Obermann Writing Collective

Spring 2026 Meeting Times

Mondays, 10:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
AND 2:00–3:30 p.m.

Tuesdays, 9:00–10:30 a.m.

Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m.

Accountability (& coffee!) for UI writers

This program offers accountability to artists, scholars, and researchers working on any kind of writing project (articles, essays, fellowship or grant applications, dissertations, book projects, edited volumes, etc.) who want dedicated time, a cozy space, and a community for the practice of writing.

In spring 2026, four writing groups will meet in our Writers' Attic at the Obermann Center for Advanced Studies at 111 Church St. Each group will meet once a week for 1.5 hours, beginning the week of February 2 and running through the week of May 4. We'll distribute people into groups based on space and availability.

Weekly writing sessions will include brief check-ins, goal setting, and sustained writing time. All of the groups are open to everyone in the University of Iowa academic community. Our writing space is deliberately small and cozy, so we have spaces for only 15 writers per group. Please note that priority will be given to past members of the Writing Collective, and that members can be part of only one group.

Applications for the Spring 2026 semester are due Friday, January 23, by 5:00 p.m.

Apply

Writing Group Leaders

Julie Koch

Wednesday morning writing group leader

julie-koch@uiowa.edu

Julie M. Koch is a professor in the Counseling Psychology program in Psychological and Quantitative Foundations. Before joining the University of Iowa, she was Professor and Head of the School of Community Health Sciences, Counseling and Counseling Psychology at Oklahoma State University. She joined the University of Iowa in 2022. Dr. Koch was a Fulbright Specialist to Mongolia in 2015, is a past American Psychological Association representative to the International Psychology Network on LGBT Issues, and currently serves on the American Psychological Association Committee for Global Psychology. Her interests include multicultural competence, training, and development of faculty and counseling psychologists; human rights and social justice; LGBTQ mental health and affirmative practice, especially in rural and international settings; and prevention in school settings.

Kath Shaughnessy

Monday morning writing group leader

kathleen-shaughnessy-1@uiowa.edu

I am a seventh year PhD Candidate in English, planning to finish my dissertation and defend by the end of this year. My dissertation focuses on depictions of science and gender in late nineteenth century imperial Gothic fiction. I have worked with the Writing Center in multiple capacities since 2020; in addition to enrollment and appointment tutoring, and asynchronous document review, I have worked as a writing tutor for the past year in the Hanson Center for Communication at the College of Engineering. I have assisted with multiple thesis/dissertation bootcamps for Engineering during the academic year, as well as multiple Writing Center summer writing groups, such as WriteON and the dissertation bootcamp.

Ellie White

Monday afternoon writing group leader

ellie-white-1@uiowa.edu

Ellie White is in her fourth year in the English PhD program, working on 19th-century British fiction, coming-of-age novels, and book history. Her current projects focus on literacy and literacy acquisition in 19th-century England. In addition to teaching in the Rhetoric Department and tutoring in the Writing Center, she is president of the Association for Graduate Students in English.

Adam Witte

Tuesday morning writing group leader

adam-witte@uiowa.edu

Adam Witte is a student in the Nonfiction Writing MFA program at Iowa, where he is also pursuing a Graduate Certificate in Book Arts and Book Studies from Iowa's Center for the Book. Already an alum (B.A. English/Secondary Education 1996), Adam spent twenty-two years as an Iowa public school teacher before he felt ready to be a student again.

"It was hugely beneficial for me to start each week with the Obermann Writing Collective. Especially with creative projects, it is easy for me to spend quite a bit of time thinking about the work without doing the work. Making that ninety-minute butt-in-chair commitment reconnected me to the work in a tangible, focused way that put words on the page, and those words on the page provided some creative momentum for the week!"

Adam Witte, English (Nonfiction Writing)

“Finding time in the week to write, especially when busy with teaching and other responsibilities, is incredibly hard, and the writing group helped immensely getting me into a regular writing rhythm, both during and outside our weekly meetings, which markedly increased my productivity throughout the semester. I wish I’d had this even earlier in my dissertation process and can’t recommend it enough for those getting started on major writing projects.”

Jonathan Lack, Film Studies

"This semester I began preparing myself for comps and was quite worried about holding myself accountable to my reading and writing schedule. Attending the writing group provided some much needed structure into my weekly schedule. Knowing that I had a quiet and cozy spot to co-work with peers each week really helped me stay motivated. I enjoyed getting to know some new folks from different departments and it was incredibly validating to be able to share some writing challenges with others in similar positions."

Janeanne Levenstein, American Studies