Kostina received an International Programs’ Special Projects Awards to host the event, which provides funding for small-scale international activities on the UI campus to support internationalization at Iowa. The two-day conference fostered cross-cultural dialogue and understanding between Iowa and representatives from all six countries in the Caucasus region. “I want people to understand how amazing this place is and how many problems the Caucasus still has,” Kostina said. “They need young people—like our students—to learn about these regions so they can foster connections between the Caucasus and America.”

Global Access Ambassador Folasade Olawoye, an international studies major with a minor in Korean studies and translation, participated in the TEAN South Korea: Korea University Program. Click the title above to read his reflection on the experience!

Brenda Gao, a University of Iowa student studying psychology, from Iowa City, Iowa, has been awarded a 2025 U.S. Department of State Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) to study Japanese this summer in Okayama, Japan. To learn more, click the title above!

Mairen Thompson, a University of Iowa graduate student studying world language education, from Tipton, Iowa, has been awarded a 2025 U.S. Department of State Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) to study in Japan this summer at Okayama University for an intensive Japanese language program. To learn more, click the title above!

Malvika Khadiya, a University of Iowa political science student from Cedar Falls, Iowa, has been awarded a 2025 U.S. Department of State Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) to study in Latvia this summer at Dauzgavpils University for an intensive Russian language program. To learn more, click the title above!