News

Image: Matthew Brown standing in front of bookcase

Beyond the page: CLAS English professor brings books to life for students

Tuesday, September 1, 2026
From the physical form of a book to the people who read it, Brown encourages students to look more closely at how literature creates meaning.
Image: Ece Demir-Lira

Ece Demir-Lira investigates why some children thrive and others fall behind

Monday, August 31, 2026
Ece Demir-Lira studies how children’s brains, environments, and relationships shape learning, with the goal of better understanding why children follow different developmental and academic paths.
University of Iowa students in a classroom are trained to work the polls for Johnson County's 2026 election.

Political science students to work polls in Johnson County's 2026 election

Monday, August 31, 2026
Students enrolled in Professor Alex Smith's Election Administration course will learn how elections work, study the laws behind them and serve as poll workers during the 2026 General Election.
Image: Richard Brent Turner

Richard Brent Turner traces the intersection of religion, jazz, and lived experience

Friday, August 28, 2026
Richard Brent Turner's scholarship has evolved across disciplines and communities, bringing together African American religion, music, history, and lived experience to illuminate connections that can be difficult to see from inside the classroom alone.
A headshot of University of Iowa professor Sriram Pemmaraju.

Dr. Sriram Pemmaraju and Dr. Sourya Roy Receive NSF Grant to Study Distributed Random Sampling

Friday, August 28, 2026
Two faculty from the Department of Computer Science at UIowa received a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant to research distributed random sampling. Dr. Sriram Pemmaraju and Dr. Sourya Roy will collaborate in designing efficient random sampling algorithms that run on a distributed collection of machines.
Students attend Career Trek in spring 2026 semester

Career Treks connect CLAS students with new paths and possibilities

Friday, August 28, 2026
Career Treks give CLAS students the opportunity to explore industries, build professional connections, and discover how their diverse skills can translate into unexpected careers.
A headshot of Christopher Merrill, the former director of the International Writing Program at the University of Iowa.

Christopher Merrill named 2026 Paul Engle Prize winner

Friday, August 28, 2026
Christopher Merrill has been named the 15th recipient of the Paul Engle Prize, presented by the Iowa City UNESCO City of Literature organization.
A headshot of University of Iowa Assistant Professor Denis Candido.

Ultra-tiny diamond sensors could offer a more precise look inside living cells

Friday, August 28, 2026
A research team co-led by the University of Iowa has developed a new approach that uses ultra-tiny diamond sensors to detect temperature changes in cells, which could lead to better diagnosis of diseases such as cancer.
Image: Isaac Petersen

Preschool teacher turned researcher: Isaac Petersen's quest to understand childhood behavior problems

Thursday, August 27, 2026
CLAS researcher Isaac Petersen draws on his experience as a preschool teacher to better understand children's behavioral issues and improve early prevention efforts.
Headshot of Beth Skinner

How CLAS alumna Beth Skinner brings a social work lens to Iowa corrections

Thursday, August 27, 2026
Beth Skinner, a University of Iowa alumna and director of the Iowa Department of Corrections, has built a 25-year career in corrections by combining research, rehabilitation, and a social work perspective. Her Iowa education continues to shape her people-centered, evidence-based approach to leading Iowa’s correctional system