Later, its name was changed to the University of Iowa Center for Advanced Studies, before 1993, when it was ultimately renamed to the C. Esco and Avalon L. Obermann Center for Advanced Studies in recognition of the Obermanns' significant financial contributions.

When Oakdale was demolished in 2011, the Obermann Center moved to its current location in a historic Tudor Revival home in downtown Iowa City.

[3][4][5] Previous directors of the Obermann Center include Jay Semel, former University of Iowa Vice President for Research (1980–2010); and Teresa Mangum, associate professor of English and Gender, Women's, and Sexuality Studies (2010–2024).

[3] The current director is Luis Martín-Estudillo, professor of Spanish and Portuguese at the University of Iowa.

[6] The Obermann Center's programming is interdisciplinary, including the arts, humanities, social sciences, and STEM.