The University of Iowa Council on Disability Awareness (CDA) recently announced its new officers for 2012-13—Carly Armour, Teresa Kout, Kathy Ford, and Deanna Carter.

The late Philip G. Hubbard, University of Iowa emeritus vice president and emeritus professor of mechanical engineering, will be honored posthumously Friday, Aug. 3 with an induction into the Iowa African-American Hall of Fame at The Meadows Event Center, Altoona, Iowa.

Pigeons with iPads, olfactory functions and Alzheimer’s disease, smoking behaviors of stroke patients, and Ralph Ellison and The New York Times are all areas of research being pursued by students involved in the Summer Research Opportunities Program and the McNair Scholars program (SROP/McNair Scholars) through the University of Iowa Graduate College.

Cedar Rapids Jefferson High School teachers Melissa Kraft and Mary Swanson are the recipients of the University of Iowa College of Education's 2012 Phyllis A. Yager Diversity Award. The two are recognized for helping young women develop confidence, handle peer pressure, and overcome bullying, prejudice, and gossip.

The 2012 recipients of the University of Iowa College of Education's Audrey Qualls Commitment to Diversity Award—Jan Warren and Mitchell Kelly—both say that the award is extra special to them because of the woman it’s named after.

Poetry will take the lead in free readings at 7 p.m. July 10-12, and live on the University of Iowa Writing University website.

International Writing Program alumnus Roberto Ampuero, who is both a UI faculty member and Chile's ambassador to Mexico, recalls his childhood living near the Nobel-winning poet Pablo Neruda.

Two multicultural Greek-letter organizations were founded at Iowa: Sigma Lambda Beta International Fraternity and Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority.

Journalism alumna Elyssa Shapiro works with educators, community organizations, and professional artists across the state to provide creative arts workshops for children with disabilities.

Seven University of Iowa minority students completed their doctorates in math in 2012, a record number for a department already recognized as a national leader in its efforts to promote diversity within its Ph.D. program.

Promising dancer Venezia Manuel, who will be a freshman at the University of Iowa this fall, is profiled.

Every spring, a small group of faculty sets out to see Iowa through the eyes of folks outside Iowa City. They meet with Iowans and listen to stories of triumph and challenge, and they return with a new perspective on the state, their students and their lives as UI faculty.

Florencia Mallon will read from her first novel, "Beyond the Ties of Blood," at 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 19, in Prairie Lights Books and on the Writing University website of the University of Iowa.

Iowa Citian Mary Vermillion, the author of the Mara Gilgannon mystery series, will present a free reading at 7 p.m. Monday, June 18.

A mini-Carnaval at 4:30 p.m., Friday, June 8, outside the University of Iowa Theatre Building will feature music, dance, masks, and puppets, along with stilt-walkers from Canada's Swizzlestick Theatre.

Former UI student Zach Wahls, in full Eagle Scout regalia, delivered petitions to the Boy Scouts of America advocating change in policies that exclude gay members and leaders.

Former and future University of Iowa engineering student Zach Wahls is interviewed about his new book about his two moms.

The Hancher-commissioned theater production "Mayberry," which explores issues of race and class in Iowa City, quickly sold out its April run and prompted the addition of two performances. The play is the brainchild of UI graduate Sean Lewis, who was first inspired to write it while in Tanzania.

The first Eastern Iowa Transgender Medical Symposium Saturday and Sunday, May 19 and 20, will help to bridge the gap between the local transgender community and health care providers. The University of Iowa’s community and campus group, TransCollaborations, is organizing the symposium.

University of Iowa students are always needed as volunteers for the University of Iowa Center for Diversity and Enrichment’s (CDE) Pen Pal Program.