Every January, 15-18 graduate students meet for an intensive week of conversation, study and exploration. Although they come from a variety of departments, they share an interest in how civic engagement can enhance teaching, research, and creative work. As the graduate school experience has become more and more discipline focused, the Institute provides a rare opportunity for students to connect with colleagues from across campus.
The culminating event of the Institute is for students to create or expand their own project. Projects have included choreographing personal narratives with incarcerated girls, collecting stories of changing demographics of Iowa City to creating and curating exhibits of art by sexual assault survivors.
The outcomes are clear: the Institute helps students secure jobs, funding and partnerships in the tough career environment post graduation.
In celebration of the ten year anniversary of the Obermann Graduate Institute, we are gathering and collecting stories of alumni throughout these past years.
Have a story to share? Comment on the blog, or send an email to jessica-pleyel@uiowa.edu!
