Executive Director
Peter Gerlach is executive director of the Iowa City Foreign Relations Council (ICFRC) and visiting assistant professor in the International Studies Program at The University of Iowa. He received his BA and MA degrees in English from Ripon College and the University of Northern Colorado, respectively. After serving in the US Peace Corps in Mongolia, he earned a PhD in Cultural Foundations of Education from Syracuse University where he conducted dissertation research on the lived experiences of international students at Grinnell College. Dr. Gerlach’s teaching areas include international studies, international education, refugee and immigrant studies, and community engaged learning. And, among others, he serves on the UI’s Fulbright Committee as well as on the board of directors at the Refugee and Immigrant Association and the planning committee of the Refugee Alliance of Johnson County. He lives in Iowa City with his wife and two children.
CommunicationS Coordinator
Carlisle Isley (BFA) is an artist, papermaker, bookmaker and world traveler. She grew up in a multicultural world in seven different countries -- a neither/nor world that cannot be stereotyped as a typically “white American childhood." Carlisle lived in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, Mahomet, Illinois in the American Midwest, Santiago, Chile, Abu Dhabi, UAE, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and Amman, Jordan. For one year she was homeschooled by her parents while her family backpacked around Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand. The non-traditional way she was raised allowed her to engage, understand and respect many other cultural voices. In June of 2021 she moved from Rwanda to Iowa City to pursue a Masters in Library Information Science. Having access to information will allow a person to discover and empower their identities as information seekers. She believes her purpose is to promote information literacy so a community can have the tools to get their voices and thoughts heard.
Program Assistant INTERN
Hello! My name is Lexi Passno, and I am from Sherrard, Illinois. As a junior at the University of Iowa, I study Ethics and Public Policy with a specialization in Sociology. I am also involved with the Honors program, Ignite UI, Phi Eta Sigma, On Iowa!, and I work in the library at Boyd Law School. My interest in international issues and passion for learning about new cultures sparked in high school when I joined a student cultural exchange club. Since then, I have spent my time traveling, visiting local cultural bazaars, and attending lectures hosted by the ICFRC. I am very grateful to have the opportunity to continue to cultivate these interests during my time with the ICFRC. Outside of class, I am an avid reader and I enjoy camping and hiking. My favorite camping spot is within the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park.
Communications Intern
Hello! My name is Natalie and I am a first-year International Studies and Social Work double major at the University of Iowa. I’m also involved in the Honors program, Mock Trial, UI Students for Disability Advocacy and Awareness, and Circle K. I’ve also worked with Amnesty International to advocate for human rights abroad and at home, and I hope to be able to continue that advocacy in the future! In my free time, I love watching Marvel movies, painting, traveling, and reading dystopian books (especially the Hunger Games). I am from Gambrills, Maryland, near Washington, DC, but I’ve moved around a lot and have lived everywhere from Alaska to Georgia. Growing up in a multicultural household, international issues and cultural awareness have always been an important part of my life, so I’m super excited to share that with the Iowa City community through ICFRC!
COMMUNITY OUTREACH & ENGAGEMENT Intern
Hi! My name is Kyra Lester, and I am a freshman at the University of Iowa. I am an Honors student majoring in Business Analytics and Finance along with a minor in Spanish and a certificate in International Business. On campus, I am involved in MBSA (Multicultural Business Students Association, BizEdge, the Honors Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council, Women in Business, InvestHer, Tippie Buddies, and the Vietnamese Student Association.
I’m from a small, rural town in Iowa called Colfax, but I was born in Wuwei City, China, and adopted when I was one. My passion for global issues and international relations stems from this background. I have since grown to love all things travel, culture, international finance and economics, and linguistics. Outside of class, I enjoy weightlifting, baking/cake decorating, reading, and listening to 80s Rock and K-Pop. I am excited to bring these interests to help the ICFRC continue to grow its reach in Iowa City!