Faculty & Staff
Meet the People Behind UNI Biology
At the University of Northern Iowa, your professors are scholars who put teaching first. They emphasize learning — both inside and outside the classroom — that will help you connect your education to the real world.
Get to know our department, and learn more about our faculty and staff by browsing the directory below.
Faculty Directory
![Dr. Tilahun Abebe](/sites/default/files/directory-images/tilahun-abebe.jpg)
Dr. Tilahun Abebe
Professor
tilahun.abebe@uni.edu
(319) 273-7151
![Dr. Peter Berendzen](/sites/default/files/directory-images/uni20217.jpg)
Dr. Peter Berendzen
Professor
peter.berendzen@uni.edu
(319) 273-7026
![Dr. Nathan Bird](/sites/default/files/directory-images/nathan-bird.jpg)
Dr. Nathan Bird
Associate Professor
nathan.bird@uni.edu
(319) 273-2454
![Dr. James Demastes](/sites/default/files/directory-images/james-demastes.jpg)
Dr. James Demastes
Professor
jim.demastes@uni.edu
(319) 273-2022
![Dr. Kenneth Elgersma](/sites/default/files/directory-images/kenneth-elgersma.jpg)
Dr. Kenneth Elgersma
Professor
kenneth.elgersma@uni.edu
(319) 273-2645
![Dr. Jerreme Jackson](/sites/default/files/directory-images/jerreme-jackson.jpg)
Dr. Jerreme Jackson
Assistant Professor
jerreme.jackson@uni.edu
(319) 273-6880
![Dr. Laura Jackson](/sites/default/files/directory-images/laura-jackson.jpg)
Dr. Laura Jackson
Director of the Tallgrass Prairie Center
Professor
laura.l.jackson@uni.edu
(319) 273-2705
![Dr. Julie Kang](/sites/default/files/directory-images/julie-kang.jpg)
Dr. Julie Kang
Associate Professor
julie.kang@uni.edu
(319) 273-7152
![Dr. David McClenahan](/sites/default/files/directory-images/david-mccleanahan.jpg)
Dr. David McClenahan
Associate Professor
david.mcclenahan@uni.edu
(319) 273-2218
![Dr. Nilda Rodriguez](/sites/default/files/directory-images/nilda-rodriguez.jpg)
Dr. Nilda Rodriguez
Associate Professor
nilda.rodriguez@uni.edu
(319) 273-6505
![Dr. David Saunders](/sites/default/files/directory-images/david-saunders.jpg)
Dr. David Saunders
Professor
david.saunders@uni.edu
319-273-5976
![Dr. Marek Sliwinski](/sites/default/files/directory-images/marek-sliwinski.jpg)
Dr. Marek Sliwinski
Associate Professor
marek.k.sliwinski@uni.edu
(319) 273-5467
![Dr. Jeff Tamplin](/sites/default/files/directory-images/jeff-tamplin.jpg)
Dr. Jeff Tamplin
Professor
jeff.tamplin@uni.edu
(319) 273-2327
![Dr. Carl Thurman](/sites/default/files/directory-images/carl-thurman.jpg)
Dr. Carl Thurman
Professor
carl.thurman@uni.edu
(319) 273-2276
![Dr. Michael Walter](/sites/default/files/directory-images/michael-walter.jpg)
Dr. Michael Walter
Associate Professor
michael.walter@uni.edu
(319) 273-6490
![Dr. Ai Wen](/sites/default/files/directory-images/ai-wen.jpg)
Dr. Ai Wen
Assistant Professor
ai.wen@uni.edu
(319) 273-2670
![Dr. Jesse Wilcox](/sites/default/files/directory-images/jesse-wilcox.jpg)
Dr. Jesse Wilcox
Assistant Professor
jesse.wilcox@uni.edu
(319) 273-2770
Staff
![Shelly Frein](/sites/default/files/directory-images/shelly-frein.jpg)
Shelly Frein
Office Coordinator
shelly.frein@uni.edu
(319) 273-2456
![Jon Luiken](/sites/default/files/directory-images/luike-jon-new.jpg)
Jon Luiken
Laboratory Specialist
jon.luiken@uni.edu
(319) 273-2827