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.”

See full conference program here: