Languages & Communications

Students find community in class created for heritage Spanish speakers

For students who speak the language at home, ordinary Spanish classes aren't the best fit. This is exactly why UNI has a class designed for heritage speakers.

Featuring our Faculty: Nikki Harken

Putting students first is key for Nikki Harken. For nearly 20 years, Nikki has been an advocate, friend and mentor for her students as an instructor of communication studies, and as director of internships for the Department of Communication and Media. “My focus has always been on students,” she said. “I believe we should make all decisions based on what is good for them, which doesn't mean popular or easy, but what will help them in the long run.” 

All-women team produces the North American Review for the first time in its history

Those outside the field of literature may not know, but The North American Review, America’s oldest literary magazine, is housed right here at UNI. The magazine is over 200 years old, living a varied and colorful life — featuring work by presidents, famous poets, artists, as well as notable prose writers of the nonfiction and fiction types. One thing it has never done though, is feature women as its production team from end to end. Til the Fall 2021 issue, that is.

In the basement of Bartlett Hall on the University of Northern Iowa (UNI) campus, four women are meeting in person for the first time in a long time. It’s early June of 2021, before the resurgence of Covid-19, the Delta variant has passed, but Omicron will follow. They are excited to be together to plan the Fall 2021 issue of the North American Review (NAR), America’s oldest literary magazine, housed at UNI.  To say that the issue is going to be historic is an understatement. The magazine is over 200 years old, living a varied and colorful life—featuring the writing of...