University of Iowa writing programs mark significant milestones

The University of Iowa is celebrating major milestones for its renowned literary programs. The Iowa Writers’ Workshop, established in 1936, continues to serve as a global incubator for literary talent and a driver of economic and cultural growth in Iowa City. The workshop has produced numerous Pulitzer Prize winners, National Book Award recipients, and U.S. Poets Laureate.

Simultaneously, the Nonfiction Writing Program (NWP) is marking its 50th anniversary. Founded in 1976 by English professor Carl H. Klaus, the NWP is the only Master of Fine Arts program in the United States dedicated exclusively to the craft of creative nonfiction. To commemorate the anniversary, faculty and alumni held panel discussions at the Iowa City Public Library as part of the Iowa City Book Festival, reflecting on the program's history and its influence on the art of essays, literary journalism, and biography.