The successful completion of our June programs, including the Faculty Engagement Corps and the Arts Share/GWAC camp, means that OCE has now shifted into a period of summer planning and partnership development for next academic year. The Faculty Engagement Corps was a wonderful space to connect with university instructors and collectively reflect upon this year's experiences as we prepare for the Fall semester. We are excited to build upon this momentum with the announcement that we will be expanding our undergraduate programming with the launch of a community engagement First-Year Seminar, Beyond Volunteering: Changing Your World Through Community Engagement. This new course will introduce Hawkeyes to community-engaged practices early in their education as they prepare for diverse careers in academia, business, nonprofits, and more.

The move into our new location at 2999 University Capital Centre has facilitated new connections with partners both on and off campus, and we have enjoyed meeting our new campus neighbors and visits from friends, colleagues, and community partners. As always, we welcome you to reach out to the Office of Community Engagement to discuss new project ideas or brainstorm engagement opportunities.

In partnership,



Nick Benson

Executive Director

First-Year Seminar Announcement

We are excited to announce that we'll be offering a new First-Year Seminar for undergraduate students in the Fall Semester. Beyond Volunteering: Changing Your World Through Community Engagement (CSI:1200:0019) will help students build an understanding of community engagement through active learning and community exploration. The course format will consist of a series of presentations and discussions by guest speakers, visits with local community partners, and reflective exercises that will provide a foundation the final project. More information on the course can be found at MyUI.

The Office of Community Engagement is here to help with letters of support and one-on-one meetings to discuss upcoming courses, research projects, and community partnerships.

Iowa Initiative for Sustainable Communities

A Successful Summer Camp!

Arts Share and GWAC had a wonderful time hosting their 2023 Summer Camp! The art, music, writing, theatre, and movement counselors each had a blast working with this year's creative (and energetic!) group of campers. Highlights of the week included limboing and learning how to conduct with our guest artists, Keiron Dwane Sargeant and Megan Maddaleno!

Faculty Announcement

The School of Art and Art History announces its newest member of the faculty, Suzanne Wright, who will begin as an Assistant Professor of Painting & Drawing this fall. Wright first came to the University of Iowa as a Grant Wood Fellow in Painting & Drawing during the 2019-2020 academic year. During this time, she offered several community workshops, public presentations, and her depth of experience in the classroom.