Human & Social Services Stories & News

Joana Lwin

Opening hearts, opening doors

Joana Lwin’s journey has been anything but easy. Today, through her role as director of Refugee and Immigrant Youth Organization (RIYO) in Waterloo, Iowa, she hopes to take her experiences and pay it forward.
Bill Henninger with signed memorandum of understanding

UNI forms 3+1 family services program with university in Kosovo

The University of Northern Iowa’s close relationship with the people and academic institutions of Kosovo continues to strengthen and expand.
Bill Henninger and Elaine Eshbaugh

UNI professor’s selfless act of organ donation saves a life

Bill Henninger saw an opportunity to help a stranger in need and made the decision to donate his kidney, potentially saving their life.
5 Million Global Downloads

UNI ScholarWorks has reached 5 MILLION global downloads!

We couldn't have done it without YOU! UNI ScholarWorks has reached 5 MILLION global downloads! This incredible achievement belongs to the entire UNI community: each college and discipline at UNI added to the total of 5 million downloads.
Death cafe participants coloring at a table

Normalizing death, one café conversation at a time

Assistant Professor Melinda Heinz has been hosting "death cafés" in the hopes that these events will make others more comfortable discussing death.
Lexi Gause with Student Leadership Award

How Lexi Gause turns every experience at UNI into a growing opportunity

Lexi Gause, a University of Northern Iowa junior majoring in social work, perfectly exemplifies what a leader should be.
Lexi Gause

UNI student Lexi Gause honored as Newman Civic Fellow

UNI student Lexi Gause is among the 154 New Civic Fellows who make up the 2023-2024 cohort. Gause is a social work major at UNI.
UNI awarded $250K grant to support teachers and better student outcomes

UNI awarded $250K grant to support teachers and better student outcomes

Thanks to a recent $250,000 grant, faculty members at the University of Northern Iowa will further their research focusing on social and emotional learning, aimed at providing effective support to school personnel, leading to better student outcomes.
James McCullagh

Beloved professor James McCullagh leaves $1.1 million legacy gift to student scholarships

A $1.1 million legacy gift by the late professor of social work, James McCullagh, will provide financial support for UNI students pursuing social work.
UNI Campanile

University of Northern Iowa rolls out “self-designed” master’s program

UNI is now accepting candidates for a new individualized alternative for graduate study: “This degree has flexibility that no other degree allows for...”