International Programs supports nine faculty-led affinity groups that create opportunities for faculty to contribute to the global mission of the University of Iowa. This is accomplished by advancing research and teaching through a focus on collegiate issues and perspectives, providing opportunities for faculty and students across disciplines to interact and collaborate, and developing public engagement projects to benefit communities in Iowa and abroad.

“The University of Iowa has always encouraged interdisciplinary collaboration,” explained Russ Ganim, associate provost and dean of International Programs. “We provide a mechanism for faculty who share similar areas of expertise to get together, organize conferences, cultural events, and bring in speakers. The affinity groups provide opportunities for faculty to develop original programming alongside other faculty and graduate students regardless of their discipline.”

The affinity groups supported by IP include:  

• the African Studies Program
• the Anne Frank Initiative
• the Center for Asian and Pacific Studies
• the European Studies Group
• the Iowa Global Health Network
• the Jewish Studies Network
• the Korean Studies Research Network
• the Latin American Studies Program
• the South Asian Studies Program  

Each group consists of faculty members from across campus who collaborate to host public lectures, workshops, and symposia on a range of topics each year.

The Anne Frank Initiative (AFI), directed by Kirsten Kumpf Baele, a faculty member in the Department of German, ended the 2023-2024 academic year on a very uplifting note. “Several AFI members, in addition to some students and UI staff, welcomed 250+ middle schoolers to campus on May 24, 2024,” shared Kumpf Baele. “We planned and organized breakout sessions to create a meaningful and transformative experience for these young students.” Additionally, the AFI co-sponsored the Our Roots event on May 3, 2024, to celebrate Jewish American Heritage Month as well as supported several events on campus, including the Jewish Heritage Walk.

“Moving forward, we plan to make contributions to the Iowa City Book Festival with exhibits by collaborating with a few organizations,” said Kumpf Baele. “We will build and unveil the first ‘AFI Free Little Library’ through a partnership with students and faculty from the Clear Creek-Amana Community School District, and continue our effort on the Jewish Heritage Walk.”

The Iowa Global Health Network (IGHN), directed by Claudia Corwin, clinical associate professor of internal medicine-pulmonary, critical care, and occupational medicine at Iowa, also had a full year of programming and collaborations. Internally, they spotlighted the research of several IGHN members across the campus at a luncheon. The diversity of IGHN’s research expertise was evident in the topics, including spiritual healing in Dominica, global water and sanitation development, epidemiological transitions in maternal and child health, and supporting occupational health and infection prevention among migrant and seasonal farmworkers.

“As our international connections evolved, we hosted two virtual speed networking events with colleagues at the American University in Beirut and the University of Johannesburg in South Africa,” said Corwin. “Both of these speed networking events led to memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with these partner institutions. These MOUs, in turn, led to actualized and planned faculty exchanges across continents. With Building Sustainable Multidisciplinary Global Health Collaborations: Connecting Ideas, Values, and People, we hosted Dr. Nada Melhem for a full week of academic and community programming, including a FilmScene screening and discussion of the Lebanese film Costa Brava. With the IGHN commitment to community engagement, we collaborated locally with Prairie Lights Bookstore for a reading by Saket Soni.

As for the near future, we look forward to again spotlighting the research of IGHN members this fall – a not-to-be-missed event! We are in the planning stages of a reconnaissance visit to meet up with our colleagues at the University of Johannesburg to explore lasting and mutually beneficial health-related collaborations. We are beginning our 2024-2025 programming, so please keep an eye on the IGHN website.”

Founded in 1986, the Center for Asian and Pacific Studies (CAPS) was launched as a university-wide interfaculty initiative to provide a knowledge exchange platform on campus for faculty, students, and all other professionals interested in or engaged with the study of Asia.

“We have been at the forefront of providing insightful information and advancing knowledge about the Asia-Pacific region to the UI community and a global audience,” said Cynthia Chou, professor of anthropology, C. Maxwell and Elizabeth M. Stanley Family Chair of Asian Studies, and director of CAPS. “Moving forward, CAPS will continue to strive to be an interdisciplinary hub to catalyze innovative thinking and education about the Asia-Pacific region.”

“The affinity groups in International Programs have a significant impact on the institution,” said Ganim. “Through the audiences we generate for the various events that are organized, we are able to heighten the awareness of global education and international activity not just for our campus, but for the larger community too. We are able to show that the University of Iowa is a player, and a leader, when it comes to global education.” 

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.