| | As winter break approaches, we’re pleased to highlight just a few of the many ways College of Liberal Arts and Sciences faculty and staff support student success, advance scholarship, and serve our community.
Commencement is a significant moment for our students, faculty, and staff. This year, graduating cinematic arts major Isa Holtze will deliver the student Commencement address, and music therapy major Sage Johnson will sing the national anthem. Their achievements reflect the profound impact you have on shaping students’ futures. Thank you for all you do to make these successes possible and for being such an essential part of the CLAS community.
As the winter break approaches, we hope you find time to rest and recharge—whether you’re traveling or staying close to home. Thank you for all you do and for being an important part of the CLAS community. | | | | Our most popular articles of 2025 have a theme: excellence in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. From published books to NASA satellites, CLAS continues to innovate across disciplines. | | | Please join us in welcoming and congratulating CLAS faculty and staff on their hiring, promotion, or transfer within the college. Check out this list of CLAS employee updates from last month.
| | | | Religious Studies brought learning and service together with Small Bites, Big Impact. Five-minute talks on culturally significant foods across religions—paired with tastings—invited the community to learn, connect, and support local food pantries with a simple canned-goods donation. | | | Assistant Research Scientist Mark Berardi will lead "Human Voice and AI Technologies: Accessibility, Security, and Health Care" in the University of Iowa's new AI certificate program launching in 2026. The course emphasizes clinical applications while maintaining the essential role of informed clinicians. | | | | After 10 years supporting seven CLAS units, Lindsay Vella joins Cinematic Arts as departmental administrator. The Writers' Workshop alumna has become a trusted resource across the college, translating successful practices across multiple departments. | | | Each year, the UI Staff Council honors staff who go above and beyond to make the university a great place to work and grow. Consider nominating a colleague for a Staff Council Award by Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. | | | | Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025
1:00 p.m.
Carver-Hawkeye Arena
Dean Sara Sanders and Kevin Kregel, executive vice president and provost, will confer degrees at the ceremony, which includes graduates in CLAS and University College. Tickets not required. Livestream available.
| | | Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026
1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
University Capitol Centre, Room 2520D
In this session, Deirdre Egan, associate director of the UI Writing Center and Eva Latterner, assistant director of the Center for Teaching, focus on how to teach with writing in the age of AI.
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