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, 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

Angie Lamb

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

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