Carol, professor of rhetoric in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and longtime director of the UI Writing Center, has devoted more than three decades to advancing writing instruction at Iowa and beyond. An internationally recognized scholar of writing pedagogy and second-language writing, she has published extensively, delivered keynotes for many organizations and conferences, and led professional development workshops for educators across the Americas.

At Iowa, Severino expanded the Writing Center’s reach, supporting thousands of students, faculty, and staff each year across disciplines, and co-founded the Honors Writing Fellows Program. Her leadership has strengthened writing support systems campuswide and helped position Iowa as a national leader in writing education.

A dedicated teacher and mentor, Severino has served on more than 50 doctoral committees and taught foundational courses in writing pedagogy. She is widely respected for guiding students and instructors with insight, rigor, and compassion.