Summer is here, bringing a welcome chance to slow down, recharge, and enjoy the season.

Even as many take time to rest and relax, great things continue to happen across the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, throughout campus, and around Iowa City.  

In this month's newsletter, you'll find stories of faculty and staff achievements, innovative programs, student support, and opportunities to connect with the broader community and make the most of summer.

However you spend these next couple of months, we hope you enjoy it. Thanks for all you do and for being a part of CLAS. 

Newsletter Archive

More CLAS news

Check out more CLAS stories by visiting the news section of the CLAS website.

CLAS announcements

CLAS faculty receive summer research funding

Sponsored in collaboration with the Office of the Vice President for Research, this is the college's second year supporting the Summer Funding for Humanities Research program.  

Employee updates

Please feel free to reach out to introduce yourself to new people or congratulate your colleagues on their accomplishments.

Featured achievements

Statistics professor Luke Tierney earns prestigious Rousseeuw Prize

Tuesday, July 14, 2026
Statistics professor emeritus Luke Tierney is one of five recipients of the $1 million Rousseeuw Prize for Statistics, recognizing the R Core Team's contributions to the open-source R Project that transformed statistical computing and data science worldwide.

How CLAS alumnus Tony Tran explores language, culture, and connection

Tuesday, July 14, 2026
English and creative writing alumnus Tony Tran uses language to build community and examine the human side of technology. Learn how his experiences at Iowa continue to shape his work as a senior editor at Slate and founder of Chicago's Viet Coffee Chats.

Spotlight CLAS

Jake Mayer champions student success in CLAS

Tuesday, July 14, 2026
Journalism and cinema alumnus Jake Mayer combines storytelling, marketing, and mentorship as student success and engagement coordinator in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

CLAS faculty at the forefront of AI education at Iowa

Tuesday, July 14, 2026
Faculty in CLAS are helping lead AI education as the University of Iowa's new AI certificate rolls out to undergraduate students this fall.

Upcoming events

Iowa City Jazz Festival

Friday, July 3 to Saturday, July 4, 2026 5:00 p.m.– 3:00 p.m.

A Fourth of July weekend tradition, the Iowa City Jazz Festival brings three days of free live music, food, and community to downtown Iowa City, featuring acclaimed jazz artists and emerging talent from around the world.

Improving Scholarly Communication Series - Speaking for Success

Friday, July 10, 2026 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
 

Learn practical strategies for delivering clear, engaging presentations in academic and professional settings during this workshop on effective scientific and medical communication.

For more CLAS-specific events, visit the university events calendar.