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Since 2016, Iowa State Professor's Dr. Diane Al Shihabi and Dr. Mikesch Muecke have collaborated with Tobin Tracey,  the Director of the  Office of Cultural Heritage at the Department of State to research, analyze, document and disseminate information about culturally significant diplomatic properties abroad. Resultant  research and scholarship is available globally through published websites, developed by the professors and students. The multimedia websites include text, images, videos, digital models and other sources of analysis.

Educational Collaborations with the Office of Cultural Heritage at the Department of State in Washington D. C. 

In 2023,  twenty-one  out of twenty-six students in the Interdisciplinary Preservation & Cultural Heritage Studio traveled with professors  Dr. Diane Al Shihabi and Dr. Mikesch Muecke to Valletta, Malta to resesarch, document, and disseminate information about  Villa Apap Bologna, the Offical Residence of the American Ambassador to the Malta. Students also developed designs for a large greenhouse with entertainment capacity. Tobin Tracey, the Director of the Office of Cultural Heritage at the US Department of State,  accompanied the group at Villa Apap Bologna, and coordinated an interview with Gwendolyn “Wendy” Green, the Charge d'Affaires and Deputy Chief of Mission to Malta (2020-2023).

In 2022,  with American embassies still closed abroad due to Covid,  twenty-two students in the Interdisciplinary Preservation & Cultural Heritage Studio traveled with professors  Dr. Diane Al Shihabi and Dr. Mikesch Muecke to San Antonio, Texas to resesarch, document, and disseminate information about the San Antonio Missions, collectively a UNESCO's World Heritage Site. Students also developed designs for a UNESCO World Heritage Center in San Antoino by either rehabilitating an existing building or developing new construction.

In 2021,  twenty-two students in the Interdisciplinary Preservation & Cultural Heritage Studio, under the direction of professors  Dr. Diane Al Shihabi and Dr. Mikesch Muecke,  resesarched, documented, and disseminate information about the Offical Residence of the American Ambassador to the Tokyo, Japan.  The class conducted correspondence and interviews with officials via Zoom. Students also developed designs for a poolhouse on the property. Tobin Tracey, the Director of the Office of Cultural Heritage at the US Department of State,  coordinated all interaction and communication with the American  Embassy and American Ambassador's residence in Tokyo.

In 2019,  students in the Interdisciplinary Preservation & Cultural Heritage Studio traveled with professors  Dr. Diane Al Shihabi and Dr. Mikesch Muecke to Tangier, Morocco to resesarch, document, and represent the American Legation, the first diplomatic building the United States purchased abroad. Iowa State University President Wendy Wintersteen attended the final review (second image below). Tobin Tracey, the Director of the Office of Cultural Heritage at the US Department of State, accompanied the group to the American Legation and participated in the final review celebration in Ames.

In 2018,  sixteen students in the Interdisciplinary Preservation & Cultural Heritage Studio traveled with professors  Dr. Diane Al Shihabi and Dr. Mikesch Muecke to Prague in the Czech Republic to resesarch, document, and represent Villa Petschek, the Offical Residence of the American Ambassador to the Czech Republic.  The American Ambassador to Prague, Steve King, hosted a barbecue for the class at the residence. Tobin Tracey, the Director of the Office of Cultural Heritage at the US Department of State, accompanied the group to the embassy and to Villa Petschek.

In 2017, nine students in the Interdisciplinary Preservation & Cultural Heritage Studio traveled with professor  Dr. Diane Al Shihabi to London, England to resesarch, document, and represent Winfield House, the Offical Residence of the American Ambassador to the Great Britain. Tobin Tracey, the Director of the Office of Cultural Heritage at the US Department of State, accompanied the group at Winfield House and coordinated a group dinner in London for the class.