Staff Spotlight: Professor Ron B. Mace (CMT)

Professor Ron B. Mace is, without a doubt, one of the greatest professors that Northeastern Illinois University has to offer.  Professor Mace has been apart of the NEIU staff for thirteen years, and within that time, he has changed the lives of many students.  

Mace was born in the West Virginia mountains.  As the great-grandson, grandson, and son of coal miners, and as proud as he is from coming from a respectable hard working family, he had dreams of his own.  He wanted to go into acting and theatre.  He was so devoted to his dream that it finally paid off.  He got the lead role as Herbie in the musical "Gypsy", and can't imagine that his parents could have ever been more proud.   

Tragedy struck when his father lost his battle with Leukemia and passed away at age 45.  Mace, being the oldest, had to support and provide for his mother and younger siblings.  Later, he became a university student, but he struggled to get his degree because not only was he a student, but he had to work numerous jobs to pay for his education.  Eventually, he attended the Loop College and then NEIU, where he finally met professors that supported him throughout his time there.  With the help of these professors, he won many acting awards, including the NEIU Talent Scholarship.  With that scholarship, he was able to receive both his BA in Speech and Theatre Secondary Education in 1977, and his MA in Speech, Theatre, and Communications in 1988.  

When he graduated, he taught high school English, and ran various high school theatre programs for 19 years.  After nineteen years of teaching high school students, Mace took a different approach, and began to teach college students.  Eventually, his great teaching ethics landed him a job at NEIU.

Even though Mace is a professor, he also performs professionally and has been for the past 40 years.  He has appeared in films and national commercials.  Also, he has been a card holding member in the actors unions for stage, TV and film.  With the knowledge and skills that he obtained, he successfully coached amateur actors for auditions and scholarships.  He began to direct children's plays as well as professional actors at the University of Missouri.  He later began to train in Method Acting when he was the assistant of Bob Morse at Herbert Berghoff Studios in Greenwich Village, NYC.

Professor Mace's main goal is to give back to the university, and the students.  "I will continue to teach here as long as I can, to offer any help or guidance that my students need.  NEIU has been wonderful to me. Without my fine professors, none of my dreams of teaching and performing would have happened," Mace admits.  He said, "To compare is to despair, keep your side of the street clean, believe in yourself no matter what and finally, finish your degree(s)!" Professor Mace is one of the favorite professors at NEIU simply because of his dedication and passion for teaching others to be the best that they can be.  The fact that he made his dreams come true while enduring extreme obstacles, makes him very inspiring.  Student, Arbella Al-bazi says, "If you want a professor who is passionate and great at his field of work, then I recommend taking his courses!"