Jennifer Loukissas

Sonya Brotman Conway was a 25 year veteran professor in NIU’s Department of Biological Sciences. She was well known for her passion for teaching and students.Sonya earned her Ph.D. in physiology and anatomy from the University of California at Berkeley in 1977. As a specialist in endocrine physiology, she was a member of the Endocrine Society and the Research Society on Alcoholism. Her research in cell signaling,endocrinology and fetal-alcohol syndrome garnered more than $550,000 in grants while at NIU. But her love, according to NIU colleagues, was teaching.Sonya enjoyed conducting research and wanted to do more, but later in her career at NIU she found more passion in helping the students. She was a devoted teacher and was driven by helping students enjoy learning. Sonya was known for coming up with new courses and ways to teach the students.Both students and colleagues admired her dedication to teaching and to mentoring students. Sonya was very giving of her time and known for her open door policy. She was known as a very caring, kind, and loving person. It is the hope that by establishing this scholarship, Sonya’s memory will live on at NIU by continuing to do what she was best known for; helping students achieve their goal of earning a degree from NIU.