University of Iowa (UI) student Peyton Pangburn is currently studying abroad through the Regents Semester in Scotland program, which was made possible in part thanks to the Richard J. Tyner Scholarship. Pangburn, who is majoring in international relations with a minor in Russian and is set to graduate in May 2024, discussed the impact the scholarship had on her travels, as well as the connection between her study abroad program and her academic goals.
Raised in rural Iowa, Pangburn’s mother was the first person to suggest that she should be a lawyer when she grew up. Pangburn, however, didn’t see that career path aligning with her passions and in eighth grade, she discovered the role of a diplomat and set out to become one.
“Being a diplomat united all my skills and passions,” said Pangburn. “Ever since I learned what the role was, I’ve been on a path to become one. As a freshman in high school, I took an Introduction to International Relations course at North Iowa Area Community College and that was the first confirmation that a career as a diplomat was the right move for me.”
Pangburn traveled abroad twice, visiting Spain in 2016 with her high school, then in 2018, touring across seven countries in Europe with the Iowa Ambassadors of Music program. When she thought about her college experience, she always imagined studying abroad as a natural extension of her experiences in high school and a continuation of fulfilling her dream of becoming a diplomat.
"I would like to thank Mr. Tyner for choosing to utilize his money in this way. Dick has led a fulfilling and fascinating life. He could do anything with his time and money, and the fact that he chooses to support young, aspiring political advocates is really heartening. To recognize that pursuing something difficult is admirable, and then supporting that, is something I’m really thankful for.”
The Regents Semester in Scotland study abroad program offered a chance to return to Europe and take courses that were connected to her academic program.
"As an international relations major, getting experience abroad and immersing myself in another culture kind of serves as a trial run for what I hope to be doing for the rest of my life," Pangburn said. "The relevance of the classroom content has been more than I planned; all the classes I've taken here have been a bit niche but still extremely beneficial."
Prior to studying abroad, Pangburn attended the Student Conference on U.S. Affairs, a four-day conference held at West Point in which students work with scholars and practitioners to develop proposals that address important topics in U.S. foreign policy. It was at the conference that she discovered some gaps in her knowledge of international affairs that she knew she needed to fill but wasn’t yet sure how.
While abroad, Pangburn took a course entitled War and Justice, which helped her broaden her knowledge base on military and international affairs. Additionally, the course Contemporary Scottish Literature offered insights into the political situations in Scotland and the U.K., and allowed Pangburn to expand her knowledge on local Scottish issues.
Her time abroad has also included opportunities to explore the country. One such experience has been camping and climbing with friends in the Lake District in Northern England.
“When I envisioned going to college, I always pictured studying abroad as part of my experience but wasn’t sure how I would afford to do it,” said Pangburn. “The only way I was able to study abroad and gain this experience was through scholarships; they funded my way through this program, specifically by covering travel – airfare, busses, taxis, etc. Without the Richard J. Tyner scholarship, I would not have been able to study abroad as every penny has counted.”
Pangburn has big plans for the future, which includes remaining in Europe in summer 2023 to engage in a four-week Russian language program, then returning to Iowa to complete her undergraduate degree. She then plans to apply for the Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship Award, after which she hopes to study for a master's degree in international affairs before applying to join the diplomatic service.
While her time abroad has not yet concluded, Pangburn expressed gratitude for Richard Tyner, who made her experiences abroad possible.
"I would like to thank Mr. Tyner for choosing to utilize his money in this way," she said. "Dick has led a fulfilling and fascinating life. He could do anything with his time and money, and the fact that he chooses to support young, aspiring political advocates is really heartening. To recognize that pursuing something difficult is admirable, and then supporting that, is something I’m really thankful for.”
As she continues her academic and career journey, Pangburn encourages other UI students to study abroad, apply for scholarship funding early, and be prepared for changes they may see in their life because of going abroad.
“Before coming to Scotland, I was expecting intense culture shock and a struggle to adapt to the U.K. academic structure,” explained Pangburn. “Some of that was true, but where it has really challenged me that I didn’t expect was in my personality. The people I have met here have helped me grow more as a person, and I didn’t expect to come away with so much time spent reflecting on myself, what I want to do, and where I want to be next. It’s been an internal transformation and that’s not something I expected at all."
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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.
