After 23 years, NIU will say farewell to Athletic Director Cary Groth with an open house at 5 p.m. Thursday at the Stratford Inn, 355 W. State St., Sycamore.

Groth is leaving the university for a position at the University of Nevada-Reno.

All members of the university and DeKalb community are invited to talk with Groth or sign a guestbook.

“Cary has done wonderful things for the athletics department, and she has a huge tie with the community and alumni, and we wanted to make sure those people had an opportunity to say goodbye to her,” said Tekla Martin, director of operations for the athletics department.

After graduating from NIU in 1978, Groth became a tennis coach at the university and was promoted to senior associate athletic director in 1989. She also was named the NCAA Division IA Administrator of the Year by the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletics Administrators.

“Cary herself is of extreme interest to people, and everybody that is associated with her has a great affinity for her,” Martin said. “She has left a tremendous impression on the university, and she will be greatly missed.”