Lauren Smiley (BA journalism and mass communication; Spanish ’05) is an award-winning freelance journalist (https://laurensmiley.contently.com/) based in San Francisco, California. Writing for publications such as WIRED, The Atlantic, and The New York Times, Smiley feels her study abroad experience in Guadalajara, Mexico, as an undergraduate at Iowa helped her build skills that contribute to her success writing in-depth magazine stories—namely navigating the arrival in a new community with grace and resourcefulness. We caught up with Marion, Iowa, native Smiley to learn more about her study abroad experience and how it shaped her personally and professionally.

The generosity of Drs. Joel and Sandra Barkan led to the creation of a scholarship for undergraduate students to study abroad in non-Western countries. Both Sandra (PhD comparative literature ’84), formerly comparative literature professor and associate dean of the Graduate College, and her late husband, Joel, political science professor, had distinguished careers at Iowa and helped to infuse international education on campus.

International Programs was proud to celebrate the Grand Opening Celebration of the University of Iowa Passport Office, Wednesday, November 17, in 1111 University Capitol Centre. 

Learn about an amazing opportunity to travel to Greece with Assistant Professor of Counselor Education and Supervision in the Department of Rehabilitation and Counselor Education Gerta Bardoshi. 

The University of Iowa International Programs office is opening a passport acceptance station on campus for students and community members.

Emily Brown, senior advisor and program director in Study Abroad at the University of Iowa, reflects on the COVID-19 pandemic.

Learn about an amazing opportunity to travel to Greece with UI Professor Harry Stecopoulos. Join Study Abroad for an info session on Writing Greece: Art & History in a Mythic Land on Thursday, December 2, at 1:00 p.m., via Zoom.

A student’s first glimpse of the ocean during an excursion to the Galapagos. An evening in Seville that inspired a Spanish-learning journey. A welcoming carpet of black-eyed Susans in bloom on the Pentacrest.

This year’s nine student and three faculty Fulbright winners, along with 13 deferred awardees from 2020–21, will teach and conduct research in more than a dozen countries around the world during the 2021–22 academic year.

International Programs will host a virtual Boren Awards information session on Tuesday, November 16, from 10:30-11:30 a.m., via Zoom. Learn about award requirements, the application process, and have your questions answered by campus advisor Karen Wachsmuth. 

How much does study abroad cost? Join International Programs and the Office of Student Financial Aid for a virtual info session on Tuesday, November 16, from 1-2 p.m., where students will learn what factors go into determining the cost of studying abroad and what funding is available to them.

The Academic Year in Freiburg (AYF) program is now accepting applications for Spring 2022!