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.
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, 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 | Orientation Services |
| Alex Almazan | Office of Student Financial Aid |
| 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 | Office of Teaching, Learning & Technology Center for Teaching |
| Andrew Beckett | University College |
| Angela Ward | Distance & Online Education |
| Angie Lamb | Academic Support & Retention |
| Anna Flaming | Office of Teaching, Learning & Technology Center for Teaching |
| Benjamin Hassman | Department of Rhetoric |
| Blaine Greteman | Department of English |
| Carolyn Colvin | Teaching & Learning |
| Chandler Easley | Student Athlete Academic Services |
| Cody Pritchard | CCOM Student Affairs |
| Constance Judd | Division of World Languages, Literatures, & Cultures |
| Dana Gravesen | Academic Advising Center |
| Dana Thomann | Department of Rhetoric |
| Danielle Martinez | Academic Support & Retention |
| Diane Crosby | Academic Advising Center |
| Erin Barnes | Rehabilitation & Counselor Education |
| Hannah Shelton-Hauck | Academic Support & Retention |
| 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 |
| Josh Atcher | College of Engineering Administration |
| 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 |
| 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 | Office of Teaching, Learning & Technology Center for Teaching |
| Shaun Vecera | UI Honors Program and Psychological and Brain Sciences |
| Tamar Bernfeld | Office of Teaching, Learning & Technology Center for Teaching |
| Tanya Uden-Holman | Provost Administration |
| Teri Schnelle | Office of the Vice President for Student Life |
| Theresa Ho | Microbiology |
| Tristan Schmidt | TRIO Upward Bound |
| Val Cota | UI Graduate & Professional Student Government |
| Vivian Ta | Graduate College |
| Wayne Jacobson | Office of Assessment |
| Willie Zheng | Undergraduate Student Government |
Featured Blog Posts
Grassroots Mobilization of Faculty and Staff
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
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