Statements Magazine
Moments that Matter
Statements Magazine is our way of staying connected with alumni and friends of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences. Each edition features compelling stories that highlight the diverse experiences and achievements of our students, faculty and alumni.
Explore our latest issue or browse past editions for a glimpse into the people and moments that have shaped our college over the years.
Features
CSBS at 45
Tracing CSBS from its roots to today, and the future it is shaping for Iowa and beyond.
Laura Ensign
Rediscovered story of a pioneering professor who advanced equity and helped shape early academic standards.
Ruth Bluford Anderson
Pioneering educator who built UNI’s social work program while advancing equity and challenging discrimination.
David A. Whitsett
Uniting psychology and physiology to build confidence through marathon training and experiential learning.
Bridging generations
Students connect with alumni through interviews, exploring shared histories and generational perspectives.
A living map of UNI memories
As UNI marks 150 years, historical photos and digital mapping bring campus memories to life.
Training tomorrow's nurses
Completed UNI nursing facilities introduces students to even more cutting-edge technology
Letter from the Dean
As I reflect on this year’s edition of Statements Magazine, I’m reminded that some milestones ask us to pause and recognize just how far we have come.
This year is one of those moments.
As the University of Northern Iowa celebrates its 150th anniversary, we also mark 45 years with the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences. Together, these milestones remind us of the generations of faculty, staff and students whose teaching, learning, scholarship and service helped shape UNI into the welcoming, student-centered university it is today.
Our theme for this issue, Moments That Matter, reflects that shared history. It celebrates the people, places and turning points that continue to define CSBS. From our feature story tracing 45 years of the college’s growth and evolution, to profiles of pioneering faculty like Laura Ensign and Ruth Bluford Anderson, to the completion of our new nursing facilities preparing the next generation of health professionals.
Across every department, school and center, CSBS continues to adapt to meet the needs of students, communities and the state of Iowa. Through hands-on learning, faculty-led research, global engagement and opportunities across disciplines, we remain focused on preparing students not only for careers, but for lives of purpose and service.
What remains constant is our people. The strength of this college has always come from faculty and staff who challenge, support and inspire students every day. Their work makes UNI a place where students feel valued and empowered to make a difference.
As we reflect on these milestones, I am filled with gratitude for the community that makes this work possible. Thank you for being part of the CSBS story. We are proud of our past, energized by our present and hopeful for the future we are shaping together.
BRENDA BASS
Dean, College Of Social & Behavioral Sciences
College News
UNI ROTC to remain on campus under new U.S. Army structure
UNI’s Army ROTC program will remain on campus under a revised Army Cadet Command plan, transitioning as an extension unit of the University of Iowa’s program. UNI cadets will continue all four years of training in Cedar Falls, ensuring the university’s long-standing ROTC legacy continues.
First-of-its-kind initiative in Iowa for retired men
Professor Melinda Heinz has launched Iowa’s first Men’s Sheds program, creating weekly opportunities for retired men to build friendships, engage in hands-on activities and strengthen social well-being. The Cedar Valley Men’s Sheds is already boosting connection and purpose for participants of all ages.
Bringing architecture to life through sesquicentennial walking tours
As part of the University of Northern Iowa’s sesquicentennial celebration, UNI history faculty and students guided architectural walking tours during homecoming, showcasing 150 years of campus.
$1.22 million grant to UNI’s Center for Civic Education
The U.S. Department of Education awarded a three-year, $1.22 million American History and Civics Education – Seminars (AHC-Seminars) grant to the University of Northern Iowa Center for Civic Education.
Using historic photos to connect with individuals living with dementia
UNI theatre students partnered with the gerontology program, Western Home Communities and Fortepan IA to create "Timeless Journeys," a documentary capturing their creative-care performances with community members living with dementia.
University of Northern Iowa receives $2.4 million grant to launch Humanities Hub
The UNI Humanities Hub is a transformative initiative designed to expand paid internship opportunities and strengthen the role of the humanities on campus and in the community.
UNI announces restructuring to strengthen humanities and public service education
Philosophy and World Religions joins the Department of History, while the Department of Political Science, the Criminology and Criminal Justice program and the Philanthropy and Nonprofit Development program formed a new School of Public Affairs and Service.
UNI launches online non-thesis Master of Arts in Geography
The University of Northern Iowa is expanding access to graduate education with the launch of a new online, non-thesis Master of Arts in Geography program designed for working professionals seeking advanced knowledge and career growth.
UNI teacher education program continues to boast high placement rate
After graduating from UNI with a history teaching degree in spring 2025, Elizabeth Forcht promptly got offered a position as a social studies teacher at Cedar Falls High School, which she describes as a dream job.
UNI launches accelerated three-year degree pathways
The University of Northern Iowa is launching 30 new three-year degree pathways, giving motivated students the opportunity to complete a bachelor’s degree in just three years.
Retirements
Kenneth Atkinson
Kenneth Atkinson completes a 27-year career at UNI that began in Philosophy and World Religions and concluded in History, his academic home since 2011.
He has a strong record as an instructor, teaching 19 undergraduate courses across a wide range of topics, from The Historical Jesus and Mysteries of the Dead Sea Scrolls to The Cold War and Terrorism.
Equally accomplished in scholarship, Prof. Atkinson received UNI’s James F. Lubker Research Award in 2023, the Donald N. McKay Faculty Research Award in 2008 and the Distinguished Scholar Award in 2006. His work includes eight books, three co-edited volumes, 45 articles and 28 book chapters and proceedings. He has served the department with distinction, most recently helping build history’s online MA program. He will be greatly missed.
Gregory Bruess
Gregory Bruess has been a deeply valued leader in both the Department of History and the College of Social & Behavioral Sciences. A longtime professor of history, he has shared his expertise in Modern Russia and Modern Greece with generations of students through courses on Imperial Russia, Twentieth-Century Russia and Modern Europe. Widely respected for his engaging teaching and deep knowledge of cultural and religious history, he has remained active in the Russian and Slavic studies community through scholarship and conference participation. Since 1999, he and his wife, Isabela Varela, have led a summer study abroad program to Greece for more than 350 students.
Since 2015, Prof. Bruess has served as associate dean of CSBS, helping guide academic programs and support processes across the college. His contributions to UNI will be felt for years to come.
Todd Evans
Todd Evans will retire after a distinguished career as a cornerstone of the Athletic Training division.
Prof. Evans served as division head for several years and played a key role in the program’s transition from an undergraduate to a graduate degree. He also helped shape the current faculty, directly training two of the three tenured members in the division.
He contributed to UNI research through strong scholarly publications and by serving as chair of the Institutional Review Board. In that role, he supported both faculty and student research by providing detailed feedback and meeting regularly with investigators to strengthen proposals and ensure timely, ethical approval.
Prof. Evans’ leadership, mentorship and commitment to academic rigor have had a lasting impact on the division and university.
Mark Grey
Mark Grey retires after 35 years of service to UNI as professor of anthropology and former head of the Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Criminology.
Prof. Grey's research focused on immigration, demographic change and the transformation of rural Midwestern communities, raising important social and public policy questions. His scholarship also examined ethnic diversification in Iowa, immigrant labor systems and globalization’s effects on rural communities.
He served as director of the Iowa Center for Immigrant Leadership and Integration and associate director of the Iowa Center on Health Disparities.His public service included training for public health, law enforcement and community organizations. Over his career, Prof. Grey shaped generations of students and strengthened UNI’s connections with communities across Iowa.
James Hall
James Hall will retire after a distinguished career marked by outstanding teaching, leadership and service to the department.
Prof. Hall built strong rapport with students, who were drawn to his engaging personality and the practical, meaningful knowledge he brought to the classroom. Over years of classroom observations, his courses consistently fostered a positive and highly engaging learning environment.
Prof. Hall also proved a vital team member, teaching a wide range of courses to meet critical departmental needs as they arose. His leadership of the coaching minor helped grow the program and strengthen support for students pursuing careers in coaching and sport leadership.
Beyond the classroom, Prof. Hall had a lasting influence on the department’s culture through his consistently positive, collegial approach and willingness to support colleagues and students alike.
Wallace Hettle
Wallace Hettle, professor of history and specialist in the American Civil War and Reconstruction, retired last fall after 31 years at UNI.
Prof. Hettle's Civil War course has been a cornerstone of the department curriculum and a strong draw for students, especially teaching majors who carry his lessons into classrooms across Iowa and beyond.
He published three university-press books: "The Peculiar Democracy," "Inventing Stonewall Jackson" and "The Confederate Homefront," plus the open-access collection “The Union Homefront” through UNI ScholarWorks. Prof. Hettle also gave extensive service to the profession and campus, including nearly two decades coordinating the Phi Alpha Theta lecture series, which brought distinguished scholars to campus for the annual Carl L. Becker Memorial Lecture in History. His humor, erudition and collegiality will be deeply missed in Seerley and across campus.
Mary Losch
Mary Losch, director of the Center for Social Behavioral Research and professor of psychology, retires after 28 years at UNI.
Prof. Losch joined UNI in 1998 as an associate professor and CSBR assistant director, became a full professor in 2008 and was named CSBR director in 2015. Before UNI, she served as a program director at the Iowa Social Science Institute.
Across her career, Prof. Losch contributed to more than 100 survey, evaluation and applied research projects spanning STEM education, public health, environment, energy and public policy. She led numerous multiyear NSF and state and local evaluations, published research on survey and evaluation methods, social science and health, and taught Psychology of Gender Difference from 1998 to 2009. She received the Kennedy Achievement Award and Midwest Association for Public Opinion Research fellowship honors in 2024.
In Memoriam
Clemens Bartollas
Clemens Bartollas passed away on October 6, 2025, at age 90.
He earned degrees from Davis and Elkins College, Princeton Theological Seminary, San Francisco Seminary and The Ohio State University, where he completed a Ph.D. in sociology with a specialization in criminology. Ordained in 1961, he served several Presbyterian congregations in Michigan and Ohio.
Prof. Bartollas began his academic career at Pembroke State University and later taught at Sangamon State University before joining the University of Northern Iowa, where he served for more than four decades. He established UNI’s criminology program and launched the major in 1985, which grew substantially under his leadership.
A prolific scholar, he authored more than 65 books with national and international recognition. He also worked extensively with violent offenders and served as an expert witness in death penalty cases.
Prof. Bartollas will be remembered for his intellectual rigor, mentorship and enduring commitment to service.
Carole Edginton
Carole Edginton, known by her pen name Lulu Edge, passed away peacefully on October 20, 2025, at age 58. She dedicated her career to fostering creativity, empathy and intellectual curiosity in children and young adults through writing, teaching and global engagement.
An accomplished author of more than two dozen children’s books, her work emphasized compassion and cross-cultural awareness. She served for over three decades with Camp Adventure Child and Youth Services, leading international programs and mentoring educators across more than twenty countries. She also collaborated with museums to develop youth-centered educational and cultural initiatives.
Prof. Edginton earned her B.A. from the University of Northern Iowa and her M.A. from Iowa State University, and pursued doctoral study (ABD) at UNI. She taught sociology, anthropology and East Asian history for over fifteen years.
Her scholarship and service reflected a commitment to global understanding and the transformative role of education.
Mary Louise Franken
Mary Louise Franken passed away at the age of 86. She earned her B.S. in Home Economics from the University of Wisconsin–Stout, her M.S. in Counseling from the University of Wisconsin and her Ed.D. from Drake University.
Prof. Franken joined the faculty at the University of Northern Iowa, where she taught family studies and later served as chair of the Department of Home Economics. She retired in 1998 after a distinguished academic career.
She was active in the Cedar Falls community, including her involvement with St. John Lutheran Church and her service as a volunteer with Cedar Valley Hospice. She also contributed her leadership to several organizations, including the YWCA, Family Service League, Family and Children’s Council and Lutheran Services of Iowa.
Prof. Franken will be remembered for her dedication to education, service and community engagement, and for the positive impact she had on colleagues, students and the broader community.
John Johnson
John Johnson passed away on January 2, 2026, at age 79. A distinguished historian and devoted member of the University of Northern Iowa community, Prof. Johnson found his professional home in Cedar Falls, where he was deeply valued for his scholarship, teaching and collegiality.
Throughout an academic career that also took him to institutions in New York, South Carolina and Alaska, he was recognized as a gifted teacher, mentor and facilitator whose influence extended well beyond the classroom. At UNI, he remained an engaged member of the campus community, embracing Panther athletics and the life of the history department with enduring enthusiasm. He was equally appreciated for the friendships and sense of community he fostered among colleagues and students.
Following retirement, Prof. Johnson continued his commitment to service through the Reading Buddies program, civic involvement and active engagement in the Cedar Falls community. He will be remembered for his intellectual generosity, love of learning and dedication to others.
Susan “Suz” Welch
Susan “Suz” Welch passed away on November 6, 2025, at age 85. Raised in Earlham, Iowa, she developed an early love for the outdoors that shaped her lifelong commitment to youth development.
She earned her B.A. in Physical Education from the University of Northern Iowa and began her career teaching before joining Camp Fire staff in 1965.
Prof. Welch served as director of Camp Hantesa beginning in 1972 and later as executive director, guiding significant program and facility expansion. She also contributed to the University of Northern Iowa as an adjunct instructor, teaching courses in camp leadership and administration.
Recognized nationally for her expertise in camping, she served in leadership roles with the American Camp Association, including as board president. Following her retirement in 2005, she remained active in mentoring leaders and supporting camps nationwide.
Prof. Welch will be remembered for her visionary leadership, dedication to youth development and lasting impact on generations of campers and colleagues.
Charlotte C. Wells
Charlotte C. Wells passed away on December 20, 2025, at age 73. She earned her B.A. from the University of Wisconsin–River Falls, her M.A. from Marquette University and her Ph.D. from Indiana University.
Prof. Wells served as a professor of history at the University of Northern Iowa from 1993 until her retirement in 2020. She taught a wide range of courses on early modern Europe, including the Renaissance and Reformation, the Enlightenment and women’s history. Her scholarship focused on national identity in early modern France and later on the relationship between religion and identity in seventeenth-century North America.
Beyond her academic work, she was actively engaged in community service, volunteering with local organizations and contributing to lifelong learning initiatives. She was also an active member of her parish community.
Prof. Wells will be remembered for her dedication to teaching, scholarship and service, and for the lasting impact she had on her students and colleagues.
This year has been a special one for CSBS as we celebrate UNI’s 150th anniversary. It’s been a chance to reflect on the impact this college has had over the years — and the role so many of you have played in shaping it. I’m continually inspired by the ways our students, faculty, alumni and friends bring that legacy to life.
During our annual day of giving, Live Purple Give Gold, the university saw record-breaking support — such an exciting reflection of Panther pride. Your generosity continues to make a real difference for our students, opening doors to hands-on experiences, scholarships and opportunities that prepare them for whatever is next.
This has truly been a year of celebrating our past, present and future — and the people who make it all possible. I’ve especially enjoyed connecting with many of you along the way and would love to continue those conversations. I hope you’ll join us for Homecoming Weekend October 9-10 as we wrap up this milestone year together!
ALISSA SPIDELL, ’14
Director of Development
alissa.spidell@uni.edu | 319-273-5985
Class Notes
Our alumni, alongside faculty and students, are vital to the success of the CSBS community. In this year’s Class Notes, we highlight just a few of the many impressive accomplishments of our dedicated graduates.
Have news to share? We’d love to include your latest achievement in next year’s Statements Magazine!
1950s
’56 Ralph Wedeking, BA, MA ’71, Clarksville, had a long and varied career, including teaching sociology at Wartburg College, administering a program for the elderly and handicapped in Waverly and serving as pastor with the United Church of Christ.
1960s
’63 Carroll Engelhardt, BA, Moorhead, MN, published his sixth book digitally, titled “Schooling: A College Life,” which recounts his career as a college history professor.
’64 Larry Jansen, BA, MA ’71, Kamrar, retired from teaching in 2000 and continues to manage farmland in north central Iowa.
1970s
’70 Larry Clement, BA, Sioux Falls, SD, partnered with Mike Chapman to write and publish his life story titled “Life in the Fast Lane: The Larry Clement Story.” He grew up on a farm, played football and saw success as an owner of a large auto and truck dealership in Fort Dodge. He was also a hall of fame auto driver, team owner and licensed pilot.
’70 Lyle Luckow, BA, Johnston, retired after more than 42 years as claims adjuster/litigation specialist and more than nine years as legal administrator for a large law firm in Des Moines. He is enjoying every minute of retirement!
1980s
’84 Charisse (Brown) Gillett, BA, MA ’87, Versailles, KY, published “Melodies of Faith: An Advent Devotional for African American Churches and Families.” She was also elected to serve as the chair of the board of directors for the In Trust Center for Theological Schools.
’88 Halane (Cumberland) Cummings, BA, Center Point, received the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Iowa Family and Consumer Science Educators. She has taught at Center Point Urbana Schools for the last 27 years.
’88 Greg McDermott, BA, Ashland, NE, retired in Mar. 2026 as the winningest coach in Creighton University men's basketball history. His coaching career spanned 32 seasons as head coach with 16 of those at Creighton and five at UNI.
1990s
’92 Jason Follett, BA, Ankeny, served as 2025-2026 president of the Professional and Scientific Council at Iowa State University. He celebrated ten years with software engineering advising in Feb. 2026 and also served as 2026 chair of the Special Olympics Iowa board of directors.
2000s
’02 Matt Degner, BA, Iowa City, was named one of Education Insider's Top 10 School District Superintendents. He serves as superintendent of the Iowa City Community School District. Degner was also named K-12 Dive's 2025 Superintendent of the Year in recognition of high academic achievement, establishing full day preschool and unique academic programs.
’02 William Hagans, BA, Houston, TX, was elected 2025-2026 Fellows Chair of the Texas Bar Foundation and was named to the Top 100 Houston Super Lawyers list for 2025 by the Thompson Reuters publication Texas Super Lawyers.
’03 Kelli Snyder, BA, EdD ’12, Dunkerton, received the 2025 Educator of the Year Award from the Iowa Athletic Trainer's Society. She is an associate professor and program director of athletic training at UNI.
’03 Jacquelyn Wiersma Mosley, BA, Fayetteville, AR, was named a fellow of the 2025 Southeastern Conference Academic Leadership Development Program. She is an associate dean and professor of human development and family sciences in the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences at the University of Arkansas.
’04 Nate Gruber, BA, BA ’10, MPP ’20, Cedar Falls, is a curriculum analyst on the degree audit team within the Office of the Registrar at the University of Iowa as of March 2025.
’04 Ellen (Staerk) Weishaar, BA, ASC ’20, Geneseo, IL, was named principal of Williams Middle School in the Davenport Community School District for the 2025-2026 school year.
’06 Jessica (Webb) Dowell, BA, Johnston, was selected as the 2025 Iowa History Teacher of the Year by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. She is a social studies teacher at Johnston High School.
’07 Anesa Kajtazovic, BA, Waterloo, published a book titled, “Anesa, No Škola Today,” which is based on her true story of fleeting the Bosnian War at age seven and surviving three years in war and refugee camps.
2010s
’11 Adam Haselhuhn, BA, MA ’25, Des Moines, was selected by the Des Moines Business Record as one of the 2026 Forty Under 40 honorees. He is a senior director of development with UnityPoint Health Des Moines Foundation.
’14 Wes Jones, BA, Cedar Falls, earned a Master of Science degree from Iowa State University in cybersecurity in May 2025.
’14 Ryan Moon, BA, Norwalk, was selected by the Des Moines Business Record as one of the 2026 Forty Under 40 honorees. He is the governmental relations director with Delta Dental of Iowa.
’16 Amanda (Khader) Stickley, BA, MA ’17, EdS ’19, Des Moines, works at Magnolia Connection, a clinic in Norwalk providing psychological testing and therapy services for children.
’17 Shakari Baker Bruce, BA, BA ’22, MA ’25, Grand Prairie, TX, received a 2025 Gold Star Award for outstanding teaching in Black Hawk County. She is a second grade teacher at Lincoln Elementary.
’18 Michael Casey, BA, Ames, was promoted to captain with the U.S. Army Reserve in Nov. 2024.
’18 Courtney (Anderson) Solberg, BA, Waverly, received a 2025 Gold Star Award for outstanding teaching in Black Hawk County. She is a physical education and health teacher at Columbus High School in Waterloo.
’18 Abigail Van Patten Freeman, BA, MA ’21, Brookings, SD, earned her PhD in counselor education in Dec. 2025. She is an assistant professor of counseling at south Dakota State University.
’19 Maria Bottino, BA, Des Moines, became the first paralegal for the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa in Sept. 2024.
2020s
’20 Kyla (Mulnix) Fangman, BA, Independence, is a human resource generalist with Exceptional Persons Inc.
’22 Jasmine (Carbin) Yant, BA, West Des Moines, is an associate attorney with Whitfield & Eddy Law. She earned her Juris Doctor from the Drake University Law School in 2025.
’25 Wyatt Fitzgerald, BA, Truro, was promoted to second lieutenant with the U.S. Army Reserve in May 2025.
’25 Gage Riggle, BA, Alexandria, VA, was promoted to second lieutenant in May 2025 with the U.S. Army Reserve.
’25 Hannah Tschetter, BA, Urbandale, was accepted to Drake Law for fall 2025.
