Welcome to the September issue of the CLAS faculty and staff newsletter. A few weeks into the semester, there's already a lot to share.

This month you'll find updates on our Ida Beam visiting scholars and artists, new faculty research on childhood development, the staff who support student writers, and colleagues rethinking how they teach and write. We're also recognizing recent employee milestones and offering a first look at the CLAS alumni store, which will be shared later this month in our first CLAS-wide alumni newsletter reaching more than 80,000 graduates.

Thank you for all you do each day to make CLAS the heart of this university.

More CLAS news

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

CLAS announcements

CLAS welcomes five Ida Beam visiting professors

Visiting scholars and artists will bring expertise in AI, poetry, music, literature, and media studies to CLAS during the 2026–27 academic year.

Employee updates

Catch up on August’s new hires, promotions, appointments, awards, and other professional milestones from faculty and staff across CLAS.

Spotlight CLAS

Got writer's block? Here are 12 tips from writers across CLAS

Tuesday, September 15, 2026
Twelve practical tips for getting started, working through uncertainty, and keeping the words moving.

Christopher Merrill named 2026 Paul Engle Prize winner

Tuesday, September 15, 2026
English professor Christopher Merrill will receive the $25,000 Paul Engle Prize for his contributions to literature and cultural diplomacy.

Staff spotlight: Tracy Meginnis

Tuesday, September 15, 2026
Tracy Meginnis helps students across disciplines find their voices, build leadership skills, and pursue opportunities through writing.

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

Tuesday, September 15, 2026
Ece Demir-Lira studies how children’s brains and environments work together to shape learning.

Spotlight CLAS

Matthew Brown brings books to life for students

Tuesday, September 15, 2026
Matthew Brown brings the history of reading into the classroom, helping students explore how readers, physical books, and close attention shape meaning.

Preschool teacher turned researcher: Isaac Petersen

Tuesday, September 15, 2026
Isaac Petersen draws on his experience as a preschool teacher to study how childhood behavior problems develop and how earlier support may help prevent them.

Let CLAS help you tell your story

Tuesday, September 15, 2026
Share your department's achievements, awards, events, and social media amplification requests with CLAS. We'll promote them through college communications channels to reach a broader audience.

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

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