Jake Johnson 

Any “New Girl” fans? Jake Johnson, AKA the beloved Nick Miller, attended the University of Iowa for two years. He studied Creative Writing and even wrote a play that got him into NYU’s Tisch School of Arts. 

(Mary) Flannery O’Connor 

Best known for her short stories, such as “A Good Man is Hard to Find,” Flannery O’Connor attended the University of Iowa Writers’ Workshop in 1946. You can find a Literary Walk Plaque on Iowa Avenue in her honor. 

Jean Seberg 

For those who have not heard of Jean Seberg, her story is heartbreaking and worth reading about. She was an American actress, considered an icon of the French New Wave, and appeared in 34 films in her short life. 

After growing up in small-town Iowa, she enrolled at the University of Iowa and took up Filmmaking. 

Tom Brokaw 

Although he graduated from the University of South Dakota State, Tom Brokaw started college at the University of Iowa. He was the anchor of NBC’s “Nightly News” for over 20 years, and in 2010, he was awarded an honor doctorate from Iowa. Thanks to his donation to the University of Iowa Libraries Special Collections and Archives in 2016, we have an extensive collection of his papers. 

Ashton Kutcher 

He may be known for his on-screen presence and modeling career, but that all began while he was a student at the University of Iowa. He was a Biochemical Engineering major when he was approached downtown in The Airliner Bar by a model scout. He may have left before graduating to pursue modeling, but we hear he’s still a die-hard Hawkeyes fan. 

Gene Wilder 

 You probably know him best for his perfectly eccentric portrayal of Willy Wonka back in the ‘70s. But did you know he was a student at the University of Iowa first? Wilder graduated with a BA in Communication and Theatre Arts back in 1955. It didn’t take long for him to make a name for himself in Hollywood, where he was best known for his comedic roles. 

Tom Arnold 

Not only did Tom Arnold grow up in Iowa, but he also attended college here as well. Arnold was a Business Administration and Writing student here at the University of Iowa who went on to become a successful actor, comedian, and television host. 

John Irving 

Another writer whose plaque graces our Literary Walk on Iowa Avenue. John Irving attended Kurt Vonnegut’s workshop in 1965 at the Iowa Writers’ Workshop in Dey House. Fun fact: He’s also a member of the Hawkeye Wrestling Club. 

Iowa’s Center for Advancement has a great article that highlights his career. 

At Iowa, you should study what draws and interests you. You can do great things no matter your major, even if you attend college in the Heartland. You never know what, or who, you will find in Iowa City!