| | The Gray Hawk Newsletter • September 2026
Hello, fellow UI Retirees!
We’re excited to share the September 2026 issue of The Gray Hawk with you. As we kick off the 31st year of UIRA, we already have four programs set.
- Wednesday, September 9 - Active Lives, Healthy Brains: Wellness Tips for Brain Health in Aging
- Thursday, September 17 - Pentacrest Tree Tour followed by UIRA Social at The Airliner
- Friday, October 9 - Fall Barn Party
- Friday, October 16 - Insurance Updates
Please mark your calendars and join us. Scroll down for details and to RSVP.
In this issue we also have a message from our new president, Rachel Stewart; an article on the Senior College, which is marking its 25th Anniversary of providing high-quality educational opportunities for seniors; news of the UIRA President’s Award winner; information on the Explorers Walking Group; and more.
We hope you’ve had a fantastic summer and look forward to connecting with you at our upcoming events!
Warm regards,
The UIRA Board of Directors
ui-ra@uiowa.edu | | A Message from UIRA President Rachel Stewart
A New UIRA Year Begins
Greetings, fellow UIRA members! I hope that despite the heat you all had lovely summers full of travel, volunteering, family, and hobbies. For my part, I wandered around Iowa, Illinois, and Minnesota and went on my first cruise off the coast of California.
I’m looking forward to serving as this year’s UIRA president and connecting with all of you at our various programs and events. This is a new role for me, but I have been on campus for a long time. My employment at the University of Iowa began as a graduate student in 1982, and after two moves out of state and back again, I renewed my employment at the UI and retired in 2024 after 23 years as a web developer at the Tippie College of Business.
Even before my last day of employment, some good friends encouraged me to become a UIRA member, and I immediately volunteered to take on the role of the association’s webmaster. (Speaking of our online presence, are any of you interested in helping to maintain our website or manage our social media? Please contact me at rachel-stewart@uiowa.edu if you would like to know more about these great opportunities.)
Shortly after my predecessor, Lois Cox, passed the torch to me at the end of June, I traveled with President-elect John Allen to the Big Ten Retirees Association annual conference at the University of Minnesota. Representatives from 15 schools attended, and John and I came away with a wealth of information and ideas that we want to apply toward our goals of keeping you all connected to the UI, offering programs on a wide variety of topics, and providing opportunities for you to get together with fellow UIRA members.
We had a brief break in July, but our Board of Directors and several committees have already met to develop plans for the coming academic year. The programming committee is putting together a great calendar of events, and as always, your ideas, suggestions, and participation are more than welcome.
Our first program is coming up soon on September 9, and details are provided in this newsletter. In September, we will bring back our popular Pentacrest Tree Walk, with time afterwards for socializing at the Airliner. We hope you’ll join us!
Rachel Stewart
UIRA President
| | UIRA News & Features
Senior College Celebrates its 25th Year
The 2026-27 academic year marks 25 years that Senior College has provided high-quality educational opportunities for seniors.
Emeritus Professor of Education Al Hood, together with a small group of retired University of Iowa faculty and staff members, envisioned offering a slate of courses each semester to make lifelong learning accessible to older adults. Costs would be minimal ($30 per course), and instructors would be paid an honorarium. Since its inception in 2002, Senior College has grown exponentially. There were four courses offered in the first semester in 2002, and today Senior College offers 12 to 14 courses per semester—and courses are still $30 each.
Every semester Senior College offers a broad mix of course topics in history, medicine, science, the arts, and others. Courses are now offered in person or by Zoom, allowing more seniors access to participate, while still providing opportunities for personal interaction. Students evaluate courses each semester and suggest future courses they’d like Senior College to offer.
Spring semester 2026 set new records, which show the growth and expanding geographic reach of Senior College:
- Since the first courses were offered in 2002, more than 31,000 course registrations have been recorded across 433 courses.
- Since Fall 2020 (the first full semester that Zoom courses were offered), course registrations have increased from 615 to 1,670, while the number of individual participants has grown from 424 to 1,004 in the Spring 2026 semester.
- In Spring 2026, participants came from 46 Iowa communities and 24 states.
To learn more about Senior College or to enroll in fall 2026 courses, visit www.foriowa.org/senior-college.
Photos by Seth Diehl
(Top) Robert Cargill, a UI classics and biblical studies associate professor, gives a lecture this past spring in his course titled Mythology of Otherworld Journeys.
(Left) “Strong, Steady, and Sharp: Define Your Aging Experience Through Movement” was a mobility and learning course offered through the University of Iowa Senior College.
Members’ Donations Fund Undergraduate Scholarships
During this year’s One Day for Iowa fundraising event, generous UIRA donors contributed more than $3,100 to the UIRA Student Scholarship Fund, helping UIRA provide scholarships to three University of Iowa students.
2026–27 Scholarship Recipients — $1,500 each:
- Rowan Schaffert — Counseling/Behavioral Health Services, Long Grove, Iowa
- Julissa Solis — Social Work, Columbus City, Iowa
- Dakota Estes — Counseling/Behavioral Health Services, Warsaw, Iowa
Thank you to our UIRA members and donors whose generosity makes these scholarships possible. | | Honors & Awards
2026 President's Award
Each year the UIRA selects a member who has provided exemplary service to either the university or the community to receive the UIRA Award for Service. The names of the recipients are inscribed on a plaque which is on display in the Iowa Memorial Union. The award also comes with a $100 donation to the charity of the recipient's choice. The 2026 President's Award recipient is profiled below.
At the end of each UIRA President’s term, he or she has the opportunity to honor a UIRA member who has gone above and beyond in service to the organization with the President’s Award. At the June 30, 2026, Annual Meeting, then President Lois Cox presented the award to Evalyn Van Allen-Shalash.
In bestowing the award, Lois noted that Evalyn’s devotion to the University of Iowa began at an early age—as the daughter of renowned UI Neurology Professor Maurice Van Allen. Born in Iowa City, she lived here all her life except for 15 years when she has lived in Egypt and the United Kingdom.
Evalyn began working at the university as a teenager, and served in several roles since then, both as a staff member and a volunteer. Immediately prior to retirement, she was an executive assistant to the provost.
Her service to UIRA began in 2022 when she was elected a director-at-large, and she soon moved into leadership roles, serving as president-elect, president, and past-president and chair of the Program Planning Committee.
It was in 2026 that Evalyn’s service to UIRA culminated in her guiding the success of two major events—the celebration of the organization’s 30th Anniversary and a first-time major fundraiser for the UI Food Pantry. Nearly 70 members attended a 30th anniversary in April with a festive dinner and a presentation by Professor Corey Creekmur on "Movie Memories" hosted at the Iowa Memorial Union. And, in February, UIRA hosted a very successful fundraiser for the UI Food Pantry at Tavern Blue in Coralville, where more than $5,000 was raised for students, staff, and faculty facing food insecurity.
Many thanks to you, Evalyn, for your leadership and significant contributions to the UIRA! | | Upcoming Events
Active Lives, Healthy Brains: Wellness Tips for Brain Health in Aging
Date: Wednesday, September 9
Time: 11:30 a.m.
Location: Room 2520-D, University Capitol Centre (UCC), 200 South Capitol St., Iowa City, and via Zoom
👉 RSVP by September 7.
Complimentary coffee and cookies at 11:00 a.m. Program begins at 11:30 a.m.
Brain health is important at every age. Risk for Alzheimer's and related dementias affecting cognitive health increase in our 60s and accelerate in our 70s and 80s. Professor Michelle Voss, director of the University of Iowa's Health, Brain, and Cognition Lab, will share what research from her lab and the broader scientific community tells us about how healthy lifestyle behaviors can support thinking, memory, and healthy brain aging. She will also highlight community programs designed to help people build lifelong habits for brain health. The presentation will conclude with a Q&A session.
Professor Voss received a PhD in Psychology in 2011 at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She also received her BS in Psychology at the University of Illinois and played varsity tennis for the Illini. She is from Cincinnati, Ohio, and outside the lab she enjoys spending time with family and friends, bicycling, and volunteering at the Bike Library.
Pentacrest Tree Tour and UIRA Social
Date: Thursday, September 17
Time:
Pentacrest Tree Tour: 3:30–4:30 p.m.
UIRA Social: 4:30–6:00 p.m.
Location:
Pentacrest Tree Tour: Meet in front of Macbride Hall, 17 N. Clinton St., Iowa City
UIRA Social: The Airliner, 22 S. Clinton St., Iowa City
👉 RSVP by September 14.
Please join us for both events if you can, but we hope to see you even if you are able to attend only one.
Pentacrest Tree Tour
If you have joined Andrew Dahl, University of Iowa campus arborist, on a Pentacrest Tree Tour, you know how enjoyable and informative the experience can be—and that one or two tours simply are not enough! If you haven't had a chance to take part in one of these tours, this is your opportunity.
Andy will walk our group through the Pentacrest, sharing the history and unique characteristics of selected trees. The tour is expected to last approximately one hour.
UIRA Social
Following the tree tour, join fellow UIRA members at The Airliner from 4:30–6 p.m. for an informal social gathering.
Whether you join us for the tree tour, the social, or both, we hope to see you there!
Fall Barn Party
Date: Friday, October 9
Time: 4:00–6:00 p.m.
Location: Home of UIRA members Pam Terrill and Steve Scheckel, 4317 320th St. NE, Iowa City
👉 RSVP by October 2. Space is limited to 65 participants.
All UIRA members and friends are warmly invited to join us for a fun and festive fall gathering in a truly special setting—a 100+-year-old barn on the beautiful acreage of UIRA members Pam Terrill and Steve Scheckel, just two miles from downtown Iowa City (formerly the O’Mara Homestead).
Enjoy delicious food, beverages, and the chance to reconnect with fellow members.
Come for the camaraderie—stay for the conversation!
Insurance Updates
Date: Friday, October 16
Time: 12:30–1:30 p.m.
Location: Room 2520-D, University Capitol Centre (UCC), 200 South Capitol St., Iowa City, and via Zoom
👉 RSVP by October 12.
A light lunch will be available for in-person attendees prior to the program.
As health care open enrollment begins, Rebecca Olson, senior director of Benefits, University of Iowa Human Resources, will present an overview of the UI’s 2026–27 enrollment options available to UI retirees.
Kevin Ward, Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) counselor, will highlight the importance of reviewing health insurance coverage annually, upcoming opportunities to make enrollment changes, and potential considerations for making informed choices. The presentation will include a discussion of the differences between traditional Medicare with Medigap and prescription drug supplements, and all-inclusive Medicare Advantage plans.
Save the Dates
Where Healing Meets the Herd: Human-Horse Interactions in Mental Health Care
Date: Thursday, November 19
Time: To be determined
Join UI Professor Katy Schroeder for “Where Healing Meets the Herd: Human-Horse Interactions in Mental Health Care.”
Additional details and RSVP information will be coming soon.
A Conversation with UI President Barbara Wilson
Date: Tuesday, December 8
Time: 12:30–1:30 p.m.
Join us for “A Conversation with UI President Barbara Wilson.”
Additional details and RSVP information will be coming soon. | | UIRA Explorers Walking Group
Monthly Walking & Hiking Program
The Explorers is a group of UIRA members interested in walking and hiking together. Walks are held on the third Wednesday of each month at locations throughout the Iowa City/Coralville area. In the past, the group has also explored areas near Kalona, Amana, and Solon.
This fall, we also hope to schedule a guided hike with a Johnson County conservationist. Details for each walk will be emailed to the group a few days before the event. No RSVP is required.
If you’d like to join the Explorers or have a favorite location you’d like the group to visit this year, we’d love to hear from you! Email Marianne Mason or Lesanne Fliehler.
Upcoming Walk
Date: Wednesday, September 16
Time: 10:00 a.m.
Location: Harkin Trailhead, 719 Camp Cardinal Rd., Coralville | | Recent Events & Programs
2025–26 UIRA Annual Meeting
The UIRA Annual Meeting for the 2025–26 year was held on June 30, 2026. The Annual Meeting PowerPoint presentation serves as the official minutes of the meeting.
Membership & Engagement
Come Be a Committee Member
Looking for a way to get more involved with UIRA? Members can make a difference by serving on one of our standing committees.
Whether you’re interested in planning programs, engaging current and future UIRA members, recognizing fellow members through awards, photography, or sharing other skills and experience, there’s a place for you to contribute.
UIRA is particularly interested in members with experience in Drupal content management and social media. Most committees meet once a month, while others meet less frequently.
Interested in getting involved? Let us know by completing the committee interest form.
New UIRA Members
Welcome to the UI Retirees Association! We look forward to seeing you at an upcoming event.
- Robert Farinelli — Graduate Medical Education, UI Health Care
- Catharine Farinelli — Spouse
- Florence Boos — College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, English
- Jana Andrews — Finance and Operations, Controller’s Office
- Shawn Pitton — Carver College of Medicine, Microbiology and Immunology
- Peter Hubbard — College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Administration
- Catherine Wissing — Finance and Operations, Public Safety
- Lois Geist — Human Subjects Office, Institutional Review Board
- Barbara Gartner — Iowa Memorial Union
Join, Renew, or Update Your Information
Stay connected, stay engaged, and stay a Hawkeye! Join UIRA or renew your membership online.
👉 Join or renew online
Already a UIRA member? If you’ve moved or changed your email address or other contact information, please help us stay in touch by keeping your information current.
👉Update your contact information
Thank you for reading this edition of The Gray Hawk. We appreciate your continued connection with the University of Iowa Retirees Association and look forward to seeing you at an upcoming event.
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