Karen Carcia, adjunct assistant professor in the University of Iowa Center for the Book, has been honored with the Emerging Educator award from the College Book Art Association, the international professional organization of book artists in higher education. The competitive award is given biennially to the best mid-career teacher in the book arts. 

Carcia was honored for her training and expertise as an experienced letterpress printer and an acclaimed published poet, with a PhD in English and two MFA degrees, one in creative writing and the other in the book arts. This range translates into a dedication to students, where the aesthetics of image, book, and writing gain breadth and depth in her attentive pedagogy, according to the association.

“Karen models kindness and professionalism equally, providing her students the finest example I have seen of how to balance commitment to one’s own work, personal responsibility, and responsibility to the community,” says Sara Langworthy, associate professor of practice in the UICB and the 2010 recipient of the award.

Students respond to Carcia’s Socratic method and understated motivational skills.

“The process of critical response in Karen’s classes leaves you excited to keep revising a project,” UICB MFA student India Johnson says.

Carcia will be recognized Jan. 2-4, 2020, at the biannual CBAA conference in New Orleans.