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

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.