In a testament to academic excellence, four distinguished faculty members from the University of Iowa have been honored with the prestigious Iowa Mid-Career Faculty Scholar Awards for 2026. This accolade, now in its fifth iteration, is designed to support tenured faculty who have made significant contributions to their fields on a national or international level while also excelling in teaching and mentorship.
The 2026 awardees include:
- Casey DeRoo, associate professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy
- Donika Kelly, associate professor in the Department of English
- Greg LeFevre, associate professor in civil and environmental engineering at the College of Engineering
- Mary Weber, associate professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Carver College of Medicine
Iowa Mid-Career Faculty Scholar Symposium
The upcoming Iowa Mid-Career Faculty Scholar Symposium will occur at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 5, in Room 166 of the Iowa Memorial Union.
Attendees will have the opportunity to learn from the experiences of the 2025 cohort and explore interdisciplinary research efforts underway at the University of Iowa.
“Our 2026 Iowa Mid-Career Faculty Scholars showcase the drive, creativity, and scholarly excellence of our faculty,” states Kevin Kregel, executive vice president and provost. “We proudly support their continued growth as they advance impactful research, education, and innovations that benefit our university, Iowans, and beyond.”
The award provides each recipient with $25,000 annually for three years to aid their scholarly pursuits. Additionally, they receive mentorship and guidance in career development, participate in leadership activities, and present their work at the annual symposium.
This program highlights the University of Iowa’s commitment to advancing faculty careers during a critical growth phase, reinforcing its dedication to superior teaching, research, and service.
Casey DeRoo
Associate Professor Casey DeRoo is renowned for developing instruments for space telescopes that detect X-rays, allowing scientists to observe cosmic phenomena such as exploding stars and black holes. Since joining the university in 2018, DeRoo has contributed to NASA’s future X-ray missions and earned the NASA Nancy Grace Roman Technology Fellowship in 2020. He has attracted over $5.8 million in funding, enhancing the capabilities of the Iowa Spaceflight Laboratory.
DeRoo is also a committed mentor, guiding students and postdoctoral scholars to prestigious NASA fellowships and national awards. “His vision and growing national profile are propelling his future as an instrument lead on NASA missions,” says Gregory Howes, departmental executive officer for physics and astronomy.
Donika Kelly
Donika Kelly, a distinguished poet and associate professor of English, has garnered national and international acclaim for her work. Her poetry collection, The Renunciations, earned a National Endowment for the Arts Literature Fellowship in 2023. Her latest work, The Natural Order of Things, received critical acclaim and was featured on NPR’s All Things Considered.
Kelly is a dynamic advocate for literature, contributing significantly to the creative writing community through workshops and craft talks. “We see Professor Kelly as a future leader of creative writing on campus,” remarks Loren Glass, M.F. Carpenter Professor and chair of English.
Greg LeFevre
Associate Professor Greg LeFevre is recognized for his contributions to understanding and managing water pollutants. His research on natural stormwater treatment systems using plants, soil, and microbes has influenced national water quality discussions. LeFevre has secured over $5 million in research funding and has been awarded an NSF CAREER Award.
LeFevre’s dedication extends to teaching, where he has developed key courses in environmental chemistry and water treatment. “His achievements exemplify excellence across research, teaching, and service,” notes Allen Bradley, departmental executive officer and professor of civil and environmental engineering.
Mary Weber
Mary Weber leads a highly regarded research program in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, focusing on how bacteria like Chlamydia trachomatis invade human cells. Her work, which has been supported by three NIH grants, explores infection-related cellular changes and cancer.
Weber is also an influential mentor and leader, co-directing a federally funded research training program and founding the American Society for Microbiology Student Chapter at the university. “This high-risk, high-reward effort positions her as a leading investigator in conducting research on understudied infectious agents,” says Li Wu, professor and departmental executive officer of microbiology and immunology.
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