E-News - September 2026
Less than a month until Homecoming 2026, Coe’s anniversary celebration
We’re less than a month away from Homecoming 2026! Join us for our 175th anniversary celebration with exclusive demisemiseptcentennial events like a Common Hour detailing Coe’s history, a Collage 50th Reunion, an All-Alumni Celebration, class reunions, a Charlie Kohawk statue dedication and an All-Kohawk Homecoming Concert.
In addition, we’ll be celebrating our Alumni Award winners and Athletic Hall of Fame inductees:
Alumni Awards
- Young Alum Award: Angelea Presti Yoder ’12
- Alumni Award of Merit: Wendy Andrews Nielsen ’01
- Distinguished Service Award: Nancy Hamblin Evans ’71 and Tom Hazelton ’77
Athletic Hall of Fame
- Kevin Welu ’86
- Jamie Dalbey Schmidt ’02
- Mike Kilburg ’07
- Kristy Upah Staker ’08
Register before Friday, September 18 for the chance to win one of five (5) Homecoming weekend packages. Packages include complimentary VIP access to all Homecoming activities for you and one guest and a welcome bag of Kohawk swag. One grand prize winner will also receive the chance to kick a field goal at halftime of the Homecoming football game.
Don’t miss out on the fun, memories and connection with friends old and new. Whether you’re an alum, student, family member or friend of the college, we can’t wait to welcome you home.
See the schedule of events and register here!
Coe’s Wilderness Field Station survived dangerous wildfires in the summer
Extreme heat, strong winds and low humidity caused sudden wildfires that moved dangerously close to the Wilderness Field Station (WFS) in northern Minnesota this past July. One particular fire grew to 40 acres, prompting Director of the Wilderness Field Station Jesse Ellis to call for students to evacuate the Station.
“It all happened really fast,” said Sydney Behrmeister ’29, a biology student who recalled what immediately followed the call to evacuate. Behrmeister remembered grabbing her sleeping bag, a pair of clothes and some shower essentials before joining the other students to relocate to a local community college. A memory that sticks with Behrmeister is seeing ash floating in the air like snow. “Is this real?” she thought.
Everyone hoped to return to the WFS in a few days, but it quickly became apparent that a return would not be possible. The fire remained active, but it was not the only issue; the smoke soon became intolerable. Behrmeister’s throat hurt for days after the evacuation due to the poor air quality. The index reached an extremely hazardous level of 500.
Fortunately, the WFS was not damaged in the fires. Despite the chaos, the students were able to bond throughout the uncertainty. Behrmeister considers her trip to the WFS a success overall and looks forward to returning next year to make up for all the activities she and her fellow students missed out on.
From the desk of President David Hayes
We are excited to share the fifth paper in a series of reflections from the desk of President David Hayes ’93.
In this letter, President Hayes shares a recap of the first four papers and the college’s ongoing efforts to put our strategic framework into action — including what Kohawks can do to help today. Read the letter here.
Students find success at RSH Legal
At Coe, students become equipped to demonstrate the value of critical thinking, communication, independent research and integrative learning that are the hallmarks of a liberal arts experience. With these skills at hand, Kohawks are making waves in the workforce.
Local businesses benefit from the great talent Coe has to share with them, and a recent example in internship/post-graduate work is RSH Legal, a top-rated Iowa law firm. In the past few years, many Kohawks have found success at and after RSH:
- Claire Chandler ’21 teaches social studies
- Samantha Toman ’21 practices law
- Chloe Parenteau ’22 works for a public library
- JoAnna Voss ’23 graduated from the University of Iowa College of Law and practices at her mother’s law firm
- Brady Dahl ’25 is a campaign fellow for Rob Sand’s gubernatorial campaign
- Sydney Kepros ’26 is a J.D. Candidate at the University of Iowa College of Law
- CJ Coker ’26 studied business administration and economics and is interested in finance, commercial banking, real estate or broader business analysis
- Isaiah Morgan ’26 is a business development representative
- Brevin Dahl ’27 and Owen Cook ’27 are going into their fourth years at Coe
Find collected works of former Visiting Professor Ann Struthers in the Internet Archive
Eleanor Ann Struthers is the author of five published volumes of poetry and many more that remain unpublished. She taught for 25 years at Coe College and was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship, which allowed her to spend two years in Aleppo, Syria, teaching American literature. A second Fulbright sent her to Colombo, Sri Lanka. Her time in the Middle East greatly inspired her writing.
Ann’s collected poems, as well as her memoir of her years in Syria, are now available online in seven volumes at the Internet Archive.
At Coe, Ann taught poetry, drama and Middle Eastern literature. She worked with many distinguished grads in applying for Fulbright grants. More than 1,000 of her poems, many unpublished, are held in the George T. Henry College Archives in the Stewart Memorial Library.
Try your hand at clay target with the team’s sporting clays event
Space is limited at next week’s clay target event, which is open to the public for ages 14 and up. Join the ACUI/SCTP 2026 Division III Nationals third place clay target team on a 100-target sporting clays course. The cost is $150/person and includes targets, cart, lunch and refreshments.
Who? YOU! To reserve your spot/squad, register by emailing Head Coach Patrick Cory at pcory@coe.edu. You may pay at paypal.me/coeclaytarget now or with cash or check at the event
What? Coe College sporting clay shoot and live benefit auction
When? Saturday, September 26 with 8:00 AM registration, 9:00 AM safety registration, 9:10 AM shotgun start and 1:00 PM auction supporting Aiming for a Cure, I Know Jack and 620 Foundation
Where? Highland Hideaway Hunting in Riverside, IA
Find more information at https://highlandhunting.com/event/coe-college-sporting-clay-shoot/ and contact Head Coach Patrick Cory with questions.
The Sigma Nu golf outing is going strong
Last month, a group of Sigma Nu alumni from the graduation years of 1964-1972 gathered in Cedar Rapids for their annual golf outing, which they have participated in for the past 20 or so years. Often the group gathers in Chicago, but they decided to return to Cedar Rapids this year to visit campus during Coe’s 175th anniversary.
Golfers from numerous states descended upon Iowa to play rounds at the Cedar Rapids Country Club and the Amana Golf Club. They returned to Coe’s campus to hear updates on the college from President David Hayes ’93 and information about today’s Kohawks from Associate Professor of Stead Department of Business Administration and Economics Amy Perry.
Gene Henderson ’68 coordinates the golf outing each year and spoke for each golfer when he said he appreciated the opportunity to get a sense of what life is like at Coe these days. The group was happy to reunite during the demisemiseptcentennial and to reminisce on their time at Coe.
Many of his friends, Henderson said, are amazed that he is still gathering with people from his era at Coe all these years later. It’s a “tribute to Coe College and the bond that we formed when we were there,” Henderson acknowledged.
To cap off the week and to thank Coe for the hospitality, 11 golfers plan to make identical gifts to the Annual Fund. Their connections and support help keep the Coe community strong.
Visit Greece with Provost and Dean of Faculty Angela Ziskowski and Coe alumni
Don’t miss your chance to explore the ruins and legends of ancient Greece with a Classical archaeologist and faculty member of Coe College. In addition to archaeological sites, the trip will include numerous famous museums in Greece, private tours of sites and collections not available to most of the public, shopping opportunities, free time to explore and memorable Mediterranean dining.
When? April 2-13, 2027; participants to depart on April 1 to arrive in Athens on April 2
Where? 11 nights in Greece: five in Athens, two on Santorini and four in Nafplio. Sites include the Acropolis, the Ancient Agora, Akrotiri, Palamidi Castle, Mycenae, Corinth and the Theater of Epidaurus
How? The cost is $8,200 (single occupancy) or $7,200 (double occupancy). The trip will be capped at 18 participants and requires a minimum of 12 to run. Deposits ($2,000) to secure one’s place will be due by Friday, October 2
If you have any questions, would like more details or would like to reserve a place on the trip, visit the event page or email Angela Ziskowski at aziskowski@coe.edu.
The Clearly Coe initiative aims to help students and families make informed, confident choices
Last week, Coe publicly announced a major enrollment initiative that prioritizes accessibility to a Coe education by reducing tuition by 45%. Prospective students and their families will be empowered to focus on the factors that set Coe apart in their academic journey rather than a price tag with Clearly Coe.
“We want to eliminate friction from the college decision,” said President David Hayes ’93. “We are empowering students and families to prioritize factors like excellence, opportunity and career success rather than price tags.”
The new pricing model effectively reduces Coe’s “sticker price.” Traditionally, many private colleges have set tuition high and offset costs with grants and scholarships awarded throughout the financial aid process. Students and families may not know how much a college will cost until they’ve completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Factoring in tuition, fees, room and board, the starting direct cost of a Coe education will total approximately $45,000—less than or similar to competing private colleges in Iowa, where total pre-aid costs average about $57,000.
For more information about Clearly Coe, visit www.coe.edu/clearly-coe.
Sara Volz named new Vice President for Communications and Chief of Staff for Advancement Operations
After an extensive search, Coe College President David Hayes ’93 has appointed Sara Volz, CFRE, as the new Vice President for Communications and Chief of Staff for Advancement Operations.
Volz is a Certified Fund-Raising Executive (CFRE) with a rich history of driving transformational revenue growth, strategic planning and brand visibility across higher education, healthcare and non-profit organizations. An Iowa native and University of Iowa alum, she has built a stellar career as a philanthropic strategist and executive leader. Prior to joining Coe, she served as the Regional Director of Development at ChildServe beginning in 2022.
Volz said she is grateful to begin her new chapter at Coe College and excited for what’s ahead.
“I feel incredibly blessed to have the opportunity to work alongside such a talented and welcoming team — and to be surrounded by inspiring faculty, students and alumni who make the Coe community so special,” Volz said. “From the moment I stepped on campus, I’ve been reminded that it’s the people who make an institution truly exceptional. I’m excited to learn, listen, build relationships and get to work telling the stories of the people and impact that make Coe so extraordinary.”
Coe earns national acclaim in 2026 Princeton Review rankings
Coe College continues to stand out on the national stage, earning prestigious Top 20 spots in The Princeton Review’s Best 392 Colleges. In the newly released rankings, Coe is named #16 in the nation for Best Career Services and #18 in the nation for Best-Run Colleges.
The top-tier recognitions reaffirm Coe’s position as a leader in higher education, highlighting its commitment to delivering an exceptional student experience paired with elite preparation for post-graduation life.
"We take immense pride in creating an environment where our students are empowered from day one," said Coe College President David Hayes ’93. "Consistently being recognized nationally in important student-first categories speaks directly to the dedication of our entire campus community. We focus our resources where they matter most: ensuring our students thrive academically, personally and professionally."
For nearly a decade, Coe has consistently earned top 20 national recognition from The Princeton Review in categories like internships, accessible professors, student support and career services, establishing Coe as a leader in Iowa in college-to-career success.
At the core of Coe’s model is a distinct educational strategy that pairs a rigorous academic foundation with high-impact experiential learning — including guaranteed internships, hands-on research opportunities and off-campus study — complemented by personalized career development from C3: Creativity, Careers, Community.
"Our learning environment is intentionally structured to challenge a
nd inspire," said Associate Vice President for Advancement, C3 and Special Projects Barb Tupper ’89. "By seamlessly layering experiential learning and practical career and networking advice over a robust academic core, we ensure that classroom knowledge transforms into active, real-world expertise."
This deliberate combination of rigorous academics, hands-on experience and top-ranked career services yields proven outcomes for Coe graduates year after year. For more than a decade, nearly 100% of Kohawks are employed or accepted into graduate school within nine months of graduating.
"These rankings validate what our prospective families and current students desire in a college education," said Interim Vice President for Enrollment Josh Kite. "When you blend a highly supportive campus culture with elite career guidance and guaranteed hands-on learning, the results speak for themselves. Our track record demonstrates that a Coe education directly translates into long-term professional success.
The Princeton Review’s rankings are derived from comprehensive student surveys evaluating overall satisfaction, administrative management, career readiness programs and campus life. Coe also earned marks as a Best College in the Midwest.
Coe welcomes new Kohawks during Orientation weekend
It was the "best day ever" indeed during move-in and orientation. Relive some of the sights and sounds as the Class of 2030 made themselves at home.