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Letter from Our Director
Luis Martín-Estudillo
Rejoice! I’m working on a new dad joke. A rheumatologist, a saxophonist, a political scientist, an audiologist, a psychologist and an historian of Buddism all walk into the University of Iowa’s Stark Opera Studio. What could they possibly have in common? Since I’m still working on the punchline, I can tell you that, as a matter of fact, they all share very different yet fascinating insights on the act of listening, as more than one hundred guests appreciated at the Obermann’s latest Wide Lens event. Transformative research is often born of new connections: when seemingly disparate ideas or practitioners converge, those sparks can lead to significant innovations. Despite the advances of AI, ultimately these connections are always the product of human will and talent. At the University of Iowa we are fortunate to count on outstanding scholars, artists, and scientists whose work improves the lives of people in our state and our planet in myriad ways. Much of what they accomplish comes from the strong culture of collaboration that is at the basis of every great institution of higher learning. As the only comprehensive research center at Iowa, the Obermann prides itself in being a major connection node on campus.
From linguists, dancers, and historians to engineers, psychologists, and computer scientists, faculty, staff, and students know that "Obermann" means commitment to interdisciplinarity and cooperation. Hence, the theme of this year’s Annual Report: connection.
Fostering this kind of work implies a constant, proactive openness to new connections, both within and outside our campus. One avenue for the advancement of the Center’s mission that we have recently strengthened is writing across the disciplines, which is one of the three pillars of the University’s strategic plan. While the image of the solitary writer is still very present in the popular imaginary, at Iowa we are well aware that great writing—whether it is a scientific paper or a poetry collection—benefits tremendously from collaboration. Our established Writing Collective has continued to expand, and we have piloted new programs in support of writing with notable success, such as the Editor-in-Residence program and the End-of-Year Writing Retreat, both of which were generously co-funded by the P3 Writing for the Public Good initiative.
The intellectual enrichment that the Iowa community craves requires connecting with people and institutions beyond the confines of our campus. The Obermann strives to engage partners nationally and globally. Legislative teams at the Capitol in Washington, D.C. and international scholars in Berlin, Germany were among the interlocutors to whom we presented the Center’s new initiatives this past year. The Obermann has joined the University of Iowa’s long tradition of global openness through a firm emphasis on internationalization. Our new Obermann International Fellowships program made it possible for scholars from three different continents to connect with Iowa colleagues and students very productively. Despite strong headwinds, our efforts in this direction are proving fruitful: the number of applications we receive from around the world is increasing significantly.
The Center’s other programs have also attracted larger numbers of applicants and audience members. That has been facilitated in part by new partnerships with other campus units, such as the Office of Community Engagement, the Center for Human Rights, the Center for Social Science Innovation, the Stanley Museum of Art, the Pomerantz Career Center, and the Office for Undergraduate Research. It has been very encouraging to see the great response that our initiatives have elicited, including from undergraduate students for whom the Obermann was previously an unknown entity. We are eager to welcome even more of them as we purposely redesign our programs to connect with these researchers in-the-making.
I might, or might not, subject them to a few dad jokes in-the-making.
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Wide Lens
The Wide Lens series highlights the breadth and depth of research happening at the University of Iowa. By brining together scholars from wide-ranging fields, the annual event showcases innovative projects and fresh perspectives, encouraging dialogue across disciplines. It also offers the campus and wider Iowa City community the opportunity to engage with the vibrant, dynamic research culture that defines the UI.
Our Wide Lens event on May 8, 2025, featured multidisciplinary perspectives on listening. Six artists, scholars, and researchers from the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, the College of Education, and the Carver College of Medicine shared rapid-fire, PechaKucha versions of their research with a public audience at Voxman's Herald Stark Opera Studio. Student pianist Eric Newton provided music during a reception following the event.
We discovered little-known facts about vocal cords, listening techniques teachers can use to help students struggling with mental health, a new way to listen to music albums, the importance of doctor-patient communication, the storytelling-centered Iowa Vital Voices Project, and the role of listening in Asian religions.
Special thanks to faculty presenters
- Gerta Bardhoshi, Counseling, College of Education;
- Brittany Bettendorf, Internal Medicine, Carver College of Medicine;
- Eric Hunter, Communication Sciences & Disorders, CLAS;
- Julianna Pacheco, Political Science, CLAS;
- Damani Phillips, School of Music, CLAS; and
- Morten Schlütter, Religious Studies, CLAS.
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"It's uplifting to be reminded of the incredible talent and passion among our faculty, all working toward meaningful change in our communities and the world."
Obermann Working Groups
At Obermann, we recognize that collaboration is critical for scholarly inquiry, whether it's co-authoring a grant application or a journal article, discussing each other's work-in-progress, or co-creating a new course or work of art. Our program assessments continually show that connection with colleagues plays a strong role in the retention of Iowa faculty members.
In 2024–25, we hosted 30 Obermann Working Groups, each comprising faculty, staff, graduate students, and community members from various disciplines. Some groups presented at conferences and wrote articles together. Some hosted campus events featuring visiting speakers. All provided rich conversations and readings that advanced their members' individual scholarship.
Working Group collaborations led to:
- 3 books
- 16 journal articles and conference papers
- 2 new courses
- 1 grant
- several new partnerships
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This year, several groups hosted successful public events:
- Mental Health and Well-Being Pecha Kucha — hosted by the Reconceptualizing the Mental Health Crisis in Higher Education Working Group and co-sponsored by UIowa Staff Council and the Scanlan Center for School Mental Health.
Attendance: 150+ UI staff and faculty - Two all-campus Institutes for Teaching with Writing — hosted by the Teaching with Writing Working Group and co-sponsored by the Writing Center, the Hanson Center for Technical Communication, the Frank Business Communication Center, the Center for Teaching, and the Department of Rhetoric.
Attendance: 40 faculty from five UI colleges - "Don't Panic! Rethinking How We Frame Difficult Content in the Classroom" — hosted by the Chinese Humanities and Arts Workshop Working Group and co-sponsored by the Center for Asian and Pacific Studies and the Center for Language and Culture Learning.
Attendance: 20 - Artist Talk with Jerron Herman — hosted by the Performance Studies Working Group. "This event was a tremendous success, with many individuals coming up to me and Jerron to express how impactful the artist talk was. Those in attendance represented a wide swath of Iowa City, including students, scholar, and community members," reports a group member.
Attendance: 45 - "Beyond a Chilling Effect: Direct Action for Academic Freedom" — hosted by the Project on Rhetoric of Inquiry. The event was attended by 28 faculty and administrators from across the university, and an associated event for graduate students attracted 19.
- "Food Around the World" and "Buried in the Heart: A Repast for Angels and Martyrs," a guest talk and food demo with cultural anthropologist Scott Barton — hosted by the Food Studies Working Group. Cosponsored by the Center for Asian and Pacific Studies, the Center for Language and Culture Learning, International Studies, and Sacred Collective, the events attracted 50 undergraduates and 20 students, faculty, and community members.
"The benefits that I gained from attending meetings in the Museum Futures Working Group [...] helped me with my responsibilities as museum studies coordinator on campus. It was great to communicate and learn from other faculty members who may be interested in teaching for the program or mentoring students."
"This community has had a profound impact on my growth as both an instructor and an individual. [...] The discussions we have had this semester, along with the readings, have moved me to reflect deeply on languages, cultural transformations, intercultural connections, and global challenges. These insights have enhanced my teaching, allowing me to bring more global issues into the classroom, particularly when exploring the interconnectedness of languages and cultures."
"Our working group provides an intellectual lifeline for members in multiple ways, providing opportunities not only to share our research but also to discuss issues that continue to impact all China studies scholars."
Obermann Symposium
Our 2025 Arts & Humanities Symposium, Locating Reproductive Justice: Global and Regional Perspectives, brought together scholars and artists with local, regional, and global perspectives to bear on the pursuit of reproductive justice. Directed by Lina-Maria Murillo (Gender, Women's, & Sexuality Studies and History) and Natalie Fixmer-Oraiz (Communication Studies and Gender, Women's, & Sexuality Studies), the three-day event featured two public events and several private workshops with RJ faculty, graduate students, practitioners, and editors involved with the University of Iowa Press's new book series, “Locating Reproductive Justice: Global and Regional Perspectives."
We heard from health care professionals, scholars from the UI and across the country, health communicators, doulas, mental health counselors, authors, artists, and activists.
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"The symposium was an excellent opportunity to hear from other scholars about their work and think further on how a reproductive justice framework can influence my own research. It especially highlighted the expansive and pervasive nature of reproductive justice as a theory that applies to a wide array of experiences, including birth, midwifery, and general healthcare."
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"This workshop was pivotal in guiding my scholarship for the future. Being able to meet with incredible scholars and leaders in the field allowed me to deepen my own understanding of what it means to be a part of this community and hold each other accountable."
From Books to Curricula: Tangible Scholarly Impact
Our programs produced an extraordinary range of outcomes in 2024–25—over 40 in total—spanning books, articles, awards, grants, curricula, and public events. Working Groups alone generated more than 30, making them a powerhouse of scholarship and community impact.
Counterpoint
Obermann hosted the first event in its new Counterpoint public conversation series, "The Politics of (International) Writing" on October, 14, 2024. It featured:
- Christopher Merrill, poet, nonfiction writer, translator, editor, and director of the UI’s renowned International Writing Program
- Loren Glass, a historian of creative writing and M.F. Carpenter Professor and chair of the UI English department
The two explored the relationship between international politics and literature, taking Merrill’s 24-year tenure at the IWP as a point of departure. They reflected on the difficult task of bringing creative writers from across geographical and political divides into cross-cultural conversation; Iowa City’s successful bid to become a UNESCO City of Literature; Merrill’s own writing on the wars of succession in the former Yugoslavia and Eastern Orthodox monasticism; the character of the creative process in different cultural traditions; and Merrill’s travels in China, Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Russia, and Ukraine.
A brief musical program was provided by the Dimma Saxophone Quartet, an international ensemble of UI School of Music students Maria Torres Melgares, soprano saxophone; Lingxiao Li, alto saxophone; Yang Zhou, tenor saxophone; and Thomas Drummond, baritone saxophone.
"It was an honor and a pleasure to interview Chris Merrill, who was instrumental in getting Iowa City designated as the first UNESCO City of Literature in North America. The venue was ideal and the music was exquisite."
Loren Glass and Christopher Merrill, 10/14/2024
Interdisciplinary Research Grants
In Summer 2025, Obermann funded four Interdisciplinary Research Grant (IDRG) groups whose projects encompassed arts, humanities, and medical science: one group created a "live cinema" performance combining methods from dance and filmmaking; another created materials for a study on AI and children; another shared research on Indigenous Great Plains ceramics towards a monograph; and the last piloted an interactive theater workshop based on David Aizman’s revolutionary play The Thorn Bush.
The Thorn Bush Project
- Organized a two-day reading of Helen Stuhr-Rommereim’s translation of The Thorn Bush by David Aizman with UI Acting, Directing, and Dramaturgy graduate students
- Conducted research on the history of the play and the events it depicts, and on approaches to activating the text as a unique interactive theatrical event
- Hosted a discussion with UI Dramaturgy MFA alum Rob Silverman Ascher and theater artist Alex Tatarsky about the play and the group's plans for activating the text
- Put together a full preliminary plan for a structured workshop based around the text of the play. This would be open to the public as an interactive theater experience where “audience” members encounter the text and activate the play together. Writes Kasimow, "This community-based theatrical event would give participants/audience the opportunity to inhabit the play, rather than simply watch it, while serving as a means of exploring questions of how to relate to historical works meant to be timely, rather than timeless."
Plains Village Ceramics, AD 1500–1900
- completed an annotated chapter outline of a monograph-length comparative study of Indigenous Great Plains ceramics, starting with the early period of European contact after AD 1500
- drafted two chapters of the book
- drafted book proposal for University of Arizona Press
International Perspectives on the Ethics of Generative AI and Children
- Developed 100 illustrated scenarios of potential future uses of smart glasses that make use of artificial intelligence
- Developed plan for working with at least five other universities in the U.S., two in Europe, and one in Latin America to obtain stakeholder feedback on the ethics of each of the aforementioned scenarios
Live Cinema Choreography for Public Spaces
- Co-wrote and produced “Fanny & Calvin," a three-part immersive performance around and through the Chauncey building in Iowa City; presented the project to two test audiences
- Co-wrote and produced “The Plan,” a live-cinema FAKERS CLUB performance for FilmScene in the Park. This project was presented in two parts, before and after the outdoor feature screening, and was experienced by an audience of 400.
- Created three short films using a site-responsive choreographic process within a public space
- Performed “Laundromania Live” to an audience of 25 people; the performance presented both choreography in front of and behind the camera in the single-take film “Laudromania."
"We made enormous progress during this time, and came out of the residency with a clear plan for our work going forward. The focused time to work on the project was invaluable, and we are very grateful and excited for our next steps."
We also recognize the achievements of past IDRG groups:
Allison V. Rowe, Maia Sheppard, and Nancy Nowacek (IDRG 2023) worked with UI art and social studies education students and alumni to lead an Art & Civics Camp for 25 middle and high school students (ages 14–17) from eastern Iowa. The student participants are also involved in a research study for the team's "Just Crushing" demo derby performance project, which aims to
- teach technical and artistic skills like graphic design, laser cutting, vinyl cutting, typography, and painting;
- provide a creative outlet for teens to express their civic and social viewpoints in a public forum;
- promote dialogue across differing perspectives through collaborative work; and
- celebrate local culture through participation in a beloved Iowa tradition: the demolition derby at the county fair.
The students artfully decorated five demolition derby cars, which performed at the Muscatine County Fair on July 20, 2025.
Duhita Mahatmya, Kimberly Dukes, Ebonee Johnson (IDRG 2023)—along with J. Pandya, R. Samuelson, G. Clemens, and M. Kawamitsu—presented "Staying Healthy Together: A Community-Engaged Approach to Supporting Multigenerational Families Living with Chronic Conditions across the Life Course" at the National Council on Family Relations Annual Conference.
Solange Saxby, Pamela Mulder, and Linda Snetselaar (IDRG 2023)—along with Terry Wahls, Christine Gill, Carlyn Haas, Anna Klein, Tyler J. Titcomb, and Farnoosh Shemirani—published "Assessing Breastfeeding Attitudes and Self-Efficacy Among Health care Personnel and Women With Multiple Sclerosis: Two Cross-Sectional Surveys" in Brain and Behavior (15).
Obermann International Fellows
A colorful map of the world now hangs in the kitchen of the Obermann Center. A growing number of pins indicate the homes of the international scholars who started to visit us last spring through the Obermann’s new residential fellowship program, attracted by Iowa’s reputation as a research institution and eager to leave their mark on our campus.
The work of UI researchers at all stages of their careers—from undergraduate students to seasoned professors—undoubtedly benefits from Iowa’s standing as a global institution, which requires constant, strong connections with the rest of the world. These connections, old and new, are necessary for our institution to provide “exceptional teaching and transformative educational experiences that prepare students for success and fulfillment in an increasingly diverse and global environment” (as stated in the University’s mission statement) and to “discover new ways to see the world and make it better” (one of Iowa’s Core Values).
As part of these important efforts, the Obermann Center created the Obermann International Fellowships program to attract global scholars to our campus. The initiative was generously co-funded by International Programs. Our first cohort included experts from Africa, Europe, and Latin America. Their fields were a testament to the variety of disciplines which feel at home at the Obermann, from computer science to journalism to creative writing. Their active, engaged presence helped our faculty and students to forge new connections, gain a clearer understanding of global realities, and generate additional opportunities for discovery.
Spring 2025 International Fellows:
- Ercan Canhasi, Associate Professor of Computer Science, University of Prizren, Kosovo — met with more than 32 UI scientists and administrators, worked on a new research project with a UI colleague, and presented at the 2025 Provost’s Global Forum
- Gabriela Román Fuentes, independent author, Mexico — drafted a play and several chapters of a novel and performed research at the Hardin Health Sciences Library for an article on the representation of illness and female bodies in contemporary Latin-American literature
- Thomas Horky, Professor of Sports Journalism, Macromedia University of Applied Sciences, Germany — guest-taught undergraduate classes in the School of Journalism & Mass Communication, prepared an international conference with a UI colleague, and performed research on the virtualization of media and sport
- Rasheedah Liman, Professor of Theatre and Development Communication, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Nigeria — actively participated in playwriting workshops with UI graduate students, guest lectured in UI theatre and community engagement courses, participated in the Iowa New Play Festival, and joined in script-reading and post-play reading sessions
- Musawenkosi Ndlovu, Senior Lecturer of Media Studies, Centre for Film and Media Studies, University of Cape Town, South Africa — completed two chapters of a forthcoming book, attended seminars at the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, and exchanged research with a UI colleague
Fellows in the News
Rasheedah Liman: Bridging Continents Through Eco-Theatre
Narrating Pain, Shaping Poetics: Gabriela Román Fuentes Drafts Novel and Play during Obermann Fellowship
From Kosovo to Iowa: Ercan Canhasi Advances AI and Research Strategy in Underserved Nations
"My time at the University of Iowa was an unforgettable experience. The welcoming and supportive environment made a huge difference...I leave with new research collaborations, expanded professional networks, and a deep appreciation for the University of Iowa’s commitment to academic excellence and global engagement. I look forward to continuing these collaborations and applying the knowledge gained to my work in Kosovo and beyond."
A Broad Base of Support
In 2024–25, Obermann programs drew on a variety of funding sources, demonstrating the center’s institutional support and its ability to attract competitive external resources and forge productive relationships with other units on campus. Core programs such as Interdisciplinary Research Grants and the Obermann Arts & Humanities Symposium were especially well-supported, with significant contributions from the Spelman Rockefeller Fund and departmental co-sponsorships.
Our Working Groups, International Fellows, Book Ends, Editor-in-Residence, Writing Collective, and End-of-Year Writing Retreat programs benefited from blended support—Obermann base funding complemented by the Spelman Rockefeller Foundation, International Programs, and the Office of the Vice President for Research's "Writing for the Public Good” initiative.
Editor-in-Residence
Editorial work is an essential part of the scholarly enterprise which is nevertheless too often overlooked. Those working in the dissemination of new knowledge—from publishers to journal reviewers to librarians—serve the university community in essential ways. The connections they create energize new academic endeavors and assure that what the university produces reaches the rest of society. The Obermann Center's new Editor-in-Residence program—funded by the P3 Writing for the Public Good initiative—seeks to underscore the vital importance of these professionals within the academic ecosystem.
In its inaugural year, the program offered a unique opportunity to connect UI faculty and students with Mark Simpson-Vos, a senior editor at the University of North Carolina Press. Mark’s distinguished career and esteemed reputation in academic publishing made him an ideal person to initiate a series of activities which aim to educate the university community about the role of editors and to facilitate the work of our researchers as they approach increasingly selective publishers.
Mark's book proposal workshop with faculty attracted more applications than we could accommodate! The session was designed to help authors write a compelling book proposal, with a focus on crafting a strong pitch, identifying target audiences, and outlining the project’s structure. The workshop’s goal was for participants to walk away with a strong and cohesive book proposal, increasing their chance of securing a book deal. The workshop was a very productive five-hour-long session that convinced us of the need to repeat it at least yearly.
Faculty participants:
- Hope Tucker, Cinematic Arts, CLAS
- Margaret Beck, Anthropology, CLAS
- Roxanna Curto, French & Italian and Spanish & Portuguese, CLAS
- Meriam Belli, History, CLAS
- Matthew Arndt, School of Music, CLAS
- Zena Bibler, Dance, CLAS
- Abbey Dvorak, School of Music, CLAS
- César Rosado Marzan, College of Law
Graduate students enjoyed a special session with Mark in which he demystified some aspects of the writing process from an editor’s perspective and explained the publishing process for first books.
Mark also gave a talk open to the entire campus community—"Beyond Crisis: Restoring the Creative Partnership between Authors and Publishers"—about the changes that have reshaped the university press landscape during the last four decades. At the Obermann we are already excitedly planning similar and additional activities with our second Editor-in-Residence, Sara Cohen, Editorial Director at the University of Michigan Press, who will be with us in November 2025. It will be another fantastic opportunity to learn and connect.
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"I loved the writing exercises, stretch breaks, and clear information about what makes for an effective proposal. I especially appreciated learning more about what it's like to wade through proposals as an editor and how to make the communication between author and editor more effective. It was a special treat to connect with faculty of different disciplines and learn from their various examples (as well as to be exposed to their research!)"
"I was worried that a talk on the ins and outs of publishing would be overwhelming. Not so! Mark's talk was structured to provide the most manageable tips and support; I was exhilarated by the end, mostly because I felt like I had been handed the most graspable parts of how to approach publishing, and I had been handed these in such a clear and compelling way."
Book Ends: Obermann/OVPR Book Completion Workshop
Co-sponsored by Obermann and the Office of the Vice President for Research, the workshop supports University of Iowa faculty of all ranks from disciplines in which publishing a monograph is required for tenure and promotion. The award is designed to assist UI faculty members with significant research responsibilities turn promising manuscripts into important, field-changing, published books.
Book Ends brings together a panel of senior scholars—two external, one internal to the UI—for a candid, constructive three-hour virtual workshop on a faculty member’s book manuscript.
This year, Book Ends awards went to the following faculty members:
Cesár F. Rosado Marzán — Professor, College of Law
This book examines how worker centers—non-union community groups advocating for low-wage workers—effectively promote new labor rights across the United States despite their small memberships, limited staff, and modest budgets.
Internal reviewer: Robin Clark-Bennett, UI Labor Center
External reviewers: Daniel Galvin, Political Science, Northwestern University, and
Jennifer Gordon, Fordham University School of Law
Viridiana Hernández Fernández —Assistant Professor, History, CLAS
This book reveals how Mexican rural people, bureaucrats, businessmen, agronomists, U.S. farmers, scientists, government officials, entrepreneurs, and consumers on both sides of the border voluntarily and involuntarily contributed to the emergence and expansion of Michoacán’s avocado belt.
Internal reviewer: Tyler Priest, History, CLAS
External reviewers: Myrna Santiago, History, Saint Mary’s College of California, and John Soluri, History, Carnegie Mellon University
Matthew Arndt — Associate Professor, School of Music, CLAS
This book investigates the polar dynamics of experiential learning as a basis for all possible musical communication, so as to create a post-anthropocentric poetics of music, in order to help music theory recover its ancient transdisciplinary scope and power.
Internal reviewers: Lori Branch, English, CLAS, and Steven Ungar, Cinematic Arts, CLAS
External reviewer: John Covach, Institute for Popular Music, University of Rochester
"I really liked how the facilitator started discussing my book as a whole and then moved on to each individual chapter for discussion. It was also very helpful to hear the positive and less positive aspects of the manuscript in a professional, constructive manner. I enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere created from the beginning of the workshop and the commitment the three reviewers showed to making my future book a great one!"
We also celebrate former awardee Jose Fernandez (Latina/o/x Studies, Division of Interdisciplinary Programs), who published Publishing Latinidad: Latinx Literary and Intellectual Production 1880-1960 with University of Arizona Press in April 2025. His book examines Latinx writers and intellectuals prior to 1960 who entered literary, cultural, and intellectual discourses through alternative print cultures and genres, including nontraditional books, Spanish-language newspapers and periodicals, translations, paratexts, bibliographies, and archival practices.
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Publishers have included:
- University of California Press
- Rutgers University Press
- Cornell University Press
- Stanford University Press
- University of Arizona Press
Obermann Writing Collective
The Obermann Writing Collective, launched in 2022, offers companionship and accountability to University of Iowa artists, scholars, and researchers working on any kind of academic writing project who want dedicated time, a cozy space, and a community for the practice of writing.
In Fall 2024 and Spring 2025, we offered three write-on-site groups open to anyone in the UI academic community. The groups met once per week for one and a half hours in the Obermann Center's "Writers' Attic." Writing sessions include brief check-ins, goal setting, and sustained writing time, along with warm appreciation and support for the demanding work of scholarly writing.
Group leaders were Julie Koch (College of Education), Kath Shaughnessy (English, CLAS), and Ellie White (English, CLAS).
Advancing many projects
Group members worked on a wide range of writing projects:
- journal articles
- dissertations
- MA and MFA theses
- grant proposals, syllabi
- conference abstracts
- book chapters
- PhD comprehensive exams
- memoirs
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"I was able to complete my MA thesis and graduate this semester. I would not have been able to complete my thesis without this group. It gave me momentum in the fall 2024 semester, and I was able to use that momentum (and the group) to complete it this semester. These groups are so important and so essential."
"Leading writing groups through the Obermann Center has transformed my sense of the writing community at Iowa. I've seen how effective the simple offering of dedicated time and space can be in supporting the work and well-being of a writing community. The energy which Iowa's scholars bring to their work, and the thoughtfulness with which they work through their own writing process, have motivated me to establish a consistent writing practice as an early-stage grad student."
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"It was hugely beneficial for me to start each week with the Obermann Writing Collective. Especially with creative projects, it is easy for me to spend quite a bit of time thinking about the work without doing the work. Making that ninety-minute butt-in-chair commitment reconnected me to the work in a tangible, focused way that put words on the page, and those words on the page provided some creative momentum for the week!"
End-of-Year Writing Retreat
In May, the Obermann Center, with support from the Office of the Vice President for Research's P3 Writing for the Public Good initiative, hosted the inaugural End-of-Year Writing Retreat at the sun-dappled North Ridge Pavilion in Coralville. Nineteen faculty, staff, and undergraduate and graduate students from across the University of Iowa gathered for a week of rejuvenation and focused creativity. Each day began with short check-ins designed to foster discussion about writing practice followed by quiet blocks of time for sustained writing. Participants enjoyed lunch from different favorite local restaurants or enlightening conversations. In addition to writing time, the retreat included activities designed to stir the imagination and foster well-being like yoga and walking meditation. One of the retreat’s most memorable moments was an intimate, thought-provoking conversation with acclaimed author Garth Greenwell, who shared behind-the-scenes glimpses into the editorial process.
Participants:
- Tamar Bernfeld, Center for Teaching
- Brittany Bettendorf, Internal Medicine, Carver College of Medicine
- Margaret Bowlin, English, CLAS
- Abigail Escatel, Communication Studies, CLAS
- Paul Gilbert, College of Public Health
- Sant Giralt, Spanish & Portuguese, CLAS
- Francesca Hendricks, English, CLAS
- Jiyeon Kang, Communication Studies, CLAS
- Hae Sun Kim, School of Music, CLAS
- Julie Koch, Counseling Psychology, College of Education
- Melanie Landsittel, School of Information and Library Science; Center for the Book, Graduate College
- Susan Meerdink, Geographical and Sustainability Sciences, CLAS
- Waltraud Maierhofer, German and Global Health Studies, CLAS
- Kristine Munoz, Global Health and Spanish, CLAS
- Mariana Ruiz Nascimento, College of Education
- Jonathan Platt, Epidemiology, College of Public Health
- Tiffany Simon, Counselor Education & Supervision, College of Education
- June Tai, College of Law
- Maryam Torkashvand, Geographical & Sustainability Sciences, CLAS
Retreat facilitator: Ellie White, English, CLAS
"A Wonderful Place to Write"
The week after classes finished in the spring, I had the opportunity to participate in the Obermann Center’s End-of-Year Writing Retreat. The retreat offered faculty, staff, and students dedicated time to work on writing projects, which I hoped to spend editing my novel, a climate dystopia that centers on youth empowerment and the feeling of hopelessness that many of us experience as the climate changes despite our many efforts. Upon receiving an email of acceptance to the retreat, I was in class and could barely keep from grinning.
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Writing in many forms
Retreat participants reported working on:
- academic books
- journal articles
- translations
- chapters for edited collections
- novels
- dissertations
- grant proposals
- comprehensive exams
- IRB applications
"[It was helpful] having carved-out time away from daily life and work to actually write! This was fantastic and so productive. I enjoyed meeting wonderful and diverse people from across campus!"
"[The retreat] offered an opportunity to shift my focus from teaching and service to writing, setting a productive tone for the summer. [...] I appreciated that the retreat emphasized actual writing over discussions about writing. That said, I also had several inspiring conversations over lunch and around the table. The venue was outstanding. I was reminded that taking a short walk or stepping outside for fresh air is an actual break—unlike checking email or scrolling through a phone. The pond, trails, and pavilion with large windows created a wonderful atmosphere."
Co-Sponsorships
The Obermann Center welcomes the opportunity to support activities and events that further our mission—promoting research and creative work, facilitating publicly engaged art and scholarship, and building intellectual community. In addition to helping our Working Groups fund their various events, we also collaborated with partners across campus to co-sponsor 17 events in 2024–2025:
- "Keith Haring, Censorship, and the Power of Art" (9/26/24) - This panel discussion on the importance of unrestricted access to information was a collaboration between the Obermann Center, the UI Stanley Museum of Art, and the Iowa City Public Library.
Attendees: 35 - NEA Big Read (1/20/25) - This popular campus-wide initiative hosted by the Stanley Museum of Art featured a community-wide reading of Beloved by Toni Morrison.
- Jane and Her Music: A Musical Celebration of the 250th Birthday of Jane Austen (2/1/25) - Hosted by the UI School of Music, this free, public event featured lectures, presentations, and recitals by UI faculty and students.
Attendees: 140 - Radical Hope: Cultural Workers and Community Leaders in Conversation (3/3/25) - panel discussion and conversation with Ida Cordelia Beam Distinguished Visiting Professor Dr. Leigh Patel and Iowa cultural workers and community leaders.
Attendees: 50–75 - A Conversation with Scholars at Risk (3/5/25) - public conversation for UI faculty, students, and staff about the work of Scholars at Risk to protect and promote academic freedom worldwide.
Attendance: 14 UI faculty members, staff, and undergraduate students - Book Reading by Samira K. Mehta (3/25/25) - the UI Jewish Studies Network hosted Mehta for the reading of her book, The Racism of People Who Love You, at Prairie Lights
- "The Unfinished Symphony": Graduate and Professional Student Research and Connection Lab (3/28/25) - informal symposium for graduate and professional students to share their work with a group of people outside of their discipline
- "Exploring Anne Frank's Legacy: Empathy, Education, and Difficult Life Stories" (4/4/25) - webinar featuring contributors to Exploring Anne Frank and Difficult Life Stories; authors discussed the relevance of Anne Frank's story in the 21st century and techniques for teaching difficult and sensitive topics. Watch video
Attendees: 60. - Iowa City Darwin Day (4/4/25—4/5/25) - a free, public event celebrating science, featuring lectures by renowned scientists.
Attendees: 500 community members - Mutations and Permutations of Care: Graduate Student Conference (4/4/25–4/5/25) - Hosted by graduate students of French and Francophone World Studies, this hybrid, interdisciplinary conference explored the subject of care: What does care look like? What about the absence of care? What are the dynamics between individual care and communal care? How can we teach care?
Attendees and participants: 79 - Graduate Student Writing Group and Social (4/8/25) - in celebration of Graduate and Professional Student Appreciation Week, the Obermann Center Writing Collective, in collaboration with the Graduate College Office of Graduate Student Success, hosted a special edition of the writing collective. This event was designed to foster community, offer support, and express gratitude to the dedicated graduate students whose work enriches our academic community.
Attendees: 20+ - Writing for the Conversation (4/11/25) - an OVPR workshop for UI graduate students and postdocs about how and why to pitch an article about their research to The Conversation US.
Attendees: 15 - Sonia Kovalevsky High School Mathematics Day (4/12/25) - annual day-long program for high-school aged women, featuring interactive workshops, an interactive gaming presentation, panels of professionals with math-related jobs, and a UI admissions presentation.
Participants: 48 - My City, My Health Conference (4/18/25) - a conference for students, healthcare professionals, and community members looking for insights and strategies to help bridge the health care gaps in the Iowa City community.
Attendees: 200 - Iowa City International Documentary Film Festival (4/25/25-4/27/25) - annual festival that showcased 68 films, hosted 13 virtual Q&As and 7 in-person Q&As with filmmakers, ran 12 screenings, and hosted a phytography workshop and a talk on analog processes.
Attendees: 512 - Virtual Dissertation Camp (5/27/25–6/6/25) - Hosted by the UI Writing Center, the camp provided focused writing time, presentations, writing consultations, support, and motivation to UI graduate students writing their dissertations. All reported substantial progress on their dissertation projects.
Participants: 20 - Si No Sanas Hoy, Sanarás Mañana (5/9/25) - a group art exhibition that brought together Iowa-based creatives of Latin American descent in a dialogue centered around healing.
Attendees: 150
17
"It was good to gather and learn ways to bolster support for quelled projects and tighten digital security. I was glad to receive thank-yous from a number of folks I’d not met before as well, it seemed that people especially appreciated a chance to exchange accounts of navigating our work right now from their respective corners of the university."
Obermann Staff
- Luis Martín-Estudillo, Director
- Lauren Burrell Cox, Associate Director
- Erin Hackathorn, Operations Director
- Jenna Hammerich, Communications Coordinator
- Eleanor Ball, Communications Assistant
Donors, 2024–25
Thank you to the following faculty, staff, emeritus faculty, and community friends who have recognized the value of the Obermann Center’s work and our unique role at the University of Iowa. Your gifts make our work not only possible but more creative and further-reaching.
- Daniel R. Campion
- Prof. Jonathan C. Carlson
- Dr. Carolyn A. Colvin
- Virginia R. Dominguez
- Claire F. Fox
- Carolyn Hartley
- Juan Pablo Hourcade
- Teresa Mangum
- Peter J. Manning
- Chuck and Mary Ann Peters
- Raymond G. Riezman
- Jane L. Van Voorhis
Advisory Board, 2024–25
- Cassie Barnhardt, Social and Education Policy Reserach, College of Education
- Brittany Bettendorf, Immunology, Carver College of Medicine
- Sarah E. Bond, History and Classics, CLAS
- Cynthia Chou, Anthropology and Asian Studies, CLAS
- Mary Beth Easley, Theatre Arts, CLAS
- Ebonee Johnson, Community and Behavioral Health, College of Public Health
- Kristy Nabhan-Warren, Office of the Vice President for Research; Religious Studies and Gender, Women's, & Sexuality Studies, CLAS (ex-officio)
- Roland Racevskis, French & Italian; College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Administration (ex-officio)
- Michael Sauder, Sociology & Criminology, CLAS
- Tammie Walker, School of Music, CLAS
- Joseph Yockey, College of Law
Thank you to our donors and supporters. You make this work possible.
Support Obermann via the UI Center for Advancement
