Four CLAS faculty receive 2024 Hubbard-Walder Award for Excellence in Teaching

April 17, 2024

CLAS art history professor named fellow in medieval studies academy

April 12, 2024

By Charlotte Brookins 

Robert Bork, professor and director of graduate studies in the School of Art and Art History, is one of only seven fellows named to the Medieval Academy of America’s 2024 Fellowship Class.  

The Medieval Academy of America (MAA) was first established in 1925 and works to propagate a scholarly community with the goal of deepening and disseminating knowledge of medieval history in a way that is equitable, accessible, and inclusive. The fellowship class is nominated on an annual basis, with up to 150 fellows at one time. 

“I feel deeply honored to join this group, which includes only a few art historians,” says Bork. 

As described on its website, the purpose of the MAA’s fellowship program is to honor long-term academic achievements in the field of medieval studies. Fellows work as a group to use their raised profile as medievalists to ensure the continued vitality of their field.  

Bork, who has been with the University of Iowa College of Liberal Arts and Sciences for just over 25 years, says his time at the university has contributed to his development as a scholar and professor in many ways. 

“Most concretely, the university has supported my work with internal grants such as the Faculty Scholar program, the Arts and Humanities Initiative, and grants for conference and research travel,” Bork explains, referring to the AHI-funded trip in which Bork and a small group of students and staff traveled to France. On this trip, the group used laser scanners to create precise 3D models of Gothic cathedrals important to Bork’s current research.  

“The university has also supported my applications for external grants such as those from the Humboldt Foundation, the National Gallery of Art, and the American Council of Learned Societies, which have been crucial to my book projects,” he adds. 

Bork has appeared in numerous publications detailing his research in medieval studies. 

Bork majored in physics before embarking on his career in architectural history, and he notes that much of his research utilizes his multifaceted background, something that is supported by the university and college’s strength in a variety of programs. 

“I would urge students to take advantage of this breadth by taking a wide range of classes during their years here,” says Bork. “At the same time, I encourage students to share their diverse interests with their faculty mentors, since undergraduate research can open up valuable and unexpected opportunities, as I have seen in my own career.” 

Bork will be formally inducted as an MAA Fellow during the organization’s annual meeting in March. 

CLAS associate professor receives prestigious rhetoric award

April 10, 2024

By Emily Delgado  

E Cram, associate professor in the Department of Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies and the Department of Communication Studies, received the prestigious Karl Wallace Memorial Award from the National Communications Association.  

The Karl Wallace Memorial Award is given to scholars who have contributed to the study of rhetoric and public discourse. The award includes a grant for the recipient to continue their research project.  

"This recognition of my research and career thus far, I hope, will provide a model to others in the field who work to center marginalized histories and their ecological niches,” Cram said.  

The award funds will allow Cram to continue their research on the Johnson County Historic Poor Farm. The Johnson County Historic Poor Farm was once used to care for and house individuals with disabilities and the poor. Now, the site is revitalized through GROW: Johnson County and the Global Food Project, and open to the public as a learning space for the people of Johnson County and Iowa.  

Cram’s research project is split into two stages. The first is their podcast, “Disability Ecologies of Care and Memory at the Johnson County Historic Poor Farm,” and the second is compiling research and embarking on a book project. Cram’s research focuses on the intersectionality of disability history, preservation, and food systems communication.  

The podcast has allowed Cram to share their research on the Johnson County Historic Poor Farm restoration. Cram has spent the last two years in this community talking to members of the Johnson County Board of Supervisors, food systems workers, and disability advocates.

Cram’s interviews highlight how the former poor farm was designated for historic preservation, how its restoration was planned and designed, how disability advocates influenced the planning process, and how the site memorializes the people who lived there. At the same time, Cram has been compiling the work into a story board for their book.  

Cram hopes the research and experience of making a podcast will better their teaching at Iowa. 

“My hope is that in the future my teaching will benefit from the experience of making a podcast. I have encountered a different way to tell stories of place-based histories and how they shape contemporary communities’ concerns,” Cram said.  

Cram is grateful for the support from their departments, college, and colleagues at the University of Iowa.   

“My hope is that national recognition of work like this underscores the excitement for truly interdisciplinary environmental humanities research,” Cram said.  

CLAS computer science assistant professor receives prestigious NSF CAREER award

April 12, 2024

By Charlotte Brookins 

Peng Jiang, assistant professor in the Department of Computer Science, has been awarded a CAREER award by the National Science Foundation.  

The award, which supports faculty with the potential to serve as mentors and leaders in their fields, includes a grant of $548,944. The funds will support Jiang’s current research project, entitled “Compiler and Runtime Support for Sampled Sparse Computations on Heterogeneous Systems.” 

Jiang says the goal of this project is to simplify the implementation process of sample-based algorithms, improve the performance of big data applications, and enhance the capacity to solve large-scale real-world problems. He also hopes to use the success of the project to provide more research opportunities for undergraduate students, especially those from underrepresented groups. 

“Sampling-based algorithms are gaining popularity in data applications because they help reduce computation costs,” says Jiang, introducing his research project. “However, their efficiency on hardware is limited due to random memory access and computation patterns. This research aims to address this issue by developing compiler and runtime tools.” 

Jiang, who joined the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences in 2019, says his project is unique from others because it includes a high-level programming interface that allows users to specify data management and preprocessing for different types of sampled computation. It also features techniques that exploit both hardware and randomized algorithm features to improve overall performance.  

Jiang cites his past research experience as the inspiration for the project. 

“I’ve been working on compiler and runtime systems over the past 10 years,” Jiang explains. “This project aims to build on that work to develop the next generation of system software for sampling-based algorithms on heterogeneous hardware.” 

Expressing his gratitude for the support he has received throughout this process, Jiang reflects on the valuable research environment provided for him and other faculty members at the University of Iowa. 

“The university’s computer science department provides a collegial and collaborative environment where I can discuss my research ideas with colleagues,” says Jiang. “I have received valuable feedback from other faculty members on my research projects and grant proposals.” 

Jiang says he is especially appreciative of the support he has received from fellow computer science professor Octav Chipara, whose research specializes in wireless networking, embedded systems, and more. 

“I also appreciate the CLAS Grant Support Office for their assistance with proposal preparation,” Jiang adds. “I am so excited that my work is being recognized and that the research community shares my vision for future trajectories.”