Wednesday, June 19, 2024
Dean’s Office Administration

To: Departmental Executive Officers
From: Dean’s Office Administration
RE: Reminder: Call for 2024 CLAS Alumni Fellow - Nominations due July 1, 2024

Do you have a successful and exemplary alum whom you would like to bring to campus for two days to meet with students, talk to classes, and deliver a campus-wide lecture or presentation? If so, please consider nominating them as a 2024 CLAS Alumni Fellow.

The CLAS Alumni Fellows program honors and recognizes alumni for their outstanding contributions to society and their professions. The 2024 Fellows’ visits can be scheduled at a time during the 2024-2025 academic year that is convenient for the Fellow and the host department. CLAS will pay for airfare, three nights of lodging, and meals for the Fellows; CLAS will also promote the Fellows’ visits and their public events, including arranging for media coverage if there is interest. The Fellows are presented with a recognition award by the Dean at their public lecture/presentation.

Recent Alumni Fellows include:

  • Amanda Acevedo (Physics and Astronomy), President of a software engineering firm
  • John Eiler (Geographical and Sustainability Sciences), Robert P. Sharp Professor of Geology and Geochemistry at Cal Tech
  • Scott Icenogle (Communication Studies), music composer for television
  • Carolyn Lukensmeyer (English/Political Science), Executive Director Emerita of the National Institute for Civil Discourse

As an example of the kinds of valuable interactions an Alumni Fellow can bring, Dr. Lukensmeyer spoke to classes in both English and Political Science, screened a documentary film, and held a public talk in the IMU. These activities afforded students, faculty, staff, and the public the opportunity to learn from and talk with an expert in civil discourse in politics, a subject of great societal importance and interest.

If your department would like to bring a distinguished graduate to campus as a CLAS Alumni Fellow, the DEO may send the name, degree, and one or two paragraphs about the nominee’s career achievements to Lisa Gray by July 1, 2024 for consideration by the CLAS Senior Leadership Team.

For more information, and to see past Alumni Fellows since the program began in 1999, visit http://clas.uiowa.edu/alumni/alumni-fellows. If you have questions, please email Lisa Gray or call her at 353-2970.