As the Writing University, Iowa emphasizes Writing Across the Disciplines, ensuring that students develop strong communication skills within the context of their chosen fields. From engineering and medicine to business, law, and the arts, students learn not just to write well, but to write with purpose, clarity, and authority in their disciplines. This integrated approach reflects a shared understanding across campus: the ability to communicate effectively is central to academic success and professional impact, no matter the path a student pursues.
“Being able to convey a highly technical engineering project/study to stakeholders and the public encourages people to provide their comments and concerns in a confident and sincere manner.”
- Anthony Lamoreux, MSE, Civil and Environmental Engineering
As an engineer, Anthony Lamoreux (MSE, Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2026) knows communicating scientific information to audiences with non-science backgrounds is essential to his future. “Being able to convey a highly technical engineering project/study to stakeholders and the public encourages people to provide their comments and concerns in a confident and sincere manner. Confusion and misunderstandings are the source of many comments made on these projects, which is why I prioritized developing this skill,” Lamoreux says. STEM students at Iowa are encouraged to expand their written and verbal communication skills through their coursework, which is one reason Lamoreux believes Iowa graduates are so desirable to employers. After graduation, Lamoreux will begin a job at HNTB Water Resource office in Des Moines.
These skills are equally as central in the medical profession. Nathaniel Mullin (MD and PhD, Genetics, 2026) sees the importance of written communication in both medicine and science. “Being able to coherently document your ideas and what you have done is essential to how we share information. I have been very fortunate to have had many great teachers who taught me how to write in new ways such as in grant proposals or in the clinical setting,” Mullin says. Mullin will begin his residency in Pediatrics and Medical Genetics at Boston Children’s Hospital this summer.
“Writing shows a lawyer’s worth. A good oral argument only happens if you write a good brief beforehand."
- Veronica Miller (JD, 2026)
Veronica Miller (JD, 2026) feels similarly about the importance of writing when it comes to law. “Writing shows a lawyer’s worth. A good oral argument only happens if you write a good brief beforehand. Good advocacy is possible when legal issues are appropriately explained. Focusing on my legal writing skills has been a centerpiece of my time at the University of Iowa, and it has prepared me for the next chapter of being an attorney,” Miller says. Once she finishes at Iowa Law, Miller will return to her home state of Nebraska to clerk for Senior Judge John Gerrard of the U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska in Lincoln until 2028.
Writing and communication skills are also essential in the world of business. Alec Tewes (BBA Accounting, BBA Finance, 2026) says his time in the Accounting Writing & Communication Program greatly improved his writing. “The most important skill I’ve learned is how to communicate complex financial information in a concise and easy to understand way. I am confident that what I’ve learned here will not only translate but help me stand out in my future career,” Tewes says. This fall, Tewes will begin working as a public accountant after completing the CPA exams.
“The space and time I found here allowed me to fully immerse myself in my work. Access to the library fostered a deep dialogue with texts that shaped my writing..."
- Stephani Rodríguez (MFA, Spanish Language Creative Writing, 2026)
Stephani Rodríguez (MFA, Spanish Language Creative Writing, 2026) saw firsthand the ways poetry and nonfiction courses at UI impacted her skills in the creative arts. “The space and time I found here allowed me to fully immerse myself in my work. Access to the library fostered a deep dialogue with texts that shaped my writing, while the university environment also opened the possibility of engaging with other practices, including visual work,” Rodríguez says. After graduation, Rodríguez will begin a PhD at the University of California, Los Angeles while also expanding the work she began during her MFA.
Iowa’s focus on the written word also impacts students who approach their time on campus in truly interdisciplinary ways. Kate Wolfe (BA, Ethics and Public Policy, 2026) says writing was a gateway to her favorite opportunities at Iowa, both in and out of the classroom. “As a journalist, I connected with people across the community to tell stories that mattered. In the Writing Center, I worked with students and faculty who pushed me to take ownership of my voice and inspired me to revise. Over time, my skills grew, and writing became both a way to connect with others and to better understand my own experiences throughout these four years,” Wolfe says. She will continue to connect with others after graduation as she begins a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship in North Macedonia.
The University of Iowa is a leader in writing across the disciplines. To read more about these and other impressive 2026 graduates, please view our Graduate Highlight Gallery. Congratulations to all our students and their families on completing this exciting milestone.
View Full 2026 Graduate Highlight Gallery