Nick Benson, J.D.
319-384-3464
Nick serves as the Executive Director of the Office of Community Engagement and provides leadership on campus for community engaged teaching and learning and community engaged research. Nick has worked for eight years in various community engagement roles at the University of Iowa, including as Director of the Iowa Initiative for Sustainable Communities and Director of Community Development and Outreach. Prior to his time at Iowa, Nick worked for the City of Iowa City in community and economic development and at Leff Law Firm. He holds a Master's Degree in Urban and Regional Planning and Juris Doctorate from Iowa.
Leslie Finer, PhD
319-335-1618
In her role as Director of Arts & Humanities, Leslie works to enhance community vitality by utilizing the University of Iowa's arts and cultural resources. She also oversees the Arts Share program, which has been facilitating arts outreach and engagement initiatives for over 25 years. Leslie received her bachelor's and master's degrees in piano performance from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, and a PhD in musicology from the University of Iowa. Before working at the University of Iowa she taught music history and piano at Coe College.
Maura Pilcher, MS
319-384-3579
Maura Pilcher currently serves as the Director of the Grant Wood Art Colony. She holds a Bachelor's of Art in Anthropology and Art History from the University of Notre Dame and a Master of Science in Historic Preservation from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She has over 15 years of experience in the museum industry including The Phillips Collection (Washington, DC), The Field Museum (Chicago, IL), and The Snite Museum (Notre Dame, IN). She has participated on arts engagement and preservation-related panels and provided workshops for national audiences.
Jon Soffa
Jon joined the Office of Community Engagement in September 2020 as the Community Engagement AmeriCorps Coordinator.
Noel Mills
319-939-5225
Noel is a recent graduate of the University of Iowa and is currently a student in the Master of Public Affairs program. She works for the Office of Community Engagement as a part-time graduate assistant, primarily managing the Service-Learning and Civic Engagement Path Forward Work Group.
Available Positions
AmeriCorp Community Engagement Coordinator
The AmeriCorp Community Engagement Coordinator in the Office of Community Engagement will develop new best practices for community engaged teaching and learning and community engaged scholarship at Iowa. The Coordinator will establish new assessment and data tracking methods for community engagement activities, including engaged teaching and faculty, staff, and student scholarship in Iowa communities.
This position is an AmeriCorps position; please see job description for more details about serving as an AmeriCorps staff member in the Office of Community Engagement. This position will work as part of a coordinated effort with three other AmeriCorps Member positions at the University of Iowa. While each position has its independent responsibilities, the four members will work collaboratively to help the University of Iowa coordinate, develop, and implement community engagement strategies and programs. Members will have regular meetings to share ideas, work on joint projects, and build a collaborative atmosphere.
Click here for more information and to apply.
Marketing Intern
The Office of Community Engagement (engagement.uiowa.edu) is seeking a part-time marketing and social media intern. The intern will report to and work closely with the Executive Director to support and promote the office through the creation of website and social media content and analytics reporting, promoting activities and events, taking photos and creating promotional graphics, assisting with strategic communication, administrative duties, and other tasks related to marketing and communications.The internship will support community-based, engaged-learning projects and community engaged research activities that connect UI students and faculty with Iowa communities.
Click here for more information and to apply.