Dear all,

Please let me wish everyone a happy Fourth of July and a happy 250th anniversary of our nation’s founding. Whether you are celebrating or just relaxing, I hope you have a most enjoyable holiday.

June was a very busy month for international engagement, and I’m delighted to provide an update on important partnerships. Early in the month, International Programs (IP) welcomed Dr. Hamid Khalaf Ahmed, advisor to the prime minister of Iraq; Dr. Alaa Alhusainy, associate cultural attaché at the Embassy of the Republic of Iraq in Washington, D.C.; and David Hamod, University of Iowa (UI) alumnus and president of the National U.S.-Arab Chamber of Commerce (NUSACC) to our campus. The purpose was to discuss faculty exchanges in research as well as various student opportunities. It was an honor to receive the delegation, whose visit included numerous interactions with Iowa faculty and the signing of a memorandum of understanding pledging support for future collaboration.

Soon after the Iraqi delegation’s visit, Cate Dicharry, director of the International Writing Program (IWP), and I departed for Mexico to visit a new, but important partner, the Universidad de Las Américas, Puebla (UDLAP). As many of you know, the IWP has been in existence for over 60 years and has elevated the UI’s reputation across the globe as “the Writing University”. The IWP has welcomed writers from all over the world and has created alumni networks in scores of countries. Mexico is no exception. With UDLAP, the opportunity exists not only for the UI to host writers during the IWP’s fall residency program, but in many other circumstances. IP’s values, mission, and goals clearly align with the IWP’s, but what we learned in Mexico is that there are clear and simple ways to build additional partnerships with our closest neighbor. This fall, IP will help sponsor the participation of UDLAP professor Juan Carlos Reyes in the IWP’s fall residency. Cate and I had a chance to meet with Juan Carlos as well as other writing faculty and students. Similarly, we met with administrators in the fine arts and other disciplines who are eager to extend and deepen the partnership with Iowa. IP looks forward to building these collaborations with an institution whose prestige is matched only by its openness and collegiality.

After a few days at UDLAP, we proceeded to Mexico City to meet with UI alumni. Iowa has many successful graduates living in Mexico who are pursuing exemplary careers in the fields of business, law, and government. One highlight of our interactions with alumni in Mexico was a visit to Volaris, a leading airline in that country whose executive vice president, Holger Blankenstein, graduated from Iowa with an MBA in the early 1990s. Holger and his team were very gracious with their time, and it was a privilege to see the operations of a growing and increasingly important airline in the Americas. It should be noted that Volaris has helped significantly with relief efforts in Venezuela following last week’s devastating earthquakes. Global Hawkeyes, doing good and making us proud all over the world.

With all best wishes, 

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.