Kari Vogelgesang
UI EIH Director
N310A Lindquist Center
319-467-1120
kari-vogelgesang@uiowa.edu
Dr. Kari Vogelgesang works to connect researchers, educators, school leaders, and community partners to co-create innovative solutions to the challenges facing PK-12 education. Her work focuses on building meaningful partnerships that bridge research and practice through applied research, professional learning, and collaborative problem-solving to improve outcomes for students, educators, schools and the communities in which they learn, live, and grow. She also serves as Clinical Professor and Associate Department Chair, Teaching and Learning; Director, Baker Teacher Leader Center; and Director, Professional Development, Scanlan Center for School Mental Health.
Mariana Ruggiero Colombo
UI EIH Associate Director, Professional Development and Online Programming
N110 Lindquist Center
mariana-colombo@uiowa.edu
Dr. Mariana Colombo works to ensure that educators and school leaders across PK-12 settings have access to high-quality, research-informed learning opportunities. Mariana’s work focuses on designing online courses and professional development experiences in partnership with subject matter experts, building the systems and data infrastructure that support them, and using evidence to strengthen program quality and impact for the students, schools, and communities they ultimately serve. She also serves as Associate Director of Professional Development and Online Programming of the Baker Teacher Leader Center.
Dr. Aloe's scholarship focuses on developing and evaluating methodology to better understand and improve educational practice. His perspective is also grounded in practice. Before entering higher education, Dr. Aloe was a PK-12 educator. That experience continues to inform his commitment to research that is responsive to the realities of schools and useful to the educators, leaders, students, families, and communities they serve.
Lisa Mosier Bunn provides operational leadership and project support for professional learning initiatives, strategic partnerships, and organizational operations. Lisa coordinates budgets, workshops, and event logistics while collaborating with presenters, educators, and stakeholders to deliver high-quality professional learning experiences. As a certified Social Emotional Learning (SEL) facilitator, she also provides training and support for pre-service teachers.
Liz Constantine
UI EIH Grant Development Lead
Director, Grants and Research Services Center
College of Education
Affiliated Faculty
Juan Pablo Hourcade
Isak Kim
Theodora Kourkoulou
John Lannin
Won-Chan Lee
Yung-Wei (Dennis) Lin
Isaac T. Petersen
Kay Ramey
Jeff Walls
Miranda Zahn
Advisory Council
The UI Education Innovation Hub Advisory Board provides strategic guidance and community perspective to help shape the Hub's priorities, partnerships, and initiatives. Members represent diverse educational and community perspectives and help ensure the Hub's work addresses authentic challenges facing schools while creating meaningful opportunities for innovation and collaboration.
Nick Benson
Executive Director
Office of Community Engagement
University of Iowa
Benson Bio
The Office of Community Engagement works to facilitate the development of mutually beneficial partnerships between faculty, staff, and students at the University of Iowa with community partners across our state, nation, and world. We facilitate trainings, workshops and provide informational resources and expertise that empowers faculty, staff, and students to transform their teaching and research to make lasting change and a positive impact in our world.
Joshua Brown
President
Iowa State Education Association
Brown Bio
Joshua is a middle school social studies and special education teacher currently serving as the President of the largest labor union in Iowa, the Iowa State Education Association. He advocates for policies and practices that elevate the profession and public education while placing students at the center of everything he does.
Courtney N. Cook
PK-12 Principal
Ruthven-Ayrshire CSD
Cook Bio
Courtney works at the intersection of leadership, student support, and systems design, helping schools build environments where both students and educators can thrive through strong relationships, intentional supports, and sustainable practices.
Matt Degner
Executive Director of Secondary Schools
Iowa City CSD
Degner Bio
Matt has served the Iowa City Community School District since 2013, serving as Superintendent from 2021-2026, and now as Executive Director of Secondary Schools. He is passionate about engagement and innovation in education.
Carmen Gwenigale
Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment
Iowa City CSD
Gwenigale Bio
Annie Hawker
Principal
Prairie Heights Elementary
College Community CSD
Hawker Bio
Annie champions equitable, student-centered learning by advancing Prairie Personalized—ensuring every child is engaged, empowered, and supported through strong curriculum, multi-tiered systems of support, and meaningful collaboration. Her goal is to have students leave Prairie Heights with good hearts, open minds, and readiness for the next level of learning.
Adam Keune
Executive Director
Iowa John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center
University of Iowa
Keune Bio
Iowa John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center (JPEC) believes an entrepreneurial center must be comprehensive in nature to build and grow a successful entrepreneurial ecosystem — across campus, the state of Iowa, and the world.
Travis Kraus
Professor of Practice, UI School of Planning and Public Affairs
Director
Iowa Initiative for Sustainable Communities
Kraus Bio
As Director of IISC, Travis connects University of Iowa faculty and students across campus with Iowa communities to collaborate on community-based projects. Visit iisc.uiowa.edu for more info.
Jason Wester
Superintendent
West Burlington Independent SD
Wester Bio
Jason’s focus for West Burlington Schools is to create a collaborative culture in which students and staff thrive, ensuring students have the competencies and skills to succeed in life after high school.
Adam Zimmermann
Principal
Liberty High School
Iowa City CSD