News Release Archive

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The University of Northern Iowa Panther Speakers program will offer a free webinar "Health Literacy in a Changing America," presented by Michele Devlin, professor and director of the Iowa Center for Health Disparities and Mark Grey, professor and director of the Iowa Center on Immigrant Leadership, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., on Thursday, Nov. 18.

The webinar allows alumni, business leaders and citizens to engage with UNI in the comforts of their own home or office.

Studies reveal that 50 percent of all adults in the United States have low health literacy and have difficulty understanding basic healthcare information. This increases the risk of unnecessary treatments, illness and medical errors. This webinar will define health literacy and discuss strategies for individuals and organizations to improve their ability to understand and express health information more effectively.

Grey founded the Iowa Center on Immigrant Leadership in 1999 and has since become a widely recognized authority on immigration. He also has expertise in the area of contemporary health issues. Devlin has significant experience in dealing with health literacy. This past summer she traveled to Haiti to help victims of the recent earthquake there and was able to take her experiences back with her.

To learn more about the UNI Panther Speakers program or to register for this free webinar, visit www.uni.edu/pantherspeakers.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa--The Iowa floods of 2008 called attention to a major environmental problem in a dramatic way. A new program at the University of Northern Iowa aims to improve educators' environmental teaching skills and the understanding of the underlying causes of flooding problems. The program "Rain, Runoff, and Rivers: Understanding Watersheds," will include weekend workshops for educators on this topic.

"A watershed is the land that water flows across or under on its way to a stream, river or lake. When a watershed becomes overloaded with water, we call it a flood," said Carl Bollwinkel, professor in UNI's Center for Energy and Environmental Education (CEEE). Bollwinkel is also the director of Environmental Issues Instruction (eii), a program in the CEEE. According to Bollwinkel, the purpose of the program is to help educators and their students understand watersheds and the differing beliefs about how to resolve issues arising from flooding. Additionally, the program helps participants and their students learn to take appropriate action to mitigate future flooding.

More than 72 Iowa educators will attend the workshops to gain teaching resources about flooding. According to Bollwinkel, communities that were flooded are still holding meetings dealing with flooding issues; however, few are relating these matters to young people. "A long term solution must include instructing youth about dealing with rain, runoff and river problems and issues," said Bollwinkel.

The eii program is funded by grants from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Iowa Department of Transportation Living Roadway Trust Fund (LTRF), Iowa Resource Enhancement and Protection Conservation Education Program (REAP-CEP) and Keep Iowa Beautiful.

Registration is currently open for several upcoming workshops including one Nov. 12 through 14 in Pleasant Hill, Iowa and one Feb. 11 through 13 at Mt. Vernon, Iowa. Each workshop has an April update session. The cost of the program, including two hours of graduate credit, is largely covered by the grants.

For more information, contact Bollwinkel at 319-273-2783 or visit http://www.uni.edu/ceee/eii.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa--The University of Northern Iowa is completing final preparations to host 2010 Iowa High School Football Championships at the UNI-Dome. Thousands of Iowans travel to UNI for the annual event, which kicks into high-gear with the semi-final games starting Thursday, Nov 11.

"With the incredible amount of traffic generated by the games, we strongly recommend that those traveling east on U.S. Highway 20 to Cedar Falls take the exit just past Dike and come to the UNI-Dome on West 27^th Street," said Dave Zarifis, director of UNI Public Safety. "Taking this route will reduce travel time to the UNI-Dome and decrease traffic congestion on Hudson Road."

Local motorists also are encouraged to avoid Hudson Road and University Avenue immediately before and after the games. A full game schedule can be found at iahsaa.org/football.

Directions for those traveling east on U.S. Highway 20:

1. Take Exit 220 (Grundy Road/Black Hawk County Road D18) and travel north on D18 (University Avenue) to Cedar Falls.

2. Turn left onto Union Road. Follow Union Road north to West 27^th Street (Black Hawk County Road D17).

3. Turn right onto West 27^th Street (D17). Travel east on 27th Street to the UNI-Dome.

Special traffic signs will be located at key turnoffs.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The University of Northern Iowa has long been a leader in strengthening the local food economy in Iowa communities. An upcoming dinner hosted by UNI's Center for Energy and Environmental Education (CEEE) will focus on creating a more local and regional food system that improves economic viability and environmental sustainability. The annual Food & Farm Partnership dinner will be held at 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 15, at the RiverLoop Public Market Coop in Waterloo.

"The evening will be a great chance to reconnect with friends and learn about some of the exciting local food projects going on in our area," said Andrea Rissing, program assistant at the CEEE. "These projects include the new RiverLoop Public Market Coop, new urban-farmer projects, and fresh and local food being served in area schools."

The dinner will feature a three-course meal designed by Chef Dan Ankrum of the ArtHouse Café at the Waterloo Center for the Arts. Additionally, the dinner will feature Swabian-Hall pork, produced by Carl Blake of Readlyn. Swabian-Hall pork has won numerous awards and accolades on a national scale.

The dinner is $15 per person payable in advance. To make a reservation, contact Rissing at 319-273-7883.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The University of Northern Iowa Department of Political Science will host a forum discussing "Election 2010: What did it Mean?" from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 10, in the Schindler Education Center Room 246.

This event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Donna Hoffman, interim department head and associate professor of political science, at 319-273-5916 or donna.hoffman@uni.edu.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The Multicultural Teaching Alliance (MTA) at the University of Northern Iowa will host its annual Multicultural Teachers Reception from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 15, in UNI's Georgian Lounge in the Commons, 1227 W. 23^rd St., Cedar Falls. All Waterloo and Cedar Falls teachers have been invited, along with UNI's teacher education faculty. The reception highlights the multicultural teaching practices of Cedar Falls and Waterloo teachers.

The MTA is an organization of undergraduate and graduate education majors striving to bring multicultural practices to their future teaching practices. The reception will include speakers and a presentation by the MTA.

For more information, contact Kimberly Knesting, associate professor of educational psychology & foundations at UNI, at 319-273-3840 or kimberly.knesting@uni.edu.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The Wilson Series in Business Ethics will host "Iowa's Fugitive" from 7 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 10, in Schindler Education Center Room 246 on the University of Northern Iowa campus.

Patrick Kuhse, an Iowa native and former financial planner and stockbroker in California, became involved in major illegal activities and eventually lived as a fugitive in the jungles of Costa Rica before being incarcerated.

He now travels throughout the United States speaking to students and business professionals about his story and the dilemmas that can too easily trap the unsuspecting young professional. Kuhse will come back to UNI to share his experience and analysis once more.

This event is free and open to the public.  For more information, call 319-273-2196 or e-mail donna.wood@uni.edu.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- Nine graduates from the School of Health, Physical Education and Leisure Services (HPELS) at the University of Northern Iowa will be inducted into the school's Elinor A. Crawford & William R. Thrall Hall of Excellence at 9 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 13, at the UNI Commons. The induction ceremony brunch is open to the public and costs $20. To make a reservation, call Carol Bean at 319-273-2840.

The following alumni will be inducted this year:

Julayne Hoffmeier (B.A. ’71) joined the University of Phoenix-Western Region in 1988 and currently serves as vice president for Community Relations and Project Strategy.

Dwight Marston (B.A. ’50) served as professor, golf coach and athletic director during his 25-year tenure at Winona State University in Winona, Minn. Marston will be inducted posthumously. 

Raymond Olson (B.A. ’59) was a professor and coached eight different sports at Black Hawk Junior College in Moline, Ill. He later served as professor of anatomy/physiology and athletic director until his retirement. Olson will be inducted posthumously. 

Chuck Patten (B.A. ’61) served as UNI’s head wrestling coach from 1965-82 and assistant athletic director from 1982-83. He retired from the Everett, Wash., school district where he most recently served as athletic director.

Shellie Pfohl (B.A. 85) was recently appointed executive director of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition. She manages the council’s activities and operations and leads efforts related to the First Lady’s Let’s Move! campaign.

Norman Rasmussen (B.A. ’65) is a professor, preceptor and consultant in the Department of Family Medicine and the Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, College of Medicine, at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.

Ronald Rice (B.A. ’70) was superintendent for the Ames Community School District before becoming executive director for the Iowa Association of School Boards.

Larry Rowedder (B.A. ’63) was named to the Exemplary Superintendents and received the NSBA Executive Educator Award "Top 100 Administrators in America." Recently, Dr. Rowedder has served the Stupski Foundation and the Harvard ExEL project.

Kenneth Witt (B.A. ’82) is a clinical exercise psychologist and consultant at the Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Program at Carteret General Hospital and Onslow Memorial Hospital, both in North Carolina.

This year's recipients join 69 others previously inducted into the Hall of Excellence, which recognizes graduates who have distinguished themselves professionally. The Hall of Excellence was created to acknowledge meritorious graduates and to encourage currently enrolled students to strive toward this recognition.

Inductees are chosen using the following criteria: demonstrated mastery of their profession's knowledge base; significant contributions to their profession and wide recognition for the quality of that contribution; demonstrated scholarly activity through publications and presentations related to their profession; offices held in professional organizations of state, regional, national and international scope; and completion of at least 10 years of service to their profession.

UNI's School of HPELS is one of the oldest programs in the U.S., tracing its roots back to 1896 with the establishment of the Department of Physical Culture. Course work in physical education dates back to 1878, two years after the opening of what was then known as the Iowa State Normal School.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The MyEntre.Net EntreBash! Networking event previously scheduled for Nov. 9 at the Beaver Hills Country Club in Cedar Falls has been postponed to a later date.  More information on upcoming events will be available when scheduling has been finalized.

Small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs are encouraged to visit the UNI MyEntre.Net website at www.myentre.net for information and assistance on their business or concept, or to contact the UNI Regional Business Center at (319) 273-4328.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The University of Northern Iowa's Department of History will present "Town and Gown When the Dow was Down: Cedar Falls and ISTC in 1933," by Ruth Ratliff, director of campaigns, development & foundation, at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 10, in Seerley Hall, Room 115.

Ratliff's talk will look at leisure activities of Cedar Falls residents and Iowa State Teachers College students and faculty in 1933. She will focus on the role of clubs and organizations.

The event is part of the Phi Alpha Theta history honor society lecture series and is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Ratliff at 319-273-6078 or ruth.ratliff@uni.edu.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- UNI's Center for Energy and Environmental Education (CEEE) will show the documentary "Living Downstream," at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 10, at the CEEE auditorium on the University of Northern Iowa campus.

"Living Downstream" is based on the acclaimed book by ecologist and cancer survivor Sandra Steingraber, Ph.D. "Our environment is playing a bigger role in the story of cancer than previously assumed," said Steingraber. This feature-length documentary follows Steingraber during one year as she travels across North America, working to break the silence about cancer and its environmental links.

The event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit www.ceee.uni.edu or call 319-273-2573.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The fourth-annual Polar Bare Run, Walk or Roll, sponsored by the University of Northern Iowa Alumni Association and its student group, CATS (Connecting Alumni to Students), will be held at 9:30 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 9, on the UNI campus.

"The event, which is a winter-wear drive for the Salvation Army, provides an opportunity for students, alumni and the community to give back to the Cedar Valley," said Connie Hansen, UNI assistant director of outreach and engagement, Alumni Relations. Participants wear new or gently used coats, hats, mittens and scarves to the event, then shed their winter gear before embarking on the one-mile course. All clothing is donated to the Salvation Army.

The race will begin and end at the UNI Alumni House, 1012 W. 23rd St., Cedar Falls.  Check-in is at 9 p.m. and the run begins at 9:30 p.m.  The event is free and prizes will be awarded. Teams and individuals from campus and the community are invited to participate. Those unable to participate who wish to donate winter-wear items may bring donations to the event or drop them off at the UNI Alumni House. 

Registration is open and will run until the day of the event. For more information or to register, visit www.unialum.org/2010-polar-bare-run-walk-roll.

Minimize backstage drama in the workplace 

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The University of Northern Iowa Panther Speakers program will offer a free webinar "Communication Renovation: Little Fixes that Make a Big Difference," presented by Jayne Witte, associate professor of communication studies, from noon-12:50 p.m., on Wednesday, Nov. 17.

The webinar allows alumni, business leaders and citizens to engage with UNI from the comforts of their office or home.

Healthy workplace relationships are at the heart of organizational productivity and employee satisfaction. The presentation will provide insight into replacing worn-out, poor communication habits with effective feedback and interaction strategies. Guests will learn how to choose words and phrases that will maximize their effectiveness and prevent conflict.

Witte is the author of "Workplace Gems," a book that provides 21 ways to improve your world at work. She also offers professional development training to businesses and organizations about how to improve the quality of workplace life.

To learn more about the UNI Panther Speakers program or to register for this free webinar, visit www.uni.edu/pantherspeakers.

Architect to discuss creative inspiration at University Museum 

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- Architect Kate Payne, AIA, from INVISION Architecture, will share her creative inspiration as part of UNI Museums' speaker series, "What Inspires You?" The series explores what inspires area professionals in their fields of expertise. The program will take place at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 9, at the University Museum, 3219 Hudson Road in Cedar Falls.           

Payne joined INVISION in 1998, after serving as an adjunct professor teaching architecture at the University of Buffalo and University of Oklahoma and fine arts at Wartburg College.            

The program is presented in conjunction with UNI Museums' current exhibit Object as Subject: Artists Explore the Museum's Collection. The exhibit, on display through Dec. 23, fuses art and anthropology with a collection of original works inspired by objects in the University Museum's Collection.

Museum viewing hours are from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday; and 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday. Admission is free and open to the public. For more information about UNI Museums and a complete calendar of events, visit www.uni.edu/museum or call 319-273-2188. 

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa--The University of Northern Iowa is the new home of the Iowa Space Grant Consortium (ISGC). Iowa's public universities created the ISGC in 1990 to coordinate and improve the state's future in aerospace science and technology and to stimulate aerospace research, education and outreach activities.

The ISGC's work is aligned with NASA's Education Outcomes, which include providing research support for faculty and students, developing NASA-related courses and improving the ability of targeted institutions to compete for NASA research and development work. Additionally, the work of the ISGC contributes to the further development of Iowa's Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) workforce.

"The Iowa Space Grant Consortium fulfills a critical need by mobilizing universities, industry, government and aerospace associations across the state in promoting aerospace education and research," said Ramanathan "Sugu" Sugumaran, director of the ISGC. "It's one of the most prominent state consortia at the national level."

According to Sugumaran, there are programs available each year through the ISGC that provide funding to promote aerospace- and space-related areas. The ISGC also provides fellowships and scholarships for graduate and undergraduate students who are entering STEM fields.

The ISGC is part of NASA's National Space Grant College and Fellowship program that was authorized by Congress in 1987. The program was created to expand opportunities for Americans to participate in NASA space projects and to enhance science and engineering education.

For more information, contact Sugumaran at 319-273-3816 or visit www.iaspacegrant.org.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The University of Northern Iowa will host four, 50-minute workshops beginning at 9 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 13, in room 185 of the Wellness and Recreation Center. Current USA Dance national champions Nels Petersen and Theresa Kimler will teach the workshops.

The first of the four workshops will focus on East Coast swing and is for beginners to advanced beginners. The second workshop, beginning at 10 a.m., will teach students the basics of the waltz. This course is also intended for beginners. At 11 a.m., a slightly more complicated dance, the American rumba, will be taught. This course is intended for an intermediate-level dancer. At noon, the final class will teach students the tango. This is the most complicated dance and is intended for more advanced dancers.

Petersen has won the USA Dance championships several times. He and Kimler have also won the Ohio Star Ball, long recognized as one of the premiere international competitions in ballroom dance.

The workshops are free and open to the public. For more information, contact Daniel Wells, instructor of health, physical education and leisure services, at 319-273-3560 or daniel.wells@uni.edu.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- Investigative writer, activist and public interest organization consultant John Stauber will speak at the University of Northern Iowa at 7:30 p.m., Monday, Nov. 8, in the Lang Hall Auditorium. His lecture, "Toxic Sludge Is Good for You: How Propagandists Manage Democracy," is part of the Meryl Norton Hearst Lecture Series.

Stauber will discuss a wide range of topics that illustrate the influence of unethical public relations practices, including how toxic sludge becomes "organic compost" for gardens, how BP has tried to position itself as an environmental leader, and how news "echo chambers" reinforce political and social biases favorable to sponsors and advertisers. According to Stauber, "Government and industry organize public relations campaigns to manage public attitudes, perceptions, behavior and policy."

Stauber has authored/co-authored six books including the 2003 New York Times bestseller "Weapons of Mass Deception: The Uses of Propaganda in Bush's War on Iraq." He served as executive director of the Center for Media and Democracy for 16 years until 2009. Today he is an independent investigative writer, activist and a consultant to public interest organizations including the Food Rights Network.

The event is free and open to the public. The Hearst Lecture Series is sponsored by the College of Humanities and Fine Arts and the Department of Communication Studies. For more information, contact Chris Martin, professor of communication studies, at 319-273-7155, or christopher.martin@uni.edu.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The dean of the College of Education at the University of Northern Iowa, Dwight C. Watson, will present "Exploring Social Connectivity through the Use of Adolescent Queer Literature" at noon, Monday, Nov. 1, as part of the CROW (Current Research on Women's Studies) Forum. The forum will be held at the Center for Multicultural Education, Room 109A, located in Maucker Union.

Watson will discuss the social and psychological development of gay and lesbian adolescents. Social isolation is a problem faced by many gay and lesbian youth. Watson proposes that literature circles, using carefully chosen adolescent gay literature, be made accessible to gay and lesbian youth to offset barriers to social connectivity.

Watson is serving his first year as dean of the College of Education. He has published work in academic journals as well as contributed to many other articles and books. He has also participated in a variety of research studies.

The event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Phyllis Baker, director of women's and gender studies, at 319-273-7102, or phyllis.baker@uni.edu.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa-- With the sea of advertising, malls, crowds and time pressures, it can be difficult to maintain a level of calmness during the holiday season. The University of Northern Iowa's Center for Energy and Environmental Education (CEEE) has created a green holiday initiative entitled "Reclaim Your Holidays: Practical Ways to Create Meaning." The project will focus on how minimizing stress can maximize the meaning of the holidays and result in a more environmentally friendly season.

The holiday initiative will work with Iowans in areas such as clearing clutter, environmentally friendly gift ideas, buying locally, controlling holiday finances and reducing stress. The hope is that when focus is on meaning rather than busyness and buying, the holidays will be more enjoyable and the environment will benefit as well.

The CEEE received two grants to help Iowans create more meaningful holidays, one from the Resource Enhancement and Protection Conservation Education Program for $32,957 and another from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Solid Waste Alternatives Program for $17,676. The project also received several matching funds and in-kind contributions.

"As our staff members talk with community members about this project, they find Iowans yearn for opportunities to explore alternatives," said Susan Salterberg, program manger at the CEEE. "They seem to know something isn't right with parts of their holidays and just need to hear that they are not alone in wanting to do things differently."

The CEEE will continue researching existing best environmental holiday and celebration practices and work with partners across the state to brainstorm and assemble ideas that will help Iowans celebrate their holidays in a more sustainable way.  In addition, the project addresses deeper environmental issues such as preventing energy waste, solid waste and food waste. "If this project in fact helps people focus more on relationships and living according to their values rather than buying guilt or gizmo gifts, it's a win-win for society," said Salterberg.

For more information, visit www.reclaimyourholidays.org.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- Small-business owners and those interested in starting a business are invited to attend EntreBash!, the third Cedar Valley MyEntreNet networking event of 2010.  EntreBash! will be held from 5 to 7 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 10, at Beaver Hills Country Club, 8230 Beaver Hills Dr. in Cedar Falls. Attendees will enjoy food, fun and the opportunity to network with other entrepreneurs from the Cedar Valley.  Admission is free.

EntreBash!, hosted by the University of Northern Iowa Regional Business Center, the city of Cedar Falls, the city of Waterloo, and the Greater Cedar Valley Alliance, is a networking event with the added opportunity for small-business owners and entrepreneurs to gather information important for their business or start-up. During the event attendees can speak directly with Info Team advisers to receive information and referrals to individuals and organizations for assistance with obtaining financing, increasing sales, doing business on the Web, reducing costs, finding new markets and other business services. 

"MyEntreNet is a support system that offers small-business owners the opportunity to network with fellow entrepreneurs, obtain technical assistance and learn about available sources of capital and other services we know they need to be successful," said Maureen Collins-Williams, director of the UNI Regional Business Center. 

"It's especially critical in today's economic climate to find new and innovative methods to help local businesses, but it's also important that small business owners are provided an opportunity to share and encourage each other," continued Collins-Williams. "We welcome new faces, as well as those who've attended previous EntreBash! events. Past attendees are encouraged to touch base again with the Info Team, receive input on their progress and get encouragement to move forward."

For more information, contact the UNI Regional Business Center at (319) 273-4328.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The University of Northern Iowa Interpreters Theatre will present "Journey Through the Night" at 7:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., Nov. 9 through 12, in the Interpreters Theatre in Lang Hall, Room 040.

Conceived and directed by Angela Glunz, "Journey through the Night" is an interactive simulation in which the audience experiences the life of a migrant worker as he makes his way from Central America to the U.S. border.

The cast includes Paige Everly and Jair Guevara as border patrol agents; Brandon Poll and Aaron Lord as Mexican gang members; Ana Hofstadter and Justus Thompson as smugglers; Erin Hilker and Kevin Howard as Mexican residents; and Ray Mallak as a migrant.

The event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Angela Glunz, graduate assistant, at glunza@uni.edu or 319-273-6728.

The production is funded in part by the Department of Communication Studies, the Colleges of Humanities & Fine Arts and Natural Sciences, and the Student Services Fee Committee. 

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- Nine University of Northern Iowa faculty and staff members received 2010 Faculty and Staff Excellence Awards, given by the Board of Regents, State of Iowa. The recipients were honored at convocation in September.

Regents Faculty Excellence Award recipients at UNI are: Gretta L. Berghammer, professor, Department of Theatre; Ken Bleile, professor, Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders; Harry Brod, professor, Department of Philosophy and World Religions; Kim MacLin, associate professor, Department of Psychology; Otto MacLin, associate professor, Department of Psychology; and Catherine Helen Palczewski, professor, Department of Communication Studies.

Berghammer has been with UNI for more than 25 years and has served the theatre department in many capacities. Her nominators emphasized her holistic approach to performance and outreach, as well as her leadership skills. She is known for her involvement both on campus and in the community.

Bleile has a national and international reputation as an outstanding teacher and scholar. His nominators highlighted how students constantly praise his ability to translate theory into practice. He has also taken students abroad to Chile, Peru and Nicaragua. His devotion to giving students unique opportunities shows off his unyielding dedication to learning.

Brod is most recognized for his original research with a particular focus in men's gender violence prevention. He is published in philosophy journals, as well as sociology, psychology, social science, education and law journals. His nominators emphasize his dedication to public service at the national, state and local level.

Kim MacLin's enthusiastic teaching style, coupled with the time she commits to engaging students in various projects makes her an extraordinary faculty member. Her nominators note that she is an invaluable source of guidance, knowledge and scholarship. She is known for going above and beyond her typical role, because of her dedication to her students.

Otto MacLin is the most published, nationally visible member of the psychology department. He has assisted in facilitating undergraduate research at an extraordinary level. His service throughout the state includes seminars and workshops on the pitfalls of eyewitness evidence. His nominators note that he has superb achievements as a scholar, a teacher, and is a person who has generously shared his expertise in the service of others.

Palczewski is described by her nominators as an excellent instructor. She is known for challenging her students to think critically and be more professional in their approach to learning. Her nominators also describe her as an exemplary model of a teacher-scholar, being well-read, highly interdisciplinary in her approach and productive.

Regents Staff Excellence Award recipients at UNI are: Linda Paar, laboratory specialist, chemistry and biochemistry department; Mike Weiglein, assistant manager, Piazza Dining Center; and Laura Wilson, assistant director, Career Services.

Paar has been with UNI for 35 years. Her nominators describe her as an exceptionally caring person who guides her students both in and out of the classroom. Her ability to impact her students each and every day makes her a truly great teacher. She is known as a mentor, a role model and a friend.

Weiglein is described as a passionate leader. His work ethic is based on the principals of a positive workplace, overall success, teamwork, open communication, accountability and having fun. He has developed a presentation for staff highlighting the benefits of adopting these principles. He is committed to serving the entire university and serves on the Student Conduct Committee, Resident Life Coordinator Selection Team and is on numerous search committees and national organizations.

Wilson is truly dedicated to students and their needs. She advises hundreds of business students to connect them to internships, co-ops and full-time employment. Despite a packed schedule, she still finds time for walk-ins as well. Her nominators note that she works extremely hard to respond to students' needs. She is known as compassionate, caring and generous.

The awards are presented annually to faculty and staff members in the professional and scientific ranks, and biennially to a member of the supervisory/confidential merit personnel, who have demonstrated outstanding professional contributions to UNI during their careers. Recipients are nominated by their colleagues and peers.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The University of Northern Iowa has announced the national launch of its $150 million Imagine the Impact campaign, the largest campaign in its history. The campaign, which began in 2005, has raised $109 million and is scheduled to continue through 2013. 

The University of Northern Iowa's Imagine the Impact campaign has received a commitment of $10 million from Mark C. Oman (B.A. '76) and Jill Fuerhoff Oman (B.A. '85) of West Des Moines. Their gift will be used to fund scholarships for UNI students. This represents the largest gift ever received from a UNI graduate and the largest commitment ever received for student scholarships.

The Omans are making their gift as a challenge to encourage other UNI alumni and friends to support the Imagine the Impact campaign. Mark Oman is the co-chair of the campaign and a member of the UNI Foundation Board of Trustees. 

Mark Oman is senior executive vice president of Wells Fargo & Company. "UNI will always be a very special place for my wife and me," said Mark Oman. "It gave us an outstanding education in business and in the liberal arts, preparing us for successful and satisfying careers and lives. We hope our gift will enable future students to enjoy the same educational advantages that we found at UNI."

"We are honored that the Oman's have made this very generous commitment to UNI," said UNI President Ben Allen. "Thanks to their support, the Oman's will have a profound impact on future generations of students at the University of Northern Iowa."

The Imagine the Impact campaign focuses on raising funds for scholarships and faculty and program support. To date, gifts from alumni and friends have created 206 new scholarships and 154 new funds to support fellowships, professorships, undergraduate research, visiting artist series and travel abroad opportunities for students and faculty.

Campaign co-chairs are Mark Oman (B.A. '76), senior executive vice president, Wells Fargo & Company, and Beverly Riess (M.A. '78), UNI Des Moines-area student-teacher and community- outreach coordinator. 

To learn more about the Imagine the Impact campaign, visit www.uni-foundation.org.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa-- A new teacher preparation program at the University of Northern Iowa will improve services and learning for children with disabilities. UNI's Department of Special Education received $260,413 from a U.S. Department of Education grant aimed at helping states provide personnel for students with special needs.

UNI will use the funds to implement a performance based early childhood special education personnel preparation program which trains qualified and fully certified teachers to educate the country's youngest and most challenged citizens.

The project will be directed by Donna Raschke and Frank Kohler, professors of Special Education at UNI. "Unfortunately, many of Iowa's youngest citizens with special needs are being instructed daily by teachers who are not fully certified," said Kohler. "This project will provide tuition for 45 of these educators to take the coursework and engage in activities to enable them to become fully certified as early childhood special education teachers."

"The project will work with three schools in the Cedar Falls/Waterloo area that have been identified as in need of assistance by No Child Left Behind," said Raschke. "Students supported by the project will work with educators and service providers to infuse a school with a system of positive behavior supports that ensure all children are active participants in the learning process."

According to Raschke and Kohler, resources provided in the grant will support the design and incorporation of family-centered practices, data based programming and evidence-based practices into the early childhood special education preparation program at UNI. The program will also develop a comprehensive system for monitoring trainees' progress during and after their completion of the program.

For more information, contact Raschke at 319-273-3258 or Kohler at 319-273-7484.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The University of Northern Iowa's comedy improv troupe, Half-Masted, is back with another unscripted show. They will perform at 8 p.m., Nov. 4-6, in the Communications Arts Center Room 108. There will be a family-friendly matinee at 3:30 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 6, in the same location.

The troupe is instructed and directed by Doug Shaw, a professor of mathematics at UNI, and includes a group of UNI students, alumni and members of the community. They also do private shows and seminars throughout Iowa.

Shaw has performed with several improv troupes throughout the Midwest, including the popular Impossibles, the house troupe of a long-running Minneapolis variety show called Look Ma, No Pants!

For more information, contact Shaw at 319-273-6805 or doug.shaw@uni.edu.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The University of Northern Iowa Gallery of Art will present an invitational group exhibition "Action Is Eloquence" from Nov. 1 through 30. Three lectures will be offered in association with the exhibition, which is the third in a yearlong series of events featuring UNI Department of Art alumni titled "Time is Ripe." All events are sponsored in part by the Florence Hartwig Foundation and the UNI Alumni Association.

"Action Is Eloquence" is a thematic invitational exhibition about desire, intention and direction. The title itself derives from a scene in Shakespeare's play "Corialanus" in which the protagonist is coached in public presentation. More importantly, however, in this scene we are made to see the complex relationship between the viewer and the viewed, and this relationship is the core idea behind the exhibition.

Participants include: Bruce Charlesworth (B.A. '72), Dawn Gettler (B.F.A. '03), Karla Hackenmiller (B.F.A. '93) and Tom Mueske (B.F.A. '05).  In addition, the following lectures will be presented in Kamerick Art Building South, room 111: Charlesworth at 7 p.m., Nov. 1; Gettler and Mueske at 7 p.m., Nov. 2. Artist's receptions will follow each presentation.

Bruce Charlesworth is an interdisciplinary artist working in film, video, photography, performance and installation. He is recognized as one of the pioneers in Postmodern photography and interactive installation art. His feature-length experimental film "Private Enemy - Public Eye" was adapted into a book published in 1989, which later was the basis for a retrospective of his work at the International Center of Photography in New York City. His work has been exhibited nationally and internationally, and he is the recipient of numerous awards including fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Jerome Foundation, the Guggenheim Memorial Foundation and the Louis Comfort Tiffany Foundation. He is assistant professor of Film Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and during 2009-10 he was a Fellow of the Center for 21^st Century Studies. 

Printmaker Dawn Gettler received her M.F.A. from Ohio University in Athens, Ohio where she also served as a graduate assistant teaching advanced printmaking and foundations courses. Most recently, she completed artist-in-residence programs at The Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts in Omaha, Neb. and Spiro Arts in Park City, Utah. In her short career as a practicing artist, her work has been exhibited in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Ohio, Idaho, Georgia and Florida. In 2011, she will present a solo exhibition at the Janalyn Hanson White Gallery at Mount Mercy College in Cedar Rapids.

Karla Hackenmiller is associate professor and chair of the Printmaking Program at Ohio University at Athens. Her etchings and collages have been exhibited nationally and internationally, most notably at the Mesa Art Center in Arizona and the Czech Museum of Fine Art in Prague. She is co-founder and co-director of the annual "Inkahoots!" event, an outdoor collaborative printing festival at Ohio University, and in 2006, she was co-organizer of the Mid America Print Council (MAPC) biennial conference, "Forging Connections."

Los Angeles-based artist Tom Mueske received his M.F.A. in painting from the San Francisco Art Institute where he received a Graduate Fellowship Award. In 2006, he was both guest artist at California State University in Long Beach and recipient of an artist's grant from the renowned Vermont Studio Center. In 2008, he presented his first solo exhibition at the Haines Gallery in San Francisco, the establishment currently representing his work. This year, the artist's work was accepted into the California Biennial at the Orange County Museum of Art in Newport Beach, Calif.

Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Thursday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday; and noon to 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday.  The gallery is located at the northeast corner of Hudson Road and West 27th Street, Cedar Falls, on the main floor of Kamerick Art Building South.  For more information call 319-273-3095 or visit www.uni.edu/artdept/gallery/.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- Ben Franklin, Thomas Edison, Neil Armstrong and Barbara McClintock all had something in common. Not only were they pioneers in math and science but they also were all Americans. Math, science and America come together once again as they meet October 23-24, 2010 at the National Mall in Washington D.C. for the first ever USA Science and Engineering Festival.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- Engaging the community in energy efficiency and conservation will be the topic of a public discussion hosted by the UNI Office of Sustainability and the Center for Energy and Environmental Education. "Driving Demand for Energy Efficiency - the Kansas Take Charge Challenge" will be held Tuesday, Oct. 26, at 4 p.m., in the CEEE Auditorium.

The "Take Charge Challenge" was a contest between six Kansas towns to make the largest reduction in electricity use over a one-year period. Together, these towns achieved reductions of 7 million kilowatt-hours, avoiding more than 19 million pounds of CO₂ emissions and saving $1.2 million for their communities. Additionally 52,000 incandescent lights were switched to compact fluorescent bulbs and more than 200 energy efficient appliances were installed. The efforts proved that energy efficiency works in every community, home and business.

This unique challenge utilized existing peer-to-peer networks to spread energy efficiency information, inspirations and adoption. It engaged community organizations such as the Rotary, Kiwanis, Boy Scouts, 4-H and senior groups. A leadership team consisting of mayors, city managers, teachers and local business owners planned efficiency-themed events in each city and spread energy efficiency messages.

Along with becoming more energy efficient, the challenge strengthened connections between participating communities and the utilities that serve them.

The discussion will be led by Eileen Horn, sustainability coordinator for Douglas County and the City of Lawrence, Kan.

For more information, contact Eric O'Brien at 319-273-7207 or Kamyar Enshayan at 319-273-7575.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- Loren Lown, director of Polk County Conservation, will discuss research being done at the Chichaqua Bottoms Natural Area. This seminar will be at 4 p.m., Wednesday, Oct., 27, at the University of Northern Iowa Tallgrass Prairie Center. The center is located on West 27^th street, one-quarter mile west of the McLeod Center.

This three-year field experiment is taking place at the Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt, which runs along the Skunk River in northeast Polk County. This study is looking at the use of goat browsing and cattle grazing on land undergoing restoration to mimic native animals' impact on the original ecosystem. The study examines the herbivory's effects on reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates, small mammals, birds and plants, compared to the effects of prescribed fire and haying. 

This seminar is part of the Tallgrass Prairie Center's Natural Resource and Management seminar series. For more information, contact Ryan Welch, outreach coordinator for the Tallgrass Prairie Center, at 319-273-3828 or rwelch@uni.edu.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The University of Northern Iowa Alumni Association will present its annual Heritage Honours Awards during a reception and program from 8 to 10 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 23, in the Commons. The awards program honors the accomplishments of UNI graduates and their service to the university.

Clayton Condit (B.A. '92), and Barbara (Schmitt) Condit (B.A. '92) of Minneapolis, will receive the Young Alumnus Award and Young Alumna Award, respectively, which recognize graduates 40 years of age or younger who have excelled in their professions and demonstrated commitment to their community. Stan Askren (B.A. '82) of Muscatine, Iowa, and David Takes (B.A. '81) of Cedar Falls, Iowa, will receive the Alumni Achievement Award, which recognizes outstanding professional accomplishments. 

Clayton Condit, an entrepreneur, serves as managing editor for the company Splice Here, a post-production company that he started in his basement. Originally from Marshalltown, Clayton received his degree in public relations at UNI. He previously had an editing job in what was then known as the Office of Marketing and Public Relations, worked seven years with a post-production company in Eden Prairie, Minn. freelanced for two years and eventually decided to start his own company.

Condit made significant contributions to the documentary film, "America's Lost Landscape: The Tallgrass Prairie," produced by the Tallgrass Prairie Center at UNI. The film received numerous awards and put UNI in a national spotlight. He has also hosted gatherings of UNI alumni in the Twin Cities.

Barbara Condit serves as financial manager for Splice Here. A St. Lucas native, she also graduated from UNI with a degree in public relations. While in school, she worked for Cedar Falls Trust & Savings, which later became Firstar Bank. Upon graduation, she transferred to Firstar in the Twin Cities. She transitioned into real estate, and eventually partnered with her husband, Clayton, to build Splice Here. 

With her husband, Barbara also made significant contributions to "America's Lost Landscape: The Tallgrass Prairie." Her adeptness at handling financial responsibilities for the company has led to larger growth and revenue. The couple's generosity can be seen through their $100,000 donation of in-kind underwriting to complete the film.

Askren has been chairman of the board, president and CEO of HNI Corporation since 2004. He joined the company in 1992, and has held many different senior leadership positions within the company. Originally from Oregon, Askren now lives in Muscatine. He graduated from UNI with a degree in business administration, received his MBA from Washington University and completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard. While at UNI, he was recognized as an outstanding business student and received the Wall Street Journal Award.

A few of his many accomplishments include serving with the Muscatine Community Health Foundation, the Muscatine Business Forum and as the vice chair of the Iowa Business Council. He has served on the UNI Foundation Board of Trustees since 1996. He also served during the Students First Campaign and was very crucial in securing a gift from HNI Corporation to furnish the McLeod Center with office equipment.

Takes, a native of Cascade, currently works as the President of Doerfer Companies in Waverly. He graduated from UNI with a degree in accounting and then attended the University of Iowa, where he earned a law degree. He worked as an attorney for some time, and was eventually part of a partnership that purchased Doerfer Engineering in Cedar Falls. The name has changed to Doerfer Companies and Takes has helped it grow; building plants in South Carolina and Europe. It is now known as a national leader in customized manufacturing.

Takes served on the national UNI Students First Steering Committee that raised $112 million for capital programs and scholarships at UNI. He has been a strong supporter of UNI Athletics through the Panther Scholarship Club, providing leadership support financially for the scholarship needs of UNI student athletes. Additionally, he's a seat sponsor and supporter of the Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center, which demonstrates his support of both cultural arts and the community.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The University of Northern Iowa's Department of Political Science will host a panel discussion on trends in judicial selection at 3:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 28, in Seerley, Room 115.

This year's retention elections for the Iowa Supreme Court have been controversial, with some groups urging that several justices be ousted in response to their 2009 decision on same-sex marriage. The panel discussion will cover the implications of the upcoming judicial retention election for the future of the Iowa courts.

Panel leaders include C. Scott Peters, UNI associate professor of political science, and Malia Reddick and Rachel Paine Caufield, who are both affiliated with the American Judicature Society at Drake University.

The event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Peters at scott.peters@uni.edu or 319-273-2727.

Enrollment deadline is Nov. 5 

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- Registration is now open for the management workshop "Managing People through Change," hosted by the University of Northern Iowa's Executive Development Center. The workshop is from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Nov. 11, in the Business and Community Services Building on the UNI campus. The registration deadline is Nov. 5.   

Workshop participants will practice ways to engage staff in productive, constructive dialogue; use coaching techniques to transition people into new roles and responsibilities; and help employees deal with ambiguity. This session will help managers recognize the symptoms of employees who are saboteurs or "actively disengaged" and will give them dialogue to handle that situation. Workshop leader Kathy Olson is a human resources professional with nearly 20 years of experience dealing with leadership development, employee relations and performance management issues.

"We all know change is inevitable. As an effective leader, your role is to help employees manage all these changes," said Kim Recker, program manager for the UNI Executive Development Center. "This workshop will examine the different stages of change and the emotions employees experience throughout the change. This class will give managers the confidence to approach touchy subjects during a stressful time."

The cost is $275 per person. UNI Alumni Association members receive a 10-percent discount. 

For more information or to register, contact UNI's Executive Development Center at 319-273-5851 or execdev@uni.edu. Registration can also be completed by visiting www.bcs.uni.edu/execdev and clicking "Enroll Now."

The Executive Development Center is a program of Business and Community Services, a division of the UNI College of Business Administration.     

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The University of Northern Iowa will host a Cedar Valley Preview night, Monday, Oct. 25, from 6 to 8 p.m., at the Waterloo Public Library. This event is for students and parents interested in learning more about UNI.

They will receive information about the admissions and financial aid process, scholarships and living on campus.

Students will have the chance to meet and discuss majors with representatives from the College of Education, the College of Business Administration, the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences and the Colleges of Humanities and Fine Arts and Natural Sciences.

For more information contact Christie Kangas, director of the Office of Admissions, at 319-273-2281 or christie.kangas@uni.edu.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The University of Northern Iowa's homecoming celebration began Sunday, Oct. 17 and continues through Saturday, Oct. 23, featuring a week full of events and activities.

At 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, Oct 20, the official kick-off ceremony and Panther Pride Cry Competition on the roof of Maucker Union will feature the UNI Spirit Squad and Pep Band. At 4 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 21, at the Campanile Plaza, teams of two will compete in a competition known as the Panther Scramble. It will include a variety of "minute-to-win-it" games. Prizes will be awarded to the top three teams. There is also a prize for the best-dressed team. At 9:30 p.m., the Campus Activities Board will host "Dueling Pianos," a show where two professional piano players sing and entertain while playing audience requested songs, at Maucker Union. 

Friday, Oct. 22, is Purple Pride Day. Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to wear school colors to show their UNI spirit. From 6 to10 p.m., the Center for Multicultural Education will host a Multicultural Fair to celebrate diversity at UNI. At 7 p.m., the UNI volleyball team will play Drake University in the McLeod Center. After the game, at 9 p.m., outside the McLeod Center, there will be a pep rally, Panther Pride Cry Finals and fireworks. Campaniling will finish the night at 11:45 p.m. at the UNI Campanile.

Events begin Saturday, Oct. 23, with the annual Panther Pacers 5K Cross Country Run at 8 a.m. Race day registration will be from 7 to 7:50 a.m. Participants are to meet in the UNI-Dome west parking lot. The Panther Festival will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the corner of College St. and W. 23^rd Street. There will be a "virtual parade", murals, inflatable games and food. From 2 to 3:30 p.m. an Alumni Open House will be in the Alumni Suite located in the McLeod Center. At 4:05 p.m., the UNI football team will take on Illinois State at the UNI-Dome. The volleyball team plays Creighton at 7:30 p.m. at the McLeod Center.

Prior to the football game kickoff, the women's & gender studies department, in collaboration with Violence Intervention Services, athletics and numerous student organizations and community supporters, will host Safe Date Tailgate, in the southwest corner of the Wellness and Recreation Center’s north parking lot. This event was started in 2006 as a way to educate students about the issues surrounding gender-based violence prevention and that "safe dates are always the best dates." The event will offer free food and soft drinks to the tailgating crowd.

Additional information about the homecoming week events can be found on the UNI Homecoming website at www.uni.edu/homecoming/schedule-events.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- Tim Wise, acclaimed white anti-racist essayist, educator and author, will speak at the University of Northern Iowa at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 26, in the Great Hall at the Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center.

Wise is the author of five books and has contributed essays to 25 books. He is internationally renowned for his knowledge on issues of comparative racism, race and education, racism and religion and race in the labor market. He received the 2001 British Diversity Award for best feature essay on race issues and has contributed writings to many popular, professional and scholarly journals. He has spoken in 49 states and on more than 600 college campuses.

Wise has provided anti-racism training to teachers nationwide and has conducted trainings with physicians and medical industry professionals on how to combat racial inequities in health care. He has appeared frequently on radio and television programs, regularly contributes to discussions on CNN and was featured on ABC's 20/20 in 2007.

While on campus, Wise will also participate in an informal discussion of his book, "Colorblind: The Rise of Post-Racial Politics and the Retreat from Racial Equity" at 3:30 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 26, at the Center for Multicultural Education (CME) located in the Maucker Union.

Additional events related to Wise's visit include:

-DVD and Discussion with Tom Kessler, bibliographer and associate professor in Rod Library, at 4 p.m., Monday, Oct. 18, at the CME;

-Breaking Down Structural Racism Discussion with Victoria DeFrancisco, professor of communication studies, and Michael Blackwell, director of the CME, at 3:30 p.m., Monday, Oct. 25 at the CME.

These events are free and open to the public. For additional information, contact Kolby Knupp, graduate assistant for the Center for Multicultural Education at kolby@uni.edu or 319-273-2115.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- Marsha Ternus, chief justice of the Iowa Supreme Court will deliver a lecture on "Rule of Law and the Iowa Supreme Court" at the University of Northern Iowa at 3:30 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 20 in Seerley 115.

Ternus has been on the Iowa Supreme Court since 1993. She was selected by her colleagues to be chief justice in 2006 and is the first woman to serve as chief justice in the history of the Iowa Supreme Court. Her current term of office expires at the end of 2010.

Ternus will be on the ballot for retention on Nov. 2. This year's retention elections for the Iowa Supreme Court have been controversial, with some groups urging that the three justices on the ballot be ousted in response to the court's 2009 decision on same-sex marriage.

The event is free and open to the public. It is sponsored by the Daniel Webster Law Society. For more information, contact C. Scott Peters, associate professor of political science, at 319-273-2727 or scott.peters@uni.edu.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The University of Northern Iowa's recent integration of recycling bins in all residence halls is already showing results. A report released last month shows that City Carton is removing more than 1.3 tons of recycled materials from the Department of Residence each week. This includes dining and residence halls.

UNI distributed 2,800 recycling containers to dorm rooms and apartments this fall. A room in each of the residence halls was then designated as the building's collection center where recycled plastic, tin, glass, cardboard and mixed paper were collected and sorted. Residents are responsible for getting the materials from their rooms to the collection center.

Michael Hager, assistant vice president for student affairs and executive director of residence at UNI, wasn't surprised by the positive response. "Improving access to recycling enables students to follow through on their intentions to help the campus community reduce waste," said Hager. "The addition of a campus sustainability coordinator helped implement this project as part of a larger initiative by the university to reduce our carbon footprint."

In September alone the residence halls collected 7,146 pounds of recycled materials.

For more information, contact Eric O'Brien, UNI sustainability coordinator at 319-273-7207.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The University of Northern Iowa's History Department will present "Contextualizing Assyrian Brutality," by Robert Dise, a UNI associate history professor, at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 20, in Seerley Hall, Room 115.

Dise will discuss the Assyrians' reputation for savagery and will explore how their brutality arose out of their faith in their chief god, Ashur, and their commitment to maintaining order in the world.

The event is part of the Phi Alpha Theta history honor society lecture series and is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Dise at 319-273-5906 or robert.dise@uni.edu.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The naming of the University of Northern Iowa's Richard O. Jacobson Center for Comprehensive Literacy was recently approved by the Board of Regents, State of Iowa. Salli Forbes, director of UNI's Reading Recovery Center and Rick Traw, associate professor of curriculum & instruction are co-directors of the center. They are outlining plans for the next two years that focus on educating, coaching and mentoring teachers and administrators to develop effective instructional practices.

The $11 million gift donated by businessman Richard O. Jacobson established an initial start-up support of $1 million to train UNI faculty and literacy coaches in select partner model schools. An endowment of $10 million will support the expansion of the program to schools throughout Iowa as well as continue to strengthen UNI's work in preparing new teachers.

As part of these efforts, UNI will follow the Partnerships in Comprehensive Literacy (PCL) model and will become Iowa's university center for PCL. PCL is a program for educating, coaching and mentoring teachers and administrators. The PCL model started in 1998 at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. PCL is currently in 200 schools, impacting approximately 80,000 students annually.

Major distinctions of UNI's center will be the integration of UNI undergraduate literacy education students in the Iowa model schools and the focus on lower socioeconomic populations.

"As a premier teacher education program, having our current education students interested in literacy endorsements, receive this kind of training alongside practicing professionals and in-service teachers will give our students invaluable skills in the classrooms," said Forbes.

Phase one of the Jacobson Center will develop three model school sites in Iowa by 2012. UNI has named Walnut Grove Elementary School in Council Bluffs Community School District, as the first partner model school. Walnut Grove Elementary School is a high need school with 73 percent of the students on free and reduced lunch and 26 percent minority enrollment. The Council Bluffs Community schools know first-hand the benefits of PCL and having well prepared, highly skilled literacy coaches in the school district as the model was piloted at four elementary buildings during 2009-2010.

One literacy coach will undergo training at the PCL site at the University of Arkansas, Little Rock (UALR) this year as part of the grant. The Council Bluffs School District had already sent eight literacy coaches for comprehensive training to UALR and approximately 30 teachers to summer institutes on PCL this past year.

"We are extremely excited about the grant and our partnership with UNI," said Ann Mausbach, executive director of curriculum & instruction for the Council Bluffs School District. "We are in the second year of implementing the Partnerships for Comprehensive Literacy Model. The opportunity to access university resources to create a model school will benefit all of our students across the district."

In phase two of the center, Forbes hopes to bring on a minimum of six to eight new Iowa schools each year, beginning in 2012. Each of these schools will receive a grant to implement the PCL model which includes preparing literacy coaches, providing teaching materials for schools and professional development.

"This is a wonderful opportunity to unite UNI's Literacy Education faculty and students with practicing teachers and administrators to work towards our common goal - helping children improve as readers, writers, thinkers and learners," said Traw. "We know that this is a critical factor in providing them with the greatest chance of securing a rich fulfilling life. We want to express our heartfelt gratitude to Richard Jacobson for this gift."

For more information, contact Forbes, at 319-273-6597 or Traw at 319-273-2240.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- Iowans will discover how to create more meaningful winter holidays at a series of free sessions held from 7 to 8 p.m., on Thursdays, Oct. 21, Oct. 28, Nov. 4 and Jan. 6, at the Iowa City Public Library Meeting Room A.

Participants will reflect on the holidays to more clearly understand their priorities; they will receive practical tips for creating a meaningful holiday while reducing energy use and waste; and—at the January session—they will assess what worked and what didn't during the holidays. 

The events are sponsored by the Iowa City Public Library, the Iowa City Landfill & Recycling Center, the University of Northern Iowa Center for Energy & Environmental Education (CEEE), Iowa State University Extension and the University of Iowa Office of Sustainability.  The sessions are funded in part by the Resource Enhancement and Protection Conservation Education Program and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Solid Waste Alternatives Program.  For more details, contact Susan Salterberg, program manager at the CEEE, at 319-337-4816 or susan.salterberg@uni.edu.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The University of Northern Iowa is an outstanding business school, for the fifth consecutive year, according to The Princeton Review. The New York-based education-services company features the school in the just-published 2011 edition of "The Best 300 Business Schools" (Random House/Princeton Review, Oct. 12, 2010).

Robert Franek, Princeton Review senior vice president-publishing, said, "We are pleased to recommend UNI to readers of our book and users of our site, www.princetonreview.com, as one of the best institutions they could attend to earn an MBA. We chose the 300 business schools in this book based on our high opinion of their academic programs and offerings, as well as our review of institutional data we collected from the schools. We also strongly consider the candid opinions of students attending the schools who report on their campus experiences on our survey for the book."

Farzad Mousavi, dean of UNI's College of Business Administration, said, "It is gratifying to receive recognition from The Princeton Review, which is internationally respected for its independence. Princeton Review's focus is on MBA programs, but our MBA program does not operate in isolation. It relies on the same faculty, staff and academic philosophy as the rest of the college. What Princeton Review finds so appealing -- high quality of instruction and strong student orientation -- defines the entire college."

"The Best 300 Business Schools: 2011 Edition" has two-page profiles of the schools with write-ups on their academics, student life and admissions, plus ratings for their academics, selectivity and career placement services.

In a "Survey Says . . ." sidebar in the profile, The Princeton Review lists topics that UNI students it surveyed were in most agreement about. The list includes solid preparation in marketing, accounting, general management and operations.

The Princeton Review's 80-question survey for the book asked students about themselves, their career plans, and their schools' academics, student body and campus life. One student told The Princeton Review, "The University of Northern Iowa offers a superior program to others in my area." Another said, "It allows for a quick completion time while providing the business instruction I need." Said another, "From the dean to the newest professor, everyone at the University of Northern Iowa is available and willing to help you be successful."

UNI's MBA program facilitates the professional development of middle-level managers and those aspiring to managerial positions. The program seeks to improve their dynamic capabilities to discern, describe, and solve business problems and manage resources for value creation. Learn more about UNI's MBA program at www.cba.uni.edu/mba.

The Princeton Review does not rank the business schools in the book on a single hierarchical list from 1 to 300, or name one business school best overall. Instead, the book has 11 ranking lists of the top 10 business schools in various categories. The lists are posted at www.PrincetonReview.com.

"The Best 300 Business Schools: 2011 Edition" also has advice on applying to business schools and funding the degree. It is one of the more than165 Princeton Review books published by Random House. The Princeton Review (www.PrincetonReview.com) is also known for its guides to colleges and to standardized tests, its classroom and online test-prep courses, tutoring and other education services. The Princeton Review is headquartered in Framingham, Mass.; its editorial offices are in New York City. The company is not affiliated with Princeton University, and it is not a magazine.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The University of Northern Iowa Museums will host "Family Fun Day: Make It and Take It" from 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Oct. 30, at the University Museum, 3219 Hudson Road, Cedar Falls.

"Make It and Take It" is an open house held in conjunction with the University Museum's featured exhibit, "Object as Subject: Artists Explore the Museum's Collection" on display now through Dec. 23.

Families are invited to play and stretch their creativity with a host of fun, educational activities and crafts, according to Diane Schupbach, education coordinator for the UNI Museums.

Different stations will be set up throughout the museum and participants of all ages will be able to create art inspired by museum objects, write poetry, decorate sugar cookies, view works of art and design LEGO structures.

"Object as Subject" fuses art and anthropology by featuring the work of eight contemporary artists inspired by objects in the UNI Museums' permanent collection. The museum objects are displayed alongside the artwork they inspired.

The cost for "Family Fun Day" is $10 per family. Pre-registrer by calling the museum at 319-273-2188, by Tuesday, Oct. 26. The University Museum is open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 1 to 4 p.m., Saturday. To learn more about UNI Museums, its featured and permanent exhibits, visit www.uni.edu/museum.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa-- The University of Northern Iowa has long been looked to as a leader on immigrant, refugee and cross-cultural issues. The UNI Immigration and Migration Studies Program is an interdisciplinary initiative that promotes applied research, teaching and model campus-community partnerships at the local, national and global level. One of the most active components of the program are the cultural competency training workshops for organizations around Iowa. The cultural competency workshops and trainings address pressing issues related to the rapidly changing demographics of Iowa and the implications of these new population trends for professional organizations around the state.

The workshops are led by Michele Devlin, director of the Iowa Center on Health Disparities and Mark Grey, director of the Iowa Center for Immigrant Leadership and Integration. Together, Devlin and Grey have more than 20 years experience in Iowa conducting cultural competency training programs for hospitals, health departments, schools, law enforcement agencies, private businesses, local and state governments, non-profit organizations, social service agencies and many other professional entities.

"The purpose of these workshops is to help agencies better understand the unprecedented demographic change that Iowa has been experiencing in recent years, such as the rapidly aging white population, exodus of young graduates to other states and new influx of refugees and immigrants from dozens of nations around the world to work here," Devlin. "Over the past decade, we have been fortunate to work together with thousands of community leaders around Iowa to educate them about these newcomer populations and train staff how to work more effectively within an increasingly multicultural environment."

According to Devlin and Grey, the change in local trends means increased institutional commitment for UNI in diversity initiatives, interdisciplinary programs, community-campus partnerships and community engagement. "In order to provide solutions to these issues we will continue to offer academic service and outreach to host communities and agencies," said Grey. "The UNI Immigration and Migration Studies program will also provide training for students to create leaders for solving new immigration challenges in the future."

For more information, contact Devlin at 319-273-5806 or Grey at 319-273-6496.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- Joan Nassauer, professor of natural resources and environment at the University of Michigan, will present "Alternative Futures for Iowa Agriculture" at 3 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 14, at the Center for Energy and Environmental Education (CEEE) auditorium, on the University of Northern Iowa campus.

Nassauer, who specializes in the relationship between landscape ecology and public perceptions of ecological design and planning, will discuss issues of water quality, wildlife habitat, commodity agriculture and the health and future of rural communities. She is the co-author of "From the Cornbelt to the Gulf: Societal and Environmental Implications of Alternative Agricultural Futures."

"According to scientific research, cleaning up Iowa's waterways and protecting its biodiversity would require significant changes in land use," said Laura Jackson, UNI professor of biology, who is coordinating the event. "We need to know what these changes will involve and how those affected will feel about them."

The event is free and open to the public. The lecture is sponsored by the UNI Department of Biology professional science master's in ecosystem management, the CEEE and the UNI Office of Sustainability.  For more information, contact Jackson at laura.l.jackson@uni.edu or call the CEEE at 319-273-2573.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The Student Nature Society will hold a cross-country 5K to support and promote the UNI Prairie Preserves at 10 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 16. Race day registration will start at 8:30 a.m. and the race will start at the Prairie Preserves entrance near the UNI Credit Union on West 29^th Street in Cedar Falls.

The early registration fee, which includes a T-shirt, is $5 for students from all area schools and $7 for non-students. Registration forms can be picked up and turned in at the UNI Greenhouse, the UNI Student Health Center or the Runner's Flat located at 120 Main St., Cedar Falls. In order to get the early registration price, forms must be turned in by Friday, Oct. 8. The registration fee on race day is $10.

The event is open to the public, and runners of all experience and skill levels are encouraged to sign up. Profits from the race will be used for upkeep and maintenance of the Prairie Preserves. For additional information, contact Susan Meerdink, president of the UNI Student Nature Society, at meerdins@uni.edu.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- University of Northern Iowa senior economics major Adam O'Leary, of Garner, has won the UNI Elevator Pitch Competition and will test his elevator pitch against college students from across the U.S. at the National CEO (Collegiate Entrepreneurs' Organization) Conference Nov. 4-6.

O'Leary won for his pitch of Iowa Land, the business being developed by the UNI Entrepreneurs student organization. Iowa Land is an acrylic souvenir-type item for tourists and university alumni.

"The John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center will work with Adam to perfect his pitch before the national competition," said Laurie Watje, student business incubator manager for the UNI JPEC. "The national competition consists of three rounds, and we expect his 90-second pitch to make it to the final round.”

Jenna Rockweiler, a freshman management major from Decorah, is the first alternate with her pitch for a kettlebell fitness studio.

Four students competed in the local competition and were judged according to the National CEO Elevator Pitch guidelines, which evaluate 20 areas of content and delivery. Elevator Pitch competitors' businesses can be in any stage of development; the key is to get an investor interested in their business. Judges for the UNI competition were Dale Cyphert, UNI management professor; David Deeds, UNI accounting instructor; Katherine Cota-Uyar, UNI JPEC associate director; and Watje.

For more information on UNI Entrepreneurs visit www.uni-e.org.

The UNI John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center, a division of UNI's Business and Community Services, provides a range of innovative educational programs and support services designed for student entrepreneurs. The center provides expertise in all stages of business planning and development and serves as a vehicle to bring new products and technologies to market. For more information about JPEC at UNI, visit www.jpec.org, call 319-273-JPEC (5732) or e-mail jpec@uni.edu.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- Several University of Northern Iowa faculty members were honored at the fall faculty meeting last month for outstanding teaching, research and professional service.

Recipients are: Bill Downs, professor of social work, received the James F. Lubker Faculty Research Award, $1,000; Mike Roth, professor of physics, received the Class of 1943 Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching, $1,000; Gayle Pohl, associate professor of communication studies, received the Ross A. Nielsen Professional Service Award, $1,000; Doug Shaw, professor of mathematics, received the Excellence in Teaching in the Liberal Arts Core Teaching Award, $1,500; Kenneth Atkinson, associate professor of philosophy and world religions, received the Commander's Award for Public Service; and Lindsay Cohn, assistant professor of political science, received the Commander's Award for Public Service.

Bill Downs	Michael Roth	Gayle Pohl	Doug Shaw

The James F. Lubker Faculty Research Award was created to honor Jim Lubker, professor of communication sciences and disorders and former provost. This award is an annual cash prize recognizing a UNI faculty member for excellence in research and scholarship with particular attention to the creative and performing arts.

 Downs is known for his research on correlations between abuse and mental health problems. His research has helped professionals gather a greater understanding of their clients' and patients' problems. Two of his projects, the Integrative Services for Substance Abusing Battered Women Project and the Domestic Violence and Substance Abuse Services for Women: Staff Education and Collaborations have helped in training mental health and substance abuse counseling professionals.

The Class of 1943 Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching not only rewards effective performance in the classroom, but also generosity with personal time and a serious concern for academic excellence and individual student needs, interests and development.

Roth has been at UNI for 10 years. According to his nominator, his devotion to his students and their learning made him an ideal recipient of this award. He is constantly available for students, with office hours every day. Roth is well known for his ability to make physics concepts accessible, and for his sense of humor. Roth's excellence in teaching was previously recognized by UNI when he was awarded the College of Natural Sciences Dean's Award for Teaching Excellence in Departmental Programs in 2002.

The Excellence in Liberal Arts Core Teaching Award is an annual award that recognizes outstanding teaching both in and outside of the classroom, while demonstrating a serious commitment to academic excellence.

Shaw has been at UNI for 11 years and teaches the liberal arts core course, Calculus I. He is known for having high standards and high expectations of his students. He believes he can make calculus understandable to any interested student. Student evaluations show a nearly 100 percent "effective" and "highly effective" teacher rating. He has been recognized in the past by being nominated for the Class of 1943 Teaching Award in 2006, the Dean's Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2007 and the Dean's Award for Teaching Excellence in the Liberal Arts Core in 2008.

The Ross A. Nielsen Professional Service Award is given annually to a faculty member who displays an extraordinary record of meritorious service to both UNI and the individual's academic discipline.

Pohl has been at UNI since 1993, and teaches public relations. Exemplifying what the Profession Service Award entails, Pohl is always the first to volunteer in any group or community. She is a champion of graduate education and contributes many hours to campus and community service. She has been recognized in the past, winning the KBBG Friend of the Year Award in 2007 and the Veridian Credit Union Award for Community Engagement.

The Commander's Award for Public Service is the fourth highest award the Department of the Army can bestow upon a civilian. It's also the first time the award has been given to UNI faculty members. Atkinson received the award based on his service as the president/chair of the military science liaison advisory committee and for instructing ROTC students on world religions and cultural issues in our world today.

Cohn received the award based on exceptional service as a professor of political science and for instructing ROTC students on counterinsurgencies and civil military relations. She has been at UNI since 2009, and is one of the foremost researchers in civil-military relations, international law, asymmetric conflict as well as military organizations, operations and law. 

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- Internationally known author of "Affluenza: The All-Consuming Epidemic" John de Graaf, will speak at UNI at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 19, at the Center for Energy & Environmental Education Auditorium. "The Politics of Happiness," de Graaf's lecture, will focus on how happiness is not directly linked to wealth.

The author has studied an experiment in the country of Bhutan examining the relationship between happiness and wealth. In Bhutan, a proposed policy must pass a review of Gross National Happiness based on a GNH impact statement. This is similar to the Environmental Impact Statement required in the United States for development of a building or project. However, Bhutan's policy is focused more on the well being of individuals than the well being of the environment or the economy. The author compares the rich with the poor and the role that status and power play in overall happiness. According to de Graaf, after a society attains a level of modest comfort and economic security, overall levels of happiness don't rise for the extremely wealthy.

Former Harvard University president Derek Bok observed that "if much of the recent research is true that rising incomes have failed to make Americans happier, what is the point of working such long hours and risking environmental disaster in order to keep on doubling and redoubling our gross domestic product?"

John de Graaf is the national coordinator of the organization Take Back Your Time, working to challenge overwork in the U.S. and Canada. He is the recipient of the Founders of a New Northwest Award for his work in environmental media. He has lectured in Rome, and is a member of the steering committee of the Forum on Social Wealth.

The event is sponsored by the Center for Energy and Environmental Education (CEEE), Public Policy Program, and the Office of Sustainability. For additional information, contact Susan Salterberg, program manager at the CEEE at 319-337-4816 or susan.salterberg@uni.edu.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The University of Northern Iowa will host Tami Spry, a professor of performance studies at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota, who will perform "Call It Swing: A Jazz Blues Autoethnography," at 3 p.m., on Friday, Oct. 15, in the Interpreters Theatre, in Lang Hall Room 40.

"Call It Swing" is Spry's reflection on her father's 25 years as a jazz drummer and focuses on issues of gender violence, mental illness, race relationships, shamanic healing and loss.

Spry has been writing and performing autoethnography nationally and abroad for more than 15 years.  Her book, "Body/Paper/Stage: Writing and Performing Autoethnography" will soon be released by Left Coast Press.

Spry's performance is sponsored by the 2010-2011 Meryl Norton Hearst Lecture Series, the College of Humanities and Fine Arts and the Department of Communication Studies. The performance is free and open to the public.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa  - The Iowa Math and Science Education Partnership (IMSEP) will be hosting Moms Night Out for STEM (science, technology, engineering and math), a satellite event for the first USA Science and Engineering Festival, at 21 sites around the state on October 18, 2010.

Moms Night Out for STEM was a brainstorm by IMSEP and the Iowa State Engineering College to inspire primary caretakers, particularly moms, to get ‘hands on’ with their children’s math and science education. The premiere sponsor of this Iowa satellite event is John Deere.

Recent studies have indicated that primary caregivers help to shape the aptitudes and attitudes of their children toward mathematics and science. “Evidence continues to mount that point to moms (and dads) as key to the attitudes and decisions of youth when it comes to STEM careers,” says Jeff Weld, Director of IMSEP. “This satellite event in conjunction with the USA Science and Engineering Festival puts moms and dads right in the middle of the mix.”

Putting them in the middle of the mix will help to target those caregivers by giving them ways to educate their kids, kindergarten through sixth grade, in order to make math and science more fun and less daunting. Moms Night Out for STEM will feature hands on experiences with local teachers and researchers to show how math and science can be fun. It will also include items for parents to take home and use with their children.

“Iowa’s Moms Night Out satellite event is one of the most unique of the 50 events we’re doing,” says Larry Bock, Executive Director of the USA Science and Engineering Festival. “In Washington (D.C.), we focus so much on the kids, but if parents are not’t involved we lose so much. We can really learn a lot from what Iowa’s doing with Moms Night Out for STEM.”

Iowa Moms Night Out’s satellite event is part of others thrown across the nation in celebration of the first USA Science and Engineering Festival, to be held in Washington D.C. on October 23-24, 2010.  Iowa is the only state attempting to do multiple events on one night. Locations around the state include museums, schools and libraries where moms can go to socialize and learn the best ways to inspire a love of math and science to their children.

This free event is open to the public at various locations October 18, 2010, from 7-8:30 pm. To register for the event nearest you, visit www.iowamathscience.org.  Also check for Moms Night Out for STEM on Facebook to connect with others attending. 

The Iowa Mathematics and Science Education Partnership (IMSEP) is a state funded initiative led by the University of Northern Iowa in partnership with Iowa State University and the University of Iowa. IMSEP’s goals are to improve mathematics and science performance of Iowa students; to prepare more high quality mathematics and science teachers for Iowa’s schools; and to promote statewide collaboration and cooperation. For more information, please contact the IMSEP offices at (319) 273-2716, imsep@iowamathscience.org or visit www.iowamathscience.org.