What can Chicago Cubs fans teach us about religion? How do religious institutions influence social movements? What does Dolly Parton have to do with academia? These were among the questions students explored during the 2026 E.P. Adler Graduate Student Conference. The conference brought students from different disciplines together to examine the role of religion  while celebrating 100 years of Religious Studies in CLAS.

Del Belcher, a 2023 MASC graduate, returned to the University of Iowa as an adjunct instructor, bringing his professional experience and passion for accessible communication into the classroom. His story highlights how the MASC program’s flexibility helped him connect his graduate education with his career—and now allows him to help other working professionals do the same.

CLAS alumnus Harindu Rajapaksha is working to improve our understanding of nuclear waste for safer storage, recycling, and management.

This summer, 109 advanced doctoral candidates are participating in the Graduate College Summer Fellowship Program. Meet four students whose fellowship-supported research is deepening our understanding of neuroscience, dual language learning, product delivery optimization, and the rise of the gig economy.

University of Iowa English PhD candidate Jennie Sekanics has been awarded a prestigious 2026–27 AAUW American Fellowship, a national award supporting outstanding graduate scholars.

A doctoral student in mathematics describes his work in operator theory, how he structures his time across research, teaching, and family, and why he feels a responsibility to make the most of the opportunity in front of him.

Ceramics faculty and students from the School of Art, Art History, and Design traveled to Salt Lake City earlier this year to present their work at the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts.

3D Design students in the School of Art, Art History, and Design were invited to the International Contemporary Furniture Fair to share their work at Wanted, a showcase that highlights upcoming designers.

Volunteers from the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Iowa provided hearing screenings to athletes as part of the Special Olympics Healthy Hearing initiative.

Vishuka Pathirana, a second-year doctoral student in chemistry at the University of Iowa, addresses global issues by starting at the molecular level. With an emphasis on organic chemistry, Pathirana focuses on worldwide food sustainability by developing compounds to increase crop yield.