Jerry Walton

After dedicating over two decades to the service industry, Jerry was prompted by the COVID lockdowns to attend the University of Northern Iowa and earn a B.A. in History with a minor in Public History. During his time at UNI, Jerry also contributed to the Fortepan project, and participated in the National High School Model United Nations. These activities sparked his interest in social history through food.

This fascination with food history, particularly food as adaptive resistance, led him to spend a year in New Orleans, studying the gastrological contributions of various origins on American cuisine.

Upon his return to University of Northern Iowa, Jerry enrolled in the Recreation, Tourism, and Nonprofit Leadership M.A. program. His goal is to use the skills he will gain through the RTNL master's program to enhance his role as a historian.  He has recently obtained his Certification of Interpretive Guiding, a testament to his commitment to honing his storytelling techniques.

Currently, Jerry's responsibilities as a GA include leading the Recreation, Tourism, and Nonprofit Leadership Sesquicentennial History Project for the upcoming 2026 celebration.  He also contributes to the community through his involvement in planning and facilitating student volunteer events with the UNI Office of Community Engagement.

While not on campus, Jerry has a placement with Green Iowa AmeriCorps through the Black Hawk County partnership, where he teaches recycling and composting classes to children across the county, and assists with a new food recovery initiative.