Dear All,

As temperatures warm, the grass turns green, and the days grow longer, we welcome the arrival of spring! I hope that buds begin to bloom where you are and that you have time to enjoy the change of seasons.

The beginning of spring does not, unfortunately, protect us, from harm occurring in the world at large. We in International Programs are deeply saddened by the killings in Atlanta and wish to express our support for the victims as well as our Asian, Asian-American, and Pacific Islander communities on campus. Along with the UI’s Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and the Pan Asian Council, International Programs issued an open letter to our university community on anti-Asian harm. Such violence inflicts incalculable suffering and we must denounce it in no uncertain terms while providing listening posts and healing spaces for those most affected by these tragedies.

In processing what has happened, we understand that our role is to continue to raise awareness and build bridges. Our outreach efforts via WorldCanvass reach a wide public and educate audiences on how global affairs impact local lives. In that vein, we draw your attention to our March 16 event “Covid Care for Vulnerable Populations” featuring UI faculty from the health sciences as well as statewide medical professionals on the efforts made to reduce health disparities exacerbated by the pandemic.

While COVID delayed our Provost's Global Forum on “The Legacy of Mahatma Gandhi at 150: Nonviolence, Race, and Politics" until November 2021, we are delighted to say that the April 16 WorldCanvass on "Gandhi at 150" will foreshadow the full symposium.  WorldCanvass panelists will include scholars from the U.S. and India, with the discussion centering on how Gandhi's life and teachings provide lessons for the contemporary world. We sincerely hope you will be able to join us for both of these events.

The Provost’s Global Forum could not exist without the Stanley-UI Foundation Support Organization (SUIFSO), and we look forward to the annual board meeting on April 5. This occasion allows us to thank the Stanley family and the University of Iowa Center for Advancement (UICA) for their continued generosity and collaboration. The annual meeting also provides an opportunity for International Programs to update the SUIFSO and UICA on activities from this past year which, despite the pandemic, proved not only fruitful, but also provided a path forward as we envision the world beyond COVID.

As always, we thank our friends and donors for their support of our students, faculty, and staff.  You continue to make international education relevant and stand as an inspiration for each of us.

With sincere best wishes,

Russ