creative writing major uiuc

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5 things I love about being a creative writing major at Illinois

1. Amazing faculty members and instructors

When I first began taking creative writing courses at Illinois, I was pleasantly surprised by all of the great faculty and instructors I have met (such as John Rubins, Julie Price, Michael Hurley, and Ted Sanders...just to name a few)! The faculty overall are friendly, helpful, knowledgeable, and, obviously, great writers. They’re all great to talk to outside of class as well and have definitely shaped my experience as a student at Illinois in the best way possible.

Outside of class instructors, there are also wonderful academic and career advisors available. It’s pretty easy to contact them by in-person appointments or through email, and the Humanities Professional Resource Center has other advisors ready to talk to you about where you’d like to go in your journey past graduation.

2. The workshop-format classes

When starting out as a creative writing major, you’re likely to take either CW 104 (Introductory Narrative Writing) or CW 106 (Introductory Poetry Writing). You take one or both, but regardless, one of the requirements of the major is to go down the introductory → intermediate →  advanced track of either narrative or poetry writing.

The creative writing classes in both of these tracks operate with a workshop format. If you’re unfamiliar with workshops, they’re essentially a discussion space where peers read each other’s written pieces and then typically come the following period with comments and questions to discuss. The author of that piece will then receive plenty of feedback about their work! Your peers truly make the class, and this unique discussion format allows for all writers to improve their writing.

3. The English Building itself

The English Building has the privilege of being on the Quad, aka the epicenter of academic life at Illinois. Not only is it next to our wonderful Quad, where you’ll find plenty of people out and about on nice days, but the architecture of the building is great. This isn’t to mention the skylight and atrium that is located in the middle of the building! The English Building atrium is a nice place to take a break between your classes or to hunker down and get some work done, and it’s lit by the skylight during the daytime.

4. Flexibility of the major, supporting work, and other courses

I find the creative writing major to be quite flexible. There aren’t a lot of strict requirements to complete the major, which can allow you to make your academic career your own! You can choose to take more literature courses solely focused on American writers, take more history courses to build your knowledge on how to write about history, or pick up a major or minor (or both!) to further shape your academic career. For example, I picked up minors in both statistics and informatics, which has allowed me to study both STEM and technology alongside reading Shakespeare and revising my short stories.

5. Applying the creative writing major to any career

This is perhaps the most significant thing I have found about being a creative writing major at Illinois—being able to apply your skills to just about any career. No matter what you do after graduation, there is no doubt that you’ll need to write in some shape or capacity. Even in just the application process, you’ll probably be writing dozens of cover letters or personal statements to secure a job or a spot in a graduate program.

Writing and being able to communicate is a vital skill in anything you do, whether it’s news journalism, conducting scientific research, or preparing a lesson plan for a high school English class. If you can improve your writing and communication skills here and now, you’ll be more than prepared for your future post-graduation.

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Creative Writing at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Jump to any of the following sections:

• Available Degrees
• Related Majors

Creative Writing Degrees Available at UIUC

• Master’s Degree in Creative Writing

UIUC Creative Writing Rankings

The bachelor's program at UIUC was ranked #41 on College Factual's Best Schools for creative writing list .

Popularity of Creative Writing at UIUC

In 2021, 8 students received their master’s degree in creative writing from UIUC. This makes it the #127 most popular school for creative writing master’s degree candidates in the country.

Creative Writing Student Diversity at UIUC

Take a look at the following statistics related to the make-up of the creative writing majors at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

UIUC Creative Writing Master’s Program

The creative writing program at UIUC awarded 8 master's degrees in 2020-2021. About 63% of these degrees went to men with the other 38% going to women.

The majority of master's degree recipients in this major at UIUC are white. In the most recent graduating class for which data is available, 88% of students fell into this category.

The following table and chart show the ethnic background for students who recently graduated from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a master's in creative writing.

Majors Similar to Creative Writing

View All Creative Writing Related Majors >

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Course Catalog

Creative Writing, MFA

for the degree of Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing  

The Department of English offers a program of study in Creative Writing leading to the Master of Fine Arts degree. We welcome qualified students who wish to pursue their interests in fiction or poetry writing.

Graduate Degree Programs in Creative Writing

Admission A candidate for the MFA must spend at least four semesters or the equivalent in residence and complete at least 48 graduate hours. A full-time student typically completes this program in three academic years. Because applications for admission usually far exceed capacity, in recent years undergraduate grade point averages of students admitted have been significantly higher than the 3.0 (A = 4.0) required by the Graduate College.

All applicants whose native language is not English are required to submit Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores. Currently, a minimum score of 550 on the paper-based test (213 on the computer-based test) is required. Before a teaching assistantship involving classroom instruction or student consultation can be awarded to a non-native speaker of English, the applicant must take the Test of Spoken English (TSE) and achieve a score of 50 or higher (230 or higher before 1996).

The committee on admissions tends to select those applicants who have a solid array of undergraduate courses, strong recommendations, and above all a compelling writing sample: in short, a demonstration of an academic record that shows promise of a student capable of doing outstanding work in the field and earning a degree within a reasonable time. Preference is given to applicants who will be full-time students and active degree candidates. Applicants are considered only in spring for fall admission, and the deadline for submitting applications is December 1st.

Graduate Teaching Experience Experience in teaching is considered a vital part of the graduate program and all MFA candidates will have ample opportunity to teach undergraduate writing classes.

Financial Aid Financial aid is available to students in the form of fellowships, teaching assistantships, and waivers of tuition and service fees. For complete information about the program, prospective applicants should consult our website .

for the degree of Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing

For additional details and requirements refer to the department's program requirements and the Graduate College Handbook .  

Other Requirements

• Writing: Students will focus on creating works of high literary quality, honing their own distinctive personal writing styles. They will demonstrate the ability to revise drafts of their work in response to useful critical commentary. Upon completion of the program, students will understand how to create and polish individual shorter works; they will also understand how to compile and complete a book-length manuscript in the genre of their choice.
• Craft discussion: Students will demonstrate an advanced ability to read, analyze, and discuss published works of literature—especially contemporary literature—from a craft perspective, identifying authorial choices and evaluating the effect of those choices on the work.
• Literary Community and Profession: Students will demonstrate an understanding of the professional creative writing field with regards to literary journals, presses, and other iterations of the literary community, and will have participated in one or more professional activities, including editorial work on Ninth Letter, giving a public reading, attending a writers’ conference, etc.
• Teaching: Students will learn best practices for leading creative writing workshops and mentoring beginning writers.

Department of English Head of Department: Bob Markley Director of Graduate Studies: Andrew Gaedtke Director of Creative Writing: Ted Sanders Associate Director of Creative Writing: John Dudek Creative Writing Program website 210 English Building, 608 South Wright Street, Urbana, IL 61801 (217) 333-3646 Program email

Overview of Graduate College Admissions & Requirements:  Graduate Admissions

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences website

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2023-2024 Catalog (PDF)

A copy of the full 2023-2024 catalog.

Career Resources for Creative Writing Majors

You, creative writing majors, have many options,

In general, the more glamorous the career, the fewer the openings and the higher the threshold to entry. That said, someone has to write those things! Learning more about the industry, talking to people working in it, and creating your own material can help you figure out just how far your ambitions reach. Here are some links to help you start exploring.

Comic Books/Graphic Novels :

Are you a creative writer? Do you love drawing? If yes, you can think about the career of a graphic novelist. You may work in collaboration with others or independently. Benjamin Frisch talks about scripting, drawing, coloring, and lettering his own stories in  How does an Independent Comics Artist Work?

Tom King also shares how he composes a Batman script in How does a Batman Comic Book Writer Work?

Video Games:

Video Games are a growing industry that offers career opportunities for creative writers. The following link provides you with valuable information about games writing: http://publish.illinois.edu/englishadvising/2017/06/20/so-you-want-to-write-for-video-games-some-resources/

Screenwriting for TV:

You can think about developing your career as a screenwriter for TV shows. However, this is not easy and needs long term planning because the script has to pass through a number of stages before it is approved. Are you thinking if there is any way to skip the stages? Yes, there is. You can make your way to TV via straight-to-series approach, and then you do not need to go through all these stages. You will find more information about different stages and approaches through which a script is accepted or rejected in Chris Ming’s blog How Hollywood Works: TV

A number of Department of English alumni are currently working in the entertainment industry and are happy to share their stories and advice with students interested in their fields. Make an appointment with Kirstin Wilcox, Director of Internships (333-4346) to join the alumni mentoring network and get access to this networking opportunity.

Best Strategies for Success? Make it Yourself

In creative fields, a lot comes down to what you can create. The more talent you can demonstrate, the better. The process is straightforward — but far from easy. The upside is, it’s up to you:

• Make stuff.
• Even better: make stuff with someone else.
• Find your voice.
• Have things to show people.
• Get people to watch/read/play what you’ve made.

High-profile creative work is not your only option, however. There are other ways to use your talent.

Copy writing: Copywriting may be a good career for you. As a copywriter, you may be hired in advertising agencies, public relations firms, or copywriting agencies. You can also work independently, and do freelance writing for a variety of clients. One of our alumni, Luke Trayser, gives valuable advice to those who are interested in developing their careers as copywriters: http://publish.illinois.edu/englishadvising/2016/04/13/alumni-snapshot-luke-trayser-copywriter/ . You will find more information about how to be a successful copy writer here: https://medium.com/words-for-life/how-to-be-a-copywriter-f60fd17d4b68

Grant writing: You can utilize your creative writing skills in writing grants as well. Do you know that sometimes people are hired for positions that do grant writing? The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign organizes events such as Grant-a-thon that provide students with information about grant writing. The next Grant-a-thon is on February 16, 2018. You can find more information about the event and its benefits here:  http://www.english.illinois.edu/news/#http://illinois.edu/blog/view/6661/499241

Community Learning Lab: Getting involved with Community Learning Lab can give you the opportunity to acquire valuable professional experience and to practice real-world job skills by doing community service projects for organizations in Champaign-Urbana. Email [email protected] to get matched up with a project. More information can be found at http://publish.illinois.edu/englishadvising/2016/01/18/putting-your-skills-into-practice-spring-2016-community-service-opportunities-for-english-cw-and-toe-students/#sthash.nE8FuYWn.dpbs

Content Production/Development/Management/Creation: If you see the word “content” in a job title, it probably involves writing, very possibly for an online platform. A number of our alumni produce content for a living (what we used to call “writing”): Jasmine Lee and Carly Smith are two that you can read about. The key to finding these jobs is (a) to search widely, not just in fields tagged as “editing,” “publishing,” or “writing”; (b) to recognize that writing is a “related major” for any content-producing job, whether it’s listed or not, and (b) to have samples of your non-academic writing to send out, as well as course papers.

Also: Creative Writing Gives You Additional Skills!

Think about what you do in your creative writing classes and workshops. Yes, you write, but you also

• evaluate the effectiveness written communication,
• give constructive feedback,
• receive and use constructive feedback,
• work closely with others on often sensitive and confidential material,
• communicate across multiple platforms to many different audiences,
• read a lot of complex material quickly in order to talk intelligently about it,
• understand and work within a wide range of discursive contexts,
• solve problems and make decisions in a context of uncertainty and incomplete information.

These are important skills, relevant to a wide range of professional settings, that will set you apart.

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University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Illinois, united states.

The Master of Fine Arts degree at the University of Illinois provides students with the opportunity for graduate study and professional training in the writing of fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction. The program offers guided study and practice in the writing of short stories, novels, poetry, plays, and such creative nonfiction as the belletristic essay, biography, autobiography, and memoir. It also provides the high level of training required for professional editing and publication, and trains writers to become teachers of writing, supplying them with the terminal degree appropriate for university teaching. Our magazine, Ninth Letter, affords our students practical experience in the production and editing of a major literary journal. Research assistantships with the Ninth Letter and its website are awarded on a semester-by-semester rotation.

The MFA program is affiliated with an English Department routinely ranked among the highest in the nation. The department's creative writing faculty features several distinguished poets and fiction writers with national and international reputations.

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a world-class research and teaching institution. The university library has more than eight million volumes, making it the third largest academic library in the country after Harvard and Yale. Its many specialized collections are open to faculty and students. Illinois also provides a sophisticated computing environment and offers free Internet accounts and Web space to all students.

Contact Information

608 S. Wright St. Department of English Urbana Illinois, United States 61801 Email: [email protected] https://english.illinois.edu/admissions/graduate-admission/mfa-creative-writing

Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing +

Undergraduate program director.

The Creative Writing major at the University of Illinois, known formally as the Rhetoric major, is one of the oldest of its kind in the country. Now in its sixth decade, the major combines small workshops (poetry, fiction, nonfiction) and a variety of literature courses. The result is a strong but flexible program of study that develops students' analytical and creative skills and prepares them for work or graduate study in any number of fields. Over the years, the program has produced many successful writers, but it is in the give-and-take of the workshop, in the nurturance of all of the writers who take part, that success is measured.\nThe University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign offers a BA in English (Major in Rhetoric). A minimum of 15 hours in workshop courses and 15 hours in literature courses are required of the Rhetoric major. No thesis is required except of students working toward Honors.

Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing +

Graduate program director, janice n. harrington.

Primitive; Catching a Storyfish; The Hands of Strangers; Even the Hollow My Body Made is Gone; The Chicken Chasing Queen of Lamar County; Going North; Busy-Busy Little Chick

http://www.janiceharrington.com/; creativewriting.english.illinois.edu/faculty/janice_harrington/

Ted Sanders

The Starlit Loom: The Portal and the Veil; The Harp and the Ravenvine; The Box and the Dragonfly; No Animals we Could Name.

http://tedsanders.net/the-keepers/; http://creativewriting.english.illinois.edu/faculty/ted_sanders/

Alex Shakar

Luminarium; The Savage Girl; City in Love.

http://alexshakar.com/; https://www.english.illinois.edu/people/ashakar

David Wright

Away Running; Fire on the Beach

http://www.davidwrightbooks.com/; https://www.english.illinois.edu/people/wright3

Amy Hassinger

After the Dam; The Priest's Madonna; Nina

http://www.amyhassinger.com/; https://www.english.illinois.edu/people/amyh3

Corey Van Landingham

https://www.coreyvanlandingham.com/

Ángel García

Teeth Never Sleep

https://poets.org/poet/angel-garcia

Christopher Kempf

Late in the Empire of Men

https://www.christopherkempf.com/

Publications & Presses +

Ninth Letter

Visiting Writers Program +

Recent visiting writers include Dave Eggers, Carl Phillips, Linda Gregerson, David Baker, Chen Chen, Brian Evenson, Ishion Hutchinson, Donika Kelly, Margaret Luongo, Jenny Offill, and George Saunders.

Reading Series +

The Robert J. Carr Visiting Author Series ( https://calendars.illinois.edu/list/7210 )

Kaplan Family Writer in Residence Series ( https://calendars.illinois.edu/list/7210 )

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University Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Creative Writing Guide: Home

• Writers' Tools
• Literary Magazines (A-E)
• Literary Magazines (F-L)
• Literary Magazines (M-Q)
• Literary Magazines (R-Z)
• Other Literary Magazines
• Literary Prizes & Publishers

Introduction to the Creative Writing Guide

The guide includes lists of the literary magazines in the library holdings; useful titles for inspiration, publication and reference; and information on literary prizes and Web resources related to creative writing.

Finding Books

Step One: UIUC Online Library Catalog

There are two ways to search the UIUC Library catalog. Both offer the same content but the method of searching and presentation of results varies.

• Through the new Primo Library Catalog . This catalog requires you to register with a login and a password to request materials. It also lets you search books in I-share (see below for more details.)
• Through the Library Easy Search . This interface lets you search the UIUC catalog for books, articles, journals and media. . 

Getting the actual book: When you locate your item you have two choices.

Print books

You can request the item and pick it up at any of the departmental libraries. Or, you can retrieve the book yourself from either the main stacks or the departmental library where the book is located. If you choose this option, make sure you jot down the location and call number of the item.

Electronic Books

Access will depend on the publisher. In some case you will be able to download full books via PDF. In others you might be able only to view the book online. In all cases the Library follow the publisher's requirements.

Step Two: I-Share

Once you have verified that the book you are looking for is either not located in the UIUC catalog or all copies are checked out, you may order it through Primo Library Catalog and selecting "All I-share Libraries." Items typically arrive within 5-10 days and you will receive an email when the item is available for pick up.

Step Three: Interlibrary Loan

If the item is not available in the UIUC catalog or through I-Share, then your next stop will be Interlibrary Loan and Document Delivery . First, keep your full citation handy -- you'll need it. Second, login to the ILLiad server using your NetID and password. From the ILLiad main menu, select "Request a Book." Be sure to fill out as much of the form as possible, including the source of your citation. This will ensure that ILL can place your request in a timely manner. You'll be notified by email when your item is ready to be picked up.

WorldCat  -You can search WorldCat to find books on your topic, which might not be in the UIUC nor the I-share catalog. Once you find a title of interest, you can order it through Interlibrary Loan

More Help with the Library Catalog

Best Websites for Creative Writing

Ask a librarian.

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• Last Updated: Nov 6, 2023 11:03 AM
• URL: https://guides.library.illinois.edu/creativewritingguide

College of Liberal Arts & Sciences

Department of English

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Awards & Scholarships

The Department of English offers numerous merit scholarships totaling more than $100,000 in an annual competition in the spring. These scholarships recognize and reward outstanding achievements by English, Creative Writing, or Teaching of English students.

In order to be eligible for these scholarships, an applicant must:

• be an English department major planning to be enrolled for at least one semester of the coming academic year
• at the time of application have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5/4.0 overall
• at the time of application have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.75/4.0 in English and/or Creative Writing courses taken at Illinois
• by the end of the spring semester in which you are applying, have completed at Illinois a minimum of four English, Creative Writing, and/or Rhetoric courses beyond Composition I
• remain in good standing with the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences throughout the application process

Overview and Instructions 

Stage Two Application

Form for Referees 2024

The award amounts vary widely; for more information, please contact our Director of Undergraduate Studies, Catharine Gray .

• Delmar G. Cooke Scholarship
• Charles S. Montooth Scholarship
• Carolyn Joyce Pape Award
• Emily J. Friedrich Memorial Scholarship
• Robert D. Novak Scholarship
• Miles W. O'Loughlin III Scholarship
• Raymond Seng Scholarship
• Paul J. Cooke English Award
• Tessa M. Oberg Scholarship
• Wallace Stevens Memorial Prize

Phyllis Woodmansee

• Ethel F. Crate Scholarship
• J. N. Hook Scholarship
• Alfred & Norma Tanner Snap Scholarship
• E. Veda Streitmatter & Arlys Streitmatter Conrad Scholarship
• Leo B. Kneer Scholarship

Smalley Prize for Outstanding Honors Achievement awarded to the best English Honors Essay

Kevin T. Early Memorial Scholarship

Awarded for freshman poetry writing; open to students in all majors.  Applications are due at the start of the spring semester (specific deadline TBA). 

J. Kerker Quinn Award for Juniors

The Junior Quinn Award recognizes achievement and potential in Creative Writing majors or minors with junior class standing by awarding one or more recipients with financial support to attend a writing workshop or conference.

Creative Writing Competitions

The competitions listed below for creative writing are held in the spring semester and are open to students in all majors (specific deadlines TBA).

• John L. Rainey Prize
• Leah Trelease Prize
• Josephine M. Breese Memorial Prizes
• Folger Adam Jr. Prize
• Dipali V. Apte Poetry Award
• Department of English Poetry Prize
• Academy of American Poets Prize

For more information about any of the Creative Writing awards please contact the Associate Director of Creative Writing, John Dudek .

English - Creative Writing

The Creative Writing sequence in the English major has a distinguished national reputation for encouraging alternative and hybrid forms of writing while emphasizing the study of theory and Creative Writing pedagogy.

The Creative Writing program respects and encourages innovation. Students have the opportunity to develop their talents by focusing on Creative Writing courses in their genre of choice: fiction, nonfiction, poetry, or a combination. They will study literature from a diverse standpoint while learning how literary artists utilize literary theory and aesthetics.

The sequence helps students advance in their writing apprenticeships and broaden their understanding of their genre through both artistic and scholarly lenses. It encourages reading in literature generally and provides an opportunity to study language and linguistics, which enhances a student's understanding of their fundamental tools.

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Point of Pride

Each year Illinois State hosts the English Studies at Large conference , giving students the opportunity to present critical work and engage students from other universities.

Why study English - Creative Writing?

Creative Writing allows students to explore such topics as fiction, poetry and poetics, creative nonfiction, screenwriting, the novel, memoir, literary journalism, women's literature, narrative theory, memory and trauma studies, digital technologies and the African diaspora, African American literature, and oppositional/experimental poetics.

It also allows students to study popular culture in fiction, defining the black aesthetic, the relationship of music and fiction, moral philosophy as it relates to literary production, animals, animality, veganism, hybrid texts, hybrid writing, the sociology of literary production and cultural formation of literary taste, and transgeneric writing.

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Applying to illinois state.

Applying by our priority deadline is encouraged for best consideration for your academic program and for scholarships. Start your application today !

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Office of the Vice President for Research

Ovpr announces recipients of 2024 discovery and innovation awards.

The Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) is honoring 11 faculty and staff for their exceptional contributions to research, scholarship, and creative activity as part of the 2024 Discovery and Innovation Awards .

“ The winners represent the best and the brightest of our University of Iowa faculty and staff, who are making an impact across a range of disciplines,”  said Marty Scholtz, vice president for research. “Their research and scholarship enhance undergraduate and graduate education on campus, and their efforts to expand the frontiers of discovery betters our community, state, and world.”

The OVPR solicited nominations from across campus for the awards, which include: Scholar of the Year, Early Career Scholar of the Year, Leadership in Research, and awards that recognize achievement in communicating scholarship with public audiences, community engagement, arts and humanities, mentorship, research administration and safety. A campuswide event on April 30 will celebrate the winners.

Faculty Awards

Jun Wang , James E. Ashton Professor and interim departmental executive officer in the College of Engineering’s

 Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, is the 2024 Scholar of the Year . The award celebrates nationally recognized recent achievement in outstanding research, scholarship, and/or creative activities. 

Wang’s research centers on the development of novel remote sensing techniques to characterize aerosols and fires from space. He serves as the University of Iowa’s lead investigator on NASA’s TEMPO, Tropospheric Emissions: Monitoring Pollution, which Time magazine named one of its best inventions of 2023. 

“Professor Wang's scholarly endeavors over the past two years stand out as a paradigm of excellence, serving as an exemplary model for both emerging and seasoned faculty members to aspire toward,” said Karim Abdel-Malek, professor of biomedical engineering and director of the Iowa Technology Institute.

James Byrne , assistant professor of radiation oncology in the Carver College of Medicine ( CCOM ), is the 2024 Early Career Scholar of the Year . The award honors assistant professors who are currently involved in research, scholarship, and/or creative activity and show promise of making a significant contribution to their field. 

As a physician scientist, Byrne continues to care for patients while developing novel biomedical therapies for cancer, finding inspiration in everything from latte foam to tardigrades. In his first two years as faculty at the UI, he has earned more that $2.5M in external research funding, including a K08 award from the NIH.

“Dr. Byrne’s scientific creativity stems from both an active and curious mind as well as his ability to bridge diverse fields from engineering to biology to medicine,” said Michael Henry, professor and interim director of the Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center. “These interdisciplinary boundaries are where some of the most interesting and important work is happening today.”

Donna Santillan , research professor and director of the Division of Reproductive Science Research in the CCOM Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, received the Leadership in Research Award , which recognizes research and scholarly accomplishments throughout a career. 

While Santillan’s research has spanned across the field of reproductive science, she has a particular interest in the deadly diseases of pregnancy, including preeclampsia and its intergenerational effects. She designed and directs the Women’s Health Tissue Repository. Santillan’s work has been cited more than 2,700 times, and she has mentored 114 early career scientists and students, a testament to her expansive impact.

“Dr. Santillan has consistently demonstrated an unwavering commitment to fostering the professional and personal development of trainees in research, including myself,” said Banu Gumusoglu, assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology. “Her mentorship extends beyond the confines of traditional academic settings, touching the lives of many aspiring trainees from high school through residency, clinical fellowship, and faculty levels.”

Stephen Warren , professor of history and American studies in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS), received the Distinguished Achievement in Publicly Engaged Research Award . The award recognizes an individual faculty member who has put addressing public needs and direct engagement with the public, in the service of improving quality of life through research, at the forefront of his or her academic activities.

A prolific scholar of Native American culture, Warren’s research has centered on the Shawnee people of Oklahoma for the past two decades. He has published four books and co-authored the most recent one , Replanting Cultures: Community-Engaged Scholarship in Indian Country, with Chief Benjamin Barnes of the Shawnee Tribe. 

“Over the last two decades, Professor Warren has established himself as a leading community-engaged scholar, and his achievements in research and publishing demonstrate that community engagement and strong scholarship are not mutually exclusive,” said Nick Benson, director of the Office of Community Engagement. “Professor Warren’s work serves as an inspiration for researchers at Iowa and nationally who seek not only to make a difference in academia, but also in our communities.”

Kaveh Akbar , associate professor of English in CLAS, received the Distinguished Achievement in Arts and Humanities Research Award . This award honors distinguished achievement in humanities scholarship and work in the creative, visual and performing arts. 

Akbar joined Iowa in 2022 to serve as the director of the English and creative writing major. In January, his new novel, Martyr!, was published to critical acclaim. Akbar previously published two prize-winning poetry collections and has served as poetry editor for The Nation  since 2021. 

“Akbar’s leadership in the profession and on campus continues: his transformative work in our department not only enriches the academic experiences of 700+ English and creative writing majors, but also enhances the profile of UI as ‘The Writing University,’” said Blaine Greteman, professor and departmental executive officer of the Department of English.

Cara Hamann , associate professor of epidemiology, received the Faculty Communicating ideas Award . This award recognizes excellence in communication about research and scholarship in the sciences and humanities and the study of creative, visual, and performing arts to a general audience directly or via print and electronic media.

Hamann has frequently shared her work on transportation issues, including teen driving, bike and scooter safety, and pedestrian safety, through peer-reviewed journals and extensive media outreach. Her recent op-ed, “The most deadly traffic policy you’ve never heard of leaves you vulnerable, too,” drew widespread attention to a legal loophole in crosswalk laws and appeared in more than 50 news outlets nationwide, including USA Today .

“Dr. Hamann’s work is not only academically rigorous but also accessible and impactful to a

wide audience,” said Diane Rohlman, associate dean for research in the College of Public Health. “Her ability to communicate with clarity, creativity, and passion coupled with her extensive media outreach, exemplifies how she utilizes multiple approaches to address transportation challenges impacting society.”

Bob McMurray , F. Wendell Miller Professor in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, and Caroline Clay , assistant professor of acting in the Department of Theatre Arts, were recipients of the Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) Distinguished Mentor Awards . The awards honors mentors’ dedication to making their students research experiences successful.

“I can’t imagine my research journey without Bob’s welcoming kindness, thriving lab community, and confident mentorship, and I am so deeply grateful for his impact on me,” said Hannah Franke, a psychology and linguistics major mentored by McMurray.

“I know I am far from the only student whose life has been impacted by Caroline Clay,” said Isabella Hohenadel, a second-year theatre arts major. “She deserves to be recognized of all of the wonderful work she does and how much she cares about us as students. I cannot think of anyone more deserving of recognition than her.”

Staff Awards

Angie Robertson , department administrator for CCOM’s Department of Microbiology and Immunology, received the Distinguished Research Administrator Award . The award recognizes staff members who performed exceptional service in support of research at the UI by exploring funding opportunities, assisting in grant proposal preparation, submission, post-award administration, and operational support. 

In addition to overseeing every aspect of daily operations for the department, Robertson manages nearly 100 research grants for the department and three longstanding NIH T32 training grants. 

“Angie plays a leading role in our department office, inspiring us to achieve all aspects of our missions ,” said Li Wu, professor and department chair. “She is innovative, collaborative, accountable, and respectful  in her daily work. She exceeds any expectations and sets a great example for staff members in the department.”

Min Zhu , research specialist in the Iowa Institute for Oral Health Research (IIOHR) within the College of Dentistry, received the Distinguished Research Professional Award . The award recognizes staff members who performed exceptional service in support of research at the UI by conducting experiments, collecting, and analyzing results and performing operational duties associated with a laboratory or research program. 

Zhu has worked as a lab bench scientist in the College of Dentistry since 2006, executing experimental work for grants and other research, working closely with IIOHR faculty members, overseeing lab maintenance and environmental health and safety efforts. 

“Beyond her research skills, Dr. Zhu has been an exceptional mentor and educator for my students and other junior researchers,” said Liu Hong, professor of prosthodontics. “Her kindness and willingness to share her knowledge have made her a beloved figure among them.”

Curtis Iberg , manager of sterilization services in the College of Dentistry, received the Innovation in Safety Award, which celebrates exceptional and ground-breaking innovations that advance safety at the UI. Iberg led a major renovation of the College of Dentistry’s instrument processing and sterilization area, with the aim of encouraging better workflow and support for future growth. 

“His innovations in workspace are a valuable asset to the greater University and demonstrates that the most important people to be involved in a space renovation are those that use the area because they can see how the facility can better function and how it can be designed for future needs,” said Kecia Leary, associate dean of clinics.