Alumni Stories & News

Panther Caravan

Panther Caravan returns to connect alumni and celebrate Panther athletics

Panther Caravan

The University of Northern Iowa’s Panther Caravan will be traveling around Iowa to connect with alumni and Panther fans May 9-12. 

Stops will include the Toppling Goliath Brewing Co. in Decorah on May 9, the Hall in West Des Moines on May 10, the Sioux City Convention Center in Sioux City on May 11 and Willow Ridge Golf Course in Fort Dodge on May 12. The events are from 6 to 7:30 p.m. with a program at 6:45 p.m. at each stop.

BLK & Bold Coffee

Alumni's coffee business lands deal with NBA

Pernell Cezar, Jr. (Marketing and Financial Management, ’10) doesn’t allow himself too much time for pinch-me moments. The co-founder and CEO of BLK & Bold Specialty Coffee, Cezar prefers to look ahead — “keep my eye on the ball,” Cezar says. “I can get easily overwhelmed if I pause and acknowledge those moments.”
Trevor Penning

UNI alum makes history as first-round NFL draft pick

Trevor Penning ('21) has made history as the first player from the University of Northern Iowa to be selected in the first round of the NFL draft.
Student puts on headphones to get ready to go through dementia simulation house

Iowa’s only dementia simulation house, run by UNI gerontology, helps increase empathy

UNI gerontology and the Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging have united to create a dementia simulation house that reduces stigma and increases empathy.
women run stem photo

Two UNI alums featured in national Women in STEM exhibit

In honor of Women’s History Month, a new exhibit to celebrate Women in STEM is on display at the National Mall in Washington DC.  Out of 120 women featured in the exhibit, two of the women are graduates of UNI – both hailing from the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry: Dr. Jennifer Stimpson (Chemistry M.A., 1996) and Dr. Raychelle Burks (Chemistry B.S., 2001).
Cedar Valley Green Business Competition

UNI to host inaugural competition of ideas to increase sustainability and reduce waste

The University of Northern Iowa will host its inaugural sustainability competition on March 31, where participants will submit their ideas on how to reduce landfill waste for a chance to win a $500 cash prize, with additional prizes for UNI students who take second and third place.

Suzanne Hendrix-Case

Voice professor’s opera skills draw praise from the Grammys

Elementary music educator, professor of voice, opera singer—Suzanne Hendrix-Case has done it all! And now she can add a new title: Grammy-nominated singer.
Kamerick Art Building

UNI grads sweep Art Educators of Iowa awards

The Art Educators of Iowa honored four UNI alumni with the coveted status of "Outstanding Iowa Art Educator" in 2021.
Headshot of Veena Kallambettu.

Speech pathology alum’s work with cancer patients wins national award

UNI alum Veena Kallambettu, was the sole winner of the 2021 Louis M. DiCarlo Award for the development of clinical programs to improve speech outcomes in patients with head and neck cancer.
Pernell Cezar

Northern Iowa alum selected as influential leader

A UNI finance and marketing alum who co-founded the first Black-owned coffee business with national distribution has been named a 2022 Influential Leader by the world’s largest business education alliance.