Coe News & Features

Coe College continues to climb the ranks of liberal arts colleges which contribute to the public good, coming in at No. 78 in Washington Monthly’s annual liberal arts colleges ranking. This is an increase of 10 positions compared to last year, and a jump of 49 positions over the last two years. Washington Monthly ranks colleges based on three broad categories that all tie back to improving the lives of students and the world around them: social mobility, research and promoting public service.

A core group of faculty and staff from a variety of departments are collaborating with Coe’s C3: Creativity, Careers, Community center (C3) to engage students in finding their purpose and meaning in life beyond a career.

Traveling from as far as 7,500 miles away, and as near as two miles, Coe welcomes 400 new students and a geographically diverse class — both domestically and internationally. New students joining the Coe community represent 270 cities, 26 states and seven countries with 60 percent of the Class of 2026 enrolling from outside of Iowa. Also, 35 percent of the group comes from underrepresented backgrounds, which is the highest percentage for a single class in the college’s history.

Coe College is the only Iowa college or university to be nationally recognized by The Princeton Review in three crucial higher education categories — Best Career Services, Most Accessible Professors and Best Alumni Network. Coe is also the highest ranked school for internships in the state.

JaMarcus O’Banner ’23 has big dreams and an even bigger heart. While many students begin their college days eager to experience new adventures, JaMarcus stepped foot on campus focused on one goal. He was going to work hard on the football field and in the classroom to pursue a career as a financial advisor to make a positive impact in people’s lives.

Coe College has announced the addition of Donald Jaamal as the college’s Dean of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and Title IX Coordinator. Jaamal will serve as Coe’s lead diversity officer. He was appointed by Coe College President David Hayes ’93 after an extensive national search and will be a member of Coe’s senior staff.

The Coe College Physics Department has received three grants totaling $892,062 to conduct advanced glass research, including separate $600,000 and $262,062 awards from the National Science Foundation (NSF).

Coe College is excited to announce eight lecture topics for the 2022-2023 Thursday Forum series. For more than 30 years, Thursday Forum has been an engaging educational opportunity for adults in Cedar Rapids and the surrounding communities.

Jeremy Pham ’22 is in his first semester at one of the county’s most prestigious graduate programs in architecture – the University of Pennsylvania. The use of robotics in the curriculum made the program his top choice. After all, his passion for robotics began at Coe.

A life-changing experience steered Sofia Davis towards a career as a psychologist, as she knew she wanted to dedicate her life to serving others. As a rising sophomore at Coe College majoring in psychology, the aspiring doctor is the administrative intern for Lion’s Pride over the summer.

Kohawks Julien Duhautois and Uzir Thapa ’17 realized they had a lot in common when they met through mutual friends at a party at Coe College. They grew up playing tennis and loved the sport well before they played tennis for Coe together during Julien’s exchange year on campus. Since, they’ve started a company together and won the $3,000 first-place prize at the Fifth Annual Young Entrepreneur Convention.

Coe College is partnering with UnityPoint Health - St. Luke’s and Mercy Medical Center to provide nursing students with financial aid and guaranteed employment upon graduation. Coe students will have the opportunity to participate in one of the two partnerships that best meets their needs, while also helping to close a gap in health care staffing shortages. This is one of the many unique educational opportunities provided to Coe students as part of the new David and Janice McInally Center for Health & Society (CHS).

Interviewing with a nationally known television personality for a high-profile internship might have been a more nerve-wracking experience for Ariel Montes-Delgado ’23, but it helps when that celebrity has been in your college residence hall.

Coe College is proud to announce Four Oaks Family and Children Services as a recipient of the Presidents' Community Partner Award in conjunction with Iowa & Minnesota Campus Compact (IAMNCC).

Kohawk nursing graduates are a caring and nurturing presence in people's lives every day. The dedication to providing personal instruction and extensive experience within Coe’s nursing program prepares Coe nurses to excel quickly in the field.

After an extensive national search, Coe College President David Hayes ’93 has appointed Chantel Olufsen as the new vice president for advancement. In this role, Olufsen will be responsible for development efforts and alumni relations for the college. She is the first female vice president for advancement at Coe College.

Coe College remains the only college or university — public or private — in Iowa to make both the Best Schools for Internships and Best Alumni Network lists by The Princeton Review. Across all private colleges and universities in the country, Coe is the #10 Best School for Internships and has the #20 Best Alumni Network.

Dr. Jane O. Ebot-Bish, senior advisor at the Center for Government Excellence at the Johns Hopkins University Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, will address Kohawk graduates as Coe College’s 2022 Commencement speaker.

Before Matthew Hemesath ’01 stitched his way to the Big Apple to work with celebrities like Halle Berry, Viola Davis and Keanu Reeves as a costume designer, he sewed his first dress for the CoeAlliance drag show at Coe College.

Whether Katherine Blanchard ’10 is presenting to her colleagues at the Smithsonian Science Education Center or in a room full of scientists, she’s confident in her ability to effectively communicate and connect with her audience. And now, Katherine is returning to her alma mater to share her educational, personal and professional journey with Kohawks as the keynote speaker for Coe College’s celebration of student academic achievement at the annual Student Research Symposium April 12.