POP Talks

Can you learn to love exercising? Well...maybe, and Sharon Kay Stoll will tell you how.

Her journey began as a public school teacher, coach and athlete, evolving into one of America's foremost authorities on moral education in sport. Stoll’s work has transformed how we understand character development in competitive settings. Her influence extends to the U.S. Navy, Air Force, the NCAA, the MLB and beyond.

Author of eight insightful books, including “Who Says It's Cheating?”, Stoll has been featured on major media outlets like “Nightline” and ESPN. Named one of the 100 Most Influential Sport Educators in America, she stands alongside legends like Andre Agassi and Tiger Woods.

Rare earth elements (REEs) are the unsung heroes powering our modern world — from cell phones and medical devices to wind turbines and national defense technologies. Yet, extracting them remains costly and harmful to the environment, with the U.S. relying heavily on foreign sources.

This is where Amin Mirkouei, associate professor of renewable and sustainable manufacturing at U of I’s College of Engineering, and his innovative team step in. With a $440,000 award from the Idaho Global Entrepreneurial Mission, they’re tackling the challenge with two cutting-edge, sustainable methods.

One approach uses plants to naturally extract metals from the soil, while the other swaps out harsh chemicals for bacteria that can accomplish the same task organically. Their work could transform how we source REEs, making it cleaner, greener and more efficient.

Every lover of literature knows that books transport readers to new worlds, and Erin James studies how we access these virtual environments to foster positive environmental change. Combining narratology and ecocriticism into a theory she calls econarratology, James believes this approach to literature can help solve tough environmental problems.

Her debut book, “The Storyworld Accord: Econarratology and Postcolonial Narratives,” dives into the fusion of ecocriticism, postcolonialism and narrative theory, earning accolades like the International Society for the Study of Narrative’s Perkins Prize for Best Book in Narrative Studies. Her second book, “Narrative in the Anthropocene,” further explores storytelling’s role in the climate crisis.

She co-founded the interdisciplinary Confluence Lab, securing major grants to tackle environmental issues in rural communities. Passionate about narrative theory and environmental humanities, James is reshaping how we tell stories about our world.

Erin Brooks is an expert in managing complex ecosystems through innovative research that blends extensive field experimentation with spatially explicit modeling.

His work spans diverse environments, including dryland agroecosystems, snow-dominated management forests, rangeland, tropical agricultural and forested ecosystems, perennial grasslands, deciduous forests and mixed urban environments, and his research focuses on critical issues like hydrology, nutrient cycling, erosion and watershed management. He is co-directing the $55 million Innovative Agriculture and Marketing Partnership grant — the largest grant ever received at U of I.

A seasoned researcher, Brooks has led or co-led numerous large interdisciplinary projects. With over 80 peer-reviewed publications, Brooks’s research is at the forefront of precision agriculture, geospatial modeling and ecohydrology.

Randall Teal is an educator and maker.

As the head of the Architecture Program at U of I, he guides future designers with his passion for architectural theory and design fundamentals. Teal’s teaching and research draw heavily from Continental thought, and he excels at fostering a critical dialogue between architecture and the built environment.

Outside the classroom, Teal leads Teal Studio, where he brings his vision to life through small-scale design interventions. A writer, painter and designer, his work and teaching blend creativity with thoughtful, impactful design.

Step into Paul Rowley’s world, where antifungal proteins, known as “killer toxins,” wage a microscopic battle against fungal cells. With Brewer’s yeast and surprisingly friendly viruses as his allies, Rowley deciphers the secrets of these deadly interactions and studies their implications for human health.

The Rowley lab is a dynamic hub for curious minds, hosting 57 undergraduate researchers in the past eight years. Backed by federal funding and University of Idaho grants, students dive into thrilling independent projects studying killer toxins. This support also fuels the work of postdoctoral researchers, graduate students and research technicians.

As a first-generation college student, Rowley is passionate about the transformative power of research. His lab is a lively, inclusive sanctuary that champions respect and diversity, inviting everyone to share in the excitement and wonder of scientific discovery.

Bethaney Fehrenkamp is a reproductive immunologist with a passion for understanding the complex interactions between maternal and infant health. Her research focuses on the impact of inflammation on reproductive outcomes and infant immune development.

As a clinical assistant professor, she plays an integral role in the Idaho WWAMI Medical Education partnership, where she mentors and educates future Idaho physicians. With a deep curiosity for the role of breastfeeding on the future health of future Idahoans, Fehrenkamp’s work explores the intricate relationship between maternal health and infant immune system development, along with her broader interests in T cell immunology, autoimmunity and microbial interactions at mucosal sites.

Mya Pronschinske Groza is all about helping brands and people shine. As associate dean and associate professor of marketing at University of Idaho, she dives deep into what makes marketing click. Need to understand why customers respond to some brands and ignore others? Curious about how crowdfunding is giving female entrepreneurs the keys to success? Pronschinske Groza has the answers. Whether she’s exploring how personal branding can elevate leaders or how corporations can create meaningful social change, Pronschinske Groza’s research focuses on driving empowerment and impact through marketing.