As we complete the second year of Students as Partners at the University of Iowa, we are pleased to share a photo essay recapping a busy and successful academic year for the program. In addition to collaborating with instructors at Iowa and working with the Center for Teaching, student partners presented at numerous conferences across the country and hosted a cross-institutional visit with partners from Xavier University.
Students as Partners is a pedagogical partnership program that aims to bring student voices and perspectives into large lecture courses at the University of Iowa. Undergraduate student partners provide feedback to instructors and work collaboratively to create welcoming and engaging learning environments.
Presenting at the POD Conference in Chicago

"Attending the POD Network Conference as a Student Partner gave me the chance to connect with other Student Partners across the country and expand what I had previously imagined the limits of a Student Partner to be, especially around the relationships and connections we can have with students." – Josie Mbaye
Campus visit by Dr. Katie Johnson

2025 SCIENCE Collaborative meeting in Albuquerque, New Mexico

"Presenting at the 2025 SCIENCE Collaborative meeting was an incredibly exciting opportunity to share our work and connect with a larger group of educators and professionals invested in improving student learning experiences.” – Krushi Patel
Xavier students visit Iowa in March 2025




“Bringing students from Xavier University to our campus was such a meaningful experience. It was powerful to give them a chance to engage with higher education in a different context and to see how various initiatives here are working to support students from all backgrounds…One of the most memorable moments was being able to give Xavier a shoutout during the First-Generation College Celebration. It was a proud and affirming experience, especially with the Xavier students there to witness it. They also had the incredible opportunity to meet President Wilson, which truly speaks to the openness and inclusivity of our campus. That kind of direct interaction with leadership is rare, and it left a lasting impression. Overall, the visit felt like a beautiful exchange of ideas, experiences, and aspirations—and I’m excited to see how we can continue building connections like this in the future.” – Harry Bui
Connecting K-12 and Higher Education Conference
Working with the Center for Teaching

"Meeting regularly with the student partners is one of the highlights of my week in the Center for Teaching. These undergraduates bring incredible energy, creativity and intelligence to their work. We primarily recruit our partners from the First Gen @ Iowa program, which has been an invaluable campus partnership. First Gen students, among them Emma Koprek and Nora Zimmermann (pictured here), bring unique perspectives and insight into improving the undergraduate experience at Iowa. I am so proud of our student partners, and I can't wait to continue this work with our amazing students at Iowa." - Tamar Bernfeld
It has been an inspiring and productive year for our Student Partners! Whether you’re a faculty member looking to partner with us, or a student interested in being a Student Partner, you can find more information on our Students as Partners webpage.