Alumna appointed director of lectures program

Amanda Knief has been appointed director of the Lectures Program, effective Aug. 1.

A graduate of the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication (1999) and Drake University Law School (2006), Knief currently serves as a legislative analyst in the Library of Congress' Congressional Research Service. Previous appointments include government relations, policy and event planning positions with the American Atheists, Secular Coalition of America and Iowa Legislative Services Agency.

Knief will be just the third director of the 60-year-old lectures program. She succeeds Pat Miller, who retired this month after directing the program for 37 years.