13 CLAS students, alumni receive Fulbright awards to travel abroad in 2023-24

May 25, 2023

Meet these CLAS student researchers and artists

May 15, 2023

By Charlotte Brookins  

Graduate and undergraduate students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences are doing impactful and interesting work across disciplines. Learn more about the research, creative projects, and interests of playwright graduate student Christopher Lysik, recently graduated neuroscience undergraduate student Manuela Lizarazu, and history graduate student Samuel Boucher. 

Christopher Lysik, Theatre Arts

What is the focus of your work? 

I am a playwright and musician whose work often interrogates the complexities of memory, personally and culturally. As an artist, I’m interested in the questions, “What do we remember? What have we forgotten? What stories have we told ourselves to plug we’ve up those gaps?” Often, this work starts from a personal place and expands outwards from there. 

For example, I’m currently working on a piece that traces the cultural assimilation of Italian Americans in my home state of Rhode Island throughout the 20th and 21st centuries. Growing up, I heard stories of the discrimination my community faced in the years after their immigration, largely from southern Italy. However, like with other ethnic groups, many specifics of the journey from cultural outsiders to engrained members of society have been erased—or written over. The first step in my process is to fully understand the historical/societal shifts which shape the lives of my characters, always seeking out the strange, the peculiar, and the emotional which I can mine to engage an audience. 

Tell us about the broad impact you’d like to have. 

I think like most artists, my first goal is to create an experience that leaves those in the audience with some sort of emotional impact. With this particular piece, though, I’m also hoping to draw awareness to the cyclical nature of assimilation, and lead my viewers to recognize their place within it—wherever that may be. 

What excites you about the environment in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences? 

I don’t come from an academic background. My undergraduate years were spent in an acting conservatory, and I was working in the New York theater scene when the pandemic hit. It’s been incredible to find myself in an institution which values both the academic and the artistic and is able to provide resources and support as I incorporate research practices more and more into my work. 

What are your hobbies and pursuits outside of work? 

Moments of free time are few and far between these days, but when I can find them, I love trying out new board games and discovering cooking recipes. I also try to spend as much time getting lost in the woods as possible! 

Any favorite things to do in Iowa City? 

My goal for the spring semester has been to walk through all of the paths in Hickory Hill Park. Each time I think I’ve found the last one, another pops up! For more festive activities, I’m partial to the playwrights gathering at Deadwood on Monday nights, after our weekly Workshop. 

Manuela Lizarazu, Neuroscience  

What is the focus of your work? 
 
An important problem in modern neuroscience is unraveling novel brain pathways to understand how they function. People respond to stressful life events differently, and as we learn more about the brain pathways involved in stress, we believe that this information may be applied to understand and treat mental disorders. Responses to stress are regulated by a network of limbic forebrain structures, whereas dysfunction in these neural systems are implicated in the pathogenesis of stress-related psychiatric illness.  

My work seeks to identify key brain regions that coordinate stress response features (i.e., behavioral, endocrine, autonomic), as we predict that these sites will enhance our understanding of how the brain organizes adaptive responses to stress and how perturbations lead to maladaptive changes. In the lab, I use intersectional viral approaches to characterize prefrontal cortex input to a brain nucleus called the BST, and to interrogate its involvement in regulating context fear generalization in adult rats. 

Tell us about the broad impact you’d like to have. 

My goal as a biomedical engineer and neuroscientist is to be able to comprehend the structure and function of the different biological systems at its maximum level by incorporating my engineering skills. My passion comes from my sister, who has Cornelia de Lange syndrome. I want to keep exploring the human body through graduate school to further on be part of an industrial company that will allow me to design medical devices or molecular components for neurodegenerative diseases. 

What excites you about the environment in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences? 

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences provides multiple opportunities for students to grow both academically and personally by developing new knowledge, laboratory techniques, and leadership skills. I have been able to start new student organizations that support different ethnicities in STEM, as well as guide others through the different areas of study that the university provides. 

What are your hobbies and pursuits outside of work? 

I was a part of the Iowa Women's Golf team at Iowa for 4 years. I also have always enjoyed cooking and hanging out with friends outdoors. 

Any favorite things to do in Iowa City? 

Having picnics by the lake and enjoying Iowa City businesses are my favorite things to do. 

Samuel Boucher, History  

What is the focus of your work? 

My research focuses on the Low German Mennonite colonies throughout Latin America and the various factors that led to their relative economic success. My proposed research for my dissertation will investigate the cooperative model of Indigenous (Enxet, Toba, Chiripa, and Ayoreo) Mennonites in the Chaco of Paraguay.  

When asked about their success, German Mennonite colonists seem to follow a Weberian explanation. Their cultural values—specifically hard work and thrift—are responsible for their success, they claim. On the other hand, Mennonite scholars such as J. Winfield Fretz have argued that the cooperative models that the Mennonite imported from Russia are largely responsible for their economic growth. 

 Theoretically, according to Fretz, the application of this model by other communities should yield similar results. Yet, recent historical and sociological research has upended this narrative. Paola Canova (2020) has shown that Indigenous Mennonite cooperative success has been limited and largely used to re-enforce the economic dependency of the indigenous communities on the German Mennonite colonial structure. Instead, Canova proposes that Mennonite success was largely due to the racialized structure of Paraguayan society that privileged white settlers over their indigenous neighbors.  

By comparing the cooperative movements of the German Mennonites and indigenous Mennonites, my dissertation aims to elucidate their interrelationship as well as evaluate the degree to which the whiteness of the German Mennonite colonies in Paraguay provided them with privileges and advantages in the racialized hierarchy of Paraguayan society. 

Tell us about the broad impact you’d like to have. 

I hope to begin this research in the spring of 2024 working with José Soler, Director de Dirección General de Relaciones Internacionales y Cooperación (General Director of International Relations and Cooperation) within the Ministerio de Desarrollo Social (Ministry of Social Development) who is interested in the development of the indigenous communities of the Chaco in Paraguay. He is especially interested in my project as it will reveal the basis of Mennonite success in the Chaco and how to create a more equitable space for other communities. More broadly-speaking, this research seeks to reveal the ways in which perception creates privilege within society. 

What excites you about the environment in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences? 

Perhaps surprisingly, I like the comparatively small size of my department. At other larger universities, I feel like it is easier to feel unsupported and lost in the crowd where the departments are so much bigger and more competitive. At the University of Iowa, the office of the Department of History has been amazing. They consistently look out for their graduate students (helping with grants and opportunities) and check in to make sure one is always on track in their progress towards their degree. For me, this support has been essential and has made my experience here enjoyable, yet challenging. 

What are your hobbies and pursuits outside of work? 

It is hard not to be all-consumed by the readings and discussions of graduate level history, but I have tried to maintain a balance. To this end, I joined an adult hockey league in Cedar Rapids. I also enjoy going on walks around town and taking short jogs through Hickory Hill Park to clear my head. Beyond reading works of history, I also enjoy reading fantasy, science fiction, and other works of literature—at this moment, everything by Brandon Sanderson. 

Any favorite things to do in Iowa City? 

My wife and I have a foodie streak and we enjoy trying different restaurants every weekend. The restaurant I love Fufu has been a hidden gem. We are also members of Public Space One, and we frequently go to events hosted at the Close House, such as art exhibits and workshops. On occasion, we go downtown to catch an independent film at FilmScene or a show at the Englert Theatre. More often, we simply grab a beer and chat at Big Grove Brewery after a busy day. 

CLAS 3D Design students showcase their work in the Big Apple

May 24, 2023

The University of Iowa was one of about a dozen institutions from around the world invited to exhibit in New York during a competitive 3D design showcase in May.  

The International Contemporary Furniture Fair’s Schools Showcase at WantedDesign Manhattan gives talented design students a rare opportunity to present on an international stage. Twelve students from the UI School of Art and Art History, led by Vakhtangi "Vako" Darjania a lecturer in the program, showed work they had completed during their 3D design coursework. 

Items ranged from contemporary furniture to unique lighting.  

Katie Freeman is a first-year graduate student pursuing an MA in 3D design. She designed and printed her stool titled “Edges” during a product design course in the fall of 2022. Her work was inspired by segmented organic forms, like shellfish and insects. 

She says she has had her eye on this showcase for a long time.  

“Being selected for this show is a huge opportunity and I am grateful that the program selected me as one of the students to attend. Opportunities like this is one of the reasons I wanted to be part of this graduate program,” Freeman says.  

Reynold Tawiah-Quashie, a graduate student from Ghana, displayed a yellow, metal fabricated lounge chair named “Surf.” It uses clean lines and angular shapes to create what he calls a bold and contemporary look. He says he feels grateful to be part of the showcase in New York and is excited to network and grow professionally during the event.  

“It [the show] gave me an inside look at the furniture industry and valuable insights into the commercial aspect of furniture and design,” Tawiah-Quashie explains.  

Iowa’s 3D Design Program prioritizes student participation in national and international exhibitions—strengthening student ability to present their artwork, while also exposing them to major design companies. Over the last decade, Hawkeyes have presented as near as Chicago and as far as Italy, Brazil, and Turkey.   

Third-year undergraduate student Brianna Muchai says Iowa has primed her for large, international shows like the spring 2023 ICFF showcase in Manhattan.  

“All we do is design, make prototypes, and talk about our process so we have been preparing for an exhibition in every single 3D design class,” Muchai explains.  

In addition to the current students showing their work, two Iowa 3D design alumni, Weitong Cheng (16BFA) and Yiting Hou (21BFA) were at the showcase exhibiting designs with their employers. They were able to reunite with their alma mater while networking and showing current students where Iowa’s 3D design program can help them take.  

To learn more about 3D design at the University of Iowa, visit the program website. You can also watch the student experience from the showcase in this IG highlight on the CLAS Instagram page. 

Iowa Nonfiction Writing Program students help judge Krause Essay Prize

May 22, 2023

By Charlotte Brookins 

The University of Iowa Krause Essay Prize is an annual contest that has been held at the university since 2006, intended to celebrate extraordinary essays and their creators. The most recent winner is John Lee Clark, a DeafBlind essayist and poet from Minnesota, for his essay Against Access.  

“I taught the class last year, so I’m very familiar with all of the nominated essays,” says Melissa Febos, bestselling author and professor in the Nonfiction Writing Program.  

The class is the semester-long course entitled the Essay Prize, in which students of the Nonfiction Writing Program explore and judge nominated essays, ultimately arriving at one final winner.  

“John Lee Clark’s wonderful essay had some excellent competition,” Febos continues, “but was the clear favorite in the end.”  

The purpose of the Krause Essay Prize is to recognize and appreciate the work that goes into the creation of an essay, as well as showcase the genre as a form of art.   

Although the prize is strictly awarded to essays, there are no specific requirements as to the medium of the essay. They can be presented in the form of the written word, film, radio, performance, or anything else that comes to mind. The Krause Essay Prize aims to stretch the definition of an essay and showcase works that are defined by what it does rather than by what it is supposed to be. 

Contestants are nominated by a rotating committee of not more than fifteen writers, with nominators staying anonymous until the winner of the prize is made public. Made possible by the generous donations of the Kyle J. and Sharon Krause Family Foundation, the winning essay is awarded $10,000 and a hand-carved walnut letter box inscribed with the winner’s name and the name of their essay. The winner is also invited to a ceremony held in their honor on the University of Iowa campus. 

Corey Campbell, coordinator of the Nonfiction Writing Program, says her favorite part about the contest is the appreciation it shows for essays and their creators. 

“I’m drawn to the program’s deep respect for, and interest in, essaying as an art,” she says.  

You can watch the full video of the latest Krause Essay Prize ceremony at Iowa. Learn more about the Krause Essay Prize by visiting, krauseessayprize.org.