By Bri Brands
CLAS faculty members across the college are being honored with university-wide recognition and awards for their impactful work.
Iowa Mid-Career Faculty Scholar Award
Kara Whitaker, associate professor and director of graduate studies in the Department of Health and Human Physiology, was one of four recipients of the Iowa Mid-Career Faculty Scholar Award, which provides funding for scholarly activities by tenured faculty who have an established national/international reputation in their discipline.
Whitaker will receive $25,000 annually for the next three years to support her scholarly studies, in addition to receiving professional guidance, creating a tailored career development plan, and participating in symposiums for the university community.
Whitaker's research aims to improve maternal and child health and involves examining the effects of lifestyle behaviors on postpartum health and child health in the first two years of life. of life.
2025 Hubbard-Walder honorees
Four out of the five 2025 Hubbard-Walder Award for Excellence in Teaching honorees are from CLAS. This annual award recognizes faculty who have a minimum of six years of teaching and, demonstrate excellence in a rich variety of university teaching, and contributed to curriculum and/or program development.
Paula Amad, Department of Cinematic Arts; Justin Cosner, Department of Rhetoric; Julie Gros-Louis, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences; and Jennifer Sterling, Department of American Studies, each received the award.
Amad, an associate professor of film studies, has been teaching in the Department of Cinematic Arts for 21 years. She supported the creation of the screenwriting arts BA program and has led significant changes to the MA film studies program, helping students acquire better critical skills.
Cosner, an associate professor of instruction and the director of graduate studies, has been teaching in the Department of Rhetoric for seven years. He has developed and revised a number of new courses for the department and revised the general education rhetoric curriculum, ensuring relevancy for undergraduate students.
Gros-Louis, an associate professor of instruction, has been teaching in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences for 17 years. Over the years, she has received several awards but is most recognized for her student-centered approach to teaching and other impactful practices she brings to her courses.
Sterling, an associate professor of instruction and the director of undergraduate studies, has been teaching in the Department of American Studies for nine years. She is most recognized for her variety of instructional formats and for developing and revising many courses by implementing high-impact learning opportunities and community-engaged courses.
Michael J. Brody Award for Faculty Excellence in Service
Steve Duck, professor of rhetoric, is one of three UI faculty recipients of the Michael J. Brody Award for Faculty Excellence in Service, which recognizes outstanding faculty who have made exceptional contributions to the university and the community.
Duck is recognized for his leadership, teaching, mentorship, and long-time memberships with many national and international professional associations. He will receive $1,000 and a commemorative piece of artwork designed by a graduate student in the UI School of Art, Art History, and Design.
2025 Regents Award for Faculty Excellence
The Iowa Board of Regents selected Tori Forbes, professor in the Department of Chemistry and director of the UI Materials, Analysis, and Fabrication (MATfab) facility, as one of six Iowa faculty recipients of the 2025 Regents Award for Faculty Excellence, which recognizes faculty members for their extraordinary contributions and sustained record of excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service.
Forbes is recognized for her international reputation in radiochemistry, as her research in actinide chemistry and nuclear materials has garnered more than $10 million in funding and been published in more than 100 scientific journals.
2025 Discovery and Innovation awards
Six CLAS faculty members were honored for excellence in research, scholarship, and creative activities as a part of the Discovery and Innovation awards program by the Office of the Vice President for Research.
Kaveh Akbar, associate professor in the Department of English, was named UI's 2025 Scholar of the Year, a recognition of the success of his debut novel, Martyr! Akbar received national press coverage for his book and has been nominated for and won several prestigious awards for his work.
Susan Lutgendorf, Dewey B. and Velma P. Stuit Professor in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, won the 2025 Leadership in Research Award, a lifetime achievement award recognizing research and scholarly accomplishments over a career. Over the last 30 years, Lutgendorf has made strides in the domain of psychoneuroimmunology, with a special focus on ovarian cancer.
Stephanie Miracle, assistant professor in the Department of Dance, was named one of two 2025 Early Career Scholar of the Year winners. She has built an international reputation within her field as a professional performer, choreographer, and screendance maker, and produced five complete, collaborative works in 2024.
Bryon Winn, professor in the Department of Theatre Arts, won the award for 2025 Distinguished Achievement in Arts and Humanities Research. Over the last 30 years, Winn has established himself as a well-known lighting designer by pushing the boundaries of the roles that lighting, technology, and media design play in storytelling in theatre. His design credits include more than 50 plays, and he has designed lighting and scenery for more than 300 productions.
Thomas Mira y Lopez, visiting assistant professor of creative writing and translation in the Department of English, and Marcia H. Lindgren, director of the Latin Program and associate professor of instruction in the Department of Classics, were both recipients of the 2025 Distinguished Mentor Award, a recognition of the work they put in to make their student's experiences successful. Several students have spoken highly of their dedication to growth and celebration of confidence.