A Hawkeye view from the highest coastal mountain in Brazil. A celebration of international LGBTQ+ students living in the Midwest. A leap for joy in the Highlands of Scotland.
These moments were experienced and captured in photos by current and former University of Iowa students—including U.S. students who studied abroad, international students on campus, and alumni. They are among the winning images selected for the 2020 International Programs annual photo contest as part of International Education Week—a way to inspire greater awareness of the many ways UI students can experience international education.
The UI will celebrate International Education Week Nov. 16–20. This joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education celebrates the ways international education and exchange opportunities prepare citizens for community-building in both domestic and international settings.
In addition to showcasing this year’s photo contest winners, the UI celebration also will feature award ceremonies for the annual UI International Impact Award recipients, Global Student Awards, and a number of other key events.
“The multiple crises facing our world underscore just how interconnected the globe is,” says Russell Ganim, UI associate provost and dean of International Programs. “Iowa is as much engaged with the world now as it ever was. The mission of International Programs remains crucial not only to inform our community about rapid change but to respond in a thoughtful and engaged manner that remains true to our values as an institution of higher learning. International Programs is here to provide guidance and facilitate collaboration as we emerge from these challenges in a way that makes us stronger and more hopeful.”
Whether it’s helping students develop international perspectives through study abroad and virtual global internships or attracting a diverse community of students from around the world, the UI remains committed to creating global education opportunities for all its students. This fall, more than 2,500 international students studied or conducted postgraduate research at the UI from 99 foreign countries and territories. And in academic year 2019–20, 692 students studied abroad in 51 different countries.
International Impact Award
The UI International Impact Award recognizes distinguished alumni and other individuals with significant ties to the UI who have made important contributions internationally. The 2020 recipients are Pat and Susan Keefe, and Sarah Lande.
Pat and Susan Keefe
Pat and Susan Keefe have dedicated their lives to helping people in need internationally, regionally, and locally—a passion that started in 1971 when they volunteered with the Diocese of Davenport to be medical workers—Pat (BSPh ’69) as a pharmacist and Susan as a nurse—in a remote Mexican mountain village. The commitment to improvement and support of global health and international work remains a theme in the Keefe family’s contributions to the UI community, specifically the College of Pharmacy. They have generously supported various initiatives in the college, including the Patrick E. Keefe Professorship and the Patrick and Susan Keefe Service-Learning Scholarship. Their focus relates to enhancing access to opportunities, providing mentorship, and the provision of education and exposure to global and international issues—including involvement with humanitarian campaigns.
Sarah Lande
A resident of Muscatine, Iowa, and an Iowa alumna (BA and MBA), Sarah Lande has served as a board member, president, and executive director of the Iowa Sister States and recently served as co-chair of the 30th anniversary committee celebrating the Sister State relationship between the state of Iowa and Hebei Province in China. Lande’s citizen diplomacy efforts tied to China began in 1985 when she arranged the Muscatine itinerary for Xi Jinping’s visit to the state of Iowa, hosting a dinner for Xi and his delegation in her home. She was named an honorary friendship ambassador by the Chinese People’s Association of Friendship Foreign Countries in 2013. Lande is a recipient of the UI Distinguished Alumni Award for service and the Athena Award for Women’s Leadership. She has served on the advisory board of the UI Institute for International Business and serves the Muscatine community through leadership and volunteer roles in a variety of organizations.
Global Student Awards
The Global Student Award is given to two students annually—one to a student who has made significant efforts toward campus internationalization and another to a student who is furthering globalization through their international research or study abroad program.
This year’s recipients are Mishma Nixon, an undergraduate student majoring in English and creative writing, and Nicholas Stroup, a PhD candidate in educational policy and leadership studies.
Nicholas Stroup
Stroup has been centrally involved in a range of international research activities at UI.
“I have been deeply appreciative of the opportunities that Iowa has provided to further my international education,” says Stroup.
Among a number of transnational research projects in Norway and North Macedonia, Stroup’s international journey began when he received a Stanley Award for International Research to travel to Kosovo, deepening his appreciation for the Sister State relationship between Iowa and Kosovo, and opening a lifelong research stream about higher education in the Western Balkans.
“He is a leader among his peers,” says his nominator Cassie Barnhardt, associate professor of educational policy and leadership studies.
Mishma Nixon
Nixon, a UI student from Colombo, Sri Lanka, is an active member of the leadership team within the International Student Advisory Board, the vice president of the South Asian Student Alliance, and has served as the cultural director for the Campus Activities Board.
In addition to her roles in a variety of student organizations, Nixon has become a strong advocate for bringing students together and working to improve the international student experience in and outside of the classroom.
“As a first-generation international student who came to the U.S. and Iowa without knowing anyone or anything about college, this sense of community meant everything to me as I grew into this campus and found my place,” says Nixon. “I am also driven by the urge to give back, and offer the same sense of community for fellow students.”
An Amish couple returning home in a horse-buggy (1st place winner – Exploring Local Cultures and Traditions)
Chandra Kumar Maharjan
Graduate student
Department: neuroscience and pharmacology
Hometown: Kathmandu, Nepal
Location: Kalona, Iowa
“Being in Iowa has helped me learn about the Amish community. I find their traditions and way of living really fascinating. That evening, I and a friend were in an Amish neighborhood in Kalona photographing a corn harvest. As it started to get darker, we witnessed an Amish couple sharing a buggy ride on their way back home. The beautiful sky right after sunset provided an interesting backdrop for their silhouette.”
Appreciating the Kenyan Fashion (2nd place winner – Exploring Local Cultures and Traditions)
Janelle Hill
Junior
Major: Nursing
Hometown: Des Moines, Iowa
Session Abroad: Fall 2019
Study Abroad Host Country: Kenya
Study Abroad Program Provider
School for International Training (SIT)
Location: Kisumu, Kenya, Africa
“Kenyans are known for their sensible taste in fashion, and it is something that you could never miss. The more dramatization of the dresses, the more significant an individual appeared. There are dresses designed for any occasion, but these dresses in particular are typically worn to church or weddings. Each student in this photo handpicked and designed the dresses pictured and were able to have them tailored at local street shops.”
Fashioning His Own Identity (1st place winner – Student Experience)
Hao Zhou
Classification MFA/graduate student
Major: Film and video production, Department of Cinematic Arts
Hometown: Nanchuan, Chongqing, China
Old Band Fields, Iowa City
“In this photo, a costume designer named Marc (he/him) enjoys Iowa’s nature while wearing an intricate, Japanese-inspired outfit—which he designed and sewed himself! Marc enlivens Iowa’s LGBTQ+ culture with his confident fashion and creativity. As a queer artist from China, I have been delighted to befriend and engage with the vibrant, visible LGBTQ+ culture at the University of Iowa and beyond in Iowa City. I took this photo as part of my ongoing project, which aims to create a diverse, joyful portrait of LGBTQ+ Iowa.”
The Highlands (2nd place winner – Student Experience)
Olivia Sandvold
Alumna
Degree: Biomedical engineering
Hometown: Ankeny, Iowa
Session Abroad: Spring 2019
Study Abroad Host Country: Scotland
Study Abroad Program Provider: Strathclyde Exchange
Location: Glencoe, Scotland
“Jumping in the rain near the Three Sisters of Glen Coe.”
At the Top of Pedra da Gavea (1st place winner – Hawkeye Spirit)
Michael Klemme
Fourth-year medical student
Major: Medicine
Hometown: Spencer, Iowa
Session Abroad: Summer 2018
Study Abroad Host Country: Brazil
Study Abroad Program Provider: CCOM Global Programs Office
Location: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
“We climbed to the top of one of the highest mountains closest to the ocean in the world, Pedra da Gavea outside of Ipanema in Rio de Janeiro. This was about 2,500 meters up and included some hiking, climbing, bouldering, and ropes to reach the top. All worth it for this amazing view of Rio.”
Three Hawkeyes loving their new home (2nd place winner – Hawkeye Spirit)
Michael Burke, Alumni
Degree: Sport and recreation management, journalism and mass communication
Hometown: Ames, Iowa
Session Abroad: Spring 2019
Study Abroad Host Country: UK
Study Abroad Program Provider: University of Kent
Location: Canterbury, England
“All three of us got to show our Iowa pride in downtown Canterbury, England, where we spent every day and soon called our lovely new home. It was a special place that will forever be filled with amazing memories.”