The University of Iowa Office of the President announced Sunday, April 30, that Timothy A. Alvarez, vice president of student affairs at North Dakota State University, is the second candidate for the position of vice president for student life.

The University of Iowa Office of the President announced Saturday, April 29, that Melissa Shivers, associate vice chancellor for student life and dean of students at University of Tennessee, Knoxville, is the first candidate for the position of vice president for student life.

A year after UI President J. Bruce Harreld formed two Path Forward teams to broaden campus involvement in policy decisions, both are now implementing several new policies and initiatives. The processes have involved input from more than 100 faculty, staff, and students in support of the UI’s Strategic Plan 2016–2021.

Born without a right arm, Jonny Cole couldn’t ride a bike. Now, four UI undergrads in the Department of Biomedical Engineering have created a device that lets him ride with confidence.

The VP for Student Life Search Committee has announced the dates of the four final candidates’ public forums. Taking place the week of May 1, the forums will consist of a presentation by the candidate followed by a brief Q&A. All faculty, staff, and students are encouraged to attend.

University of Iowa law professor Sarah Seo was recently named the winner of the Law and Society Association’s 2017 Dissertation Prize. Her dissertation, “The Fourth Amendment, Cars, and Freedom in Twentieth Century America,” was nominated by Hendrik Hartog of Princeton University.

HealthTech Solutions, a business founded by two University of Iowa students, both from Iowa, that makes it easier to connect organ donors with recipients, won the grand prize in a start-up venture competition sponsored by TCU.

Don Brathwaite, a graduate student in the department of epidemiology at the University of Iowa College of Public Health, was elected as the National Black Graduate Student Association (NBGSA)’s North Central Regional Representative at the organization’s 29th national conference in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Brian Howe, assistant professor of family dentistry, received the William J. Gies Award in Clinical Research during the recent annual meeting of the International/American Association for Dental Research. The award is given to the best paper published in the “Journal of Dental Research” during the preceding year in the areas of biological, biomaterials and bioengineering, and clinical research.

The UI Office of the Provost announced Tuesday, April 25, that Linda A. Lewandowski, professor and former associate dean for academic affairs and graduate program director at the University of Massachusetts Amherst College of Nursing, is the second candidate for the position of dean of the UI College of Nursing.

UI students are helping Iowans better understand their ancestry and their DNA. Under the supervision of faculty adviser Bryant McAllister, associate professor in the UI Department of Biology, the students participate in monthly meetings to educate those in the community interested in ordering a DNA test or interpreting results.

Students in the UI Tippie College of Business are asked to explore how their diverse identities allow them to make unique contributions to the teams they are a part of. Lecturer Pamela Bourjaily designed the exercise, which has been used every semester since the fall of 2015.