When Grace Coleman (BA music and international studies ‘17) arrived at the University of Iowa, she knew she was interested in the wider world. What she didn't know was that the experiences she found at Iowa would eventually lead her to build a life and career on the other side of the globe.
Today, Coleman lives in Prague, Czech Republic, where she works as program coordinator for the European Centre for Career Education (ECCEDU), a Prague-based study abroad and internship organization, supporting students as they navigate the opportunities and challenges of living, studying, and working abroad.
The path that brought her there began as a University of Iowa student. While Coleman found inspiration from her coursework and professors, some of her most influential experiences happened outside the classroom. One was studying abroad on the USAC Prague program in summer 2016.
Like many Iowa students, Coleman initially saw studying abroad as an opportunity to experience another part of the world. But along the way, she also found herself developing confidence in herself, independence, and a new perspective on her place in the world.
That experience became even more meaningful when she started working for Study Abroad at the University of Iowa as a student peer advisor.
"After studying abroad, I knew how transformative the experience was for me, but I didn't realize how rewarding it was to get other students excited about their trips as well until working in Study Abroad."
"After studying abroad, I knew how transformative the experience was for me, but I didn't realize how rewarding it was to get other students excited about their trips as well until working in Study Abroad," Coleman says.
Helping fellow students prepare for their own experiences abroad showed Coleman that international education is about much more than travel. It equips students with skills that serve them throughout their lives and careers, from adaptability and problem-solving to cross-cultural communication. It also introduced her to a profession focused on helping others discover those opportunities.
Faculty members at Iowa also played an important role in shaping her future. During her senior year, Coleman took UI Associate Professor Elke Heckner's Politics of Memory course, which introduced her to the interdisciplinary field of memory studies.
"It really opened my eyes to the field of memory studies and how it can intersect with international and regional studies," Coleman says.
In 2018, Coleman earned a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship in the Czech Republic, one of the nation's most competitive international exchange initiatives. The award gave her the chance to teach English at a music conservatory in Teplice while serving as a cultural ambassador abroad.
The achievement reflected not only her own hard work, but also the support she received from Iowa faculty mentors, advisors, and staff who helped her prepare a strong application and pursue an opportunity that once felt out of reach.
Coleman is one of hundreds of Hawkeyes who have received Fulbright awards over the years. The University of Iowa has been recognized as a Fulbright Top Producing Institution for a decade.
For Coleman, the Fulbright became the turning point that shaped everything that followed. What began as a one-year appointment turned into a life in the Czech Republic. After completing her Fulbright, Coleman remained in Prague, teaching and earning a master's degree from Charles University. And in 2026, she transitioned into full-time work in international education, bringing together many of the experiences that began during her time at Iowa.
Today, when she helps students prepare for internships and educational programs abroad, she often thinks back to her own journey. She understands the excitement students feel, but also the uncertainty that comes from leaving familiar surroundings and adapting to a new culture.
"When planning student activities, matching students to internship companies, and providing student support, my own experiences are always at the top of my mind," she says.
For Coleman, the value of international education extends far beyond academics or career preparation. Living and working abroad has broadened her understanding of the world and challenged her to think more deeply about her own identity and assumptions, lessons she hopes today's students have the chance to learn for themselves.
"If I hadn't chosen to study abroad while at Iowa, I probably would not be living in Prague today."
Looking back, Coleman sees a direct line between the opportunities she embraced as an Iowa student and the life she has built today. Studying abroad led to a job in the Study Abroad office. That experience sparked an interest in international education. A Fulbright followed, opening doors that ultimately led to a career helping other students find their place in the world.
"If I hadn't chosen to study abroad while at Iowa, I probably would not be living in Prague today," she says.
For students considering whether to take a similar leap, her advice is simple:
"There are many ways to expand your understanding of the world," Coleman says. "But saying 'yes' to an international experience when the opportunity presents itself is a great one."
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.