College of Humanities, Arts, and Sciences Stories & News

Students participate in a theatre workshop at UNI.

Teaching through theater

A new partnership between UNI’s Department of Theatre and its Classic Upward Bound program is helping prepare low-income and first-generation Waterloo high school students for college, by using the skills gained through acting and improvising.
UNI art professor Jeffery Byrd

Art professor creates a more inclusive reality

Growing up in a small town in Alabama, UNI professor and art department head Jeffery Byrd dreamed of a world that would be more accepting of his LGBTQ identity. At UNI, he made that dream a reality, co-founding UNI’s first LGBTQ studies course and acting as a role model for LGBTQ students — while building community and finding love in the process.
Members of Green Iowa AmeriCorps take a water sample.

AmeriCorps environmental program at UNI continues to grow

UNI’s Green Iowa AmeriCorps program recently received a $1.1 million federal grant that will fund thousands of statewide community environmental service projects. The three-year grant will support 114 service members who will partner with 24 organizations across Iowa to carry out projects in residential energy efficiency, environmental education, land restoration and water quality.  

UNI's Green Iowa AmeriCorps receives $1.1 million grant for environmental projects

The University of Northern Iowa’s Green Iowa AmeriCorps program recently received a $1.1 million federal grant that will fund thousands of statewide community environmental service projects.

Campanile on campus

UNI School of Music’s Community Music School to host Camp Musicmania

The University of Northern Iowa Community Music School will present Camp Musicmania at the UNI School of Music, Russell Hall on the UNI campus, from June 14-18, 2021. Camp Musicmania is a multifaceted fine arts camp whose primary purpose is to engage campers in the excitement of exploring music, drama, and art. This year’s camp theme focuses on different ways of creating music.

The younger age division (first through third grades, fall 2021) classes will be held from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. daily. Cost is $142.50 per student. 

An art exhibit at the Cedar Valley Illuminate Arts and Light Festival

A night at a projection art festival

Dazzling light shows, interactive video projections and audio feedback loops dotted the College Hill area last weekend with the debut of the first-ever Cedar Valley Illuminate Art and Light Festival. The projection art showcase featured 15 installations from local artists, students and community organizations conceived around a theme of promoting social justice and societal change.

New UNI projection art festival to feature local artists

The first-ever Cedar Valley Illuminate Art and Light Festival will debut this weekend in the College Hill area, a projection art showcase featuring 15 installations from local artists, students and community organizations conceived around a theme of promoting social justice and societal change.

A student working

New festival to illuminate local artists

Amidst the darkness of the pandemic, a team of University of Northern Iowa students and faculty are bringing a ray of light.

The first-ever Cedar Valley Illuminate Art and Light Festival will debut in the College Hill area this weekend, a projection art showcase featuring 15 installations from local artists, students and community organizations conceived around a theme of promoting social justice and societal change.

UNI junior graphic design major Roshan Subba

A portrait of life in the pandemic

At just 9 years old, Roshan Subba made the incredible journey from a refugee camp in Nepal to Des Moines. Though Subba has few memories of his time in the camp, one thing he remembers is watching other children practicing calligraphy. Subba dreamed of being able to create intricate art like that someday.

Now, he’s a senior graphic design major at UNI and his first solo art show, “Modernism,” is being showcased through June 23 by Waterloo community center COR 220 East.

UNI campus

UNI colloquium to discuss health inequalities in the age of COVID-19

The University of Northern Iowa welcomes the community to participate in a virtual panel discussion to address health inequalities in the age of COVID-19.UNI campus

The colloquium, taking place at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 15, will bring panelists from across UNI and the Cedar Valley community to discuss their research and professional experiences related to health inequalities and the COVID-19 pandemic.