As a first-generation college graduate whose unexpected path led from Chicago’s rough Southwest Side to a career in science and academia, UNI’s new Provost Jose Herrera understands the power of small changes to transform lives.
Winning accolades is nothing new for UNI assistant professor and professional flutist Hannah Porter-Occeña. The accomplished flutist recently won Mu Phi Epsilon Foundation’s 2021 international music competition, which means she will take her mission of musical education around the world.
Four local students were the inaugural recipients of a new scholarship from UNI-CUE. The scholarship can be renewed each year and will provide $2,000 per semester for the students, who were part of UNI’s TRiO programs, to pursue their higher education dreams.
The University of Northern Iowa’s Educational Talent Search program has received a $630,000 grant to continue its work assisting Waterloo students from disadvantaged backgrounds succeed in higher education.
UNI alumni, faculty and students have joined a local effort to restore the beloved Walnut Street Baptist Church in Waterloo and bring the iconic buildings back to life as a community center.
Panther alum Yulia Dannen, a Russian immigrant and single mother who has built a successful accounting business, recently won a statewide entrepreneur of the year award. “(They) said UNI’s accounting program is the best and now I know it is,” she said.
For Brandon Purvis, undergraduate research at UNI was a career-changing experience. A year-long stint as a researcher with assistant professor of computer science Dheryta Jaisinghani has him considering graduate school after they developed a preliminary system for enforcing social distancing guidelines in classrooms using the revolutionary field known as the Internet of Things.
The Summer 2021 Early Founder’s Program wrapped up their third summer cohort. Consisting of eight student teams, the program ran through the months of June and July in a virtual setting. The EFP was led by former JPEC tenant and program assistant, Maddie Palmersheim,“The Early Founder’s Program is an opportunity for student ventures to take a deep dive into their business. Whether they are validating a concept, testing their model, or growing their venture, the program connects them to a variety of…
