Associate Professor of Instruction Jan Steyn of the department of Languages, Linguistics, Literatures, and Cultures in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences was one of the five 2026 recipients of the Hubbard-Walder Award for Excellence in Teaching. The award is given to those who have demonstrated excellence in various areas of university teaching and have contributed to curriculum and/or program development.

From 2025–2026, five students from the department of Languages, Linguistics, Literatures, and Cultures' translation MFA program have received prestigious recognition from PEN America and the American-Scandinavian Foundation for their work.

Sean Hagan, a University of Iowa student from Coralville, Iowa, who will earn a BA in Russian and international relations this May, has been awarded a U.S. Department of State Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) to study Russian this summer in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

Shefa’a T. Tawil, a University of Iowa alumna (BS psychology ‘25) from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, has been awarded a U.S. Department of State Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) to study Arabic this summer in Amman, Jordan.