1stGen@Iowa Faculty & Staff Collaborative

Meet the 1stGen@Iowa Faculty & Staff Collaborative

Faculty & Staff Collaborative

What is the Faculty & Staff Collaborative Mission, Vision, Objectives Meet Current Members

50 +

Number of faculty and staff currently serving on the 1stGen@Iowa Faculty & Staff Collaborative

The 1stGen@Iowa Faculty & Staff Collaborative, formally known as 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, the group aims to build awareness of and celebrate the first-gen identity.

15 +

Number of ongoing campus-wide 1stGen@Iowa events and initiatives established so far since the group's inception in 2017

Our Mission

The 1stGen@Iowa Faculty and Staff Collaborative is dedicated to supporting first-generation students by leveraging the expertise and commitment of the university’s faculty, staff, and institutional resources. Through awareness, advocacy, and communication, we strive to create a welcoming and inclusive environment that fosters first-gen academic achievement and creates meaningful institutional change.

Our Objectives

The 1stGen@Iowa Faculty & Staff Collaborative exists to:

Forge Strategic Partnerships: Collaborate with campus partners, both internal and external to the 1stGen@Iowa Faculty and Staff Collaborative, to contribute to first-gen students’ success. Foster grassroots efforts, promote areas for collaboration, and disseminate lessons learned.

Cultivate Advancement of the Role of Faculty and Staff in First-Generation Student Success: Engage in collective group efforts to discuss, develop, and implement effective strategies that help faculty and staff recognize the unique needs of first-gen students and better understand their role in first-gen students’ success.

Promote Awareness and Advocacy: Utilize communication networks to increase campus awareness of first-gen students’ successes and challenges, first-gen resources for faculty, staff, and students, and opportunities for engagement in first-gen success initiatives. Advocate for policies and practices that positively impact first-gen students.

Celebrate the First-Generation Identity: Support events and activities that celebrate the achievements and resilience of first-gen students. Highlight their contributions to the university community.

Examine Data: Regularly review data on first-gen student outcomes and use this information to inform evidence-based practices and drive continuous improvement. Explore ways to disseminate data and knowledge of best practices among colleagues.

Our Vision

The vision of the 1stGen@Iowa Faculty and Staff Collaborative is to create a transformative experience for first-generation students within our university by fostering change that is collaborative and innovative and celebrates the first-gen identity. We envision a campus where every first-gen student thrives academically, socially, and personally. Through strategic partnerships, data-informed practices, and continuous improvement, we aspire to remain a national leader in supporting first-gen student success.

Meet the 1stGen@Iowa Faculty & Staff Collaborative

1stGen@Iowa Faculty & Staff Collaborative Leadership Team

Tanya Uden-Holman, Ph.D.

Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education and Dean of the University College

Wayne Jacobson, Ph.D.

Director, Office of Assessment
Office of the Provost

Angela Lamb, MA

Associate Director, Academic Support & Retention
University College

Adam Lyons	Parent and Family Program
Alex Almazan	Office of Student Financial Aid
Alex Smith	Political Science
Alicia Joens	Pomerantz Career Center
Alicia Ambler	ESL Programs
Alison Casella	Academic Support & Retention
Allie Conklin	Admissions
Alyssa Burks	College of Engineering Administration
Anastasia Williams	Center for Teaching
Andrew Beckett	University College
Angela Ward	Distance & Online Education
Angie Lamb	Academic Support & Retention
Anna Flaming	Center for Teaching
Benjamin Hassman	Department of Rhetoric
Brenda Ramirez	Undergraduate Student Government
Brody Stanford	Academic Support & Retention
Carolyn Colvin	Teaching & Learning
Claire Peters	Academic Support & Retention
Cody Pritchard	Carver College of Medicine Office of Student Affairs
Constance Judd	College of Dentistry Administration
Dana Gravesen	Academic Advising Center
Dana Thomann	Department of Rhetoric
Danielle Martinez	Academic Support & Retention
Diane Crosby	Academic Advising Center
Emily Kelly	Academic Support & Retention
Erin Barnes	Rehabilitation & Counselor Education
Heidi Arbisi-Kelm	Graduate College
James Ankrum	Biomedical Engineering
Jan Wessel	Psychological & Brain Sciences
Jenay Dougherty	Library Administration
Jennifer Lynch	Center for Inclusive Academic Excellence
Jesse Kiracofe	Academic Support & Retention
Josh Atcher	College of Engineering Administration
Karlie Stoos	1stGen@Iowa Student Advisory Board Representative
Kate Torno Fashimpaur	CLAS Administration
Katherine McCullough	School of Library & Information Science
Kathryn Stoltenberg	Office of the Registrar
Kelly Danaher	Psychological & Brain Sciences
Kevin Tong	Residence Education
Kim Klinedinst	Public Health Administration
Kristen Stradt Johnson	Tippie College of Business
Kristi Norris	Academic Support & Retention
Linda Varvel	Carver College of Medicine Administration
Luz Alcala	Student-Athlete Academic Services
Maria Bruno	Division of Student Life
Martha Kirby	College of Law Administration
Matt Anson	Data, Analytics, and Insights, ITS
Matthew Miller	Iowa Veteran Education, Transition, and Support (IVETS)
Megan Meyer	Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center
Mirra Anson	Office of the Provost
Monica Madura	CLAS Administration
Patrick Rossmann	Tippie College of Business
Reece Downey	Office of Student Financial Aid
Ryan Pratt	Academic Advising Center
Sara Nasrollahian Mojarad	Center for Teaching
Shaun Vecera	UI Honors Program and Psychological & Brain Sciences
Skylar Halley	USG First-Generation Constituency Senator
Tamar Bernfeld	Center for Teaching
Tanya Uden-Holman	Provost Administration
Teri Schnelle	Office of the Vice President for Student Life
Theresa Ho	Microbiology
Val Cota	UI Graduate & Professional Student Government Rep
Vivian Ta	Graduate College
Wayne Jacobson	Office of Assessment
Willie Zheng	1stGen@Iowa Student Advisory Board Representative

Featured Blog Posts

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.

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