The Office of Scholar Development 

assists current undergraduates and recent alumni connected to the University of Iowa in their pursuit of national fellowships and grant opportunities.

As a fellowships advisor and student advocate, our director works closely with:

prospective applicants, academic units, and campus organizations as they consider how specific experiential and funding opportunities may support their intellectual, professional, and creative goals,

current candidates and institutional nominees as they build cohesive applications, craft original essays, communicate with recommenders, and prepare for interviews, and

faculty, staff, and community mentors as they develop letters of recommendation informed by the funder’s mission, selectors’ expectations, and national standards.

In her role as an institutional nominator, our director's goal is to…

develop and maintain responsive, ethical processes for the recruitment, selection, and support of applicants and nominees,

help students and committee members engage with big questions and high expectations in ways that acknowledge and engage with the influence of individual experience and systemic bias in merit-based evaluation, and

create a working environment where responsibility is shared and the time, energy, and expertise of each collaborator – student, advisor, and mentor - is respected.

As an educator and member of the University of Iowa community, our director is committed to…

building transformative educational experiences for anyone who wants to strengthen an application or shake off an old belief about who deserves funding or support.

finding ways to shorten the distance students, staff, and faculty must travel to learn of or access these experiences and other scholar development resources on campus, and

telling stories that honor the complexity and connection we see play out in the competitions our office supports.