John A. Niemi has spent more than 40 years of his life traveling the world, dedicating himself to adult education.

Niemi, a distinguished teaching professor in adult continuing education at NIU since 1975, graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in American and Russian history.

“I feel that I am very fortunate for being able to teach for a long time,” Niemi said. “I could retire now but I enjoy teaching, and in return I get to learn more things from my students.”

Niemi’s many degrees include a bachelor’s from Michigan State, a master’s from the University of Alaska in Fairbanks, a doctorate in education from UCLA and an honorary doctorate from Helsinki University.

Niemi stresses strong teacher-student relationships.

“When I taught at UCLA, I had mentors who studied at the graduate program and they saw the importance of teacher-student relationships and making a good learning contribution,” Niemi said.

Christine Kamer, an NIU doctoral candidate in adult education, met Niemi in 1992 when she was thinking about starting her master’s program, and Niemi has been her adviser since then.

“Dr. Niemi is a key learner-centered individual who is interested in every student whether he/she is a former, current or a future student,” Kamer said.

“Dr. Niemi is also very student-centered and gives each one of his students individual attention and he is very dedicated to his teaching vocation. He helps students to realize their career potential regardless of the career they choose to go into.”

Niemi’s career as a professor has taken him to numerous countries, including Canada, Finland, the former Soviet Union, Taiwan and China.

In Alaska, Niemi taught physical education and coached football, basketball and track, and from 1957-1961, he was an education adviser and he taught adult basic education to soldiers who had low education levels.

Later, Niemi worked as the civilian education professor for the Army, was assistant to the president of the University of Alaska and he was also an officer for the U.S. Army.

In the summer of 1992, the People’s Republic of China made Niemi a visiting professor at Shanghai Second Institute of Education, where he taught human resource development.

“Dr. Niemi is the most knowledgeable person in adult education theory and he is very helpful and patient,” said Ke Fengfeng, who is pursuing her master’s in adult education and instructional technology. “Dr. Niemi is capable of organizing good class activities and we are able to speak freely in his classroom.”

For the recognition of his hard work, Niemi has received many awards, including the Gogebic Community College Outstanding Alumnus Awardin 1999, and in May of this year he received the highest award of Commander of the Order of the Lion of Finland.

But, he’s still not ready to slow down.

“I owe it to my wife to do some traveling, but I have not made a decision as of yet of when to leave teaching,” Niemi said.