Kennedy Lein, a journalism & mass communication major with an international studies minor and Global Access Ambassador, participated in USAC San Sebastian program during summer 2024.

Kayla Petry, a senior majoring in marketing with a minor in Spanish and a certificate in event management and Global Access Ambassador, participated in the CIEE Barcelona Business & Culture program in spring 2024.

From bringing veterans’ experiences to the stage with the help of augmented reality to exploring the art of Indian printmaking, six University of Iowa faculty members will cultivate a wide range of scholarly and creative projects with the support of the Arts and Humanities Initiative (AHI). Horacio will address the long periods of his life spent living in exile through a non-fiction project.

Established in memory of Professor Michael J. Brody, president of the Faculty Senate from 1986 to 1987, this award recognizes outstanding faculty who have made exceptional contributions to the university and the community. This year’s recipients were announced at the March 2024 UI Faculty Senate meeting and each will receive $1,000 and a commemorative piece of artwork designed by a graduate art student.

A total of 15 graduate students have been named prestigious fellows by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, with five receiving 2024-25 Marcus Bach Fellowships and ten receiving 2024 CLAS Dissertation Writing Fellowships. Congratulations to these deserving students!

Luis Martín-Estudillo, professor and collegiate scholar in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, will serve as the next director of the Obermann Center for Advanced Studies (OCAS). His appointment will begin July 1.

Ana M. Rodríguez-Rodríguez, PhD, associate professor of Spanish and Portuguese in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, has been named associate dean for academic affairs and graduate student success in the Graduate College at the University of Iowa. Her appointment will begin July 1, 2024.

Three decades ago, Melissa Ferrin (BA political science and Spanish ’95) participated in a study abroad program in Chile offered by the University Studies Abroad Consortium (USAC) as a language learner. She currently teaches English at a small engineering school in Mexico called Universidad Tecnológica de la Mixteca (UTM). Here, she reflects on her international experience and gives valuable advice to students aspiring to enhance their education with global experiences.

When I arrived in Spain, it was like nothing I had experienced before. I thought I had an idea of what I was getting myself into, but I was quickly proven wrong. Never did I think this trip was going to be filled with surprises and memories that will be told and remembered for years to come.

I am originally from a small Iowa town of 1,000 people, so I enjoyed every moment I had exploring [Valparaíso] - trying out every cafe (and returning to many of them), visiting each bookstore and library, and carefully cataloging photos of the street art in my phone. My wonderful host mom took me to many birthday parties, bingo days, and girls-night-in dinner parties. Being so graciously accepted into her home and family allowed me to truly experience Chilean culture, an experience I am still so grateful to her for.