College of Humanities, Arts, and Sciences Stories & News

UNI biology major Catherine Yeoman

An unexpected adventure

Catherine yeoman

Growing up in rural, landlocked Iowa, Catherine Yeoman never expected to find her passion in marine biology. 

But as a junior in the UNI Department of Biology, Yeoman has already managed to kick off a unique college experience that’s brought her around the country – studying bottlenose dolphins in Florida and rehabilitating baby seals in Cape Cod.

UNI alum Blake Thomas

Former UNI football player tackling disease research

As a Waterloo West High School graduate turned University of Northern Iowa football player, Blake Thomas has been a Cedar Valley native his entire life. Thomas wanted to make an impact in the classroom as well as on the field, and he initially decided to pursue a major in biology and pre-med. His intention was to go on to medical school, but that all changed when he took public health courses with Disa Cornish, an associate professor in the health, recreation and community services department. 

A new infant simulator at UNI

Next generation learning

The UNI Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders has welcomed a new addition to their department: baby “Paul.”

Weighing just under two and a half pounds, “Paul” is a preterm infant born at 27 weeks. He has a pulse, real hair, and can breathe and cry.

Paul is not a real infant, though, but rather a top-of-the-line high emotion simulator that students in the department will soon begin using for classwork.

UNI physics professor Paul Shand

An electronics revolution

The word “spintronics” may not be a household name, but it has the potential to revolutionize the electronic devices we use every day.

A hurricane in the Atlantic

Evacuating a hurricane in the age of COVID-19

The southeastern states have seen a record-breaking number of hurricanes already make landfall in a year when the nation is also grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic. When researchers wanted to know how people would balance the danger of contracting the virus with the need to evacuate their homes, they turned to UNI professor Mark Welford for help. Welford, who heads UNI’s geography department, is also an expert on global pandemics like the medieval Black Death.

UNI graduate student Hasina Jalal.

UNI Fulbright scholar empowering Afghan women

UNI Fulbright Scholar Hasina Jalal knows only too well the high stakes for women who work for equality, liberty and democracy in her native Afghanistan. 

A new infant simulator for UNI students to use in their class work.

Next generation learning

The UNI Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders has welcomed a new addition to their department: baby “Paul.”

Weighing just under two and a half pounds, “Paul” is a preterm infant born at 27 weeks. He has a pulse, real hair, and can breathe and cry.

Paul is not a real infant, though, but rather a top-of-the-line high emotion simulator that students in the department will soon begin using for classwork.

New UNI Opera Director Richard Gammon

A new voice for UNI's opera

New UNI Opera Director Richard Gammon aims to help students become “whole artists” — “fully fledged human beings co-existing on stage” — as he puts it, and his experience creating and directing modern, dance-accompanied operas offers the perfect vehicle to do just that.

New UNI Director of Orchestral Activities Erik Rohde

Rohde picks up the baton as Director of Orchestral Activities

Orchestral music has been around for centuries, and Erik Rohde is working to be sure it is around for many more.

As the next step in a career that has seen him perform in recitals and festivals throughout the United States, Europe and Asia as well as lead several well-renowned performing groups, Rohde became UNI’s new orchestra director earlier this year after hearing glowing reviews about the university.