The Dean's office administers the whole of the College of Education and includes Associate Deans, departmental leadership, and administrative staff.

Leadership

Man in suit and tie smiling

Daniel L. Clay, PhD, MBA

Dean and Professor

Since joining the college on July 1, 2016, Dean Clay has provided strong leadership in guiding the strategic planning process, fund-raising, new faculty and staff hires, and renovation plans. He brings a spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship to the college and is a leader in the application of continuous quality improvement methods.

N201 Lindquist Center
319-335-6111
dan-clay@uiowa.edu

Welcome to the University of Iowa College of Education.

I am honored to lead a world-class college of education where our students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community partners make a positive and profound difference ­every day – leading research, engaging our communities, and preparing education and mental health professionals for innovation and impact.

More than 1,500 students from across the state, nation, and world are part of our college. These students, both undergraduate and graduate, come to learn from and conduct research with faculty in our top-ranked programs. Our students relish experiencing a Big Ten environment and the rigor of a Research I institution in a personal, welcoming, and inclusive community that supports student success and stretches them to do their best.

Our college is also home to internationally-recognized research centers such as the Belin-Blank Center for Gifted Education and Talent Development as well as new centers such as the new Scanlan Center for School Mental Health.

Our major renovation, which is close to completion, has created seven new technology-enhanced, collaborative, state-of-the-art classrooms, a more welcoming and student focused main entrance in North Lindquist that integrates our student-services offices and resources along with the dean’s suite, a new café, and more informal spaces that invite collaboration and create a sense of community.

Our college has a rich history, with Iowa legislators creating the State University of Iowa, the state's first public institution of higher education to provide teacher training for Iowa's growing population in 1847. A year later, five of the university’s first six degrees conferred were granted to teacher education graduates, and in 1874 the university created the nation’s first permanent college-level department of education – a source of pride as our university celebrates its 175th anniversary this academic year.

I am also proud of our more than 28,000 alumni who are living and working across the state, nation, and globe as well as the hundreds of schools, granting agencies, universities, and other community partners whom we work with every day.

Come see how you can make a difference at the top ranked College of Education in Iowa, by pursuing one of our more than 80 academic opportunities, many which are among the best in the nation.

I look forward to seeing you soon and continuing to partner together to make a difference in our schools and communities. Go Hawks!

Daniel L. Clay, PhD, MBA
Dean
College of Education

Associate Deans

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Pamela Wesely

Associate Dean for Faculty and Graduate Education

Pam Wesely provides oversight and leadership in the areas of academic affairs, graduate programs and student support, and international programs. This includes program and departmental reviews. She also serves as the liaison from the College of Education to the Graduate College and is the Access, Opportunity and Diversity college representative. Wesely has been at the University of Iowa since 2009, where she has specialized in language education, language teacher development, research methods, and social justice in education.

N201 Lindquist Center
319-335-5261
pamela-wesely@uiowa.edu

Saba Rasheed Ali smiles

Saba Rasheed Ali

Associate Dean for Research

Saba Ali provides leadership to advance the research mission of the College. Her responsibilities include oversight of the Center for Advanced Studies in Measurement and Assessment, the Center for Evaluation and Assessment, the Center for Research in Undergraduate Education, the Grants and Research Services Center, and the Iowa Reading Research Center. She is liaison with the Office of the Vice President for Research.

352 Lindquist Center
319-335-5495
saba-ali@uiowa.edu

Professor smiling in front of shrubbery

Mark McDermott

Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education and Educator Preparation

Mark McDermott provides leadership and oversight for all of the UI College of Education's undergraduate programs. This includes the Teacher Education Program (TEP) as well as the non-licensure undergraduate programs – the Education Studies and Human Services major, and the new Counseling and Behavioral Health Services major. McDermott also oversees the Baker Teacher Leader Center and the services associated with TEP recruitment, admissions, field experiences, program completion exams and licensure through the Office of Student Services.

N201 Lindquist Center
319-335-5591
mark-a-mcdermott@uiowa.edu

Departmental Leadership

Noel Estrada Hernandez

Noel Estrada-Hernandez

Counselor Education

The Department of Counselor Education develops exceptional, ethical, and socially-just mental health advocates, counselors, and counselor educators for diverse and ever-changing communities.

N338 B Lindquist Center
319-335-6426
noel-estradahernandez@uiowa.edu

Kenneth G. Brown

Kenneth Brown

Educational Policy and Leadership Studies

The Department of Educational Policy and Leadership Studies (EPLS) is made up of two distinct graduate degree programs. They are designed to prepare education leaders, teachers, professors, and researchers in the fields of Educational Leadership and Higher Education and Student Affairs.

319-335-0924
kenneth-g-brown@uiowa.edu
 

Professor Martin Kivlighan stands outside of Van Allen Hall on a summer day.

Martin Kivlighan

Psychological and Quantitative Foundations

The Department of Psychological and Quantitative Foundations administers graduate programs that involve the psychological and quantitative foundations of education. Our programs seek to understand issues related to education from a psychological and/or quantitative perspective, rather than from a social or historical perspective.

319-335-5333
martin-kivlighan@uiowa.edu

 

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Lia Plakans

Teaching and Learning

In the Department of Teaching and Learning, faculty are preparing today's teachers for tomorrow's schools. With a variety of certification areas at both the undergraduate and graduate level, our college has the right program for you. Experienced faculty provide opportunities for students to learn from cutting-edge technologies. In addition, faculty conduct cutting edge research, securing millions of dollars in external funding. Whether applying to an elementary or high school as a beginning teacher or a research university as a faculty member, our graduates are in high demand.

319-335-5565
lia-plakans@uiowa.edu

 

Offices and Services

Education Technology Center

The Educational Technology Center (ETC) provides technological support and other services for the College of Education community.

Grants and Research Services Center

The Grants and Research Services Center (GRSC) provides support for grant and research projects, training projects, and service projects in the college, assists in identifying funding sources, provides information and workshops on grant-related topics, and provides support services for the development, implementation, and utilization of research, training, and service projects.

Office of Graduate Teaching Excellence

The Office of Graduate Teaching Excellence was created to support graduate students as they prepare to become the next generation of faculty. The office is guided by its mission statement to be "dedicated to excellence in college teaching and the preparation of future faculty."

Office of Student Services

The Office of Student Services (OSS) administers the Teacher Education Program, student field experiences, teacher licensure, and graduate student programs. We are here to help with any questions you have about admissions, applications, policies, and requirements.

Staff

Jeremy Penn

Director of Assessment and Continuous Improvement   
319-335-5371
jeremy-penn@uiowa.edu

Emily Campbell

Director of Finance and Budget  
319-335-5308
emily-m-campbell@uiowa.edu

Kyle Marxen

Sr. Accountant  
319-335-6367
kyle-marxen@uiowa.edu

Michelle Yu

Application Developer
319-335-5391
michelle-yu@uiowa.edu

Benjamin Walizer

Director of Administration 
319-467-4268
benjamin-walizer@uiowa.edu


 

Elizabeth Holm

Administrative Services Coordinator 
319-467-1040
elizabeth-holm@uiowa.edu

Sarah Lobb

Faculty Affairs Manager
319-335-4787
sarah-lobb@uiowa.edu

Katrina Santos

Senior Accountant and Operational Support Specialist
319-467-0738
katrina-santos@uiowa.edu

Anne Sparks

Coordinator for Graduate Admissions & Support
319-335-2146
anne-sparks@uiowa.edu

 

Delaney Thoma

Administrative Services Coordinator
319-467-1922
delaney-thoma@uiowa.edu

Advancement

Mae Parker

Executive Director of Development
319-467-3514
mae.parker@foriowa.org

Izabel Foerstner

Associate Director of Development
319-467-3528
izabel.foerstner@foriowa.org

Human Resources

Please visit Faculty and Staff Resources for HR policies, self-service login, and more.

Chris Annicella

Human Resources Director
319-335-6138
christine-annicella@uiowa.edu

Renae Miller

HR Coordinator
319-335-2871
renae-miller@uiowa.edu

Michelle Hayes

HR Coordinator
319-467-3093
michelle-hayes@uiowa.edu

Strategic Communications

Lois Gray

Director, Strategic Communications
319-335-5347
lois-gray@uiowa.edu

Hannah Ossman

Education Writer & Social Media Coordinator
319-467-1696
hannah-ossman@uiowa.edu

Mei-Ling Shaw

Art Director/Creative Media Specialist
mei-ling-shawwilliams@uiowa.edu

Committees