Exchange & Impact Roundtable with Iowa Delegation

The Exchange & Impact Roundtable, organized by American Councils for International Education, welcomed a delegation of over 20 members from the State of Iowa on June 18 in Prishtina. The group was led by MG (Ret.) Timothy E. Orr, Chair of the Kosovo–Iowa Partnership Committee, and included leaders such as Ms. Paula Dierenfeld, Mayor of Johnston (sister city to Peja, Kosovo), along with representatives from Sister Cities commissions, business, education, and the Iowa National Guard.

Opening remarks by Country Director Gjeni Shporta, U.S. Embassy Deputy Public Affairs Officer Kelsey De Rinaldis, and General Orr set the stage for a discussion on how educational exchanges drive cultural, academic, and economic cooperation between Kosovo and the United States.

Exchange alumni, including participants from the YES Kosova, United States-Kosovo Educational Exchange Board - USKEB (Fulbright Program, Humphrey Fellowship Program), and Kosovo American Education Fund - KAEF programs, several of whom were placed in Iowa, shared how their U.S. experiences translated into real-world impact in Kosovo. From strengthening civic institutions and supporting defense modernization to advancing modern agriculture, founding an AI-centered organization and driving environmental innovation, their work demonstrates the lasting value of U.S. investment in educational exchanges. American Fulbrighters from Iowa, placed in Prizren and Prishtina, also reflected on the profound impact their time in Kosovo has had on them and the communities they engaged with.

The roundtable highlighted the power of people-to-people diplomacy. After the formal program, alumni and delegates continued to network and build new connections. American Councils thanks all participants and remains committed to strengthening the Kosovo–Iowa partnership through transformative exchange programs that drive mutual prosperity and growth.

The Iowa–Kosovo delegation trip is an annual event organized by the Consulate of the Republic of Kosovo in Des Moines, IA and Iowa Sister States.