Recent News

Homecoming 2024 welcomes alumni and the public to campus the week of Sept. 30 to Oct. 6.

Central College Homecoming 2024 Welcomes All to Campus

Central College's 2024 Homecoming plans offer alumni and the greater community opportunities to join in festivities for the whole family. Central will open the Homecoming week with guest speaker, Joy Harjo, former U.S. Poet Laureate, sharing her poetr...

Sep 10, 2024, 10:43am EDT

Central College will welcome U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo, interviewed by Harry Smith ’73 on Monday, Sept. 30.

Former U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo to Speak at Central College

Joy Harjo, former U.S. Poet Laureate, will read from her works and participate in an interview with Harry Smith, distinguished Central College Class of 1973 alumnus and former NBC Today Show and CBS reporter, at Central's Writers Reading. The public is...

Sep 4, 2024, 3:50pm EDT

Central College opens Elizabeth Rhoads Read art exhibit.

Mills Gallery Features Elizabeth Rhoads Read Art Exhibit

Central College welcomes the works of Elizabeth Rhoads Read, fiber artist, to the Mills Gallery. Read uses simple materials such as paper, discarded fabric and abject items to create organic sculptures. Her exhibit is on display until Friday, Sept. 20....

Aug 29, 2024, 12:07pm EDT

Central RED Reflects on 9/11 with Rod Bandstra

The Central RED Society welcomes Lt. Colonel Rod Bandstra, U.S. Air Force, on Wednesday, Sept. 11. Lunch will be served at 11:30 p.m. in the Dave '61 and Ardie Sutphen '64 Common Room, Central's Graham Annex. The cost is $15. Most Americans remember w...

Aug 26, 2024, 12:49pm EDT

Central College Welcomes Eight New Faculty

Central College introduces eight new faculty members for the 2024-25 academic year. Central continues its solid reputation encouraging students to be thought-leaders in their chosen career paths and engaged citizens. These new faculty members will nurt...

Aug 19, 2024, 11:38am EDT

The Central RED Society will visit Barnswallow Flowers Wednesday, Aug. 28, and learn about flower farming.

Central RED Goes to Barnswallow Flowers

The Central RED Society will visit Barnswallow Flowers at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 28, in Oskaloosa, Iowa. The group will learn about flower farming sustainability in Iowa, how to harvest flowers and create bouquets to take home. Meredith Nunnikhoven...

Aug 15, 2024, 10:58am EDT

Central College welcomes the community to the Big Red Rally featuring the Iowa Wild Aug. 22.

Community Invited to Central's Big Red Rally Aug. 22

Central College invites the public to a free mini-block party with the Iowa Wild Hockey 5-8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 22, for the inaugural Big Red Rally on the Central campus. Iowa Wild will bring its Wild on Wheels tour to Pella, presented by Kwik Star. I...

Aug 12, 2024, 1:23pm EDT

Central College faculty, top from left, Bradfield, Renstrom, Scolaro. Bottom, from left, Vishnevskaya, Wick.

Central College Announces Faculty Promotions

The Central College Board of Trustees voted unanimously to promote five faculty to professors in their areas of expertise. "I'm so delighted to announce the promotion of these faculty members who have demonstrated their commitment to Central students,...

Aug 8, 2024, 4:54pm EDT

Central’s Tim Olin publishes journal article “Precarious Tolerance: Jews on the Early Modern Habsburg Frontier.”

Central College Professor Timothy Olin Publishes Research

Central College's Timothy Olin, associate professor of history, published an article in Shofar: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Jewish Studies. Olin's article, "Precarious Tolerance: Jews on the Early Modern Habsburg Frontier" examines the perceived st...

Aug 7, 2024, 3:08pm EDT

Central College completed another successful year raising funds to support student scholarships, endowment, academic programs, projects and operations.

Central College Breaks Scholarship Fundraising Goal

Central College exceeded its goal for the Journey Scholarship Fund receiving $1,723,466 during fiscal year 2023-24 to support annual student scholarships. At Central, 100% of gifts to the Journey Scholarship Fund directly support students. This is a re...

Aug 5, 2024, 2:51pm EDT

About Central College

Central College of Pella, Iowa, is a private college known for its active student body, academic rigor and athletics success. Our students learn collaboratively with supportive educators who share a commitment 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 and is a member of the American Rivers Conference. Central is an active part of the Greater Des Moines region and just minutes from Lake Red Rock, Iowa’s largest lake.