Chinese nationals account for the largest share of international students attending Iowa’s public universities, leaving administrators hopeful about the potential for their campuses of the governor’s nomination to be the U.S. ambassador to China. “I hope it will continue the strong connections,” Downing Thomas, the University of Iowa associate provost for academic affairs and dean of International Programs, said Wednesday. “Not only for Chinese students to come here, but for all UI students to hopefully benefit from the ties and connections that result.”