With the semester coming to a close, many take time to reflect.

When President John Peters looks back at his first year in NIU’s top position, he sees an “exhilarating year.”

“It’s not over yet,” Peters said. “It went pretty fast and was filled with new people and challenges.”

Peters came to NIU after spending eight years as provost at the University of Tennessee and 21 years as a professor and dean at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

“This has far exceeded my expectations,” he said. “I am very pleased.”

Though it was an overall good year, it was filled with many highs and lows, Peters said.

One of the good points of the year was the $20 million donation from alumnus Dennis Barsema for a new business facility.

Unfortunately, that was the same weekend of the deaths of NIU students Brian White and Nicole Murawski, in separate incidents one hour apart on Sept. 15.

“I went from a very high to a very low,” Peters said. “It was a range of emotions to learn about the two students that we lost.”

The university has gained a lot during the year, from a new provost to building renovations But one of the blessings of Peter’s first year was meeting the students.

“Students should use their student government and student affairs,” Peters said. “We try hard to make little improvements around campus.”

A lot of specific planning for next year won’t be made until the Undergraduate Task Force report filed Friday, is examined, but Peters is waiting to act on them.

“We will also continue to work with student leaders and try to hear what’s on the students’ minds,” Peters said.

One of the top priorities for Peters is to work on diversity. The opening of the Diversity Resource Center was a good way to start that, Peters said.

“We should go out of the way to be receptive of other cultures,” he said.

A marketing survey also has been prepared to determine what people think of NIU.

There are also plans for landscaping changes and ways to make the campus a more beautiful place, Peters said.

Overall, Peters thought it was a very successful year.

“Coming away from the first year, I feel I made the right choice,” Peters said. “It’s a wonderful academic community.”

He advises students to take advantage of all the resources NIU has.

“Take advantage of the time and life,” he said. “The result is a quality education at NIU.”