The University of Iowa First-Generation Task Force is charged with considering the unique role that faculty and staff have in supporting the academic success of first-generation students. In addition, under the 1stGen@Iowa initiative, the group aims to build awareness of and celebrate the first-gen identity.

First-Gen at Iowa logo

The 1stGen@Iowa initiative seeks to inform and educate the campus community, support first-generation students in their academic and career endeavors, and ensure that students ultimately succeed at the University of Iowa.

This initiative, developed by the UI First-Generation Task Force, focuses on the role that faculty and staff have in first-gen students' success and aims to build awareness of and celebrate the first-gen identity.

50 +

Number of faculty and staff currently serving on the UI First-Generation Task Force

15 +

Number of ongoing campus-wide 1stGen@Iowa events and initiatives established so far by the task force

Meet the First-Generation Task Force Members

Task Force Leadership

Tanya Uden-Holman

Tanya Uden-Holman, Ph.D.

Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education and Dean of the University College  

Wayne Jacobson

Wayne Jacobson, Ph.D.

Director, Office of Assessment
Office of the Provost

Angie Lamb

Angela Lamb, MA

Associate Director, Academic Support & Retention
University College

Adam LyonsOrientation Services
Alex AlmazanOffice of Student Financial Aid
Alicia JoensPomerantz Career Center
Alicia AmblerESL Programs
Alison CasellaAcademic Support & Retention
Allie ConklinAdmissions
Alyssa BurksCollege of Engineering Administration
Anastasia WilliamsCenter for Teaching
Andrew BeckettUniversity College
Angela WardDistance & Online Education
Angie LambAcademic Support & Retention
Anna FlamingCenter for Teaching
Benjamin HassmanDepartment of Rhetoric
Blaine GretemanDepartment of English
Brody StanfordAcademic Support & Retention
Carolyn ColvinTeaching & Learning
Chandler EasleyStudent Athlete Academic Services
Cody PritchardCarver College of Medicine Office of Student Affairs
Constance JuddDivision of World Languages, Literatures, & Cultures
Dana GravesenAcademic Advising Center
Dana ThomannDepartment of Rhetoric
Danielle MartinezAcademic Support & Retention
Diane CrosbyAcademic Advising Center
Erin BarnesRehabilitation & Counselor Education
Hannah Shelton-HauckAcademic Support & Retention
Heidi Arbisi-KelmGraduate College
James AnkrumBiomedical Engineering
Jan WesselPsychological & Brain Sciences
Jenay DoughertyLibrary Administration 
Jennifer LynchCenter for Inclusive Academic Excellence
Jesse KiracofeAcademic Support & Retention
Josh AtcherCollege of Engineering Administration
Kate Torno FashimpaurCLAS Administration
Katherine McCulloughSchool of Library & Information Science
Kathryn StoltenbergOffice of the Registrar
Kelly DanaherPsychological & Brain Sciences
Kevin TongResidence Education
Kim KlinedinstPublic Health Administration
Kristen Stradt JohnsonTippie College of Business
Kristi NorrisAcademic Support & Retention
Linda VarvelCarver College of Medicine Administration
Maria BrunoDivision of Student Life
Martha KirbyCollege of Law Administration
Matt AnsonData, Analytics, and Insights, ITS
Matthew MillerIowa Veteran Education, Transition, and Support (IVETS)
Megan MeyerHolden Comprehensive Cancer Center
Mirra AnsonOffice of the Provost
Monica MaduraCLAS Administration
Patrick RossmannTippie College of Business
Reece DowneyOffice of Student Financial Aid
Ryan PrattAcademic Advising Center
Sara Nasrollahian MojaradCenter for Teaching
Shaun VeceraUI Honors Program and Psychological & Brain Sciences
Tamar BernfeldCenter for Teaching
Tanya Uden-HolmanProvost Administration
Teri SchnelleOffice of the Vice President for Student Life
Theresa HoMicrobiology
Tristan SchmidtTRIO Upward Bound
Val CotaUI Graduate & Professional Student Government 
Vivian TaGraduate College
Wayne JacobsonOffice of Assessment
Willie ZhengUndergraduate Student Government

Featured Blog Posts

task force members

Grassroots Mobilization of Faculty and Staff

Written by Cody Pritchard and Angie Lamb

The University of Iowa has a long tradition of supporting students who may be at risk of not completing a degree. However, despite having identified nearly 30 distinct campus initiatives that support various groups of at-risk students, until early 2017, the institution did not have an integrated, campus-wide approach to student success that is specific to first-generation students. The First-Generation Task Force, convened in spring 2017, aims to fill this need.

October 2018 NASPA Center for First-Gen Student Success Blog Post
first-gen t-shirts

Ways to Make a Difference: Building Awareness and Celebrating First-Gen Students

By Angie Lamb

 

The University of Iowa First-Generation Task Force was initially charged with examining ways the institution could better support first-generation students. In particular, the group was asked to consider the unique role that faculty and staff have in supporting first-generation students

October 2019 NASPA Center for First-Gen Student Success Blog Post