Natalia Reyes, an MFA student in the world-renowned Iowa Writers’ Workshop, has received a 2018 Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans. The fellowship will allow Reyes to focus entirely on her writing while at Iowa. She is the second Workshop writer to receive the prestigious award.

Jessica Faselt of Iowa City is one of the 2018 Metropolitan Opera National Council Audition winners, announced April 29. This is one of the most prestigious voice competitions in the world, offering singers the chance to be heard by leading industry professionals and to launch their international careers.

The New York Times' Wesley Morris reviews the film Saving Brinton, a documentary about a collection of century-old films preserved with the help of the University of Iowa.

The Belin-Blank Center’s STEM Excellence and Leadership program brings hands-on science and technology education to rural Iowa schools. The program provides talented middle school students with extra hours of STEM instruction as well as college and career counseling.

Coalescence Entertainment Inc., a film studio and philanthropic organization owned by two University of Iowa students, received the $2,500 top prize at the Frontier Co-op–Tippie Impact competition.

UI Interim Provost Sue Curry has named Tanya Uden-Holman associate provost for undergraduate education and dean of University College beginning June 15. Uden-Holman is a clinical professor in the Department of Health Management and Policy and associate dean for academic affairs at the College of Public Health.

The UI has signed a contract amendment with a Des Moines law firm to continue the employment practices review that began in November. The amendment directs Fredrikson & Byron, P.A. to assess the UI Department of Intercollegiate Athletics' compliance with employment laws and policies concerning equitable treatment of employees.

A satellite designed and built at the University of Iowa will search the Milky Way for evidence of matter believed missing since the birth of the universe. The HaloSat project, led by physics and astronomy professor Phil Kaaret, is scheduled to launch on May 20.

University of Iowa Interim Provost Sue Curry has named Joseph Kearney interim dean of CLAS. Kearney will begin serving on July 1, when Chaden Djalali’s term ends. Kearney will have the month of June to work with the provost and collegiate leadership to ensure a smooth transition in the college.

An analysis of federal data by University of Iowa researchers published in the “Journal of the American Medical Association” finds that more American adults have tried e-cigarettes, but the rate of current use appears to be declining.

Eleven University of Iowa students and alumni have been awarded Fulbright U.S. Student Program grants to conduct research, attend graduate school, undertake creative projects, or serve as English teaching assistants abroad in 2018–19. The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government.

The University of Iowa has earned the CEO Cancer Gold Standard accreditation from the CEO Roundtable on Cancer, a nonprofit that recognizes workplaces that are exceptionally committed to reducing the risk of cancer among employees.