Recent News

Central College honors faculty (top) Ellen DuPre, Nicole Ladner, Brian Roberts ’92, (bottom) Mark Thomas, Jim Zaffiro.

Central College Recognizes Outstanding Faculty

Central College presented five faculty members with distinguished awards for their outstanding leadership with students and among peers. Ellie DuPre, professor of biology, received the Frank W. Moore Faculty Award for promoting student learning in t...

Jun 17, 2024, 2:45pm EDT

Paulina Mena, Central College professor of biology, was appointed as the Ruth and Marvin Denekas Endowed Chair in Science and Humanities.

Central College's Paulina Mena Named Ruth and Marvin Denekas Endowed Chair in Science and Humanities

Central College announces Paulina Mena, professor of biology, as the new Ruth and Marvin Denekas Endowed Chair in Science and Humanities. Mena's accolades were announced during the 2024 Commencement ceremony. "Dr. Paulina Mena demonstrates a commitmen...

Jun 12, 2024, 1:13pm EDT

Central College promotes Leslie Keuning Duinink ’90 and Aaron Roerdink ’97 to deans.

Central College Appoints New Deans

Central College announces the promotion of Leslie Keuning Duinink, 1990 Central graduate, to dean of undergraduate education, and Aaron Roerdink, 1997 Central graduate, to dean of the faculty. "As Central continues to evaluate the changing needs and...

Jun 4, 2024, 12:47pm EDT

Russ Benedict, professor of biology, Central College

Central College's Russ Benedict Selected for USC Wrigley Institute This Summer

Russ Benedict, Central College professor of biology, has been selected for the 2024 cohort of Wrigley Institute Storymakers fellows. The summer program at the University of Southern California Wrigley Institute for Environment and Sustainability chose ...

May 21, 2024, 2:28pm EDT

Central College celebrated staff achievements and milestone anniversaries. Staff Council co-chair Allyson Mann ’16 presented the Sky’s the Limit award to Jennie Hedrick-Rozenberg ’06, head women’s triathlon coach (pictured above left) and the Cooperative Spirit to Todd Hart, trades manager in facilities management (pictured above right).

Central College Recognizes Staff for Service

Central College announced service award winners and recognized employees who reached a milestone anniversary during 2023 at the annual Staff Service Awards celebration. "I am thankful for the dedication of our employees and their commitment to Central...

May 16, 2024, 10:00am EDT

Central RED Welcomes Alumnus and Iowa's Lieutenant Governor

The Central RED Society members will meet Iowa's Lieutenant Governor Adam Gregg on Thursday, May 23. Dinner will be served at 5:30 p.m. and the program begins at 6 p.m. in the Boat, Moore, Weller Rooms, Maytag Student Center. The cost is $15, and a ca...

May 15, 2024, 9:46am EDT

2024 Central Student Leadership Award recipients, from top left: Grant Morgan ’26, Tyler Fitzpatrick ’24, Cora Whitenack ’27, David Pavlat, associate professor of kinesiology, Becca Vala ’25, Summer Chambers ’27, Alyson Tenney ’25, Gabby Petruzzello ’24, Kylie Carstens ’26. From left seated: Noah Fischer ’24, Abby Westercamp ’25, Erin Dederich ’25, Shelley Bradfield, associate professor of communication studies and advisor to Students Against Sexual Assault, Grae Digmann-Pearson ’24, Fynn Wadsworth ’25.

Central's Student Development Office Announces Annual Student Awards

Central College's Student Development office released the 2024 student leadership awards. This year 95 nominations were received from students, staff and faculty. A panel of faculty and staff reviewed the nominations and selected awardees. Central rec...

May 10, 2024, 10:39am EDT

Central RED Goes to the Knoxville Raceway

The Central RED Society will tour the Knoxville Raceway and National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and Museum at 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 14, in Knoxville, Iowa. The class is limited to 75 people. Bob Baker, executive director of the museum, will lead the tour. ...

May 2, 2024, 10:00am EDT

Central College student North Lindell ’26, second from left, is collaborating with other students in the Design Dash, the night prior to the Pappajohn Student Entrepreneurship competition. The Design Dash was a simulation exercise for students from different colleges and universities to get to know each other and attempt to solve problems in the real world.

Central College Students at the Pappajohn Iowa Entrepreneurial Venture Competition

Two Central College students participated in the Pappajohn Student Entrepreneurship competition held at Drake University in early April. Representing Central were North Lindell, Class of 2026 business management major and Spanish minor, from Ottumwa, I...

May 1, 2024, 12:41pm EDT

Shirley and Dirk Van Zante ’52 created a new full-tuition endowed scholarship.

Van Zantes Endow a Full-Tuition Scholarship

Central College announces the creation of a full-tuition scholarship in the name of Shirley and Dirk Van Zante, a 1952 graduate. "We are immensely honored by the Van Zantes for this planned gift and their decision to create this scholarship for Centra...

Apr 29, 2024, 4:31pm 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.