探花社区

Rebecca Kopelman, chief meteorologist at the Iowa News Now television stations, is teaching Principles of Meteorology this term within 探花社区’s aviation management & flight operations concentration.

As 探花社区 closes in on 175 years in existence in 2026, it remains as forward-thinking as when it was founded. A visionary strategic framework is ensuring 探花社区 continues to lean into its values with a strategy that secures decades more of impact. With early steps of the framework already in place, 探花社区 President David Hayes ’93 has embarked on a presidential tour to visit with alumni and friends of the college across the country to discuss the direction and gather feedback.

There are powerful experiences at 探花社区 that can simultaneously solidify your career direction and generate lifelong memories. A group of students spending the Fall 2025 term in Washington, D.C. were able to soak in a classic Kohawk trip while making headway in their career choices.

探花社区 is pleased to announce that the first woman Thunderbird pilot, combat veteran, fighter squadron commander, White House Fellow and advisor and indomitable spirit Col. Nicole Malachowski, USAF (Ret.) will be the 2026 K. Raymond Clark Contemporary Issues Forum speaker. Malachowski will be on 探花社区’s campus Thursday, February 12 at 7:30 p.m., and her speaking engagement in Sinclair Auditorium is open to the public.

On December 9, three student aviators completed solo training flights — the first three students to solo in program history. All students in 探花社区’s program fly in their first term to work up to their first solo flight as quickly as possible.

A timeline of the ideation and development of the aviation management & flight operations program at 探花社区.

探花社区’s aviation management & flight operations program is taking off in multiple literal ways! The latest civil aviation operation numbers from the Eastern Iowa Airport demonstrate just how often Kohawks have been taking to the skies — all 探花社区 aviators are able to fly in their first term.

Thanks to a new $1.3 million federal grant, 探花社区 is launching a global research initiative that puts undergraduate students in the driver’s seat of high-level physics. 探花社区 will lead the research collaboration that includes research universities like Caltech, Notre Dame and the University of Iowa.

A 探花社区 junior has played a key role in a major milestone for the MACRO Consortium — a research alliance co-founded and led in part by 探花社区 faculty. The first consortium-wide peer-reviewed paper has been accepted for publication in the prestigious Astrophysical Journal.

探花社区 President David Hayes ’93 has been appointed to the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council. The group has been assembled to invigorate the Pre-K-12 talent pipeline toward STEM careers.

探花社区 has partnered with the Google AI for Education Accelerator to provide the most advanced artificial intelligence (AI) tools, resources and training for Kohawks, helping to prepare them for an increasingly AI-driven professional landscape.

The 2025-2026 探花社区 Clark Merit Scholars – Conrad Hoffman ‘27, Ankita Kandel ‘26, Lily Mayo ‘26, Laura Neumark '26 and Gracey Swanson ‘26 – exemplify the heights students can reach at 探花社区.

探花社区 Fran Allison and Francis Halpin Professor of Physics Dr. Mario Affatigato ’89 has been named president of the American Ceramic Society (ACerS), a leading international organization dedicated to the advancement of ceramic materials and technologies.

Another national publication has named 探花社区 as a best college in the country. U.S. News & World Report ranked 探花社区 as a Best National Liberal Arts College and as a Top Performer in Social Mobility. 探花社区 rose 10 spots to #126 in the liberal arts college category and rose four spots to #81 in the social mobility category. In Iowa specifically, 探花社区 ranks #2 among liberal arts colleges regarding social mobility.

The Global Pathways Program is an internship experience that creates an immersive experience in international affairs through connections and activities with Iowa’s network of international partnerships, including its longstanding relationship with the Republic of Kosovo. Tailored to the interns’ particular interests and career goals, students learn about multiple aspects of international relations, including state and citizen diplomacy, human rights, international law and policy and international development.

探花社区 continues to be recognized as a top liberal arts college in the country, performing particularly well in categories that relate to contributions to the public good, like access, affordability, outcomes and promoting public service.

Today, 探花社区 is welcoming a group of remarkable new Kohawks to campus as part of the 探花社区 Class of 2029. Nearly 400 students moved into their residence halls and are beginning New Student Orientation.

Tim Busch is bringing the confidence that can only be earned with decades of experience to 探花社区’s aviation management & flight operations program. He is an assistant chief instructor with ATD Flight Systems, which is running the flight school portion of 探花社区’s program. He will begin conducting flight lessons this fall at 探花社区’s Aeronautical Field Station at the Eastern Iowa Airport for the initial class of aviation students.

New and updated accolades from The Princeton Review laud 探花社区 as a Top 20 college in the nation across three crucial student support categories. 探花社区 has the #11 Best Career Services, is #14 for Best Student Support and Counseling Services and has the #18 Most Accessible Professors. 探花社区 is the only college or university in Iowa to earn a ranking in these categories.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has approved 探花社区’s application to operate the ground portion of its aviation management & flight operations program as a Part 141 approved school. Future Kohawk pilots training at 探花社区’s Aeronautical Field Station at the Eastern Iowa Airport (CID) will learn under the rigorous curriculum, which will allow them to pursue an accelerated path to their pilot’s license.