ISU Magazine - Fall 2025

From passionate students dedicated to meaningful research in the realm of sustainable adhesives, to alumni creating Native American artworks across the globe, and new programs designed to change the landscape of mental and behavioral health in Idaho, this year’s issue of the Idaho State Magazine has an array of incredible stories you won’t want to miss. The 2025 edition tells the inspiring stories of ISU students, faculty researchers and alumni who leaned into their challenges rather than avoided them, in order to show the world their ROAR.

Transforming Mental Health in Schools

Project EMPWRing will help K-12th grade schools improve mental health services by training mental health providers from within their own communities through a grant that is providing students with tuition coverage and changing lives for all.

A School of Nursing student doing a medical exam on the Meridian campus.

Treating Substance Use Disorder

Idaho’s suicide rate is consistently one of the highest nationwide and the entire state is considered a mental health shortage area. The state’s existing providers cover only 25 percent of the current need, causing a critical need for additional mental health care providers.

Addressing the Need

As Idaho’s leader in health sciences education, ISU has a responsibility to fill gaps that exist in care across the state. A new Doctorate of Psychology program directly addresses one of the most urgent challenges we face today: mental and behavioral health access.

Leonard Hall Transformation

Modern classrooms equipped with the latest technology at the newly renovated Leonard Hall foster a dynamic and engaging learning atmosphere that is not merely cosmetic, but integral to creating an environment where students can thrive in the L.S. Skaggs College of Pharmacy.

Anchored in Idaho

With the goal of improving access to care, particularly in underserved and rural communities, the Masters of Science in Clinical Psychopharmacology program at Idaho State University is shaping the next generation of prescribing psychologists who combine their understanding of mental health with the ability to prescribe medication in the treatment of mental health conditions.

Joining Forces with Umpqua Community College to Address Rural and Mental Health Care Needs

Through a collaboration with Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon, ISU designates seats in its fully accredited online social work bachelor’s degree program for qualified UCC students, allowing them to transition seamlessly from their associate degree to a bachelor’s degree.

Idaho State University and Umpqua Community College Announce New Medical Laboratory Science Program Partnership

An innovative program between Umpqua Community College and ISU allows students to earn a bachelor’s degree in medical laboratory science while staying in their local community, providing new opportunities for career advancement in health care for residents of Douglas County in Oregon.

Miller (right) and Chemistry Professor, Cori Jenkins, Ph.D. (left) work together in the lab to develop renewable adhesives.

Doing It Right

Using the traditional Native skills her grandmother taught her and the knowledge gained in the laboratory, Veronica Miller is conducting nationally-renowned research in the field of sustainable adhesives.

Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine campus

A Powerful Partnership

Idaho State University and Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine are solidifying and expanding their research partnership. The result is both increased research and enhanced funding avenues for both institutions.

Andy Speer loads an arrowhead into ISU's mass spectrometer and laser ablation system

ISU’s Laser Lab Powers Global Science

Anthropology professor Dr. Andy Speer leads research with a laser ablation machine, one of just three in the world, here at ISU. His team is experimenting with samples less than half the width of a human hair to minimize the visible impact on artifacts.

Helicopter dropping flame retardant in a forest

Partnering for Disaster Resilience

Idaho State University faculty are partnering with local, state and federal agencies to help mitigate wildfire damage and to build more disaster-resilient communities.

Research Remains Strong

Idaho State’s dedication to research continues, with more than $40 million in external funding awards this year.

Healing in Harmony

Residents at the Pocatello Women’s Correctional Center are tapping into their musical talents to be part of a choir led by ISU faculty and students. What they’ve found goes beyond the music and closer to the heart.

Student playing a first-person shooting game

ESports Comes to Idaho State

A new Esports program for student gamers has brought players together in both teamwork and friendship, leading to a championship title at the Big Sky State Games/Big Sky Rocket League Championship in May 2025.

Left to Right: Anna Alexander, OTA Clinical Instructor; Kaden Stimpson, OTA Clinical Instructor; Emma Kolman; and Joanne Trammel, OTA Program Coordinator and Senior Clinical Instructor.

Against All Odds

Emma Kolman’s life changed in an instant when, on a ski trip she collided with a building at the bottom of the slope. Doctors gave her just an eight percent chance of waking up from her coma. Kolman, however, defied the odds.

IAC members helping to make sure the 2025 Frank Church Symposium runs smoothly

ISU Students Guide Prestigious International Event

With opportunities for networking, leadership, and real-world engagement, the International Affairs Council at ISU continues to empower students to think globally and act locally.

Integrating Knowledge, Serving Communities

One of the greatest challenges for professor Alex Bolinger as he prepared for the elective course Leadership from a Distance was finding a textbook. Seeing that there were relatively few resources for guiding leaders in remote work environments, he and his students wrote their own book as a class project.

Student walking past the Rendezvous Center during New student convocation

Empowering Every Path

ISU utilizes Navigate, a platform where advisors, administrators, faculty, and students can communicate to keep students from falling behind. The results, through Navigate and a campuswide continued focus on student success, have been evident — more students are choosing to stay at ISU and meet their goals.

Left to Right: Dr. Kandi Turley-Ames, Josh Govan, Abbey Thompson

The Power of Resiliency

For some students, the path to graduation is smooth, but for others, it’s a journey of stops, starts, and personal growth. Through ISU’s Resiliency Scholarship, students with very different challenges are finally reaching their goals.

Left to Right: Shoshone-Bannock Tribal Chairman Lee Juan Tendoy, President Robert Wagner, and 2025 Miss Shoshone-Bannock, Dystnee Ropel.

Idaho State University, Shoshone-Bannock Tribes

An agreement between ISU and the Shoshone-Bannock tribes includes continued collaboration for building a lasting partnership to support student success and opportunity for tribal members.

Bridging the Distance

In a world of hybrid work and virtual learning environments, creating meaningful, spontaneous human connection is one of the biggest challenges higher education faces when operating across multiple campuses. The L.S. Skaggs College of Pharmacy has found a way to bridge the distance with an unlikely tool.

START Program Successful in Encouraging Students to Pursue College

Students craft a promising path for their college careers and beyond with the support of the Idaho State University College of Technology's Successful Transitions And Retention Track (START) program.

Ethan Freeburne works on a cybersecurity device called a Honeypot

Opportunities Abound

While the idea of self-discovery in college may sound a bit abstract or even intimidating to students, sometimes it’s as easy as just saying “yes” to the opportunities presented to you.

$1.2 Million ‘Impacts’ Project

In response to a critical shortage of teachers in Idaho, the College of Education is making the cost of a degree more manageable for aspiring educators as part of the Idaho Making Progress Against Critical Teacher Shortages in STEM (IMPACTS in STEM) project.

Building the Future

ISU continues to move forward with projects and initiatives that reflect our commitment to a bold future, including a renovated Leonard Hall, plans for a new life science building and major expansion in Meridian, to name just a few.

President Wagner and Tracy in front of the Presidential house

From the President

A recent revival of the University House, honoring the institution and the home’s legacy, mirrors the excitement and innovative momentum found at ISU. President Robert W. Wagner, Ph.D., shares a few examples of our ever-expanding and roaring vitality.

Ramon Murillo, ISU Alumnus, World Renowned Artist.

Alumni Artist

Alumnus Ramon Murillo never sought fame as he set out on a path to become an artist, he only wished for a place to share his artwork publicly. After suffering a severe traumatic brain injury, he now takes art classes at ISU to relearn some of the lost functionalities and be among a community of artists.

Alumni and Friends Awards 2025

Celebrate the success of ISU students and alumni who deserve recognition for their tremendous contributions to the Bengal community.

Helping Bengals Find their Roar

The ROAR Scholarship Fund is one of the most powerful ways we support student’s dreams. This dynamic scholarship fund fuels both recruitment and retention, offering immediate tuition relief to those pursuing their Bengal journey

Mothers and babies in front of a new lactation pod at ISU

Parent Rooms and Lactation Pods Bring Privacy and Comfort for Students, Staff, and Community Members

A group of employees launched the Lactation Space Planning Initiative with a goal to evaluate and address the needs for additional lactation spaces across campus locations.

Brady Cooke, a Career Path Intern, views negatives

Career Path Internship Program

Celebrating 15 years, the Career Path Internship program at ISU has provided over 11,000 internships with academic departments, offices on all ISU campuses, and over 300 community partners hosting off-campus internships across the state.

Founders Circle

Undergraduate and graduate students are paired with College of Business alumni based on interests, geographic location, and academic background. The results are transformational.

New Track for Cross Country Community

The recent renovation of the cross country track at ISU is innovative, and while making an impact on athletics, was also a collaboration between engineering, construction, and academic teams, and underscores the power of partnerships in creating lasting community impact.

Celebrating 125 Years as an Institution