Dear all, 

Happy 2023!! 

I hope this message finds everyone in refreshed spirits as we move through the winter break and into the new year. While things are now quiet in the office, the month of December was quite busy for International Programs (IP), and we are excited to update you on our activities. 

First and foremost, the winter session has rebounded! Our Study Abroad team spent a good part of the last month and last semester preparing students for some 20+ programs, many of which are faculty led. As you read this, most of the students are still overseas pursuing internships, taking courses, and conducting research. We are nearly at pre-pandemic levels in terms of winter session participation, and IP is delighted that one of our signature programs is as robust now as it was before Covid. There will be more to share as students return from these endeavors, but for the moment, please follow us on Instagram at @uiabroad for the most current information. 

The end of 2022 was also marked by delegation visits, including the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) of Kenya, which culminated in a Memorandum of Understanding between the JSC and the UI College of Law. The Judicial Service Commission of Kenya has long-standing ties with the UI College of Law, and we look forward to extended cooperation in the future, especially given IP’s goal of developing more partnerships in sub-Saharan Africa.

In mid-December, IP and the UI received five visitors representing a variety of civil society organizations (CSOs) in Kosovo. They came to Iowa under the auspices of the Congressional Office for International Leadership’s (COIL) Open World Program. As most of you know, the state of Iowa and the Republic of Kosovo have a very strong relationship that has developed over the last few decades. Discussion spanned collaboration in the fields of education, workforce development, and fundraising. 

In addition to welcoming international visitors, IP hosted several events in December. Especially meaningful was a virtual alumni gathering that IP and the UI Center for Advancement organized with Hawkeyes in Beijing and Shanghai in China. It was wonderful to connect with these alumni, who shared stories of their time on campus and who have gone on to lead exciting careers in fields such as business and education. These connections are so valuable in that they reaffirm the impact global Hawkeyes have on our campus and beyond. Given the consistent success of Iowa’s international graduates, Hawkeye Nation is better described as Hawkeye World. 

IP also commemorated a few milestones at the close of 2022. The UI passport office celebrated its one-year anniversary with over 700 clients served, and WorldCanvass released its 100th episode. Both the passport office and WorldCanvass deserve attention because they underscore IP’s commitment to the community at large. Outreach means providing Iowans with the advice and the tools to go abroad, as well as the information they need to understand a continuously changing global landscape. 

Iowa’s presence as a force in global education was vigorously advanced under the leadership of Willard “Sandy” Boyd who, as you know, passed away last month. Under President Boyd, the University of Iowa nearly tripled in size, with a portion of that growth coming in the form of more international students and programming. More importantly, President Boyd was a champion of pluralism and human rights who welcomed people of all backgrounds to campus. There is no question that the growth of global engagement at Iowa can be traced to President Boyd’s vision of a campus environment that prizes cultural diversity and the intellectual and moral value it brings to our community. 

With respect to our own IP community, please let me thank our wonderful staff in International Programs for their diligent efforts in advising domestic and international students, organizing programs that promote international awareness, and maintaining IP’s prominence on campus as the leader in global education. The impact of their fabulous work can be found in this New Year’s Greeting, which celebrates the year that was and embraces the adventures yet to come. 

With warmest wishes for 2023, 

Russ 

International Programs (IP) at the University of Iowa (UI) is committed to enriching the global experience of UI students, faculty, staff, and the general public by leading efforts to promote internationally oriented teaching, research, creative work, and community engagement.  IP provides support for international students and scholars, administers scholarships and assistance for students who study, intern, or do research abroad, and provides funding opportunities and grant-writing assistance for faculty engaged in international research. IP shares their stories through various media, and by hosting multiple public engagement activities each year.