Blagovesta Tagareva, M.B.A. '22, Amplifies NIU Alumni
By Lia Kizilbash Gillet
Blagovesta Tagareva, M.B.A. ’22, volunteers as an NIUniverse social media ambassador.
(Photo: Veli Photography Studio)
Blagovesta Tagareva, M.B.A. ’22, has found an easy way to connect with Huskies while also amplifying the NIU alumni community. Tagareva is an NIUniverse social media ambassador.
As an ambassador for two years, Tagareva describes her role as an extraordinary way of giving back to her alma mater. She reviews and shares NIU Alumni Association articles highlighting alumni, volunteers, students, and donors to her social media network. Taking her less than an hour each week, it easily integrates into her day and is accessible from a mobile device—enabling Tagareva to participate when she has just a few minutes to spare.
“Learning about other NIU alumni and their success stories is inspiring,” she said. “Staying connected on social media by sharing NIU alumni news and events also inspires others, especially the younger generation, to choose NIU for their academic path.”
The NIUniverse program elevates pride among the entire Huskie community and brings together alumni in a unique and approachable way. It also keeps ambassadors engaged with contests for opportunities to win Huskie swag.
Tagareva enjoys participating and was pleased to share her NIUniverse volunteering accomplishments and feedback during a focus group looking for ways to improve the NIUniverse experience. She offered ideas on ways to further engage alumni and to promote the social media ambassador opportunity.
“I highly encourage other alumni to volunteer with NIU, not just for the grand prizes and perks that NIU provides but also to continue engaging and supporting our unique and phenomenal Huskie community,” Tagareva said.
Tagareva came to NIU to pursue her M.B.A. while working for Advocate Aurora Health (now Advocate Health), where she held various roles in health information management for over five years. Prior to attending NIU, she received her Certified Professional Coder (CPC) and Certified Professional Biller (CPB) certifications from the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) and also earned a Master of Public Administration and Bachelor of Business Administration from South-West University “Neofit Rilski” Blagoevgrad in Bulgaria.
She began attending NIU M.B.A. evening classes and later switched to the first online M.B.A. program NIU offered.
“I was working full time, studying in the evening, and volunteering for the AAPC in various elective leadership positions at a local chapter,” Tagareva said. “Earning my M.B.A. required some personal sacrifices, like attending family gatherings and holidays, spending time with friends, and traveling.”
Tagareva was impressed by NIU’s knowledgeable academic and professional administrative staff and immediately felt welcome.
“Everyone at NIU was vested in my academic success and professional growth after graduation,” she said. “The program had a rigorous focus on becoming a dynamic and creative leader by learning how to manage and resolve complex issues and make strategic decisions. As a first-generation American, I felt well accepted due to NIU's diverse and inclusive academic and social environment, and I made long-lasting friendships with fellow Huskies.”
After graduating, Tagareva continued to grow her career at Advocate Health, where she now serves as a health information quality and training specialist.
“I am very grateful for the opportunity to help others by training professionals to achieve high performance and success while fulfilling my dream of caring for others by supporting healthcare professionals in providing high-quality patient care,” she said.
Tagareva anticipated taking a break from volunteering after graduation, but she didn’t. She had a strong desire to give back and help others and began shifting her attention to other areas—including her church, a local Bulgarian professional association and NIU.
“When I learned about the opportunity to become an NIUniverse Social Media Ambassador, I didn't wait a second to join the program run by the NIU Alumni Association,” she said. “It is such a rewarding experience to support my fellow Huskies in staying connected and engaged with our alma mater on social media and share our success with future Huskies.”
Click here to learn more about volunteer opportunities at NIU, or contact us at volunteer@niu.edu or 815-753-2586.