Dear all,

Happy Thanksgiving!

As I write this message, Fall Break has arrived, and a well-earned sense of calm and accomplishment has arrived on campus. It’s difficult to believe that we’ve reached Thanksgiving, but the whirlwind of activity we’ve engaged in this past semester reminds me of how quickly time passes, especially at this time of year.

I’ve just returned from Saudi Arabia, where I attended a forum sponsored by the U.S. and Saudi governments to promote partnerships in higher education between our two countries. Well over 60 American institutions of higher learning were represented over a weeklong trip that took place in Jeddah and Riyadh. During that time, we visited existing and potential partner institutions, and explored collaborations in the fields of business, the health sciences, energy and sustainability, as well as space technology. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s global prominence is growing both economically and culturally, and their eagerness to work with U.S. universities is readily apparent. The University of Iowa has welcomed many Saudi students in the past and there is the potential to recruit more to our campus. Likewise, we seek to further develop our relationship with the Saudi Arabian Drilling Academy (SADA), where our alumna, Dr. Fouz Abuzaid (PhD educational policy and leadership studies, ‘21), works as SADA’s curriculum development supervisor in the Quality Assurance Division. “Dr. Fouz,” as she likes to be called, is a proud Hawkeye responsible for developing courses that prepare SADA students for jobs with energy companies throughout the Middle East. It was a pleasure to meet with her and other representatives from SADA in Riyadh. The dedicated mindset Dr. Fouz brings to her job reflects Iowa’s commitment to training, innovation, and creativity in the classroom.

Middle Eastern hospitality is among the best in the world, but we do pretty well in our neck of the woods, too. On November 15, IP, along with the student organization, Organization for the Active Support of International Students (OASIS), hosted its second Multicultural Showcase in the Iowa Memorial Union. Part of International Education Week, the Multicultural Showcase features food and performances from all over the world. A highlight of the Multicultural Showcase is the presentation of our Global Student Awards. This year’s recipients are Fascha Aryasa and Jeff Lai. You can read more about their accomplishments here, but I can say from a personal perspective that it has been a great pleasure to work with these superb student leaders over the past few years. Iowa prides itself not only on advocating for international students but also giving them the opportunity to advocate for themselves. Both Fascha and Jeff have been quite active in the International Student Advisory Board (ISAB) and have served as mentors for countless international students during their time at Iowa.

The Multicultural Showcase was very well attended, as was our annual Fall Break Meal, held on November 25. This is one of our favorite traditions in IP. International students, scholars, and community members gather a few days before Thanksgiving to celebrate, share stories, and simply relax as the holiday approaches. Scores of meals are served, with this year’s total reaching over 150. What is most enjoyable is the convivial nature of the event as well as the opportunity to say “thank you” to our international students for choosing Iowa, and to community organizations such as Friends of International Students and the International Women's Club for all they do to support the international community on campus and beyond. Warm thanks and loud applause go to our dear friend Beverly Brandau, whose generosity makes the Fall Break Meal possible. Bev is a great champion of town-gown relations, especially when it comes to connecting international students and scholars with the community at large. We are deeply indebted to Bev for sponsoring this event year after year, as it is her kindness that establishes and maintains friendships that are valued by so many communities here in Iowa City.

And of course, we value you, our friends and supporters, for contributing to IP’s mission. We are so thankful for all you do to help us connect Iowa with the world and the world with Iowa.

All the best, 

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.