University of Northern Iowa Homepage Stories & News

UNI diploma

Meet the next generation of Panther grads

Our graduating seniors continued to impress with their academic brilliance, strong relationships with faculty and other students, and wide variety of out-of-class experiences to create a strong foundation for their future. These are but a few of our promising Class of Spring 2021 graduates:

Emily LoomisName: Emily Loomis

Hometown: Carlisle, IA

Major: Political Science and Study of Religion                

UNI campus

Annual Student Leadership Awards honors campus leaders

For the second year, UNI’s celebrated the annual Student Leadership Awards with a four-part virtual ceremony. The ceremony, which runs from Monday, April 19, through Thursday, April 22, recognizes students from across campus for their contributions to key programs and campus culture.

NBA coach and UNI alum Nick Nurse

NBA coach Nick Nurse, a UNI alum, headlines Sunday virtual event

The University of Northern Iowa, in partnership with the University of Iowa, will host a virtual conversation Sunday with NBA coach Nick Nurse, a UNI Hall of Fame basketball star who led his Toronto Raptors to a 2019 championship.  

Nurse will discuss his rural Iowa upbringing, how he transitioned to find success throughout his career and the use of data analytics to drive decisions in the NBA. Iowa women's basketball coach Lisa Bluder, a UNI women's basketball standout and UNI Hall of Famer will host the virtual event from 2-3 p.m. April 25.

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.

Rod Library

UNI ScholarWorks surpasses two million downloads

A geology educator found information on St. Peter’s sandstone. An Australian researcher discovered an early paper on the physiology of oats. Both a Pennsylvania graduate student and a Colombian graduate student in France tracked down important research on education.

Nick Nurse

UNI to host virtual conversation with NBA championship coach Nick Nurse

The University of Northern Iowa, in partnership with the University of Iowa, will host a virtual conversation Friday with NBA coach Nick Nurse, a UNI Hall of Fame basketball star who led his Toronto Raptors to a 2019 championship.  

Nurse will discuss his rural Iowa upbringing, how he transitioned to find success throughout his career and the use of data analytics to drive decisions in the NBA. Iowa women's basketball coach Lisa Bluder, a UNI women's basketball standout and UNI Hall of Famer will host the virtual event from 2-3 p.m. April 25.

Sisters Angela and Gina Weekley

Defying the odds and achieving their dreams

Sisters Angela and Gina Weekley know their lives could have turned out differently.

They grew up in Waterloo, in a single-parent, low-income home where no one held even a high school level education. But they credited TRIO, a federal program administered by the University of Northern Iowa that provides services for elementary through high school students from disadvantaged backgrounds, with helping them overcome those obstacles and build successful careers and become local leaders and pillars of their community, with both being named to the Waterloo Courier’s 20 Under 40 list.

Sen. Joni Ernst visits UNI-CUE.

UNI-CUE gets a visit from a U.S. senator

U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst received a first-hand look last week at how a University of Northern Iowa program is helping low-income Cedar Valley students gain access to and succeed in higher education, while also learning how the program is growing to help more people.

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.

UNI campus

UNI to be Iowa host institution for worldwide climate change project

The University of Northern Iowa will be Iowa’s host institution for a worldwide project for educators and community members on what can be done in the state to address climate change over the next decade.