University of Iowa International Programs

08/21/2026

08/20/2026

Here's to making Iowa City feel like home. Welcome to our new international students! 🌍💛

08/17/2026

🎬✨ An International Travel Award took Assistant Professor Cathy Parrott straight to a Netflix film set!

This summer, Cathy worked as an assistant costume designer on Hannibal, starring Denzel Washington and directed by Antoine Fuqua. At Rome's historic Cinecittà Studios, she researched ancient Roman clothing, drawing on resources from the University of Iowa libraries to help bring the film's historical costumes to life.

In Venice, she explored historic textiles, garments, masks, and decorative arts, gathering inspiration she's now sharing with her students back at Iowa. 🇮🇹

📸: Cathy Parrott

08/12/2026

What can a writer learn by living like a monk?

MFA student Benjamin Marra spent two months in France and Germany with support from a Stanley Graduate Award for International Research, studying monastic life and historic monasteries. His research culminated in a week-long silent retreat at a Carthusian monastery, where he experienced monastic life firsthand.

The experience will help shape the novel that will become his MFA thesis.

📸: Benjamin Marra at Mont Saint-Michel

08/06/2026

Associate provost and dean of International Programs Russ Ganim joined Iowa students in Iceland this summer for an interdisciplinary expedition that brought together global learning and hands-on research. 🇮🇸

Students collaborated across disciplines to launch weather balloons, collect atmospheric data, and gain experiences that will last a lifetime. 🔬

08/03/2026

With support from an International Travel Award, assistant professor Sam Young, from the University of Iowa School of Music, traveled to Istanbul, Türkiye this summer to share his research and creative work with an international audience.

Alongside fellow Hawkeyes, he led a hands-on workshop where participants transformed passages from Virginia Woolf's writing into original violin compositions, bringing stories to life through music. 🎻🌍

07/30/2026

How do artists keep centuries-old traditions alive while pushing them in new directions? 🎨

MFA student Jesus Santa Cruz traveled to La Ceiba Gráfica in Veracruz, Mexico, with support from a Stanley Graduate Award for International Research to study innovative lithography techniques. Learning from expert printmakers and experimenting with locally sourced materials, Jesus gained hands-on experience that will shape his MFA thesis and future career in printmaking and education.

07/28/2026

Postcards from Hawkeyes exploring the world this summer 📬🌍

07/22/2026

Congratulations to Brenda Gao (BS psychology ’25), of Iowa City, Iowa, on receiving a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Award to Taiwan for 2026–27 🇹🇼

Brenda was awarded a 2025 U.S. Department of State Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) to study Japanese last summer in Okayama, Japan. Her time in-country, inspired her to pursue a Fulbright.

07/20/2026

Hawkeyes on the cliffs of Howth! 💛🇮🇪

This summer, UI students are sharpening their creative writing skills while exploring Ireland’s rich literary history on the irish writing program led by UI Professor Inara Verzemnieks ☘️