The esteemed Iowa Writers’ Workshop will see one of its own, Professor Emerita Marilynne Robinson, honored with the Distinguished Alumni Award this fall.
PHOTO: ALEC SOTH/MAGNUM PHOTOS
UI Distinguished Alumni Award faculty honoree Marilynne Robinson
Among the ranks of America’s celebrated novelists, several have received the University of Iowa’s Distinguished Alumni Award, a list that includes Gail Godwin, John Irving, and Jane Smiley.
This year, the prestigious honor will be bestowed upon Marilynne Robinson (17LHD), who headlines a group of six honorees recognized for their significant contributions to the university and beyond.
Robinson, known for her acclaimed novels set in the fictional town of Gilead, Iowa, shared her thoughts with Iowa Magazine in anticipation of her return to Iowa City for the award ceremony on October 29.
Why is the UI’s Distinguished Alumni Award special to you?
I taught at Iowa for many years. I did a lot of my writing here. The place and the people were wonderful. Iowa City is a great town. And I liked being part of a great big public university, where things can be done at the highest level without pretension. I hope the award gives me a chance to tell Iowans again what a fine institution they have made, over many generations.
Where do you currently reside, and what do you miss about Iowa City?
I divide the year between upstate New York and rural California. Home is where my grandchildren are. But I do miss that atmosphere of Iowa City well-being. People there know they are part of a very good thing.
What has life been like since your retirement from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop?
I’m not good at retirement. I just keep working—writing, lecturing, and so on.
What initially brought you to Iowa, and why did you stay for 25 years?
I was offered a two-year appointment. And I found that Iowa was a good place for me. It has a beautiful, generous history that was important to my fiction.
Reflecting on your time at the workshop, what are you most proud of?
I still feel proud when a workshop graduate does something amazing, as they do fairly often. I feel proud even though it’s a long time since I worked with any of them.
How did your experience with students influence your writing?
It kept me aware of issues like voice and characterization—always good things to be reminded of. I benefited from their criticisms of one another’s work.
Are you currently working on any projects?
I hope so.
Meet the 2026 Distinguished Alumni Award Winners
For more than six decades, the University of Iowa has celebrated its most notable graduates, faculty, staff, and friends with the Distinguished Alumni Awards. This fall, six outstanding Hawkeyes will join a revered group of recipients whose accomplishments and service extend far beyond Iowa City.
Read More Here
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