College of Health

Empowering Future Health Leaders: Thanks to gifts to the College of Health Dean’s Excellence Fund, Audiology Doctoral Student Ty Huck presented his research poster, “Hearing and Connexin-26: A Review and Case Study,” at the national Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference in Pittsburgh, PA. His work explored how mutations in the connexin-26 gene—responsible for 20–30% of congenital non-syndromic sensorineural hearing loss—impact hearing loss progression and potential interventions. This opportunity allowed Ty to share cutting-edge research with national experts, gain invaluable professional experience, and elevate ISU’s reputation in the field of audiology.

Investing in Global Opportunities for Students: With support from the College of Health Dean’s Excellence Fund, four Counseling graduate students traveled to Saskatoon, Canada, to present their research at the prestigious 2025 International Society for Anthrozoology (ISAZ) Conference—an event with only a 10% proposal acceptance rate. Their selection highlights the caliber of ISU students and the global impact of their work. Two of our graduate students also serve on the ISAZ Board of Directors, further elevating ISU’s presence in this international community. ISAZ’s annual conference is the premier forum for advancing knowledge in human–animal relationships, and donor support made it possible for our students to share their expertise, build professional networks, and represent ISU on an international stage.