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