Vivian Unruh’s life journey is as vivid as the graphics and illustrations she creates. A North Dakota native, Vivian chose Wildlife Biology as a major when she joined Boise State but a calling for art kept tugging at her. A switch to an Illustration major felt right, with wildlife finding its way into her art. This journey eventually led to her current research focus, the study of reintroducing wolves into Yellowstone National Park. Vivian is working on this project as part of Graphic Histories, a Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP) team led by Lisa Brady and Roland Becerra.
Lisa Brady is professor and department chair of History. Roland Becerra is an associate professor in the Department of Art, Design, and Visual Studies. We reached out to Vivian, Lisa and Roland to learn more about what an intersection of history, art and wildlife feels like. Responses have been edited for clarity.
Vivian Unruh
When are you graduating?
Fall 2026
What do you like to do for fun?
I love trying and learning new things – currently I am learning to crochet and embroider. I also try to get outside at least once a day, whether it’s just to walk my dog or to go hunting for cool rocks in ponds and rivers.
What got you interested in the Graphic Histories VIP?
I took the comic book illustration class and absolutely fell in love with the process of writing a story and figuring out how best to illustrate moments in the story. My professor for that class, Roland Becerra, brought up the VIP Graphic History course in class. I was already hooked on the aspect of story telling and graphic novels, so I was incredibly eager to sign up for the class. I’m really glad I did too, because my topic proposal was picked for half the class to illustrate! I’m also really excited about the idea of taking moments in history and retelling it in a way that is more accessible to a wider audience.
What does a typical day in your VIP look like?
The class is structured for work time on Tuesdays and presenting progress on Thursdays. On Tuesdays, my group will get together and go over research, thoughts for imagery, how to layout the story, the sequential order of pages, etc. We mostly discuss progress made outside of class and how best to collaborate to make a cohesive storyline. On Thursdays we present on whatever progress we have made to the whole class – some weeks it is just presenting research findings, and some weeks we present thumbnails and composition sketches for the zine. Presenting days are always fun to see where everyone is at.
What’s the most surprising thing you have learnt since you joined this VIP?
I think the most surprising aspect has been the collaborative element of the course. Learning everyone’s strengths, interests, and individual processes for working has been so fun and has given me ideas for my own practice. I haven’t had an opportunity to work this collaboratively with projects before, so it’s been an invaluable experience. It’s also so incredibly helpful to have a team that you can bounce ideas off of, and I’m really lucky to have a group that shares my enthusiasm for this project!
How would you describe your research to a 6-year old?
There is a national park called Yellowstone, where wild animals roam free.
Not so long ago wolves were erased from the area because people were scared of them. Without wolves, the amount of elk in the park skyrocketed! It was hard for other animals to live in the park with so many elk running around, so they all left. The plants in the park suffered too, because all of these elk were munching on them faster than they could grow. The whole park was thrown off balance because the elk didn’t have any predators to keep the population in check.
Then came a team of biologists trying to figure out how to save the park so plants could grow big and strong again and all the other animals, like beavers and birds, could come back home. They decided to bring wolves back into the park, because even though they can be scary, they are very important for the ecosystem. Once they brought the wolves back, the amount of elk went back down to normal.
Now there was room for all animals in the park, and the plants could grow big and strong again. THE END!
What keeps you going in your research journey when things get hard?
I think it really helps that in this course that we get to blend art and research. Spending so much time finding and reading research can get a little heavy, so when I need a break it’s fun to look back on my notes and come up with imagery and scenarios to illustrate. It gets my mind thinking about things in a more creative way, which helps propel me through times when I’m not as motivated to work on the research side of the project.
For anyone considering undergraduate research, what advice do you have?
It really broadens the scope of what an artist can accomplish in their practice. I fully urge anyone considering undergraduate research to take the opportunity!
Research is so crucial even for an artist. Diving into this topic has given me so many ideas and inspiration for my work that I wouldn’t have gotten otherwise.
Vivian Unruh
Lisa Brady
What was your motivation behind starting this VIP?
Several years ago, I started seeing serious history books published in a graphic novel format and I thought it was the coolest thing ever. I thought it would be fun to be part of creating one, but I didn’t have the artistic or design skills to do it on my own, so I reached out to Dan Scott, chair of ADVS (Art, Design, and Visual Studies), to see if we could collaborate. He’s the one who suggested the VIP approach.
If you could choose any historical event from history for a graphic history project, what would you choose?
I’d love to do one on the Korean War (1950 -1953) that focuses on the unexpected history of the Demilitarized Zone (the DMZ), which has become a strange oasis for native species in Korea.
What is one thing you would say for anyone considering joining the Graphic Histories VIP?
Do it! The class has transformed the way I think about history and about teaching and the students seem to feel the same about how it has inspired them to think about their own skills and interests in new ways.
Can you talk about your experience working with Vivian?
Vivian has been amazing. The Wolves in Yellowstone project was her idea and she’s really taken on a lot of responsibility for organizing the material. I’ve been super impressed with how well the team works together and how collaborative the process has been for them. It’s also been great to see Vivian’s enthusiasm for the project come through in class and on the page.
What’s one advice you have for current or future VIP undergrad researchers?
Expect to be transformed. This class expands your opportunities to express yourself in so many ways and shows you how you can apply the skills you already have to new situations.
Roland Becerra
Can you talk about your experience being involved with the Graphic Histories VIP?
My experience has been extremely positive. I really look forward to class each week. The students are enthusiastic about their projects and eager to share their progress, which makes the environment engaging. I’m also very grateful to be teaching alongside Lisa Brady. Her experience with in-depth research has taught me a lot, and it’s been a great collaborative experience overall.
For anyone wanting to create visual stories, what’s your advice?
Look at other artists’ work as much as you can. You can learn from both strong and less successful examples. There’s no single way to tell a visual story. It can be through collage, simple drawings, photography, or anything else. The key is to experiment, stay curious, and give yourself space to develop your own voice.
What would you say to a student considering joining the Graphic Histories VIP?
I would definitely encourage them to take the course, no matter their major. It really benefits from having students with different backgrounds and perspectives. It’s a collaborative environment where students share ideas and support each other, and it helps them discover new ways to communicate visually. Most students come away surprised by what they’re capable of creating.
Can you talk about your experience working with Vivian?
I worked with Vivian in my ART 362 course, which focuses on comics and visual storytelling. It’s been great to see her carry those skills into the VIP course. I had encouraged her to apply, and she’s been a great fit. She’s been very engaged and a strong collaborator throughout the process.
What’s one piece of advice you have for current or future VIP undergraduate researchers?
Be open to trying new things and working with others. This course is about exploration and collaboration, so it helps to stay flexible and curious. Everyone’s contribution matters, and the work becomes part of something larger than any one individual project.