Please join International Programs for one of several information sessions to discuss the process of applying for a Gilman Scholarship. Applications are now being accepted for Summer and Fall 2021.

Believe it or not, Anna Barker planned to read "War and Peace" months before the attempted insurrection at the U.S. Capitol earlier this month. Throughout 2020, Barker, a professor of Russian literature at the University of Iowa, led three other readings to help guide those stuck at home through the ongoing global pandemic. Some of her former students following along with the "Paradise Lost" reading joked she needed to start a new project: "1812 days of 'War and Peace.' "

As COVID-19 evolved and progressed in the U.S. through 2020, many international students chose to return to their home countries and take a full course load of online classes. While they remain separated by the pandemic, the UI is committed to staying connected with its students no matter where they are.

International Programs welcomes everyone back for spring semester, and Dean Ganim shares some of our upcoming events and current initiatives.

Bitten by the travel bug at a young age after a European trip with his family, Will Sobecki (BBA finance ‘20) set his sights on study abroad during college. After exploring his options with Cory Petersen, senior advisor and program coordinator in the UI Study Abroad office, Sobecki settled on a semester-long study abroad program through IES in Milan, Italy. “Milan blew my expectations away,” said Sobecki.

Renowned author Yaa Gyasi, whose novel Homegoing won the National Book Critics Circle’s John Leonard Award for best first book and the Pen/Hemingway Award among others, will be our guest for “The Ghanaian-American Experience in Literature and Art” on the first WorldCanvass of 2021. Joining her will be fellow author and graduate of the UI Writers’ Workshop D.K. Nnuro and Associate Provost and Dean of International Programs Russ Ganim. Nnuro will engage with Gyasi writer-to-writer in a special interview segment introduced by Ganim. The one-hour program, hosted by Joan Kjaer, begins at 7 p.m. on February 24. WorldCanvass is free and open to all. Register here.

Nearly two dozen University of Iowa students had the opportunity to travel virtually to Italy over the winter term, thanks to the Virtual International Business in Italy course offering through the Tippie College of Business.

Please join University of Iowa ESL Programs and UI International Programs for a virtual symposium "Language Lessons Near and Far: Students and Teachers Adapt to a Changing World."

Join the Center for Asian and Pacific Studies and International Programs for a joint Chinese-Korean-Japanese-Southeast Asian “Lunar New Year Celebration” on Thursday, February 11, 2021.

The following is a reflection from Emily A. Brown, senior advisor and program coordinator for Study Abroad in International Programs at the University of Iowa.