International Accents

The COVID-19 pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement reveal cracks in U.S. institutions and a need to refocus our collective energy on human rights — especially when policies target vulnerable community members. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency’s announcement on July 6 revealed the federal government’s willingness to hurt international students.

Cameron Keomanivong, who received a BS in neuroscience from the University of Iowa in May 2020, is the winner of a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship Award to Laos for 2020-21

Despite a pandemic-induced early return, Taryn Lawler traveled wide and far during her time abroad and shares her transformative experiences through self-discovery. Keep reading to learn how Taryn expanded her boundaries and had incredible adventures in Europe!

Although his study abroad experience was cut short due to the pandemic, PJ Hennelly spent a few transformative weeks in Europe, where he pushed himself out of his comfort zone, and realized that the world changes fast, and one needs to be prepared to take action at any point.

University of Iowa graduate scholar David Smith recalls first becoming interested in the Norwegian language as a child when he learned of his family’s heritage. Although they did not speak it, he carried this interest through college and began studying Norwegian independently.

UI professor to teach and conduct research in Columbia as Fulbright Scholar

Zainab Mousa-Makky, who received a BA in international relations and ethics and public policy from the University of Iowa, is the winner of a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship Award to Morocco for 2020-21

Reflecting on his academic journey, University of Iowa graduate student Frankline Matanji said, “Sometimes I just sit down and think, ‘I don’t know what happened—I can’t explain this.’” You see, Frankline wasn’t sure he would be able to complete high school, let alone a doctoral program.

International Programs created a video message featuring University of Iowa alumni across the globe to celebrate Hawkeye unity in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.

Aviral recalls the first three months at the UI as an exciting time, but not without its challenges. Beyond learning how to balance studies, he found himself struggling to make social connections. “Initially, I think I was trying to be someone I wasn’t in order to fit in. It was pretty stressful and really tiring. I finally decided to quit worrying about how to act and just be me. This is when everything started to change.”

Following in the footsteps of her mother, a University of Iowa PhD alumna, Siau-Tong Ding enrolled as an undergraduate in 2018. Born and raised in Kaohsiung City, Taiwan, Ding came to Iowa City to double-major in environmental policy and planning and anthropology. Now, in preparation for her third year at the university, she is also considering minors in geography or a certificate in Geographic Information Science (GIS).

Students, adults, and children of any language level are invited to sign up for a variety of virtual classes with the UI King Sejong Institute during the summer 2020 semester.