The faculty-led affinity groups create opportunities for faculty to advance research and teaching through a focus on collegiate issues and perspectives, provide opportunities for faculty and students across disciplines to interact and collaborate, and develop public engagement projects to benefit communities in Iowa and abroad.

Ari Ariel, co-director of the Jewish Studies Network, was quoted by Le Monde in this piece on how the Israel-Hamas war extends to the dining table.

Associate Professor and Co-Director of the Jewish Studies Network, Ari Ariel, was quoted in this piece, explaining how food can become part of a conflict.