Celebrating Excellence

Legacy Award to Robin Foster

Robin Foster, principal of West Elementary, part of the Mid-Prairie Community School District, has received the 2026 UNI Educational Leadership Legacy Award from the University of Northern Iowa. 

“Robin has been a successful principal at Mid-Prairie, while also mentoring aspiring leaders in our principalship program and advocating for educator preparation at UNI,” says Matt Townsley, associate professor in Learning, Leadership and Community. 

Foster holds a BA in elementary education, an MAE in educational leadership and an advanced studies certificate in superintendency from UNI. She previously served as principal of East Elementary in Kalona and an elementary teacher in Center Point-Urbana. 

The annual award goes to alumni demonstrating core values of leadership, service or change in honor of educator and school administrator Vernon Kirlin (‘46, BA). 

Faculty and Staff Honors 

‌Teaching: Shelly Bromwich, Literacy, Early Childhood and Special Education

‌Professional Service: Megan Balong, Educational Foundations and Professional Experiences

‌Beverly Funk Barnes Staff Excellence: Cheryl Meller, Graduate Studies and Research

Student Honors: Student Leadership Awards 

At the 2026 Student Leadership Awards, College of Education honorees included: 

• Mara Blevins, elementary education; Servant Leadership Award, James L. Maas Emerging Leader Scholarship 
• Amory Brown, elementary education; Servant Leadership Award 
• Hailey Rydberg, elementary education; Beverly Funk Barnes Student Excellence Award 
• Lauren Bussanmas, elementary education; Promising Young Alumni Award 

Textbook Equity Champions Help Students Save 

College of Education faculty were recognized as “Textbook Equity Champions” for helping students save more than $68,000 on textbooks in 2025. Their efforts contributed to universitywide savings of $744,000 in 2025 and $3.6 million overall through free and low-cost course materials. 

Faculty adopting a free textbook in 2025 included: Eva Chen, J.D. Cryer, Carrie Elser, Emily Hanson, Chris Kowalski, Heather Olsen, Amy Sandvold, Jim Stichter, Joan Bessman Taylor, Katie Towler, Sarah Vander Zanden and Timothy Weih. 

Hall of Excellence Recognizes Gansen 

Jaydon Gansen, a spring '26 master’s graduate in recreation, tourism and nonprofit leadership, received the Graduate Student Award at the 19th Hall of Excellence, sponsored jointly by Recreation, Tourism and Nonprofit Leadership and the Department of Kinesiology and Athletic Training. 

Dissertation Earns Top Graduate Honor

Jennifer Hough (‘25, EdD) received the 2025-26 Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation Award during the Graduate Awards luncheon for: “Why Do I Have to Do This?: Examining General Education for CTE Students,” a study related to requirements for career and technical education students. Faculty advisors included Morgan Anderson, Educational Foundations and Professional Experiences, and David Schmid, Learning, Leadership and Community. 

Programs Again Earn US News 'Best Online' National Recognition 

UNI online programs were represented in the 2026 “Best Online Programs” rankings by U.S. News & World Report. Recognized programs included instructional design and learning technologies, school library studies, teacher leadership for international educators, early childhood education, elementary education, literacy education, principalship and special education. Undergraduate transfer pathways in elementary education, early childhood education and the Purple Pathway for Paraeducators also earned recognition. 

Innovation Grant Supports AI Tool Development 

Magda Galloway, Elementary and Middle Level Education, received university innovation funding to support development of an AI-powered coaching tool designed to help teacher candidates prepare for the Foundations of Reading Test required in Iowa and Wisconsin. The proposed tool will provide interactive feedback, constructive critique and revision guidance in a low-stakes learning environment. 

UNI Alumni Named Local Gold Star Teachers 

Five graduates of University of Northern Iowa were among the 2026 Black Hawk County Gold Star Teachers recognized by the R.J. McElroy Trust and KWWL-TV. Among the honorees were College of Education graduates Molli Wellman (‘15, BA) and Traci Wildeboer (‘07, BA; and ‘11, BA).