Each year, the Office of Community Engagement proudly recognizes students, faculty, staff, and community partners whose dedication and leadership to community-engaged research, teaching and learning, and community partnership development, creates meaningful, lasting impact on our campus and in our communities. These awards are celebrated annually at the year-end Community Engagement Network meeting in April. The Faculty Leadership Award in Community Engagement is also recognized at the university-wide Faculty and Staff Awards ceremony at Hancher Auditorium in May.

Award Types

Beginning this year, the Awards for Community Engagement, presented by the University of Iowa’s Office of Community Engagement, are selected through a campus-wide call for nominations. Nominations for the Faculty Leadership Award in Community Engagement are now open. Nominations for the additional community engagement awards will open shortly. Please see below for more information, or e-mail Jan Warren at jan-warren@uiowa.edu. 

• Faculty Leadership Award in Community Engagement recognizes a faculty member, academic leader, or faculty-led group (e.g., advisory committee, task force, project team) that advances community-engaged teaching, research, and scholarship. This award honors those who build reciprocal community partnerships, integrate engagement into curriculum and academic work, mentor others in community-engaged practices, and help embed engagement as a core component of the university’s academic mission. To learn more about the award and the nomination process, click here.
• Staff Leadership Award in Community Engagement recognizes a staff member or staff-led group that strengthens community engagement through program development, partnership coordination, and institutional support. This award honors those who create and sustain effective community-university collaborations, expand opportunities for engagement across campus, and help cultivate a culture where community engagement is accessible, supported, and impactful.
• Student Leadership Award in Community Engagement recognizes an individual student or student organization that demonstrates outstanding leadership in fostering meaningful connections between campus and community. Recipients are distinguished by their commitment to reciprocity and the cultivation of mutually beneficial partnerships, working collaboratively with community members to address shared priorities.
• Outstanding Community Partner Award recognizes a community-based partner or organization whose collaboration with the university exemplifies shared purpose and collective impact. This award recognizes those who bring community expertise, leadership, and perspective to the partnership, helping to co-create opportunities that advance learning, strengthen communities, and generate meaningful outcomes.