College of Social & Behavioral Sciences
Message from the Dean
At UNI’s College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, we’re training the next generation of change-makers in the world.
Here, students ask the questions that get at the heart of the human experience in order to make a difference. From research on the tiniest neurons in the human brain, to broad sweeping questions about the makeup of entire societies — the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences is where students examine the great issues of our time and find ways to address them.
Students and faculty at the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences know that the path to understanding some of our world’s greatest challenges starts here. At a time when the world needs Panthers in careers of service and leadership more than ever before, we’re preparing to invest in their future on a whole new level — through Our Tomorrow: The Campaign for UNI.
BRENDA L. BASS
DEAN, COLLEGE OF SOCIAL & BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES
Campaign Priorities
- Keeping the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences accessible to the next generation of Panthers.
- Expanding support for first generation students, ensuring they can be successful in their higher education experience.
- Continuing to invest in a pipeline of talented, caring professionals in some of our community’s most critical fields through college-specific scholarships.
- Supporting students in internships that prepare them for real-world practice.
- Preparing students to serve others in a diverse and interconnected world through study abroad experiences.
- Advancing the SABR (Social and Behavioral Representatives) leadership program.
- Expanding support for undergraduate research, including hosting the largest undergraduate research conference in the state of Iowa each year.
- Innovating in our Professional Distinction and Career Readiness programming.
- Expanding the gerontology program, including the Dementia Simulation Lab, to build a pipeline of professionals and caregivers ready to provide quality support to older adults at home or in the community.
- Building our geography program with a new unmanned aerial systems program and visiting scholars program.
- Developing our unique, distinctly scientific and sustainability-focused textiles and apparel program.
- Keeping our programs engaging with endowed lectureships and fellowships.
- Keeping the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences accessible to the next generation of Panthers.
- Expanding support for first generation students, ensuring they can be successful in their higher education experience.
- Continuing to invest in a pipeline of talented, caring professionals in some of our community’s most critical fields through college-specific scholarships.
- Supporting students in internships that prepare them for real-world practice.
- Preparing students to serve others in a diverse and interconnected world through study abroad experiences.
- Advancing the SABR (Social and Behavioral Representatives) leadership program.
- Expanding support for undergraduate research, including hosting the largest undergraduate research conference in the state of Iowa each year.
- Innovating in our Professional Distinction and Career Readiness programming.
- Expanding the gerontology program, including the Dementia Simulation Lab, to build a pipeline of professionals and caregivers ready to provide quality support to older adults at home or in the community.
- Building our geography program with a new unmanned aerial systems program and visiting scholars program.
- Developing our unique, distinctly scientific and sustainability-focused textiles and apparel program.
- Keeping our programs engaging with endowed lectureships and fellowships.
Dean's Fund for Excellence
- Providing agile support for emerging opportunities and immediate needs across the college.
- Funding internships or study abroad opportunities beyond what is available through scholarships and stipends.
- Investing in our faculty — supporting the people who bring our programs to life.
Hear from UNI faculty and students
“I ALWAYS WANTED TO HELP PEOPLE.”
“I always wanted to help people grow as individuals, and when I came to UNI I fell in love with the Family Services program because it gives you a way to understand and strengthen relationships in the real world — not just in a textbook. This year, I’ll be doing an internship with the Family & Children’s Council of Black Hawk County — doing parent education groups, attending court hearings, and learning how a family services agency works. After UNI, I’ll be going to grad school in the field of counseling.”
KALEAH DAVIS ’23
FAMILY SERVICES MAJOR
LEIGHTY AND ALDERMAN SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT
LEARNING OUTSIDE THE TRADITIONAL CLASSROOM
“There’s a type of learning that can’t occur within the four walls of a traditional classroom. I think UNI in moving forward in tomorrow is really working on enhancing these opportunities for our students. The gerontology program is impacted greatly by the dementia simulation house because we will have our gerontology students in the house as participants, to do internships, to do practicums and to do volunteer hours.”
ELAINE ESHBAUGH
ADELE WHITENACK DAVIS PROFESSOR OF GERONTOLOGY
“OUR NURSING PROGRAM WILL PRODUCE HIGHLY SKILLED NURSING PROFESSIONALS.”
“I want our nursing program to produce highly skilled nursing professionals who are situationally aware, clinically focused, and practice ready upon graduation and who also exude the personal characteristics so frequently associated with UNI graduates. We will seek to develop nurses whose dedication, devotion and caring commitment will serve as a great example of excellence whether it’s in a rural clinic or an urban urgent care center.”
DR. NANCY KERTZ
NANCY KERTZ, PHD, FNP-BC
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF NURSING AND CHIEF ACADEMIC ADMINISTRATOR
“HELPS ME BUILD REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCE.”
“The Social and Behavioral Sciences department is so nice because the professors care so much about their students and are willing to help anywhere possible. I get a lot of adjunct professors who actually have experience out in the community which I love, it helps me build connections and build that real-world experience that I want to have.”
DIANA ESPINOZA ’25
PSYCHOLOGY AND SOCIAL WORK MAJOR
