Recent News

Seated from left: Samantha Pagel and Mason Farrington. Standing, Jilliet Spahr, Ben Evans, Eryn Lenhart

Central College Students Perform Leonard Bernstein's "Trouble in Tahiti"

Central College's Department of Visual and Performing Arts will present Leonard Bernstein's opera, "Trouble in Tahiti." This production will run Wednesday, Sept. 30, to Saturday, Oct. 3, in the Linda K. Glendening Recital Hall in Cox-Snow Music Center,...

Sep 22, 2026, 10:28am EDT

Howard Buffett to Speak at Central College with Harry Smith '73

Central College welcomes Howard Buffett, newly appointed chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, philanthropist and CEO of the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, back to campus for a conversation with Harry Smith, award-winning journalist, storyteller and 1973 Cent...

Sep 21, 2026, 11:11am EDT

Heather Lynch will join Harry Smith in Douwstra Auditorium at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 6.

In the Field with Harry Smith and Heather Lynch: Penguins of Antarctica

Central College and Vermeer Charitable Foundation welcome Heather Lynch, "NatGeo Live" host and associate professor of ecology and evolution at Stony Brook University, for a conversation with Harry Smith, award-winning broadcast journalist, storyteller...

Sep 15, 2026, 4:28pm EDT

Contributions to the 48-Hour Challenge ensure each Central student is awarded a scholarship.

Central College Raises Record-Breaking Funds During 48-Hour Challenge

For the third year in row, donors have broken a fundraising record during the 48-Hour Challenge, bringing in $192,336 for the Journey Scholarship Fund. A total of 277 gifts from alumni, parents, friends and organizations went into the Challenge this y...

Sep 14, 2026, 11:54am EDT

Mills Gallery exhibiting waterfowl wood carvings by Bob Kroese.

Bob Kroese Wood Carving Art Exhibit at Central College's Mills Gallery

Central College welcomes the work of Bob Kroese, a master wildfowl wood carving artist. Kroese's exhibit, titled "Labor of Love," is on display until Friday, Sept. 25, in the Mills Gallery. The public is invited to a reception for the artist from 1 to...

Sep 9, 2026, 5:20pm EDT

Central College alumni, family and friends will return to campus for Homecoming 2026, October 2-4.

Central College Alumni and Friends Invited to Homecoming Weekend

Central College will welcome alumni, family and friends to campus for Homecoming 2026, beginning Friday, Oct. 2. At 8 a.m. Friday the Dutch Masters Golf Tournament will be held at the Bos Landen Golf Course. Register at: central.edu/alumni/events/dutc...

Sep 2, 2026, 11:28am EDT

New faculty at Central College Erin Hannan and Sarah White Zimmerman ’07

Central College Adds Faculty for New Academic Year

Central College welcomes two new faculty members for the 2026-27 academic year. Central continues its solid reputation for encouraging students to be leaders in their chosen career paths and engaged citizens. These new faculty members will nurture Cent...

Aug 20, 2026, 12:31pm EDT

Central RED Launches Fall Semester Program Schedule

Central RED Society offers an impressive schedule of programs for this fall that are open to the public. Details about each event are available at central.edu/red. The fall classes begin on Thursday, Aug. 13, with Kristin Siewert, retired Central Coll...

Aug 6, 2026, 1:39pm EDT

Valerie Billing, associate professor of English, discusses a literature research project with Elyse Shaw '27.

Summer Research Broadens Experiences of Central Students

The Summer Undergraduate Research program gives Central College students the opportunity to conduct research with a faculty mentor. "It is always exciting to see the variety of research projects Central's students conduct during the summer" says Aar...

Aug 4, 2026, 9:55am EDT

Valerie Billing, associate professor of English and faculty director of the Central Honors Program

Central College Announces Redesigned Honors Program

Central College has launched a reimagined Honors Program that provides academically high-achieving students with expanded opportunities for interdisciplinary learning, research and creative scholarship. Honors students will take specially designed cou...

Jul 29, 2026, 2:43pm EDT

About Central College

Central College of Pella, Iowa, is a private college known for its active student body, academic rigor and athletics success. Ranked the No. 2 Best Value College in Iowa by Niche.com, Central offers a learning environment with supportive educators committed to intellectual engagement, personal growth, career readiness and civic involvement. Founded in 1853 and shaped by its Christian heritage, the college of 1,100 students participates in NCAA Division III athletics. Central is an active part of the Greater Des Moines region and just minutes from Lake Red Rock, Iowa’s largest lake.