Shefa’a T. Tawil, a University of Iowa alumna (BS psychology ‘25) from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, has been awarded a U.S. Department of State Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) to study Arabic this summer in Amman, Jordan.

International Programs at the University of Iowa will host the 13th Annual Fulbright Week, April 6–10, 2026, featuring virtual workshops and information sessions to launch the 2027–2028 Fulbright U.S. Student Program competition for undergraduate and graduate students.

Sean Hagan, a University of Iowa student from Coralville, Iowa, who will earn a BA in Russian and international relations this May, has been awarded a U.S. Department of State Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) to study Russian this summer in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

UI alumna Cathy Parrott has come full circle—from studying abroad as a student to leading transformative international experiences for her own students as an assistant professor of costume design. In fall 2025, with support from the Stanley‑UI Foundation Support Organization, the Center for Asian and Pacific Studies, and other campus partners, Parrott led UI students to Bali, Indonesia, to present at the Bali–Global Axis of Arts and Design II conference.

Three University of Iowa undergraduate students are able to study abroad thanks to support from the Leona Zaharis Scholarship, a fund that was established in 2022 by Cathy Zaharis (BBA finance ’82) in memory of her mother.

The UI awarded dozens of merit-based scholarships for students studying abroad during the winter and spring 2026 semesters, support students studying in Costa Rica, Spain, Italy, Japan, and more. These scholarships promote global learning and help students build intercultural and language skills.

These students serve as digital ambassadors while studying abroad, sharing their experiences in real time on the @uiabroad Instagram account.

UI student Kara Juhl and Autumn Tallman, director, Study Abroad Health, Safety, and Risk Management, represented Iowa at CIEE 78th Annual Study Abroad Conference in Argentina.

The University of Iowa Study Abroad office has been awarded a $100,000 grant from the Freeman Foundation to provide scholarships to students who pursue summer internships in Asia.

Many University of Iowa students are finding that an internship abroad offers something a classroom can’t. By combining career experience with cultural immersion, international internships give students an edge in an increasingly competitive job market.

Cynthia Okafor, a PhD candidate in pharmaceutics from Agulu, Nigeria, and recipient of a 2025 Global Student Award, embodies how mentorship and community can elevate international education.

University of Iowa student Leila Assadi, a double major in economics and political science and recipient of a 2025 Global Student Award, embodies what it means to be a globally minded Hawkeye.