Cassandra (Patha) Busse, '92, Joins NIU Alumni Association Board of Directors
By Lia Kizilbash Gillet
Cassandra Busse, '92 (Photo: Cassandra Busse)
Dedicated NIU alumna volunteer Cassandra (Patha) Busse, ’92, believes her volunteer work creates a powerful ripple effect that uplifts students and fellow alumni. She brings her passion to the NIU Alumni Association Board of Directors beginning July 1.
“One conversation can inspire a student to pursue an opportunity they had not considered,” she said. “One networking event can lead to a mentorship or a job offer. It is about building a community that supports each other long after graduation. This is what makes volunteering so incredibly fulfilling and why I am thrilled to join the board.”
Busse says volunteering has been a fantastic way to stay connected, expand her network and renew her Huskie pride.
With the desire to give back to the community that played a formative role in her life, Busse has been involved in several NIU Alumni Association volunteer initiatives, including the University Honors Job Shadow Program, the NIUniverse Social Media Ambassador Program, and the Huskie Postcard Project. She has also served as a judge in the BELIEF: Ethics Program Case Competition, reviewed resumes for current finance students, and participated in the Illinois School District 214 College Fair to recruit the next generation of Huskies.
“These initiatives have helped bridge the gap between current students and alumni, providing students with career insights, encouragement and real-world advice,” she said. “For alumni, these events rekindle school spirit and foster valuable professional connections.”
Busse describes her experience volunteering at the NIU table for the District 214 College Fair.
“I shared my personal NIU journey with curious and excited students exploring their future,” she said. “While answering their questions, I saw their eyes light up with possibilities. It was rewarding to help them imagine themselves as part of the Huskie family.”
Busse recalls her NIU student experience as transformational. She was actively involved in the Sigma Lambda Sigma Service Sorority and, as a member, engaged in various community service projects that emphasized compassion, advocacy and support for underserved populations. Some of her most memorable activities included regularly volunteering at a local homeless shelter through Public Action to Deliver Shelter (PADS), participating in the live Easter Seals Telethon to raise funds for children and adults with disabilities, and working with a local women’s domestic violence shelter promoting safety, dignity and empowerment for women and children affected by domestic violence. Through these experiences, she developed her communication skills, a sense of civic responsibility and a passion for advocacy.
As a College of Business student studying Operations Management and Information Systems (OM&IS), Busse says she saw the impact alumni could have through their mentorship and support in the college.
“Seeing alumni support the college and its programs stuck with me, and I knew that once I could do the same, I wanted to step up,” she said. “NIU instilled in me a powerful sense of community responsibility and volunteering is how I choose to uphold that.”
However, her most fond memory is of the Monday night bowling league at the Huskie Den, where she met her husband, Jeff Busse, ’94.
“The supportive environment at NIU helped me grow and shaped who I am today, both in my career and in my personal life,” she said. “It also brought me my husband of 30 years. NIU is more than just a school; it is a community that gave me so much, and because of this, I will always be proud to contribute to its continued success.”
Today, with a long career in the supply chain field, including materials management, inventory control, warehousing, purchasing and logistics, Busse is the supply chain director at nVenia. She also enjoys sharing her industry knowledge as an adjunct instructor at Benedictine University, where she teaches an MBA operations strategy course.
“My operations management degree perfectly complemented my chosen career path,” she said. “As I progressed in my career, I saw firsthand how crucial mentorship, guidance and networking are for success. That perspective made me even more motivated to provide those things to NIU students who are just starting out.”
In addition to her bachelor’s degree from NIU, Busse earned her MBA from Roosevelt University with an emphasis in international business and has several certifications through the Association for Supply Chain Management.
With her extensive knowledge and experience, Busse is committed to helping NIU continue its mission of empowering students from all backgrounds by joining the NIUAA Board of Directors, giving back and elevating others within the Huskie community.
“Their energy is contagious,” she said about interacting with students and fellow alumni. “Reconnecting with NIU has made a real difference in my life.”
NIU alumni volunteer their time in meaningful ways. Want to brainstorm ways you can get involved? Contact Eric Glasby, '15, M.S.Ed. '18, at eglasby1@niu.edu.