Is there a burning topic in your discipline or a topic that cuts across disciplines that we should bring to campus? Is there a format for the conversation that can energize an intellectual community around that topic? That might be the perfect topic for an Obermann Symposium!

In addition to a compelling topic, we invite co-directors to propose national and international speakers who can offer richly diverse perspectives on the symposium theme. We also want to highlight the work of UI and local experts. Continuing in the tradition of past symposia, we welcome the opportunity to help applicants include the arts, community-facing programming, and the latest pedagogical approaches to the theme as well. We invite proposals for half- or whole-day programs featuring two to six invited speakers. In addition to the financial award of up to $15,000, Director(s) also receive significant staff support from the Obermann Center for Advanced Studies.

The application deadline for the 2026–27 Symposium directorship is Oct. 29, 2025 (5 p.m.).

For more details, visit https://obermann.uiowa.edu/symposium-directorship-application-information.