The UICB is happy to announce the appointment of two faculty to the unit, each bringing stellar credentials and heady experience to our unique curriculum. Karen Carcia is a book artist and published poet who has been promoted to Associate Professor of Instruction. With MFA degrees from the UICB and Indiana University and a Ph.D. in English from Western Michigan, Prof. Carcia is a multi-talented writer and maker. Karen’s teaching skills are legend, recognized most recently by her 2020 Emerging Educator Award from the field’s leading professional organization, the College Book Art Association. Nick Cladis joins the UICB with a Lecturer appointment in Papermaking. He earned an MFA from the University of Dallas in 2013 and has since been a fixture for six years in Echizen, Japan, as an instructor and research fellow at Fukui Prefectural University. Prof. Cladis brings deep knowledge of and extraordinary technique to Asian and Western papermaking, while also being a multi-media artist anchored in handmade paper. Starting the academic year with new talent of this caliber gives us pride. But retaining and hiring the best in the field on a permanent basis depends in part on donor support. The UICB 2021 Windgate Foundation challenge grant seeks exactly these resources. Follow this link to learn more: https://book.grad.uiowa.edu/UICB-2020 Alumni and friends have committed over $300,000 to date. The Windgate Foundation requires us to receive $2.5 million in commitments by December 31, 2021. Consider a gift today to sustain this one-of-a-kind program! If you would like to help in any way, please contact Jeff Liebermann, UI Center for Advancement at Jeff.Liebermann@foriowa.org.