Biology Department | Nebraska Wesleyan University

The legendary NWU arch juxtaposed by green trees and blue sky.

NWU grad wants to champion agriculture through politics

Matt Wishard presents research on nematodes.

Published

June 24, 2024

Nebraska Wesleyan University graduate Matt Wishard ('24) is charting an ambitious path from the fields of biology to the political arena.

Wishard, of Elkhorn, Neb., graduated with a degree in biology in May and aspires to create change by merging his scientific background with his passion for agriculture and politics.

Biology Department

Chemistry Department

Biochemistry

NWU grad pursues cutting-edge research at Johns Hopkins

Kaitlyn Georgiana will study at Johns Hopkins University.

Published

June 13, 2024

Kaitlyn Georgiana (’24) wants to turn personal tragedy into breakthrough stem cell research for expectant mothers and babies.

Music Department

Psychology Department

Study Abroad

Biology Department

Rwanda

NWU student hopes to leverage musical talent for Alzheimer’s research

Published

December 7, 2023

A Nebraska Wesleyan University student is hoping that her passion for family and music could one-day provide breakthrough research for Alzheimer’s patients.

Chemistry Department

Mathematics and Computer Science Department

Biology Department

Athletic Training

Health and Human Performance Department

Physics Department

Nursing

Howard Hughes Medical Institute awards NWU $529,500 grant to increase STEM inclusivity

Published

January 31, 2023

Nebraska Wesleyan University was recently awarded a $529,500 grant from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI). The grant supports the development of inclusive STEM curriculum...

Biology Department

Professor Leads Students to Australia for Lesson on Sustainable Agriculture

Christine Olson, sustainable agriculture course in Australia

Christine Olson, Australia kangaroo interaction

Published

April 30, 2019

Christine Olson had dreams of a trip to Australia someday. Like many, the thought of seeing the Sydney Opera House, koalas and kangaroos seemed fascinating.

Biology Department

Education Department

From a Civil War in Myanmar to Lincoln, NWU Student Now Helps Immigrants Explore Education Opportunities

Published

April 18, 2019

Khu Say was just an infant when he, his parents, and older brother were forced from their home in Burma — now known as Myanmar — and into the jungle to flee the civil war between the Burmese and Karen people.

Modern Languages Department

Political Science Department

Business, Accounting and Economics Department

Chemistry Department

Biology Department

Three NWU Students Accepted into JET Program

Published

April 16, 2019

Felicia Phares, Kate Richerson and Grant Jackman, all of Lincoln, have each been accepted to the Japanese Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program.

Biology Department

Chemistry Department

NWU’s Lab Manager Recognized for Flawless Building Move

Published

April 1, 2019

It took a few weeks to move every item belonging to the biology and chemistry departments from the Olin Hall of Science to the new Duane W. Acklie Hall of Science.

Biology Department

NWU Alumnus, Scientist Returns to Campus to Discuss “New Crops for Uncommon Purposes”

Brandon Schlautman, Fetzen Science Lecture

Published

March 28, 2019

Nebraska Wesleyan University alumnus Brandon Schlautman will return to campus on Thursday, April 4 to deliver the annual Fetzer Science Lecture.

Biology Department

Chemistry Department

Psychology Department

Doors Open to New Acklie Hall of Science

Chemistry students use a lab for the first time in Acklie Hall.

Published

January 14, 2019

Students were welcomed to a new semester on Monday, January 14 with a fresh blanket of snow and a much anticipated new science building.

Biology Department

Chemistry Department

Senior's Research on Genetic Disease Affirms her Calling to Medicine

Published

October 18, 2018

The biochemistry and molecular biology student from Omaha took lessons learned in her Nebraska Wesleyan classrooms to the labs of the University of Nebraska Medical Center where she was one of five NWU students accepted into the medical school’s Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP).

Mathematics and Computer Science Department

Philosophy and Religion Department

Biology Department

Modern Languages Department

Gilman Scholarship Sends Two Abroad for Fall Semester

Megan Canfield, Gilman Scholarship Winner

Published

August 8, 2018

Two Nebraska Wesleyan University seniors have been selected to receive a Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship to study abroad for the fall semester.

Biology Department

Chemistry Department

Recent NWU Grad Selected for Prestigious Phi Kappa Phi Fellowship

Published

June 13, 2018

Carly Wahlmeier, of Grand Island, has been selected to receive a Phi Kappa Phi fellowship. Phi Kappa Phi is the nation’s oldest and most selective multidisciplinary collegiate honor society.

Biology Department

Modern Languages Department

Study Abroad

Canadian Internship Gives NWU Student First-Hand Experience in Cancer Research

Research at McGill University in Montreal, Canada

Published

December 20, 2017

For Roper, the great unknown began in Montreal, Canada where the biology and French double major spent his summer conducting research for McGill University.

Biology Department

Internship on South Africa Coast Affirms Senior’s Passion for Marine Biology

Senior Emily Schumacher, an aspiring marine biologist

During her time in South Africa, Schumacher went cage diving

Schumacher joins a group of interns at Oceans Research

Published

October 18, 2017

Emily Schumacher’s fascination with sea creatures started at a young age. As her graduation from Millard West High School approached, she began to understand the challenges of studying marine biology in a landlocked state.

Biology Department

Students Find Valuable Experiences in Haiti

Members of Nebraska Wesleyan's Pre-Health Club

Students had the opportunity to help run a pharmacy in Haiti

Tiana Peterson spent her spring break assisting patients in Haiti

Published

May 19, 2017

Just three days after finishing the academic year, a group of students and faculty traveled over 2,200 miles to continue important lessons.

Music Department

Biology Department

Modern Languages Department

Biology Major Finds Her Way to Opera Stage

Published

April 3, 2017

“I gave it a shot my first semester here and I fell in love with it. I’ve been doing it ever since,” sophomore Hanna Arrowsmith said of her passion for opera.

Biology Department

Chemistry Department

Psychology Department

NWU Breaks Ground on Duane W. Acklie Hall of Science

Members of the Acklie family are the first to sign a beam

The new science center — named for Duane W. Acklie

President Fred Ohles, Phyllis Acklie and other distinguished guests

Breaking ground for the Duane W. Acklie Hall of Science

Published

April 4, 2017

Nebraska Wesleyan University broke ground Tuesday, April 4 on a new science center named after a cherished member of the Lincoln community who was known for his service, entrepreneurship and philanthropy.

Biology Department

Physics Department

Chemistry Department

Mathematics and Computer Science Department

National Science Foundation Awards NWU Nearly $650K For Scholarships, Academic Success

NWU graduates succeed in the STEM fields of science, technology, engineering and math

Published

January 24, 2017

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded Nebraska Wesleyan University a $649,863 grant that will provide scholarships and academic support to academically-talented science students with financial need.

Biology Department

Biology Major Spends NWU Career Studying Epstein-Barr Virus

Published

October 6, 2016

"Coming into college I didn’t know much about scientific research," said senior Carlie Pickrel.

Little did she know she would spend much of her Nebraska Wesleyan undergraduate experience conducting research through Nebraska’s Idea Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE).

Modern Languages Department

Biology Department

Psychology Department

Fulbright Commission Selects Two NWU Students for UK Summer Institute

Published

May 27, 2016

Two Nebraska Wesleyan University students have been selected for the Fulbright Summer Institute. They are among approximately 60 undergraduates from the United States and UK to be selected for the prestigious program.

Biology Department

Physics Department

Mathematics and Computer Science Department

Chemistry Department

“Newton’s Football” Co-Author to Discuss Bold Innovators

Published

March 15, 2016

A science evangelist whose passion is helping make science fun will deliver Nebraska Wesleyan University’s Fetzer Science Lecture on Wednesday, March 23.

Admitted students

Academics

Undergraduate Admissions

Modern Languages Department

Biology Department

Fulbright Commission Selects NWU Sophomore for Summer Institute to Wales

Published

June 12, 2015

Nebraska Wesleyan University sophomore Gwennan Plouzek is one of 60 college students from the United States and the United Kingdom selected to participate in the prestigious Fulbright Summer Institute.

Biology Professor Honored With University’s Teaching Award

Published

May 28, 2015

McKinney, who has taught biology at Nebraska Wesleyan for 16 years, is this year’s Prouty Teaching Award winner.

Admitted students

Academics

Modern Languages Department

Biology Department

Study Abroad

Two Win Boren Scholarships to Study Critical Languages

Published

April 28, 2015

Two Nebraska Wesleyan University students have each been awarded the prestigious Boren Scholarship, which will send them abroad for one year to develop language skills.

Edson deOliveira, a senior biology major from Omaha, has won a Boren Scholarship to study in Brazil, and Brenda Maldonado, a senior French major from Sargent, has won a Boren Scholarship to study in Senegal.