2019-2020 Obermann Center for Advanced Studies
Annual Report
STRENGTHEN: Supporting Scholars, Growing Connections
At the heart of Obermann’s philosophy is our support for scholars of all ages, at all stages of their careers, and across institutions. One way we fulfill our primary mission—to support research at the University of Iowa—is to provide our faculty and graduate students with opportunities to work actively with scholars from outside of ourContinue reading “STRENGTHEN: Supporting Scholars, Growing Connections”
BELONG: Obermann as Connective Space
While the Obermann Center provides many tangible, material benefits to the UI campus, some of our work is more ineffable. While the Center itself is relatively small—we are a team four staff, and our building contains space for six scholars to work in-residence—we nonetheless provide a community in which scholars experience an important sense ofContinue reading “BELONG: Obermann as Connective Space”
COLLABORATE: One Table, Multiple Perspectives
Obermann Working Groups provide space, structure, and discretionary funding for groups led by faculty that may include advanced graduate students, staff members, and community members who share an intellectual interest. This year, our sixteen groups workshopped each other’s writing, read across disciplines, hosted visiting speakers and performers, and prepared grant proposals. Although Working Groups doContinue reading “COLLABORATE: One Table, Multiple Perspectives”
LATINIDADES: Mellon Sawyer Seminar
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COMMUNITY: Accessible & Shared
Community is central to the Obermann Center’s core values. We are invested in sharing the work of University of Iowa researchers and artists by making their work accessible to larger audiences, and also by providing scholars with opportunities to work directly with community partners. Our Obermann Conversation series, co-hosted by the Iowa City Public Library,Continue reading “COMMUNITY: Accessible & Shared”
LEADERSHIP: Advocating for the Role of an Emerging University
The Obermann Center represents the University of Iowa in multiple conversations around the country regarding the work of the humanities, the future of the modern university, the evolution of graduate education, and how higher education and local communities work together. With membership in national organizations, including the National Humanities Alliance, the Consortium of Humanities CentersContinue reading “LEADERSHIP: Advocating for the Role of an Emerging University”
REIMAGINE: A New PhD
The aim of Humanities for the Public Good, the three-year project funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, is to reimagine the future of the humanities PhD as a community-facing, interdisciplinary opportunity. In concert with our campus partners, the Graduate College and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, we had a full year dedicatedContinue reading “REIMAGINE: A New PhD”
RIPPLE EFFECTS: Publications & Grants
Work seeded at the Obermann Center often grows into larger and more complex projects years later. We are always pleased to see the ways that our funding creates ripple effects, whether two people meet via an Obermann event and go on to collaborate, or an Obermann-supported group writes a proposal that is accepted and blossomsContinue reading “RIPPLE EFFECTS: Publications & Grants”
TRANSFORM: Creating Vibrant, Equitable Spaces
The Spring 2020 Obermann Humanities Symposium, What Can Museums Become? was organized by Joyce Tsai (Art & Art History, CLAS; UI Stanley Museum of Art) and Jennifer Buckley (English, CLAS) in conjunction with the Stanley Museum of Art, the School of Art & Art History, the Ida Beam Visiting Professorships Program, and the Department ofContinue reading “TRANSFORM: Creating Vibrant, Equitable Spaces”
ACTUATE: Pragmatic & Hands-On Opportunities
The Book Ends: Obermann Center and Office for the Vice President for Research’s Book Completion Workshop program provides funding and administrative support for faculty who have a mature manuscript that would benefit from collegial review. In recent years, the Obermann Center worked with Jenna Supp-Montgomerie (Communication Studies and Religious Studies, CLAS) and Jessica Welburn PaigeContinue reading “ACTUATE: Pragmatic & Hands-On Opportunities”
