Regents Block Director’s Conference Travel | Cedar Rapids News

The University of Iowa’s Board of Regents has blocked interim Center for Intellectual Freedom director Luciano de Castro from attending three key academic conferences across Virginia, Ohio, and Indiana—scheduled to mark America’s 250th anniversary. De Castro, who’s been leading the center for a year and is in the running for the permanent role, expressed disappointment at the restriction, which stems from a new governance committee’s directive that he prioritize campus-based events, including a conservative-leaning “America 250 Speaker Series.” Critics within the center argue this move undermines faculty engagement and institutional visibility, calling it unprecedented for a governing body to restrict a director’s academic travel. Regent Christine Hensley defended the decision, citing the ongoing search for a permanent director and the need to ensure strong turnout for the speaker series. Despite canceled courses, the center remains active, with de Castro still teaching online and promoting upcoming talks—all while navigating a shifting focus inward. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/7e26a9fb4ea5536b