Iowa State University – College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

The Cyclone Marching Band keeps growing! 🎺

For the third year in a row, more than 500 students auditioned to join the band with this year's roster also including a record-breaking 40 tuba players. 🎶

The new season kicked off this week with a celebration in the Recital Hall, where students even got to hear from Iowa State's new head football coach, Jimmy Rogers!

Click here for more information on the Cyclone Marching Band: https://cyclonemarchingband.iastate.edu/

We’re proud to recognize the outstanding College of Liberal Arts and Sciences alumni who will be honored at this year’s LAS Alumni Honors and Awards Ceremony during Homecoming Week!

Join us in celebrating this year’s recipients on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at the Iowa State University Alumni Center. 👏

Click here for a full list of award recipients: https://alumni.las.iastate.edu/awards/las-alumni-awards/

An Iowa State University-led study suggests an antenna-like cellular sensor may play a key role in determining turtle s*x, which in most species is influenced by incubation temperature.

“Turtles happen to be very interesting from a thermal sensory perspective,” said Nicole Valenzuela, professor of ecology, evolution and organismal biology.

Continue reading about the study here: https://www.news.iastate.edu/news/antenna-cell-appendage-linked-turtles-s*x-deciding-warmth-sensing

Hey, Cyclones! Classes start in just one week! ✨

Whether you're returning to campus or just joining the Cyclone family, we're excited to welcome you to Iowa State. The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences offers countless ways to get involved, from undergraduate research and study abroad to student organizations, internships, and leadership opportunities.

Explore your opportunities and start planning your semester today: https://las.iastate.edu/student-experiences/

This summer, Charlie Bennett (‘28 English) is turning his experience navigating complex health information into a software platform designed to help others better understand their blood work through the CYstarters summer accelerator program.

Bennett created Clarion Labs, a platform that helps users interpret existing blood test results by translating complex medical data into clear, accessible language.

“I realized there was all this information in blood work that people already had access to, but they didn’t know what to do with it,” said Bennett.

Learn more about Bennett’s CYstarters experience here: https://news.las.iastate.edu/2026/08/03/from-runner-to-entrepreneur/

Lena Menefee-Cook (‘21 performing arts, international studies, art and design) is taking the interdisciplinary skills she learned at Iowa State overseas this fall as the recipient of a prestigious 2026-2027 Fulbright U.S. Student Program English Teaching Assistant Award to Croatia. 🇭🇷

As a Fulbright recipient, Menefee-Cook will represent Iowa State University and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences while serving as a teaching assistant at the University of Zagreb Faculty of Teacher Education, Croatia’s leading institution for preparing preschool and primary school educators.

“Majors in the humanities teach you how to learn and think critically, communicate effectively, invest in your own projects and others, and take initiative,” said Menefee-Cook. “All of those are invaluable transferable skills that will allow you to pursue a wide range of career opportunities and provide you the flexibility to pivot when you need.”

Your Cyclone story didn't end at graduation. Reconnect with LAS and let us know where your path has taken you: https://careers.las.iastate.edu/how-we-can-help/outcomes/

Last month, the Department of the Earth, Atmosphere, and Climate hosted a Geology and Earth Science Alumni Reunion at the Carl F. Vondra Field Station in Wyoming's Bighorn Basin 🪨

It was a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with alumni, share memories from their time in the program, and celebrate the lasting impact of the department at one of its premier teaching and learning facilities.

Click here to learn more about the Iowa State University Geology Field Station: https://camp.ge-at.iastate.edu/

The Minds of LAS: Carrie Ann Johnson 🧠

Carrie Ann Johnson, associate director of the Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics and assistant teaching professor in the Women's and Gender Studies Program, has been part of the Iowa State University team for about a decade, beginning her journey as a graduate instructor for ISUComm.

In the classroom, Johnson helps students connect their lived experiences to larger cultural conversations, providing hands-on opportunities to conduct research through archives and databases and present their work at national events such as the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR).

“Learn what makes you feel alive and energetic because there is a lot of life ahead of you and you will appreciate having a road map that you built for yourself, instead of settling for the map someone else built for you,” said Johnson.

Swipe to discover an interesting fact you may not have known about Carrie Ann Johnson. ➡️

Click here to learn more about the Women’s and Gender Studies Program: https://womensstudies.las.iastate.edu/

Earlier this summer, Alex Young (‘27 computer science, applied mathematics) completed a software engineering internship with Capital One in Richmond, Virginia, where he worked on infrastructure engineering for the internal platform that powers the company's document systems.

Building on his experience with large-scale production systems, Young hopes to pursue a career working on distributed systems and systems programming.

“Find something in your field that excites you, and hone-in on that,” said Young. “Hard work doesn't feel like hard work when it's fun.”

Learn more about the Department of Computer Science here: https://www.cs.iastate.edu/

"Having this experience, where I felt so supported, it gave me so much hope, confidence, and drive to continue pursuing performing professionally."

We're so of Kiernan, and excited to see more Cyclones soar in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences! From internships, support, community, and leadership opportunities to undergraduate research and study abroad, we've got incredible opportunities for students to explore, and prepare for a successful career.

For Kiernan McReynolds, a summer internship with Shakespeare on the Lawn in Des Moines was the perfect opportunity to gain professional acting experience — and support from a donor-funded scholarship helped put the position within reach.

“Having this experience, where I felt so supported, it gave me so much hope, confidence, and drive to continue pursuing performing professionally,” McReynolds said. Read more: https://isu.foundation/4fTjxhG