The Iowa OER Awards recognize individuals and teams across the state who have done impactful and noteworthy open education work. The recipients of the 2025 Open Educator Award include Dr. Giovanni Zimotti, Dr. Alexis Jiménez, Dr. Rachel Klevar, Dr. Pilar Marcé, and Luke Whitaker.

Explore the natural beauty of Costa Rica over winter break. This three-week, English-taught program explores the intertwining of eco-tourism and culture in Costa Rica. A large portion of class time is devoted to field trips and site visits related to eco-tourism.

9 UI students--two who are current undergraduate students minoring in Spanish--have been awarded Gilman Scholarships to study and intern abroad in 2025.

Nominated for consideration by their colleagues, Dr. Kristine Muñoz and Dr. Rachel Klevar are two of nine faculty members from CLAS who were presented with a 2025 teaching and engagement award.

Abigail Kloha, a Spanish and translation major at the University of Iowa and a Global Access Ambassador, studied abroad through IFSA Butler in Heredia, a non-sponsored program at the Universidad Nacional in Costa Rica. Click on the title above to read her reflection on the experience!

Ellie Crock, a double major in Spanish and ethics & public policy, and a Global Access Ambassador, studied abroad through the CIEE Buenos Aires Liberal Arts Program. Click the title above to read her reflection on the experience!

Oriette D'Angelo was just awarded a Dissertation Writing Fellowship from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences to complete her dissertation, "Trauma Fiction in Contemporary Latin American Narratives."

Paras Bassuk was selected as one of this year’s 32 American Rhodes Scholars, making them the 23rd University of Iowa recipient. This fall, Bassuk will continue their studies at the University of Oxford in England, although this isn’t the first time Bassuk has pursued education abroad. Bassuk previously studied abroad through two UI programs in Spain and Argentina during the summer and fall of 2023. “My experience studying abroad gives me so much confidence to take this next step and pursue postgraduate study at the University of Oxford."

Protests in downtown Iowa City against Trump’s mass deportation plans follow a long history of protest in Iowa.

The American Association of University Supervisors, Coordinators, and Directors of Language Programs (AAUSC) recently announced the award winners for the 2024 Innovation in Language Program Direction Award. Among two other recipients within the 'Novel Application' category, is the Department of Spanish & Portuguese's very own Giovanni Zimotti, who expressed gratitude to his cohort of collaborators for their contributions.