Obermann Center for Advanced Studies

Obermann Center for Advanced Studies

Parent institution	University of Iowa
Founders	C. Esco and Avalon L. Obermann
Established	1978
Director	Luis Martín-Estudillo
Staff	Lauren Cox, Erin Hackathorn, and Jenna Hammerich
Address	111 Church St.
Location	Iowa City , Iowa , United States
Website	obermann.uiowa.edu

The C. Esco and Avalon L. Obermann Center for Advanced Studies (OCAS) is an interdisciplinary research institute at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa. ^[1] The Obermann Center for Advanced Studies is the only research institute at the University of Iowa that supports and connects scholars and artists from all disciplines at all stages of their careers. We offer a unique space and a variety of programs dedicated to fostering discovery through innovative projects. With the support of our generous sponsors and collaborators within campus and beyond, we help the university community—from undergraduate students to senior faculty—cooperate to tackle local and global issues. ^[2]

History

The Obermann Center was founded in 1978 by University of Iowa alum and professor emeritus C. Esco Obermann in conjunction with the University of Iowa's Vice President for Research. At the time, it was named University House. Later, its name was changed to the University of Iowa Center for Advanced Studies, before 1993, when it was ultimately renamed to the C. Esco and Avalon L. Obermann Center for Advanced Studies in recognition of the Obermanns' significant financial contributions. ^[3]

The Obermann Center was originally housed in the University of Iowa's Oakdale Hall. When Oakdale was demolished in 2011, the Obermann Center moved to its current location in a historic Tudor Revival home in downtown Iowa City. ^{[4] [5] [6]}

Previous directors of the Obermann Center include Jay Semel, former University of Iowa Vice President for Research (1980–2010); and Teresa Mangum, associate professor of English and Gender, Women's, and Sexuality Studies (2010–2024). ^[4] The current director is Luis Martín-Estudillo, professor of Spanish and Portuguese at the University of Iowa. ^[7]

Programming

The Obermann Center's programming is interdisciplinary, including the arts, humanities, social sciences, and STEM. The center primarily serves faculty and graduate students at the University of Iowa, in addition to researchers from other universities within the United States and abroad. ^{[3] [4]} Obermann Center programs include:

• The Obermann Symposium, an annual, public gathering of national and international speakers who provide an interdisciplinary response to a topical theme. Recent topics have included Afro-Brazilian cinema, ^[8] disability, ^[9] and the intersections of archives, memory, and social justice. ^[10]
• Obermann Conversations, a panel conversation series open to the public. Recent topics have included book bans, labor strikes, and community-building strategies. ^[11]
• The Humanities for the Public Good program, which seeks to prepare humanities Ph.D. students to make an impact outside of traditional academia. ^{[12] [13]}
• Summer seminars. ^{[4] [14]}
• Interdisciplinary research grants, which support collaborative and cross-disciplinary projects that lead to significant scholarly or creative outcomes through a two-week summer residency. ^[15]
• Writing collective. A small-group writing community for University of Iowa scholars seeking focus, space, and accountability through weekly sessions with check-ins, goal setting, and dedicated writing time. ^[16]
• Resident fellows. ^[6]
• Obermann International Fellowships, flexible fellowships for international researchers and artists to develop collaborations and pursue independent. ^[17]
• Obermann Editor-in-Residence. This program connects Iowa scholars with visiting press editors to support academic publishing and highlight editors' roles in academia. ^[18]
• Obermann End-of-Year Writing Retreat. Each May, the Obermann Writing Retreat offers artists, scholars, and researchers a week of focused time to advance books, articles, or grants in a quiet, off-campus setting. The retreat includes catered lunches, structured writing blocks, and supportive peer engagement. ^[19]
• Book Ends: Obermann/OVPR Book Completion Workshop. Book Ends supports UI faculty in turning strong manuscripts into field-changing books through a virtual workshop with senior scholars who provide in-depth feedback. The program includes honoraria for external reviewers, facilitation support, and a structured process aimed at helping authors prepare manuscripts for submission within six months. ^[20]

Notable associated scholars

• Roderic Ai Camp
• Kenneth Cmiel
• Jane Desmond
• Jorge I. Domínguez
• Margaret Morganroth Gullette
• Eric Heinze
• Herbert Hovenkamp
• Min-Zhan Lu
• Sidney Mintz
• Christopher McKnight Nichols
• John Durham Peters
• William Schweiker
• Elaine Treharne

References

1. "Obermann Center for Advanced Studies". Consortium of Humanities Centers and Institutes. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
2. "Mission Statement of the Obermann Center for Advanced Studies". Obermann Center for Advanced Studies. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
3. "Distinguished Alumni Award: C. Esco Obermann". University of Iowa Center for Advancement. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
4. Heldt, Diane (July 8, 2010). "UI names new Obermann Center director". The Gazette. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
5. Hennigan, Gregg (March 11, 2011). "GALLERY: Historic Oakdale Hall at University of Iowa comes down". The Gazette. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
6. Gibbs, Maria (November 18, 2010). "Obermann gets temp home". The Daily Iowan. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
7. Revaux, Leslie (April 15, 2024). "Martín-Estudillo named new director of Obermann Center for Advanced Studies". University of Iowa Office of the Vice President for Research. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
8. Gaughan, Emma (March 28, 2023). "Afro-Brazilian film to take center stage in 'Frequências,' 2023 Obermann Humanities Symposium". The Daily Iowan. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
9. Kennerly, Mary Helen (March 19, 2019). "Is disability a universal experience? The Obermann Center's 2019 symposium asks provocative questions on disability and identity". Little Village. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
10. Trainor, Genevieve (February 20, 2018). "UI symposium Against Amnesia: Archives, Evidence and Social Justice draws top scholars". Little Village. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
11. "Obermann Conversations". Iowa City Public Library. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
12. McCarver, Katie Ann (April 29, 2019). "Obermann Center grant explores Humanities for Public Good program". The Daily Iowan. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
13. "UI Humanities for the Public Good" . Retrieved October 7, 2024.
14. Valerio-Jiménez, Omar; Vaquera-Vásquez, Santiago R.; Fox, Claire F., eds. (2017). "Acknowledgments". The Latina/o Midwest Reader. University of Illinois Press. doi:10.5622/illinois/9780252041211.001.0001. ISBN   9780252099809.
15. "Interdisciplinary Research Grants". Obermann Center for Advanced Studies. Retrieved August 7, 2025.
16. "Writing Collective". Obermann Center for Advanced Studies. Retrieved August 7, 2025.
17. "Obermann International Fellowships". Obermann Center for Advanced Studies. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
18. "Obermann Editor-in-Residence". Obermann Center for Advanced Studies. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
19. "Obermann End-of-Year Writing Retreat". Obermann Center for Advanced Studies. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
20. "Book Ends: Obermann/OVPR Book Completion Workshop". Obermann Center for Advanced Studies. Retrieved August 6, 2025.

Further reading

• Records of the Obermann Center for Advanced Studies
• Obermann Center Annual Reports

41°40′04″N91°32′02″W / 41.66777°N 91.53384°W / 41.66777; -91.53384