More than 45 current students at the University of Iowa's College of Public Health are working part-time as contact tracers at Johnson County Public Health in Iowa City. These students have the unique experience of helping the local public health department and greater community handle the coronavirus pandemic while gaining valuable skills.

More than 45 current students at the University of Iowa's College of Public Health are working part-time as contact tracers at Johnson County Public Health in Iowa City. These students have the unique experience of helping the local public health department and greater community handle the coronavirus pandemic while gaining valuable skills.

More than 45 current students at the University of Iowa's College of Public Health are working part-time as contact tracers at Johnson County Public Health in Iowa City. These students have the unique experience of helping the local public health department and greater community handle the coronavirus pandemic while gaining valuable skills.

More than 45 current students at the University of Iowa's College of Public Health are working part-time as contact tracers at Johnson County Public Health in Iowa City. These students have the unique experience of helping the local public health department and greater community handle the coronavirus pandemic while gaining valuable skills.

Jacob Fields is one of more than 100 undergraduate and graduate students currently conducting hands-on experimental research in the labs and center at the University of Iowa's Iowa Technology Institute. MORELLI is also among a handful of student researchers profiled on the ITI website.

Nicole Corcoran is one of more than 100 undergraduate and graduate students currently conducting hands-on experimental research in the labs and center at the University of Iowa's Iowa Technology Institute. She is also among a handful of student researchers profiled on the ITI website.

PTSD and Alzheimer's are two devasting neurological conditions that impact millions of people with no readily available cure. To solve these memory mysteries, scientists must first understand how the brain functions at a more basic level. Krista Wahlstrom, a doctoral candidate in Psychological and Brain Sciences at the University of Iowa, is investigating how the almond-shaped brain region called the amygdala plays a role in the storage of spatial memories. She uses a technique called optogenetics, which allows her to stimulate brain regions and pathways using light, to excite or inhibit certain neural circuits. Krista Wahlstrom on a cloudy day in Scotland.

Nathaniel Ferguson is a master's student in the Jazz Studies Program who is focused on understanding the processes of music production. Although he initially planned to become a school music teacher, Ferguson was ultimately drawn to the University of Iowa's graduate program as a performer and educator because of his experiences in the UI's School of Music. Ferguson has dedicated his thesis project to producing an album based on his experiences in Iowa City. He plans to premier Iowa Nice in December 2020 as the culmination of his project.

First-gen college student Elizabeth Folkers credits the support from Iowa faculty, resources on campus, and a significant scholarship established for students with backgrounds like hers with her success on campus and furthering her path toward law school.

Armando Revelez wanted to understand how his high school math classes could be useful later in life. He's now putting that knowledge to use at the University of Iowa, pursuing a joint BS/MS degree in electrical and computer engineering.

Daniel Poncer, an undergraduate in the University of Iowa Tippie College of Business, is doing all the right things to succeed as a student and in a career in finance.

Crystal Garcia's parents were adamant about pursuing an education and giving back to others. The University of Iowa grad student is making good on those demands through her research in the College of Public Health.

Christopher Vazquez has found a supportive community on campus through groups, programs, and the Latino Native American Cultural Center, but he also knows firsthand the challenges that minority students face on campus.

Aileen Ponce, a fourth-year biomedical engineering major at the University of Iowa, is a first-generation American and first in her family to go to college. In the College of Engineering, she helps welcome and encourage students with backgrounds like her own.

Gabriella Estlund's goal of becoming a photojournalist is taking shape at the University of Iowa. Camera in hand, the first-generation student often can be found around a campus and community where's she found no shortage of exciting photo opportunities.

When the pandemic forced research labs to shutter across campus this spring, a group of graduate students sought to help address the crisis by volunteering with the University of Iowa's State Hygienic Lab. Representing a variety of programs, these students were similarly motivated to help and played crucial roles in the initial setup of the lab and validation of testing methods. One student even chose to forego their PhD program to instead master out and take a full-time position with SHL.

Darcell Stokes came to Iowa not knowing what she wanted to study. The Waterloo native found her academic passion studying social justice issues, became integrated in the LGBTQ community through the Pride Alliance Center, and now aims to study law.

Inside and outside the classroom, University of Iowa junior Joseph Haggerty is combining his interests in the environment and issues facing the LGBTQ community while developing skills for a successful career in advocacy.

Jon Lensing always knew he wanted to pursue a career in medicine. But deep into his medical-school path, he focused on launching a business-one he and his co-founders designed to meet a need in the medical industry-and soon saw its numbers skyrocket due to COVID-19.

The Zada Cooper Leadership Committee recently announced the 2019-2020 recipients of the Zada Cooper Student Leadership Award. Three students received this honor for embodying the leadership qualities of Zada Cooper, a UI College of Pharmacy student and faculty member in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The nominees for the leadership award have made meaningful contributions to students and the surrounding communities through service and provided exemplary leadership and commitment to an organization. Nominees have mentored future leaders, inspired and motivated others to act through service, and demonstrated initiative, creativity, and perseverance to challenge the present and enrich the future.

Jacob Lensing tackles research challenges with an athlete's drive. The first-year College of Dentistry student from Pella, Iowa, has made great strides comparing the efficacy of materials used to seal and protect the inside of a tooth after a root canal.

Savannah DeGroot is driven to serve the LGBTQ+ community and the homeless.

Laurence Chan was trying to figure out what he wanted in life when he realized he wanted to help people figure out what they wanted in life.

Inspired years ago by a school speech pathologist, New Jersey native Ally Valde aims to make a similar impact-to help others who struggle with communicating-and has grown into an advocate for equal access for students and individuals with disabilities.

While studying neuroscience at the University of Iowa, Suraj Rao has been able to maintain a connection to his cultural heritage in Southeast Asia.

Gordon Louie is committed to creating a more welcoming and inclusive environment within higher education. One way he hopes to help do that is by serving as an inaugural member of the UI Pan Asian Council at the University of Iowa.

Laxmi Annapureddy grew up straddling her Indian traditions and American culture. The sophomore from Urbandale credits the University of Iowa with deepening her appreciation of her ancestral roots and connecting to her Indian identity.

Each year, about 7,000 students are employed through the University of Iowa's student hourly and work-study employment programs. Bryan Mulrooney -- the UI's student employee of the year -- and seven other student employees and seven student employee supervisors were recognized during the 2019-20 National Student Employment Week (April 13-17).

It has been well documented for many weeks that New York City is quantifiably the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, with more than 118,000 confirmed cases and nearly 11,000 deaths. Noly Agdinaoay, a student in the University of Iowa's Master of Science in Nursing-Doctor of Nursing Practice (MSN-DNP) program, has been working at the BronxCare Health System Hospital in New York City since well before the virus landed on American soil.

The University of Iowa's most prestigious awards for faculty, staff, and students were announced April 21 on the Hancher-Finkbine website. UI President Bruce Harreld and Vice President for Student Life Sarah Hansen introduced the history of the awards and the tradition of the Finkbine Dinner, which was canceled this year due to COVID-19, before recognizing this year's recipients.