraging tutor who enjoys helping elementary and middle school students build confidence and strengthen their academic skills. I focus on creating a supportive learning environment, explaining concepts clearly, and adapting my teaching style to fit each student's needs so learning feels engaging and manageable.

Hi students! My name is Lea (lay-uh) and I'm a doctoral student in psychology who genuinely loves teaching and mentoring students through the sometimes overwhelming world of academics. My approach is simple: learning should feel approachable, empowering, and even fun, not stressful or shame-filled. I'm here to meet you where you are, not to test you or make you feel "behind. I'm deeply passionate about psychology specifically and about helping other students build confidence in the field. I know firsthand how daunting psych courses can feel, and my goal is to make the material feel less scary and more meaningful. Together, we'll focus on understanding rather than memorizing, curiosity rather than fear, and growth rather than perfection. If you're looking for a tutor who is encouraging, relatable, and genuinely invested in your success, I'd love to work with you!!

I received a B.S. in psychology from Loyola University Chicago in May 2014 and am currently working as a lab manager for the Visual Cognition Lab at Northwestern University. I'm from Cincinnati, OH and love spending weekends there with my family. I'm planning on attending doctoral school for a PhD in Neuropsychology after a few years of working and traveling. I fell in love with Italy while studying abroad in Rome and will take any chance I can get to go back! When I'm not working, I enjoy visiting art museums and seeing musicals and plays. I was a peer tutor at Loyola for two years and have been a private tutor for the past year. It has been a very fulfilling experience and a skill I would like to continue developing. It is such a joy for me to see the light of understanding in my students' eyes and be able to track their progress and academic achievements. I love the challenge of catering to each person's learning style and finding what works best for them. Let's learn together and have fun doing it!

I studied Biology and Fine Arts at Loyola University Chicago, where I obtained my Bachelor of Science degree through the Interdisciplinary Honors Program. Currently, I am a student at Midwestern University where I am working towards the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree. In my free time I enjoy painting, fitness classes such as Zumba and Turbo Kick, and I never miss a chance to go to a symphony concert!During my undergraduate studies I tutored children grade 3 through 12 in various subject areas: math, science, English, writing. I worked both with students who needed additional help to comprehend a subject area, and with children who already excelled, but wished to push their grades to the maximum. I adjust my tutoring style to each student, but I always focus on understanding the main idea and purpose behind the material in order to eliminate memorization whenever possible.In particular, I enjoy teaching science because it fascinates me. Other areas that I tutor are : ACT preparation, math (through pre-calculus), English language and writing. I take pride in watching my students truly understand the material and reach their goals and beyond!

My name is Katie, and I am a recent graduate of Loyola University Chicago with a Bachelor's degree in Math and a minor in Environmental Science.I have been tutoring for five years, and I love not only helping people learn new things, but to be constantly learning from young brilliant minds. I like to take a holistic approach to teaching, prioritizing strong interpersonal relationships and making sure the student feels comfortable in the tutoring space. I believe in the value of learning from mistakes and asking questions, and nobody is too young or too old to develop their math and critical thinking skills.

I graduated from Loyola University Chicago with an MS in Microbiology and Immunology with an emphasis in Immunology. I also received a BA in Biology with a minor in Chemistry from Carthage College in Kenosha, WI. Throughout my schooling I have had experience tutoring/teaching my colleagues in both group and one-on-one settings. What I have learned is no student learns material the same way. It takes dialogue between tutor, students, and parents to determine the best plan of action for the student to attain their academic goals. I believe in an active learning environment that includes discussion-based learning, supplemented with hands on learning activities within my sessions that is specifically tailored to each student's needs and grade level.

I graduated from Loyola with a BBA Finance in 2010 and a BS in Physics in 2012.I currently split my time between the city (Lakeview/Lincoln Park in Chicago) and the west suburbs (Addison, IL).When I am tutoring a student, I look to make a problem applicable to the student's experiences. I look to show them the parallels between things they are familiar with and the problem in question.Seeing a student's realization that they can solve a problem brings me satisfaction.In my free time, I enjoy computer programming, plane spotting, reading, 3d modeling, Aviation, playing basketball and soccer, and DJ'ing.

I am passionate about teaching and learning. It's exciting, challenging and rewarding to actively be a part of processes that foster academic, social, emotional and behavioral growth for children.

I received my high school diploma from South Elgin High school and now will be entering my junior year in college at Loyola University Chicago. I am currently working toward a biology degree with a minor in finance.My tutoring experience consists of working at Kumon with children from the grade level of kindergarten all the way up to college. I really enjoy working with kids because I feel teaching students a difficult concept by making it easier to understand solidifies my own knowledge and makes understanding concepts easier for the student. I also tutored at Loyola University Chicago in the library in my free time with any subjects I had already taken and became familiar with. My experience with working with children has taught me a lot about patience because it is important to acknowledge that some students require more training and practice than others and that it is no one's fault.Some subjects that I tutor include: Biology, organic chemistry, physics, genetics, college chemistry, geometry, algebra 1, algebra 2, calculus 1, pre-calculus, elementary school math, and middle school math. My favorite subject to tutor would be math because it is something that I feel it is very logical and straightforward. Math has always been one of my favorite subjects growing up because I would perform the best in class due to my level of understanding with the concepts. I never struggled with math and if I was unsure about a problem, seeing it done once would set me up to solve similar problems without any trouble. Teaching a student math comes with understanding steps and why steps are taken to retrieve an answer. I feel that once this is mastered, a student should be capable to problem solve.My tutoring style has been known by others as very calm and collected. My coworkers and boss would always set me aside to do tutoring over other tasks because my way of teaching was never hurtful or rude in any way. The students would ask to be paired with me because they felt I never rushed them, instead I was there to teach them valuable concepts that would build a foundation on to further more difficult education. I do not like to move on until a student feels they have mastered a subject area because moving on to something new can lead the student to become more frustrated because the foundation is still weak.Outside of the academics, I enjoy to play sports, such as volleyball and badminton. I used to be on the varsity badminton team in high school and it gave me a way to engage in something other than school work all the time. I also am a big fan of music; I enjoy many artists like Justin Bieber and The Weeknd, and would love to be able to go to a concert someday.

I am a undergraduate student at Loyola University Chicago. I am an Accounting major with an Information Systems minor.When I was younger, my dream job was to be a teacher. Although that is not the career path I ultimately chose, I have continued my interest in helping others learn through tutoring my own younger siblings. With Varsity Tutor, I will be able to extend my help and my advice to other students and since I am currently a student, I can relate to the hardships that they may go through as courses and exams can be difficult at times.Since I am an Accounting major, I have been taking accounting courses in college and in high school. Therefore, I am well educated in the beginner level and college level accounting. I also like to keep all my notes from each class I take.I also have experience tutoring elementary school math as I have tutored my own siblings in the subject.

I'm a grad student at DePaul University, finishing my Masters in Physics. I did my undergrad at Loyola University Chicago where I received a degree in biophysics. I'm working towards applying to medical school. I love science and math, and have been tutoring for the past 7 years in math, science and English writing. I'm always excited to help and pass along the knowledge I've gained throughout my schooling to those in need of tutoring.

Hello! I'm Dylan Cabrera, your dedicated English Literature tutor, with a Bachelor's degree in English from Loyola University Chicago and further studies in the Writing, Rhetoric, and Discourse MA program at DePaul University. My tutoring experience has equipped me with the skills to support students in a range of subjects, including ACT Reading, AP English, and creative writing, among others. I believe in fostering a supportive learning environment where each student can thrive, utilizing personalized instruction tailored to their unique needs. My passion for literature and writing goes beyond mere academics; I aim to inspire critical thinking and self-expression in my students. I'm excited to help learners of all ages unlock their potential and develop a love for the written word.

I really enjoy working with kids and helping them learn. That is the reason why I chose to become an elementary school teacher. I am currently student teaching in a Kindergarten classroom in a Chicago Public School. I am familiar with ways to help students learn through whole group, small group, and one on one instruction. I am currently teaching reading, writing, math, and social sciences in this classroom. I will be certified to teach K-8 with ESL and Bilingual Chinese endorsement once I graduate. Teaching is my passion and helping kids learn is my lifelong goal.

My goal as a tutor is not only to teach content, but also ease test anxiety, build confidence, and empower young people to achieve their goals.

I am a graduate from Loyola University with a Bachelor's in Biology. I also completed one year of Pharmacy school at Midwestern University, and I am currently looking to expand my career doing research in biology labs. I love teaching math (algebra, geometry, calculus - you name it!) as well as science, including both biology and chemistry. These are by far my favorite subjects to teach because they are subjects that many students struggle on, and I have a strong sense of empathy in the learning process. This means I find it easy to determine exactly what students are struggling with in order to tackle those problems - making challenging concepts EASY to understand for ANYONE. Additionally, I am also a musician of over 15 years, and LOVE to teach and spread the joy of music!In general, I think learning is best done when the teacher fully understands their student and the way they learn. It is important for me to recognize when a student isn't grasping a concept so that I can immediately change my teaching strategy. A student who grasps things by reading a book will learn different from a student who prefers learning by visuals. With this, I think it is possible to teach anyone even the most difficult of subjects, just by being in tune with the student's needs and understanding them on an individual level.

Energy, enthusiasm and empathy are my hallmarks for success. The world is fascinating and ever-expanding in the world of global technology. What I don't know could fill volumes, but every day I look forward to learning more. When I was a kid, I loved school and learning, because every day was a new adventure and a challenge to succeed. Sometimes it's less easy than other times, but I find by applying my professional knowledge, experience, and grace under pressure, one can succeed beyond one's own expectations. And my success as an educator is of course the student's shared success.I'm an outstanding writer (Master's degree in writing from NYU; Bachelor's degree in communications from Loyola University, New Orleans), as well as an outstanding public speaker (teaching Effective Public Speaking at The City University of New York for 2 years). I have a good-natured sense of humor and no-nonsense approach, and remain very comfortable using these skills in settings with existing and future students. For me, the "pitch" is effective not only due to the passion in one's approach, but gauging the audience through active listening and empathy.I mentioned passion, which is contagious. I have a firm belief in the vision of marrying education and creativity for success. We must identify students' needs and pursue them in a cultivating, engaging, and professional manner. Often that means developing interpersonal relations. Stewarding student success is an ongoing relationship that has to be nourished as a mutual, goal-based friendship.An absolute strong asset in my continued, mutual success for both my students and myself. I believe in working smarter, not harder for high-end results. I encourage teamwork and lead by example. I do not micro-manage the pupil. I entrust students and respect their skill-sets and only step in when absolutely necessary to steer the ship on course. I employ active listening and empathy in all I do. I believe in validating others and giving clear-cut goals and value benchmarks towards achievement. Regarding communication, I also embrace a standard of total transparency, where opinions and ideas can be voices and respected. If someone feels my approach is off or my direction misguided, they can say so, and I welcome thoughtful discussion.

My degrees include a B.A. from Xavier University in Cincinnati, where I studied International Affairs with a minor in Spanish. I spent four years in graduate studies at Loyola University studying Philosophy and Counseling. For the past 10 years, most of my vacations and summer breaks entailed mission trips to Latin America, working and teaching in schools. I cannot fail to mention a two year stint in Guatemala while in the Peace Corps, doing business development work and playing semi-professional soccer. I have recently graduated with my MA in Counseling and began working at a nonprofit called Thresholds located in Chicago. I currently work with a caseload of 25 people that have severe mental health problems and rely on Government assistance to survive. I have taught ESL to recently immigrated peoples, and have experience tutoring high school students in marginalized neighborhoods. I am passionate about assisting others to achieve their potential. No matter the unique circumstances of each individual, we can come to discover interior strengths, which allows these individuals to overcome many challenges. My personal teaching philosophy is that each student possesses the power and ability to achieve their learning goals. It is my job to ensure that we uncover the best method to unlock the potential for each lesson, through patience, fun, and interactive learning.

I believe that the key to learning is in the conversation! Working one-on-one with students gives us both the chance to see what methods will work and what your goals are. I like to brainstorm with my students, working toward a final result together. I have a bachelor's degree in English from Loyola University Chicago, a master's degree in literature from Western Illinois University, and I'm currently getting my PhD in literature at University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. I love to read and write, and I have been teaching college composition courses since 2014. I have been helping students of all types with their writing and literacy skills since 2012. Outside of teaching, I enjoy playing video games, crafting, baking, and hanging out with my family. I hope to be able to help students achieve their academic goals!

I am a recent law school graduate. Having used tutoring and other outside help during my studies, I now want to give back to the community that gave me the skills necessary to receive excellent grades. I enjoy tutoring on various subjects included but not limited to Spanish, ESL and general school subjects. I love being surrounded by students. Now that I am no longer a student, I wish to contribute to the coming generation by passing along some of my skills. I look forward to tutoring sessions!

Hello,Through my doctoral training and time post degree conferral I have aided students of all ages in understanding various nuances within several academic fields, whether psychology, social sciences, diversity and individual differences, writing/english literature, and so-forth. I have also been a part of various students' experience in studying for the ACT, GRE, NCE, and other standardized/achievement tests. During my doctoral program and years after, I have taught neuropsychological testing, psychopathology, theories, and other psychology-based courses. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out.Thank you!

I am a former special education teacher, teaching mostly in the Chicago Public Schools. As a special ed teacher I taught all subjects in my classroom which was primarily 5th-8th grades. My classes had students of multiple grades together so my teaching related to a variety of grades and ability levels. I also assisted in the regular education classrooms at times. I am familiar with IEP's, having written them and taught towards the goals in them. I have spent considerable time working to prepare my students for standardized tests required by the state or district. While taking classes towards my certification I worked as a one to one aide in two different school districts in Chicago's northwest suburbs. While I taught all subjects, I am most comfortable tutoring elementary language arts, reading and writing, US History and some elementary mathematics. For several recent years I was a tutor with Oakton Community College's VITA Program where ESL adults worked weekly to improve their reading fluency, phonics and writing abilities. Because of my special education background, my philosophy towards learning is that everyone has a different and often unique way that they learn. Finding that method is what I try to determine so I can help them improve whatever subject they have difficulty with. I love to read myself and read the classics, mystery, action novels and because I do like history, I have read many biographies on American figures and the eras they lived. For me, reading opens us up to a world of new interests to explore as well as basic daily functioning and I consider it a vital skill.I have a BA in Communications from Loyola University of Chicago and an MA in Special Education from Northeastern Illinois University.