ISU Debate Team Achieves Success at Prestigious Northwest Tournaments, ROAR Together: Building Idaho’s Future with Rural Communities - American Falls, From Searching to Thriving: Jason Kindree’s Summer Journey with the City of Pocatello, From the Field to the Force: How Akilah Lacey Built a Life of Service and Leadership, ISU School of Performing Arts Presents “A Christmas Carol” A beloved holiday classic comes to life at the Stephens Performing Arts Center , ISU Treasure Valley Social Work Program Connects Passion with Impact, ISU School of Performing Arts Opens Season with Comedy Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, New Book Review out in Hispania, Idaho State University to Host Visiting Artist Roland Becerra’s Lifestyles and Rituals Exhibition and Screening of Animated Feature Film Agatha, Idaho Premiere of Armstrong’s Voluntary Breath, See ISU Alumna Yidan Guo’s Souls of Resilience Exhibit in Boise, DeCou Family Establishes Endowment for Suicide Prevention at Idaho State, Nate Eaton Reflects on Landmark Reporting with ISU Students, ISU Hosts Alexandra Teague as Dolsen Visiting Writer on 9/24/25, Idaho State Professor Debuts Book at International Book Fair of Lima, Celebrating September’s Career Path Intern: Emily Jones, Hawkins Stewart Named CPI of the Month August, 2025, Welcoming Two Distinguished Alumni to College of Arts and Letters Dean’s Advisory Board

Picture of the debate team earlier this season

ISU Debate Team Achieves Success at Prestigious Northwest Tournaments

The Idaho State University James M. & Sharon E. Rupp Debate Society showcased strong performances at back-to-back tournaments hosted by Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon, from October 10-12, 2025.

Picture of a college room in American Falls

ROAR Together: Building Idaho’s Future with Rural Communities - American Falls

In the small but mighty community of American Falls, Superintendent Randy Jensen’s four decades of leadership have transformed local education—proving that when schools uplift families, entire towns thrive.

Graphic with a picture or Jason Kindree: Doctoral Student

From Searching to Thriving: Jason Kindree’s Summer Journey with the City of Pocatello

When first-year doctoral student Jason Kindree stumbled upon a summer job fair, he had no idea it would lead to a life-changing internship with the City of Pocatello—one that ignited his passion for history, fueled his research, and turned uncertainty into purpose.

From the Field to the Force: How Akilah Lacey Built a Life of Service and Leadership

From football fields to police leadership, Akilah Lacey’s journey from California to Idaho is a story of perseverance, purpose, and transformation—proof that true service begins with finding your own calling.

ISU School of Performing Arts Presents “A Christmas Carol” A beloved holiday classic comes to life at the Stephens Performing Arts Center

The Idaho State University School of Performing Arts invites the community to embrace the holiday spirit with its enchanting production of A Christmas Carol, running November 14–21 at the Stephens Performing Arts Center.

ISU Treasure Valley Social Work Program Connects Passion with Impact

Idaho State University’s Social Work Program in Meridian is turning passion into impact—placing students in real-world practicum experiences that lead directly to careers across Idaho.

Four people in costume pose in a cozy living room. One couple lounges on a couch, with the woman dressed as Snow White, while two others stand behind them smiling.

ISU School of Performing Arts Opens Season with Comedy Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike

The Idaho State University School of Performing Arts launches its 2024–2025 Theatre Season with Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, a Tony Award-winning comedy by Christopher Durang.

Picture of book Bodies on the Front Lines: Performance, Gender, and Sexuality in Latin America and the Caribbean ed. by Brenda Werth and Katherine Zien.

New Book Review out in Hispania

Dr. Marin Laufenberg’s latest book review appears in the Fall 2025 issue of Hispania, highlighting her ongoing scholarship in Hispanic studies and inspiring graduate students who will craft and publish their own reviews in her upcoming Spring 2026 Literary Theory course.

Idaho State University to Host Visiting Artist Roland Becerra’s Lifestyles and Rituals Exhibition and Screening of Animated Feature Film Agatha

Visiting artist Roland Becerra presents an October exhibition, Lifestyles and Rituals, along with a film screening and artist talk exploring art, animation, and storytelling. This event is free and open to the public.

Symphony performs onstage with soloist Jon Armstrong on tenor sax

Idaho Premiere of Armstrong’s Voluntary Breath

The 2025–26 Idaho State Civic Symphony (ISCS) season opened on Friday, September 26 with a powerful and deeply personal Idaho premiere: Voluntary Breath, a saxophone concerto composed and performed by Jonathan Armstrong, Professor of Music and Commercial Music Area Coordinator.

See ISU Alumna Yidan Guo’s Souls of Resilience Exhibit in Boise

Idaho State University alumna Yidan Guo (MFA ’24) is bringing her art to Boise this fall through a prestigious residency at Surel’s Place. Her work, rooted in portraiture and cross-cultural storytelling, explores themes of resilience and connection while highlighting voices from

DeCou Family Establishes Endowment for Suicide Prevention at Idaho State

Chris and Becky DeCou, along with their family, have established the DeCou Family Endowment for Suicide Prevention to support Clinical Psychology Ph.D. students at Idaho State University.

Nate Eaton sits at a table talking to students

Nate Eaton Reflects on Landmark Reporting with ISU Students

Award-winning journalist Nate Eaton speaks with ISU Advanced Forensic Science students on September 11, sharing insights from his coverage of high-profile national and local cases, including the Chad and Lori Daybell investigation.

ISU Hosts Alexandra Teague as Dolsen Visiting Writer on 9/24/25

Professor and acclaimed writer Alexandra Teague visited with ISU September 24, 2025 as the annual Dolsen Visiting Writer. During her visit, Teague held a public poetry reading and craft class for ISU students.

Photo of Dr. Huerta Vera at panelist table with two others

Idaho State Professor Debuts Book at International Book Fair of Lima

Maria Claudia Huerta Vera, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Spanish, published a new book exploring how film shapes cultural memory of Peru’s internal armed conflict. The book debuted this summer at the International Book Fair of Lima, one of Latin America’s most prominent events.

Celebrating September’s Career Path Intern: Emily Jones

Emily Jones, a sophomore Communication major, has been named Career Path Intern of the Month for September for her outstanding work managing social media and digital communications for the ISU Alumni Association.

Hawkins Stewart Named CPI of the Month August, 2025

Communication major Hawkins Stewart has been named Career Path Intern of the Month for his impactful work in event media, design, and student content creation for the College of Arts and Letters.

Welcoming Two Distinguished Alumni to College of Arts and Letters Dean’s Advisory Board

The College of Arts and Letters at Idaho State University (ISU) is proud to welcome two accomplished alumni, Tom Neel (’87, English-Philosophy, French minor) and Stan Bissey (’87, Political Science), as the newest members of the Dean’s Advisory Board.