NHS Points of Pride
Throughout the short history of the College of Natural and Health Sciences (NHS), the successes of numerous programs have truly set the college apart from others. These are the things that alumni can look back on and smile. In some cases, these points of pride are what drew the alumni to the college in the first place. The disciplines within the college span a wide variety of health and scientific pursuits, all characterized by strong and supportive programs where student learning is the top priority. Practical application of knowledge and immersive clinic/laboratory/field studies are emphasized. Smaller class sizes, an accessible faculty, and undergraduate research and internship opportunities are characteristics of the college, as well as successful placement of graduates in advanced degree programs and in positions in education, industry, government, and research facilities. Student participation in national science and health organizations is strongly encouraged by clubs. What follows are short representative examples of college-wide excellence that span the breadth of activities found in the college.
School of Biological Sciences
- Biological Sciences conducts Annual Graduate Student Research Symposium
- Dr. Robert Reinsvold is the PI on a $1.2 million Noyce Program grant awarded by the National Science Foundation (NSF)
- Dr. Steve Mackessy earned a $50,480 bioscience grant from the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade
- Dr. Teresa Higgins is one of the Co-PIs of the Mathematics and Science Teaching (MAST) for English Learners (EL) grant
- Dr. Mark Thomas was awarded a prestigious National Instututes of Health (NIH) AREA (R15) grant
- Dr. Susan Keenan continues to work on a five year $1.3 million grant from the NIH in collaboration with the Rocky Mountain Regional Center of Excellence and Dr. Brain Geiss (CSU)
- Faculty and Graduate Students from the School of Biological Sciences were among the volunteers who helped organize the National Park Service and National Geographic Society’s 24-hour BioBlitz
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
- Chemistry and Biochemistry received an award from the National Science Foundation (NSF) Scholarships in Science, Technology and Mathematics program
- UNC Chapter of the American Chemical Society Student Affiliates is very active in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
- Dr. James Schreck was recently recognized for his accomplishments in Chemistry by the American Chemical Society
- Dr. Robin Macaluso was recently awarded a grant by the Petroleum Research Fund to fund her research on light-emitting diodes
- Michael Mingroni recently completed a research experience offered through the University of Florida
School of Earth Sciences and Physics
- Dr. Graham Baird’s structural geology students are researching various new technologies
- Dr. Emmett Evanoff conducts research programs in the Badlands South Dakota and the Bighorn Basin of Wyoming
- Byron Straw, Cynthia Galovich, and Steve Mackessy collaborated on a successful grant to the National Science Foundation (NSF) to acquire subsurface sampling equipment for UNC
- Dr. Steve Anderson is collaborating with the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory to better understand the active crater and lava lake at Kilauea volcano
- Anderson is also working with researchers from the University of Pittsburgh and the Kamchatkan Volcano Observatory to study two active volcanoes in Russia
- Undergraduate physics students won the grand prize at the 2012 Colorado Space Grant Symposium
- Physics professor Ruwang Sung and students comprised the only faculty-student team selected to participate in a 10-week, summer 2012 research program at the National Renewable Energy Lab in Golden
- The Physics program had a strong presence at the American Association of Physics Teachers Meeting in Philadelphia in July, 2012
- Dr. Jan Chaloupka and his collaborators at San Diego State University published two papers
School of Human Sciences
- Dr. Deanna Meinke received the Natalie Stukas Hearing Conservation Award from the Illinois Academy of Audiology
- Dr. Jill Bezyak was awarded a $678,000 long-term training grant from the Rehabilitation Services Administration, Department of Education
- Dr. Kathy Fahey was awarded the 2011 Distinguished Service Award by the Scottish Rite Foundation of Colorado
- Students in the Dietetics program initiated and maintained the Dietetics Student Community Garden and collaborated with the Realizing Our Community (ROC) program to assist with other community gardens in Greeley
- UNC hosted the annual conference of the National Institute for Native Leadership in Higher Education (NINLHE), Changing Times: Innovative Approaches to Serving Native Students in Higher Education
- The UNC Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Clinic earned an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau
- The TACE Region 8 project has been involved in developing a community of practice among rehabilitation professionals
- The Gerontology program co-sponsored and implemented the Rocky Mountain Conference on Aging
- Dr. Susan Collins was appointed to the Weld County Adult Resources for Care and Help (ARCH) advisory committee in spring 2012
- UNC hosted the RSVP Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast in March 2012
- Two School of Human Sciences students were awarded Research Excellence Awards in conjunction with UNC’s 2011 Research Day
- ASLS Alumna, Amy Nelloms, has been selected for the Minority Student Leadership Program of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
School of Mathematical Sciences
- Dr. Jodie Novak and colleagues received a $400,000 Supplemental Grant as an extension of their $5 million, five-grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF)
- Dr. Steven Leth was awarded a grant from the American Institute of Mathematics
- Dr. Tensia Soto-Johnson has been named Associate Treasurer of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA)
- The School of Mathematical Sciences is serving as the host institution of the Conference on Research in Undergraduate Mathematics
- The School of Mathematical Sciences hosts the state-wide UNC Math Contest for students in grades 7-12
- Dr. Oscar Levin has reinstated the School of Mathematical Sciences' Math Challenge Problem
- The research of Dr. Igor Szcyrba on computer modeling of traumatic brain injuries, has gained the attention of Intel as a tool to manufacturing football helmets that help prevent brain injuries
- Adam Wilson, a Physics and Mathematical Sciences alumnus and his colleagues at Sphero, have brought to market a robotic ball that can be controlled by a phone application
School of Nursing
- The School of Nursing celebrated its 50th Anniversary
- The founders of the nursing honor society joined with current members and new inductees to celebrate its 30th Anniversary
- National Institute of Nursing Education and Scholarship co-sponsored the International Nurse Educators Conference in the Rockies
- First Post BSN-Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) students admitted
- First Masters of Science Clinical Nurse Leader program begins
- UNC Student Nurses Association very active in Community Outreach
- UNC's School of Nursing has been selected to be a Jonas Nurse Leaders Scholar Program
- Dr. Phyllis Drennan was awarded the 2011 Lifetime Achievement Award from the University of Colorado College of Nursing
- Dr. Chris Tanner, an alumni of UNC School of Nursing (’69 BSN) was named the Dean of the Oregon Health and Science University, School of Nursing
School of Sport and Exercise Science
- UNC Graduate Program Ranks Top 5 Worldwide
- University of Northern Colorado has been a leader in preparing physical education students in Colorado for more than 75 years
- UNC’s Rocky Mountain Cancer Rehabilitation Institute (RMCRI) is the only comprehensive cancer rehabilitation facility of its kind
- The Sport Marketing Research Institute (SMRI) enriches the learning experience of graduate students studying sport administration by conducting field research for sport enterprises
- Dr. David Hydock has received a $421,000 Mentored Research Scholar Grant from the American Cancer Society
- Sara Morfitt, a student in the Athletic Training, B.S. degree program, received the 2011 Big Sky Conference Football Officials Student Athletic Trainer Award
Beckie Croissant , Page last updated:
October 12, 2012