Tag: NAU

The NAU Review — Meet NAU’s newest class of Flinn Scholars + the fungus among us

by Community Contributor • July 30, 2025 • Comments Off

Two of Arizona’s best and brightest are headed to Flagstaff this fall. Cianna Brooks and Grace Smithson are part of the 20-person class of 2025 Flinn Scholars, a coveted merit-based award that covers eight semesters of tuition, fees, housing and meals and even provides funds for study abroad and professional development. Brooks and Smithson beat out 1,100 other high school seniors to score the Flinn Foundation-supported scholarship, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. Learn more about these two impressive incoming students as they prepare for freshman year.

The NAU Review — ‘Buzzing toward a greener future’ and more news, events

by Community Contributor • July 23, 2025 • Comments Off

Beekeeping is about more than making honey. According to assistant teaching professor Patrick Pynes, it’s also a powerful way to support biodiversity, strengthen local ecosystems and connect with nature. Every summer, Pynes’ Introductory Beekeeping Workshop teaches northern Arizonans how to take up this fun, sustainable hobby.
Watch the video & read the story

The NAU Review — Expanding NAU’s leadership

by Community Contributor • July 16, 2025 • Comments Off

President José Luis Cruz Rivera has been elected to the Board of Directors of the American Council on Education. Find out what this means for NAU’s leadership.

NAU Review — Wait, is that an Ironman suit? + meet the new SAC president and learn about

by Community Contributor • July 9, 2025 • Comments Off

Robotic exoskeletons are the future of helping people with certain disabilities perform daily tasks, but they can be prohibitively difficult and expensive to develop. Mechanical engineering associate professor Zach Lerner, whose research has focused on developing this technology, led a team that created OpenExo, an open-source exoskeleton framework, which will open doors for researchers globally to help speed up life-changing robotic discoveries. Want to see the exoskeletons at work? Check out this video from NAU-TV.
Read the story

The NAU Review — Get keyed up this summer + dinosaurs …

by Community Contributor • June 11, 2025 • Comments Off

High notes and cool vibes abound at the annual Flagstaff Piano Festival. This year’s weeklong experience will bring together celebrated artists, young pianists, educators and music lovers between June 21-28.

The NAU Review — Hopping through cloud forests + where’s the AI in your classroom?

by Community Contributor • June 4, 2025 • Comments Off

How are you using GenAI?

NAU is integrating generative AI into its educational programs through innovative projects funded by the Office of the Provost’s TRAIL grants. These initiatives include using AI-enhanced ultrasound in physical therapy classes, AI tools in business analytics and AI-generated conversations with historical conservationists in environmental courses. The goal is to enhance learning experiences and better prepare students for a tech-driven future. (Editor’s note: Could you tell this summary was written by AI?)
Read the story

The NAU Review — What are asteroids made of, anyway?, more news

by Community Contributor • May 28, 2025 • Comments Off

If an asteroid starts careening toward Flagstaff tomorrow, could it obliterate the city? That depends on whether it’s made of gravel, metal or something else entirely. With grant funds from NASA, two scientists at NAU—professor David Trilling and Ph.D. student Remington Cantelas—will use cutting-edge telescope technology to find and analyze 1,000 different asteroids that orbit near Earth to better understand what materials these celestial bodies are made of. In addition to helping scientists map out the solar system, their work could also help save Earth from destructive collisions.

The NAU Review — Are you prepared in case of a wildfire? + learn what the Arctic might look like in the future

by Community Contributor • May 21, 2025 • Comments Off

Where to turn for help in the wake of a wildfire

With wildfires affecting communities throughout Arizona, residents need clear guidance and actionable steps to recover. NAU experts helped create a guide for individuals and communities navegating the aftermath of these devastating events.
Read the story

NAU Review — Special commencement edition — former NAU anthropology professor Miguel Vasquez, former Flagstaff Councilwoman Deborah Harris among 2025 honorary doctorate recipients

by Community Contributor • May 9, 2025 • Comments Off

Lyndel Manson, a Northern Arizona University alumna and 8-year member of the Arizona Board of Regents; Flagstaff City Councilwoman Deborah Harris, who worked at NAU for several years in various roles; Emmett Burnton, a history teacher at Boulder Creek High School in Anthem and Arizona Teacher of the Year; and activist and former NAU anthropology professor Miguel Vasquez will be recognized with honorary doctorates. Each will provide the keynote address during one of NAU’s four commencement ceremonies.

NAU Review — Humans of NAU with Bobby Macias

by Community Contributor • April 29, 2025 • Comments Off

Meet this third-generation Flagstaff resident whose unique approach in the classroom earned him the distinction of 2025 College of Education Teacher of the Year. Learn how he fell in love with teaching and what advice he gives future educators.

The NAU Review — What to expect at the Undergrad Symposium

by Community Contributor • April 22, 2025 • Comments Off

At NAU, coveted research positions aren’t just for graduate students. Each year, hundreds of undergraduates participate in, and even lead, research projects across dozens of subjects. The NAU and Flagstaff communities can learn all about their groundbreaking findings at the annual Undergrad Symposium, happening April 25. In preparation for the big event, we’re spotlighting a handful of student research projects in zooarchaeology, communication sciences and more.

The NAU Review — Ditch the car and win!

by Community Contributor • April 15, 2025 • Comments Off

Green Transportation Week, a new initiative from the Office of Sustainability, invites students, faculty and staff to celebrate Earth Day by leaving the car at home and finding alternative modes of transportation. Participate in events throughout the week of April 21-25 and win bikes, gift cards and a healthier lifestyle!

The NAU Review — A student’s idea is bringing generations together + meet an NAU swimming star from Team USA

by Community Contributor • April 8, 2025 • Comments Off

NAU students and senior citizens don’t have too many opportunities to interact with each other—but Honors College student Emma Patterson is changing that. Inspired by her relationship with her grandparents, Patterson launched a pen pal program connecting NAU students with residents at The Peaks as part of an independent study course. The writing club not only bridges generational gaps but also encourages students to see beyond seniors’ physical and mental limitations.

The NAU Review — April checklist: Eat a burrito, celebrate API Month + read up on your local book fest

by Community Contributor • April 1, 2025 • Comments Off

Celebrate Asian and Pacific Islander culture

Azah Quach, manager of Louie’s Cupboard within the Lumberjack CARE Center, remembers feeling “huge culture shock” when she moved from Hawaii to the mainland. “I was suddenly in a space where I rarely saw anyone who looked like me, and I felt out of place in ways I hadn’t before,” Quach said. “That experience highlighted just how important it is to celebrate students from a wide variety of Asian and Pacific Islander backgrounds.”

The NAU Review — Humans of NAU with Katy Montoya, An easy way to save a life + meet CHHS students and alumni for Health Careers Week

by Community Contributor • March 25, 2025 • Comments Off

The social work professor received the National Association of Social Workers’ Transformational Educator of the Year. Find out what inspired her to become an educator and what this award means to her.

The NAU Review — Making the first year of college an easier one + how to help the planet while at the office

by Community Contributor • March 18, 2025 • Comments Off

Helping students adjust to college life

A program for incoming students wants to make sure they feel at ease during their first year in college by showing them the ropes, helping them make friends and giving them a sense of belonging, all while learning leadership skills and supporting their fellow Lumberjacks.

The NAU Review — Meet NAU’s long-haul staffers! Plus, hidden Holocaust history, Women’s History Month + one rad class

by Community Contributor • March 4, 2025 • Comments Off

A different kind of book report

When words fail, how do you express your thoughts and feelings? That’s a question Carla Wilson, an assistant teaching professor of women’s and gender studies, set out to answer with the Radical Sketchbook Project. Inspired by a similar project founded 20 years ago in New York City, Wilson’s class asks students to take what they’re learning and experiencing and communicate it in a creative way. Wilson said sending messages via sketchbook, rather than words, is a unique way to start conversations on complex issues.

The NAU Review — How wildfires affect the climate + have fun while helping the environment

by Community Contributor • February 25, 2025 • Comments Off

Right now, the most effective carbon sink in the world is dirt—specifically the permafrost in boreal and tundra ecosystems in the northern parts of the world, which store twice as much carbon as is currently in the atmosphere. As the climate warms and increasingly severe wildfires disrupt those soils, this carbon can be released into the atmosphere. Biologist Xanthe Walker received a $1.8 million grant from the National Science Foundation to determine just how serious this loss could be in the coming years.

The NAU Review — Meet the influencers of the Cretaceous Era + making an impact at Meteor Crater

by Community Contributor • February 18, 2025 • Comments Off

The original Cretaceous influencer

Just how much did dinosaurs 65 million years ago affect the Earth as we know it? A lot, and NAU researchers just discovered one more way. New research led by ecoinformatics professor Chris Doughty shows that the evolution of fruit—and the evolution of fruit-eating primates, the early ancestors of humans—was influenced by the “ecosystem engineering” of large sauropods.

The NAU Review — Make some V-Day plans, Humans of NAU: Lenin Salcedo

by Community Contributor • February 11, 2025 • Comments Off

Honors College student Lenin Salcedo has an unusual capstone project planned. Inspired by his childhood in the Caribbean and his love of physics, the project will take the form of a performance that explores how sounds tether us to each other and to the universe. Salcedo promises you won’t need to know anything about physics or music theory to understand and enjoy it. Read on to find out more about the project, Salcedo’s upbringing and his dreams for the future.

What brought you to NAU?
I was initially attracted to NAU’s strong physics department, but I fell in love with the intimate learning environment and vibrant community. Especially in Honors, the classroom has felt like a dynamic place where I can creatively think and connect with diverse people. Flagstaff has also become a second home, bringing me out of my comfort zone and forcing me to explore.

NAU to present the Zoom discussion ‘Supporting Undocumented Students & Families in Precarious Times’ on Feb. 18

by Community Contributor • February 7, 2025 • Comments Off

FLAGSTAFF — NAU’s Department of Educational Leadership and the Arizona Schools Association are hosting a zoom panel and discussion on “Supporting Undocumented Students & Families in Precarious Times” from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 18.

Join NAU’s Department of Educational Leadership & the Arizona School Administrators for this Inclusive Excellence Week event which will feature a zoom panel for educators, educational leaders, and students.

The NAU Review — NAU receives $150K grant from Direct Relief

by Community Contributor • February 4, 2025 • Comments Off

Northern Arizona University has received a grant from Direct Relief’s Fund for Health Equity to confront the critical nursing shortage in rural, underserved areas of Arizona by supporting Native American nursing students in their academic journeys.

The Fund for Health Equity mobilizes financial resources for organizations focused on non-clinical interventions that affect a person’s health. Commonly known as the social determinants of health, these factors include an individual’s physical, social, political, cultural and economic environment.

The NAU Review — Celebrate Black History month and read more about a 93-year-old volunteer

by Community Contributor • January 28, 2025 • Comments Off

Honor Black history and culture this February

Every February, the Lumberjack community comes together to celebrate Black History Month with a wide variety of events that recognizes the rich, diverse culture, history and societal contributions of Black Americans and the global African diaspora. Many of the month’s events also raise awareness of the historical and ongoing struggles faced by Black Americans.

The NAU Review — It’s time to brag about your coworkers! Plus, relive MLK Day + Diné musician Ravon Chacon comes to campus

by Community Contributor • January 21, 2025 • Comments Off

Building bridges, celebrating community

Martin Luther King Jr. dreamed of a United States strengthened by unity, collaboration and inclusivity. On Monday, NAU honored King’s legacy with a campus event focused on all three of those themes. Lumberjacks and Flagstaff residents came together to march in King’s honor, make posters celebrating his inspiring leadership and hear from keynote speaker Tony Ross, a Lumberjack doctoral grad and higher education consultant based in Phoenix. Unity and collaboration was the day’s secret sauce: Multiple NAU offices, student clubs and community organizations came together to make it happen.

The NAU Review — The extinction risk facing freshwater animals + NAU’s days are back!

by Community Contributor • January 14, 2025 • Comments Off

The results of a new study, published this week and coauthored by an NAU conservation biologist, are sobering: One-quarter of freshwater animals are at risk of extinction, including fish, shrimps and insects. Learn what this means for these ecosystems, including the unique risks in the Southwest, and what governments and industry leaders can do with these data to protect critical species and ecosystems.

The NAU Review — Happy 2025. Tips for learning new names, fresh research on antibiotic resistance + ecology, one FEMA volunteer’s story and more!

by Community Contributor • January 8, 2025 • Comments Off

Bridging gaps for first-generation families

Sending a child to college is stressful for any family. Navigating cultural and language barriers can make it even harder. That’s why NAU’s Family Access, Communication, Transition and Support team developed Team College Bound, a five-lesson curriculum designed to deliver resources and a sense of community to prospective NAU families. There are four programs—one online, one in English, one in Spanish and one first-of-its-kind Indigenous course created in partnership with Indigenous Lumberjacks. The aim? To increase the number of first-generation, rural and underserved students enrolled at NAU.

The NAU Review — Cheers to the Class of ’24! Meet the grads, plan your commencement journey + leave a ‘congrats’ for the Lumberjack in your life!

by Community Contributor • December 11, 2024 • Comments Off

Get ready to celebrate our incredible graduates at NAU’s Fall 2024 commencement! Over 2,400 outstanding new Lumberjacks are set to make their mark on the world—but first, they’ll mark this milestone with their loved ones and mentors in two unforgettable ceremonies at the J. Lawrence Walkup Skydome on Friday, Dec. 13. Whether you’re a student, family member or NAU employee, we’ve got all the info you need to make the most of this special day, from getting there to parking and navigating campus.
Read our commencement guide

The NAU Review — NAU partners with Univision to launch new scholarship, Improving Arizona’s transit systems, meet a future PA

by Community Contributor • December 3, 2024 • Comments Off

Incoming first-year students for the 2025-26 school year can apply for the scholarship by submitting a 250-word essay describing the impact their college degree will have on both their personal trajectory and the Hispanic community at large.

The NAU Review — Preparing a new generation of storytellers

by Community Contributor • November 19, 2024 • Comments Off

Every year, an Indigenous Youth Media Workshop at NAU gives high schoolers a chance to master multimedia broadcast journalism skills and hone their storytelling prowess. The free, immersive media production boot camp equips future Indigenous journalists with the skills they’ll need to raise awareness of the topics and issues that matter most to their communities. Watch this year’s cohort of teens work with NAU faculty to produce a high-quality newscast in just 11 days.

The NAU Review — NAU named Fulbright HSI (Hispanic Serving Institution) Leader

by Community Contributor • November 12, 2024 • Comments Off

The annual recognition from the U.S. State Department acknowledges the university’s strong engagement with the Fulbright Program. It is NAU’s third year in a row to be named to this list.

Community holds ‘Celebration of Life for Michael L. ‘Miguel’ Vasquez PhD

by Community Contributor • November 8, 2024 • Comments Off

FLAGSTAFF — Northern Arizona University administrators, colleagues, former students, local political and nonprofit organization leaders, family and friends gathered to present a “Celebration of Life” in honor of Michael L. ‘Miguel’ Vasquez PhD on Sunday, Nov. 3 at the Dubois Center at Northern Arizona University.

The celebration, with an audience number well over 125 individuals, was the first of two events honor Vasquez, who died on Oct. 6.

During the two-hour event at NAU, speakers honored the life of Vasquez, remembering him an associate professor joining the small NAU ethnic faculty, going on to becoming a full professor and teaching a minimum of 12,000 students over 32 years at the university.

The NAU Review — It’s not like a regular class, it’s a cool class. Plus, make some vegan mac ‘n’ cheese tonight + hear from NAU veterans

by Community Contributor • November 5, 2024 • Comments Off

New names for two Indigenous campus hubs

After a nine-month process involving community forums, surveys and meetings, NAU unveiled its renamed Office of Native American and Indigenous Advancement and Center for Native American and Indigenous Futures on Friday, Nov. 1. The office and center will continue to welcome Native American and Indigenous communities across all NAU campuses, bringing a sense of opportunity, kinship and hope.

The NAU Review — Celebrating Indigenous heritage, new research on Maya archaeology and the right way to brush your teeth come Halloween

by Community Contributor • October 29, 2024 • Comments Off

Celebrate Native American Heritage Month

A commitment to Indigenous Peoples is an important part of NAU—a priority enshrined in the university’s strategic plan. For the second consecutive year, NAU has another record-breaking attendance of Native American and Indigenous students, who represent more than 110 Native American Tribes/Nations, Alaska Native Villages and Native Hawaiian communities.

In November, NAU celebrates Native American Heritage Month, an annual event designated in 1990 as National American Indian Heritage Month. It is the time of year to come together to honor and celebrate Native American and Indigenous cultures, traditions, knowledges and protocols. NAU honors its commitment to Indigenous Peoples with a robust calendar of more than 20 events spread throughout the month, which all are welcome to attend.

The NAU Review — Announcing the Steve Sanghi College of Engineering! Plus, relive highlights from Homecoming and check out a democracy-themed exhibition at Cline Library

by Community Contributor • October 22, 2024 • Comments Off

NAU is renaming the College of Engineering, Informatics, and Applied Sciences the Steve Sanghi College of Engineering, thanks to a generous $10 million cash gift—the largest of its kind in university history—from Maria and Steve Sanghi. The gift comes at a pivotal time: Arizona has made a major commitment to growth in the semiconductor industry, and NAU is uniquely positioned to contribute, with more than 70% of grads staying in Arizona for work. Sanghi said the gift “will help ensure engineering students can participate in the workforce of the future and ultimately strengthen Arizona’s economy and communities.”

The NAU Review —Timber. Check out Flagstaff’s logging history, photos of NAU through the decades and our progress to carbon neutrality

by Community Contributor • October 15, 2024 • Comments Off

‘¡Presente!’ One person’s Hispanic heritage story

Assistant professor Marco Cabrera Geserick believes Hispanic/Latine Heritage Month is a time to remember that “we are here, we have been here, we will be here.”

The NAU Review — NAU’s 100th Homecoming is around the corner! Plus, breakthroughs in hearing loss science and student-led speech disorder intervention

by Community Contributor • October 8, 2024 • Comments Off

Get ready for NAU’s 100th Homecoming!

This year’s Homecoming festivities are set for Oct. 14-19, and that means it’s time to dust off your blue and yellow flannel and get ready for a week of nonstop fun! We’re marking this important anniversary with some of the Lumberjack community’s favorite traditions, including the Homecoming parade, the ASNAU carnival, a delicious chili cook-off and a special pre-game tailgate. Browse all these events and more, plan out your week and get pumped to celebrate a century of NAU school spirit!

The NAU Review — Celebrate OUTober and Disability Pride and Heritage Month + peruse pics from Family Weekend

by Community Contributor • October 1, 2024 • Comments Off

Join the NAU community in a series of celebrations and conversations this month that shine a spotlight on the diversity and vibrancy of gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans and other queer members of the Lumberjack community.

“What stands out about NAU’s LGBTQIA2S+ community is its incredible resiliency, determination and ability to occupy spaces that were never originally meant for us,” said Souksavanh Keovorabouth, a Diné who identifies as Two-Spirit and an assistant professor of women and gender studies and applied Indigenous studies. “It is vital for NAU to celebrate and recognize this community because we represent a diverse array of experiences and identities that enrich the university culture.”

NAU welcomed in Hispanic Heritage Month with its second annual Celebracíon de NAU

by Community Contributor • September 26, 2024 • Comments Off

FLAGSTAFF — Northern Arizona University welcomed in Hispanic Heritage Month with its second annual Celebracíon de NAU held on Sept. 20 at the Health Center Gymnasium.

More than a dozen NAU school organizations set up information booths for students attending the event including the NAU First Generation Program, NAU Campus Health Services — Counseling Services, NAU Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid, NAU Hermanas United for Change, NAU Education Abroad, NAU Peer, Jobs, Mentoring and NAU LaFe-Latino Christian Fellowship of InterVarsity Christian.

Community organizations that participated included the Coconino Hispanic Advisory Council (CHAC), Flagstaff Nuestras Raíces and Sun Entertainment.

The NAU Review — Take a gamble at Casino Night, learn about your Homecoming dedicatee and get outside on National Public Lands Day

by Community Contributor • September 24, 2024 • Comments Off

What’s the hottest ticket during Family Weekend? Bet your bottom dollar it’s Casino Night, an annual family-fun event hosted by NAU’s School of Hotel and Restaurant Management. From dealing poker to managing refreshments to decorating the du Bois Center, HRM students run the whole show. Bringing in an average of 1,000 visitors every year and nearly $1 million for scholarships and experiential learning since 1993, Casino Night doubles as an important fundraiser and the ultimate high-stakes midterm.

The NAU Review — Celebrate scientific innovation in Flagstaff, bolstering knowledge of AI + check out this Zoom TED Talk series!

by Community Contributor • September 17, 2024 • Comments Off

Stargazing, day hikes, build-a-bot workshops and a search for *checks notes* Bigfoot? Sign us up! For 34 years running, the Flagstaff Festival of Science, presented in partnership with NAU, has delighted, amused and educated through free conversations, workshops, hikes and other unique explorations. Check out this year’s lineup of events and find out why festival leaders from NAU think you shouldn’t miss this annual celebration.

The NAU Review — Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month! + an exciting new degree program and research that changes what we know about brains

by Community Contributor • September 13, 2024 • Comments Off

Did you know Sept. 15 isn’t just the start of this annual celebration? It also marks the anniversary of independence for five Latin American countries. Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days during this month at well. At NAU, it’s an important time of year.

“Hispanic Heritage Month is an opportunity to celebrate the rich cultural contributions and vibrant histories of the Hispanic/Latine community. By highlighting these events, we not only honor the diversity that strengthens our society, but also create space for dialogue, understanding and unity,” said Claudia Rodas, an associate clinical professor in the Department of Educational Specialties and HSI advisor to the provost. “It is through recognizing and embracing our shared heritage that we foster a more inclusive and compassionate world.”

The Office of Inclusion and other campus partners are holding a number of events to celebrate this month, starting with a cooking demonstration sponsored by Louie’s Cupboard on Friday. The entire NAU community is invited to find opportunities to participate.
See the list of events

The NAU Review — Big news for the marching band + new ways researchers are tackling issues like homelessness and quantum computing

by Community Contributor • September 3, 2024 • Comments Off

What are you doing on Thanksgiving Day 2025? The Lumberjack Marching Band just found out their plans: performing in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade! The band got the good news during halftime at Saturday’s football game against Lincoln University. There aren’t enough words to express how excited they are, so we got it on video.
Watch the video

The NAU Review — Welcome back, Lumberjacks! Highlights from move-in, meet the new ASNAU president and don’t miss the welcome back BBQ

by Community Contributor • August 27, 2024 • Comments Off

LumberSNAPS: Return of the Jacks

The new academic year is already off to an axe-citing start! Last week, the Flagstaff mountain campus buzzed with fresh energy as new students moved into residence halls, gathered at welcome events like Lumberjack Launch and donned matching T-shirts for the annual NAU letters portrait. More beginning-of-the-year fun is ahead this week, including the start of classes, the first football game of the season and the Running of the Freshmen, a beloved Lumberjack tradition.

The NAU Review — President Cruz Rivera’s vision for the year, new research questions an old conclusion and a look at anti-Roma discrimination

by Community Contributor • August 21, 2024 • Comments Off

In NAU’s third annual convocation, President Cruz Rivera talked about the university’s 125-year legacy of helping students find a better life, shared his goals for the coming year and cracked a few jokes. He also discussed the need for a strong financial foundation and the steps NAU will take this fiscal year to ensure the university can continue fulfilling its mission well into the future.

The NAU Review — Sharing all your pun-tastic jokes! Plus, meet the new SAC president + relive NAU Day at the Diamondbacks

by Community Contributor • August 14, 2024 • Comments Off

Are bird feeders bad?

It’s complicated. A new study authored by NAU alumnus Andrew Abraham and professor of ecology Chris Doughty found that bird feeders are changing the chemistry of local ecosystems and introducing a potentially harmful amount of phosphorus into the environment. Does this mean putting out bird feeders is always bad? Not necessarily, the researchers say—but it does mean we need a better understanding of how different factors interact to change the

The NAU Review — Humans of NAU with Kimberly Higuera and more news

by Community Contributor • July 31, 2024 • Comments Off

Humans of NAU
with Kimberly Higuera

Growing up in Mexico, Higuera dreamed of attending college in the U.S. She earned a degree at NAU, and now she’s fulfilling another dream—teaching English in Argentina as part of the Fulbright program. Learn more about why she fell in love with Flagstaff, what’s pulling her toward Argentina and what’s on her bucket list.

The NAU Review — Could music improve health outcomes? Plus, try this delicious coffee milkshake and send us your best (or worst) jokes!

by Community Contributor • July 24, 2024 • Comments Off

Everyone knows music has the power to heal the soul. But could it also measurably improve health and wellness outcomes? One research team at NAU is eager to find out. Researchers at the Center for Health Equity Research are working with a symphony of experts, including clinical professionals and Indigenous musicians, on a pilot project that will evaluate the benefits of music-based interventions on mental and physical health.

The NAU Review — It’s hammock time! + meet the interim dean of CHHS and NAU’s fourth Olympian

by Community Contributor • July 17, 2024 • Comments Off

There’s lots to love about NAU in the summertime, from blooming gardens and luscious green grass to countless youth camps and conferences. But in the midst of all these exciting events, don’t forget to experience one of the simplest, most joyful warm weather activities: Swinging in a hammock under the shade of the trees. Here’s our list of favorite places to hang on campus.

The NAU Review — Protecting northern Arizona’s forests, creating ceramics in one of the country’s largest wood-fired kilns and spotlighting Olympics-bound Lumberjacks

by Community Contributor • July 10, 2024 • Comments Off

In 1996, John Paul Roccaforte and his colleagues at NAU’s Ecological Research Institute embarked on an ambitious mission to study restoration across more than 5,000 acres of dense ponderosa pine forests in northern Arizona. After two decades of hands-on investigation, they successfully decreased the area’s tree density and vulnerability to wildfire—unlocking the key to revitalizing and protecting our beloved local ecosystem in an era when fires in the West burn hotter and bigger than ever.

The NAU Review — ‘How an NAU ecologist is following in Darwin’s footsteps and a Lumberjack becomes an Olympian’ and more news

by Community Contributor • June 26, 2024 • Comments Off

Conservation ecologist Jut Wynne is spending a month aboard a tall ship that’s retracing much of Charles Darwin’s famous HMS Beagle voyage 200 years ago. While on board, Wynne will study insects unique to eastern Polynesia in hopes of confirming that some of these animals were brought there by ancient Polynesians via voyaging canoe.

The NAU Review — How NAU is revolutionizing stroke care, a quilt that symbolizes belonging and getting to know Zane Jacobs

by Community Contributor • June 12, 2024 • Comments Off

Is 100% survival after stroke achievable?

One bioengineer says yes. Tim Becker and a team of NAU students are designing groundbreaking medical devices with the goal of increasing survival rates—currently at 30-60%—for stroke patients. With a focus on reducing racial and gender disparities in health outcomes for stroke patients and creating adaptable, functional medical devices that can go from the lab to the surgical suite, the students are getting hands-on experience that is turning into inventions and job offers.

The NAU Review — NAU’s first Hispanic/Latine youth media workshop, more news

by Community Contributor • June 5, 2024 • Comments Off

For the first time, the School of Communication hosted a free two-day seminar for Hispanic and Latine high school students looking to explore film and visual communication.

Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) — Cultivating (and Funding) Entrepreneurs in Northern Arizona

by Community Contributor • May 31, 2024 • Comments Off

At the ECoNA Advisory Council meeting last week, we took a deep dive into programs dedicated to cultivating budding entrepreneurs in northern Arizona.

The initiatives range from a free entry-level program to help potential entrepreneurs determine if their innovative ideas could be commercialized, to loans and venture capital investments for early-stage businesses.

Cristy Salanga, Patent Manager at Northern Arizona University, discussed the National Science Foundation’s Innovation Corps (I-Corps) program, an immersive entry-level training program, which focuses on determining the potential customers of a business as well as the potential value proposition of a product or service.

Courtesy ‘The NAU Review — What Memorial Day means to me’ by Brandon Piestewa

by Community Contributor • May 23, 2024 • Comments Off

Shí éí Brandon Piestewa yinishyé

Nakaii nishłį́
Naaneesht’ézhí Tachii’nii bashishchiin Shash dashicheii
Tábąąhí dashinalí

Hi, my name is Brandon Piestewa. My mother is from the Mexican clan. My father is born of the charcoal streak red running into the water people. My maternal father is Bear clan. And my paternal father is edge water people.

While some may perceive this day as a holiday, offering a break from work or school, I as a military dependent perceive Memorial Day not just as a holiday but also as a deeply personal day of remembrance and respect for those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. From my personal perspective, I experience it as missing parental involvement during crucial life milestones, such as sporting events or graduation ceremonies. The Iraq War tragically claimed the lives of approximately 4,500 U.S. troops, leaving over 3,000 children bereft of a parent. Consequently, many of us have experienced a loss in some shape or form.

I became deeply entrenched in the military-connected community at a young age due to the sacrifice my mother made while serving.

The NAU Review — NAU wins: a hydropower competition, a research grant for studying desert birds and a fourth-straight track and field championship!

by Community Contributor • May 22, 2024 • Comments Off

NAU wins national hydropower competition

An interdisciplinary team of senior engineering students entered the U.S. Department of Energy’s Hydropower Collegiate Competition to fulfill their capstone requirements—and won. The team, made up of three electrical engineering students and three mechanical engineering students, took first place in all three of the competition’s challenges—siting, design and community connections—earning first overall for the competition.

The NAU Review — Read the special commencement edition of The NAU Review! 🎓

by Community Contributor • May 9, 2024 • Comments Off

Meet three members of the
Class of 2024

The NAU Review — Water in space? Rocket science? It’s not science fiction—it’s what NAU students have been up to lately

by Community Contributor • May 7, 2024 • Comments Off

The where, why and how of water in space

Laura Lee, a Ph.D. student in astronomy and planetary science, is one of three graduate students to be selected for the Graduate Research Fellowship Program, a prestigious funding opportunity that supports students in STEM fields. Using a variety of techniques with instruments on Earth and in space, Lee is mapping water in the Solar System to better understand how and where this critical element is located on other celestial bodies. In addition to her groundbreaking research, Lee’s career goals include community education and promoting opportunities for women, people of color and first-generation students in planetary science.

The NAU Review — How NAU students are exploring Mars, Paul Keim on CNN, ideas to decorate your mortarboard

by Community Contributor • May 2, 2024 • Comments Off

Make sure your family and friends can see you from the stands and decorate your grad cap! For inspiration, see how students from all majors have decorated their mortarboards in recent years.

The NAU Review — Celebrating faculty and staff excellence, how young people see COVID and a student’s experience with Phoenix Rising

by Community Contributor • April 30, 2024 • Comments Off

Last Tuesday, NAU honored dozens of faculty and staff for their work in the past year and throughout their careers. Faculty across all colleges and departments were recognized for excellence in research, teaching, creative activity and mentorship, as were faculty who earned promotions in the past year. Nine staff members also were honored with the President’s Achievement Awards for their exceptional work to advance NAU’s mission. “As we approach the end of another banner year of achievements at our university, I am deeply appreciative of all that our faculty and staff have contributed to making this work possible,” President José Luis Cruz Rivera said.

The NAU Review — Engage with undergraduate student research, go waste-free with USEFULL and read President Cruz Rivera’s updates on NAU partnerships and achievements

by Community Contributor • April 25, 2024 • Comments Off

On Friday, join more than 1,200 undergraduate students as they present research on topics ranging from the voices of Chicano rap, evapotranspiration in Canyon de Chelly, pathogens in North American ticks, being a woman in a male-dominated field, how to sustainably de-ice during Flagstaff winters, the best way to 3D print a drone and so much more. The Undergraduate Symposium is NAU’s premier showcase for research and creative works that reach all disciplines and career paths.

Page 2 of 9

« 1 2 3 4 … 9 »