2013

Iowa-Turkey Connections

The Honorable Fatih Yildiz, Consul General of the Republic of Turkey to Chicago, recently visited the UI for a talk on Turkish Foreign Policy in a Changing World. In honor of his visit, we have compiled a few examples of how the University of Iowa and Turkey are connected.

International Student wins Meet the Challenge Award

The Meet the Challenge Hawkeye Awards recognize five undergraduate students who exemplify one of the values promoted by The IOWA Challenge to Excel, Stretch, Engage, Choose, and Serve. This year, international student Hexiang Wang was awarded the Meet the Challenge Award in the Stretch category. Hexiang was nominated by International Programs' Dean Downing Thomas. Below is his letter of nomination describing the many ways in which he has seen Hexiang seek out personal challenges during her time at Iowa. Congratulations Hexiang!

Three UI students and alumnae receive Fulbright research grants for 2013-14

Three University of Iowa students alumnae have been awarded Fulbright U.S. Student Program grants to conduct research internationally in 2013-14. This year's UI recipients are Margaret Ross, Rebecca McCray, and Briana Smith.

The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government. It is designed to increase understanding between people of the United States and other countries by providing participants opportunities to study, teach, conduct research, and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns.

Gusto Latino 2013 photo gallery

This year’s Gusto Latino drew large crowds, who came to dance salsa, participate in a dance competition, and enjoy the sounds of Salsa Vibe. The event was held at Old Brick in Iowa City on Friday, April 19, 2013. Check out these photos taken by Mark Zhu of Student Life Marketing + Design:

Growing Number of University of Puerto Rico Scholars Pursuing PhDs at Iowa

From the UI College of Education spring 2013 alumni magazine

Marina Kostina: Best-selling author and businesswoman creates new approaches to online teaching

Marina Kostina (BA ’95/MA ’97/PhD ’11) is changing the way teachers and students interact online. She is also expanding the global reach of higher education through her work in distance learning.

Kostina, who says she came to the United States from Russia 20 years ago with “just a bag in my hand and a dream in my heart,” is now a best-selling author on Amazon and has created her own thriving business, Wired @ Heart, which teaches instructors to build effective online courses.

June 13 WorldCanvass Studio explores interpersonal psychotherapy

Although the term ‘interpersonal psychotherapy,’ or IPT, may not be as familiar to the lay person as ‘Freudian analysis’ or ‘cognitive behavior therapy,’ its use as a treatment for a variety of psychiatric disorders has steadily grown since its development more than three decades ago. On June 13, from 6-7 p.m. in the Senate Chamber of the Old Capitol Museum, WorldCanvass Studio host Joan Kjaer and a group of international experts will discuss IPT’s efficacy, explore cultural challenges to treatment, and compare and contrast the approach to psychological disorders and mental illness in the Canadian, Australian, and U.S. healthcare systems.

Get to Know...Jeannette George

UI senior Jeannette George was recently featured in the “Get to Know…” section of Iowa Now, where she talks about her love of education, her busy schedule at the UI, and the biggest risk she’s ever taken – traveling to Uganda for 12 weeks to conduct research about sickle-cell anemia. The nursing and international studies major says her brave decision to go to Uganda definitely paid off.

'Transitioning,' both as a doctor and a human being

I met my patient whom I will call “Luna” about three years ago. She identified as a transwoman and had transitioned about 10 years earlier — after living most of her adult life identifying as a man, having been married and raising now adult sons and daughters. I feel it necessary to describe my initial sense of discomfort.

Having practiced medicine for more than 30 years, I have met patients from a multitude of backgrounds and nationalities. I enjoy a collaborative practice with my patients, and I love to incorporate their philosophical and cultural beliefs into their health care. Yet, I felt uncomfortable caring for her.

Phil was here

Phil’s Day 2013 celebrates the many ways philanthropy and private gifts support the university and its programs. Every year, hundreds of students are able to study or conduct research abroad thanks to generous donors. In honor of Phil, check out some of their unique experiences.

How to identify the right partner institution?

Sometimes you may find an opportunity to travel to a country that is unfamilar or to an institution at which you have no existing professional connections. In those instances, International Programs can help identify other UI faculty who already have a knowledge of the area and who may even have long-standing connections at the particular institution you plan to visit.

A karmic connection

Thomas Langer, a senior at the University of Iowa studying International Studies and Human Rights (CLAS), traveled to India last summer to conduct research for his Honors Thesis. While there, he met an unexpected visitor whose personal story of struggle and success moved Thomas beyond words and affirmed his academic ambitions.

Turkish official wants to expand influence in Iowa and US

Nearly 6,000 miles from Iowa City, Turkey acts as a bridge between Europe and Asia, and it is now looking to become more of a partner with the United States. “When you look from the shift in politics from the west to the east, Turkey is in the middle of that,” said Fatih Yildiz, the Turkish consul general in Chicago. Yildiz visited the University of Iowa on Monday to speak with students and faculty about creating those relationships at the state and local level.

U.S. Student Fulbright Grant Workshop: “Windows to Opportunity”

You are invited to attend a Fulbright U.S. Student Program workshop given by UI Student Fulbright Advisor Karen Wachsmuth of International Programs on Monday, May 6, from 3:30-4:30 p.m. in International Commons, 1117 UCC.

Video artist Valeriano López is focus of ESG luncheon May 3

The final talk of the spring 2013 European Studies Group lecture series, presented by UI faculty member Luis Martín-Estudillo, will be held Friday, May 3, 2013, at noon in University Capitol Centre, Room 2520B, on the topic of "Confabulations: Guarding and Regarding Fortress Europe's Southern Walls." This event is free and open to the public.