Filter Results

Upcoming UICA Events


If you don't see the event you are looking for, please also visit events.uiowa.edu.

January 5, 2026 - January 7, 2026
Hawkeyes at Home: Behind the Scenes at the University of Iowa
12:00 pm - 12:10 pm (CST)

The University of Iowa´s video series debuts three fresh mini-features - each just four minutes long - delivering behind-the-scenes access to some of Iowa´s most fascinating innovations and spaces.

  • Driving Research for Safer Roads (Streaming begins at noon CST on Monday, Jan. 5)
    Explore Iowa´s cutting-edge driving research and how it´s shaping the future of road safety.

  • Hidden Gems of University Libraries (Streaming begins noon CST Tuesday, Jan. 6)
    Discover the unexpected treasures and stories tucked away in Iowa´s library system.

  • Inside Iowa´s Surgical Simulation Labs (Streaming begins noon CST Wednesday, Jan. 7)
    Go behind the scenes of UI Health Care´s innovative training spaces for future surgeons.

Sign up here to receive a reminder ahead of the video debuts. Stream for free from your living room, or wherever you like to tune in, and let Hawkeyes at Home bring these fascinating stories to you.

Contact: Tegan Donahue 319-467-3393

Departments: Special Collections, Carver College of Medicine Research, College of Engineering, University Libraries

Learn More

January 16, 2026
Write Now Flash Writing Contest
4:00 pm (CST)

Mark your calendars for the UI Alumni and Friends Flash Writing Contest!
This free, online short story competition is timed and open to a variety of age groups-including a new category for current University of Iowa students! You don´t need to be an Iowa Writers´ Workshop graduate or a published author to join in the fun.

The contest categories are:

  • Grades 3 & 4

  • Grades 5 & 6

  • Grades 7 & 8

  • Grades 9-12

  • Current University of Iowa Students

  • Adult, University of Iowa Alumni

  • Adult, Friends of the University

We´ll provide a genre, character, and object to incorporate into your story. You´ll have 48 hours and 1,000 words to craft your tale.

Contest Dates: January 16-18
Check the contest website on Friday, Jan. 16, at 4 p.m. CST, for complete details and your selection of writing prompts.

The top entry in each category will be featured on the UI Flash Writing Contest website and receive an Iowa-themed writing prize pack!

Questions? Visit Write Now - Flash Writing Contest | University of Iowa Center for Advancement or contact Tegan Donahue at tegan.donahue@foriowa.org.

Contact: Tegan Donahue 319-467-3393

Departments: Center for Advancement

January 22, 2026
Scottsdale Together Hawkeyes Tour
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm (CST)
Where: 7600 E. Gainey Club Dr., Scottsdale, AZ US 85258

Together, Hawkeyes continue to blaze new trails and fuel discoveries. This fall, we are headed to Scottsdale-and we hope you will join us for a special night celebrating all things black and gold.

You´ll gain insights into the Together Hawkeyes campaign and plans to expand programming to support student success. You´ll also learn about other university happenings as you hear from:

  • Barbara Wilson, University of Iowa president

  • Lynette Marshall, UI Center for Advancement president and CEO

You´ll also have a chance to go back to class for engaging sessions with Christian Pettker, department executive officer and the Jennifer R. Niebyl Chair in the UI Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Tyler Bell, Provost AI Fellow and associate professor in the UI Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

Together Hawkeyes Tour and Educational Series
Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026
3:30-5 p.m. Educational Series
5-7 p.m. Reception | Program at 6 p.m.

We will provide appetizers and a hosted bar. We hope to see you in Scottsdale!

Hors d´oeuvres and a hosted bar will be provided. Program begins at 6:45 p.m.

Contact: Sevanah Thomas 319-467-3563

Departments: Center for Advancement

Learn More

December 5, 2025 - December 4, 2026
Art & Write Night
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm (CST)
Where: 39-53 East Jefferson Street, Iowa City, IA US 52240

Join the long, rich, historical tradition of artists creating in our spaces.

Professional, aspiring, and amateur artists alike, make our museum your muse. The return of this popular program series welcomes guests into the Museum of Natural History's magical gallery spaces after-hours to work on sketching or writing projects with other campus and community artists.

Tell a friend, grab a notebook, and join us on the first Friday of each month. We'll provide a new inspo prompt for each session and will sometimes move about the Museum but we'll always start in Bird Hall on the third Floor of Macbride Hall. Join anytime between 6-8 p.m. and feel free to participate in a themed creation challenge or work on your own project with our exhibits as inspiration. We'll save the last 15-30 minutes of each session to share what we've been working on, connecting with others (optional, of course!).

Please note, the Museum is typically closed during this time, meaning the main entrance to Iowa Hall (atop the large staircase outside on the east side of Macbride Hall) will be closed and locked. All other building doors will be open, offering access to the Ground Floor of Macbride Hall, restrooms, stairs and elevator to the third floor galleries where this program takes place. Bird Hall is located on the third floor of Macbride Hall and can be reached by stairs or by taking the elevator to the third floor of the building.

Special thanks to Blick Art Materials for supplying extra art materials. Make sure to check in with us in Bird Hall to check out a variety of special art tools and supplies.

Contact: Jessica Smith 319-335-3591

Departments: Department of Biology, Department of English, Division of Interdisciplinary Programs, Iowa Writers' Workshop, Iowa Youth Writing Project, Leadership and Engagement, Magid Center for Writing, School of Art, Art History, and Design, Museum of Natural History

Learn More

February 14, 2026
Application Deadline: Obermann International Fellowships (Fall 2026)
All Day ()
Where: 111 Church Street, Iowa City, IA US 52245

The UI Obermann Center for Advanced studies is accepting applications for Fall 2026 Obermann International Fellowships. This program offers dedicated space, time, and funding for interdisciplinary scholars to collaborate on innovative research at the University of Iowa. Up to eight international fellowships will be granted every academic year. Applicants must be active researchers at an accredited institution of higher learning outside of the United States or independent researchers/artists with a track record of excellence based outside of the U.S. Their area of research must have a direct equivalent at the University of Iowa. 

Obermann International Fellows will receive:

  • A $3,000 stipend to help defray the cost of travel and lodging

  • University of Iowa health insurance coverage for the duration of the fellowship

  • Office space at the Obermann Center for Advanced Studies

  • Temporary University of Iowa affiliation, including access to UI libraries

  • Structured opportunities for scholarly exchange (seminars, lectures, introduction to UI researchers, etc.)

  • An official letter of invitation for institutional and visa purposes

  • Information about accommodations and other practical needs

Read more about the program and application process at https://obermann.uiowa.edu/obermann-international-fellowships. Applications for the Fall 2026 semester are due February 14, 2026.

Obermann International Fellowships are funded by the University of Iowa's Obermann Center for Advanced Studies with generous additional support from International Programs.

Contact: Erin Hackathorn 319-335-4034

Departments: Obermann Center, Center for Advancement, International Programs, International Writing Program, Office of the Vice President for Research, Department of Languages, Linguistics, Literatures, and Cultures

Learn More

April 18, 2026
Alumni Day 2026
All Day ()
Where: 1 Park Road, Iowa City, IA US 52242

Return to campus for a day made just for Iowa alumni! Reconnect with classmates, relive campus memories, and celebrate your black and gold pride with Hawkeyes from every generation.

Build your own schedule-from campus tours and inspiring talks to laid-back gatherings and behind-the-scenes experiences.

Mark your calendar and join fellow Hawkeyes for an unforgettable day!

Contact: Kate Sojka 319-467-3884

Departments: Carver College of Medicine, Center for Advancement, College of Law, College of Pharmacy, College of Public Health, Medicine Alumni

Learn More

Related Content

Eleven Hawkeyes represented six countries at the Summer Games.

Two college buddies become lead volunteers for the University of Iowa.

Pat Mellendorf, of Phoenix, Arizona, benefited from vital financial aid during her time at Iowa. Now she is paying it forward to future generations. Photo Courtesy Patricia Patterson Mellendorf Patricia Patterson Mellendorf Patricia Patterson Mellendorf (71BA, 73MA, 73EDS) could have easily given up on her educational dreams. After her freshman year at the University of Iowa, Mellendorf got married and soon had a daughter. Two years later, she returned to Iowa City with a young child by her side and a determination to complete her studies. ?I did it because I felt like I had to do it, and I just focused on putting one foot in front of the other,? says Mellendorf. ?Getting an education was so important to me, but it was a totally different experience with a young child.? Mellendorf lived off campus in a mobile home park and worked at a daycare while managing her class schedule. ?The hardest part of going back to college was the financial piece,? says Mellendorf. ?Inflation, at the time, was so high that there was not money for anything. I barely made ends meet, but that was only because the scholarships and fellowships I received covered my tuition. Being able to go to school?I was fortunate. Grateful does not touch how I feel.? While faculty and staff at Iowa were extremely accommodating?including when her young daughter had to attend class?Mellendorf also benefited from mentorship by faculty members such as Richard ?Jix? Lloyd-Jones (50MA, 56PhD), who worked in the UI Department of English. ?Jix knew I needed to be out and about with people,? says Mellendorf, who pursued an education specialist degree along with her English major. ?At the time, community colleges were just opening and growing, and there was a dire need for instructors. He suggested a program that was just getting off the ground at Iowa, and it was pretty much designed for me.? Photo Courtesy Patricia Patterson Mellendorf Patricia and her daughter, Peggy Mellendorf went off to teach at community colleges for a decade before teaching management development in the corporate world for more than 15 years. Now, retired in Phoenix, Arizona, Mellendorf continues to believe in the power of education, and she has passed on that importance to her family and friends. ?For me, she set in motion the importance of higher education,? says Peggy Gawron, Mellendorf?s daughter, who is a speech-language pathologist in Illinois and whose son, Ian Gawron (15BA), graduated from Iowa. ?She wants to help this generation and put them in position to help the next generation. For her, it is really about generational change.? Through a gift in her estate plans, Mellendorf is creating the Patterson Family Scholarship as a way to pay it forward to other individuals who are trying to better their lives. By including a bequest in her will, Mellendorf doesn?t have to part with any assets now?ensuring that the funds are still there for her should she need them in the future. ?I?m trying to duplicate what I was able to get?the availability of a scholarship for a single parent who might not be able to go to college without assistance,? says Mellendorf. ?I want to give someone the opportunity to get that boost and to do so at Iowa.? Learn how you can make a difference at the University of Iowa by visiting our planned giving website, or contact Susan Hagan, JD, executive director for planned giving at the University of Iowa Center for Advancement, at susan.hagan@foriowa.org or 319-335-3305.

We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies in accordance with our Privacy Statement unless you have disabled them in your browser.