The NIU alumni relations office has recently added a new staff member to fill the position for director of constituency programs.

Richard Ubl, NIU director of development and alumni relations, announced the appointment of Susan Archais last week.

The position has been needed for about six years, Ubl said, but the budget didn’t allow it. There is still a need for a lot more staff members, but at least with the hiring of Archais, it’s a start, Ubl said.

Archais will be working closely with Susan Lund, the director of alumni programs. Lund said she feels delighted about working with someone new because there is a lot of work to be done.

Archais and Lund will be working together to build relationships with alumni, increase programming and provide a variety of different activities for the alumni, Lund said.

Ubl said there was “no question” choosing the right person was a difficult choice. Archais was highly qualified for the position with more than ten years experience as a program coordinator for news and communications and as an editor for the department of geo-science at the University of Arizona.

Archais was assistant coordinator of campus and community events at the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn.