Home

Calendar

Filter

Search

Exhibition Spotlight: Mammal Hall

Aug 31, 2022

12:00 PM - 01:00 PM

, ,

Save to My Events

Walrus at UI Museum of Natural History

The Pentacrest Museums continue to explore comparative history during this 175th year of the University of Iowa. Our Exhibition Spotlight series takes us deeper into concepts examined in our yearlong exhibition Then & Now: 175 Years on the Pentacrest, now on display in the Hanson Gallery of the Old Capitol Museum.

An excellent representation of increased environmental diversity awareness over time, Mammal Hall proudly displays the interpretations which reflect evolving attitudes in museums and society. How has our understanding of the natural world changed? How has the museum's approach to collecting and exhibit design changed? How do these changes impact student, faculty, and community visitors?

During this Exhibition Spotlight, we invite guests for a special lunch-hour Zoom webinar with Pentacrest Museums director Liz Crooks and director of research collections Cindy Opitz. In exploration of this majestic gallery at the UI Museum of Natural History from the time it was added to the museum in 1907 until now, join us in a journey through history.

Register for free HERE to receive a link to attend.

Speaker Bios:

Liz Crooks

Liz Crooks
Director, Pentacrest Museums 

Liz Crooks has served as the director of the University of Iowa Pentacrest Museums since 2018. Liz holds an MA in Museum Studies and a Graduate Certificate in Book Arts. Born & raised in Iowa City, Crooks developed a passion for museums while visiting the museums she now oversees. She serves on numerous campus advisory committees, including the Museum Studies Certificate Program. Her other interests include live music, rowing, and more museums. 

Cindy Opitz

Cindy Opitz 
Director of Research Collections 

Cindy Opitz, Director of Research Collections at the University of Iowa Museum of Natural History and Old Capitol Museum, oversees the curation, preservation, digitization, and management of 130,000+ zoological specimens and cultural objects at the second-oldest US natural history museum west of the Mississippi River and a National Historic Landmark. Ms. Opitz also trains and mentors collection interns and volunteers, teaches museum object preservation in the UI Museum Studies Certificate Program, and serves as a volunteer in the Iowa Museums, Archives, and Libraries Emergency Response Team and as a National Heritage Responder. 

Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all University of Iowa–sponsored events. If you are a person with a disability who requires a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in this program, please contact in advance at