College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Imagine being an art student and having the chance to not only attend, but also display your work in Italy, Brazil, Portugal, and Turkey.
Thanks to Professor Monica Cruz de Gusmao Correia, many students in the University of Iowa's 3D Design Program don't have to imagine such a life-changing and career-building opportunity—because they experienced it.
In recognition of her work in not only bringing the world to Iowa, but also bringing Iowa to the world, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and UI International Programs have jointly awarded Correia the 2021 International Teaching Engagement Award.
Correia heads the 3D Design Program in the School of Art and Art History and serves as the school's director of undergraduate studies for studio art. In addition, she is an internationally recognized artist in her own right, specializing in the design of furniture, lighting, and other objects, and creating large, three-dimensional artistic installations for ceilings and walls. She was named Collegiate Scholar by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences in 2017.
Correia mentors students at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Huda Al-Aithan, who earned the MFA degree working with Correia, noted that Correia has developed her program's reputation to the point where the University of Iowa 3D Design Program has four times been invited to exhibit its work in Milan, Italy, alongside the world's most respected and successful designers.
"In the spring of 2020, Monica curated an exhibition for eight 3D Design students at the Salone Internazionale del Mobile di Milano Salonesatellite in Milan, Italy. The exhibition was planned to occur in April; unfortunately, the event was canceled because of the COVID pandemic," Al-Aithan said. "Salone Internazionale del Mobile is the largest and most prestigious furniture and product design event in the world. It takes place once a year at the Milan Fairgrounds, Rho (Milan), and it attracts an average of 320,000 visitors from all over the world. Salonesatellite is the spotlight of the Salone show displaying works from only young designers and design schools from all over the world selected through an international curatorial process."