News & Notes

New leadership roles 

As assistant dean of educator preparation, Karinne Tharaldson ('21, ASC) oversees the operational infrastructure of educator preparation including systems, policies, partnerships, compliance and processes. Tharaldson joined the college in 2025 as assistant dean of assessment and clinical experiences, coming from the Cedar Rapids Community School District. 

Theophile Muhayimana (‘15, EdD), associate professor, is the new interim head, Learning, Leadership and Community (LLC). After holding several positions in higher education in Rwanda, he joined UNI in 2019, focusing on principalship and teacher leadership for international educators. Kathleen Scholl, professor in recreation, tourism and nonprofit leadership, will assist as LLC associate head. 

Technology, AI shape teacher prep 

The College of Education continues to expand how technology supports teacher preparation and student learning. 

• GoReact – a video-based observation platform in use since 2021 – became the primary tool this fall for observing student skill development during clinical experiences. The system allows university faculty and supervisors to provide feedback remotely while maintaining communication with mentor teachers and school partners. The approach increases flexibility and efficiency while allowing in-person visits to focus on students who would most benefit from additional support. 
• Magdalena Galloway, Robin Dada and Ron Rinehart are helping UNI explore how artificial intelligence should shape educator preparation nationwide. They lead UNI’s participation in “Creating Contemporary Curricula Community of Practice,” a national initiative coordinated by ISTE+ASCD. UNI was one of 10 institutions nationally selected to participate.

NSF grant supports rural STEM teaching initiative  

A nearly $5 million National Science Foundation grant awarded to Dana Atwood-Blaine, associate professor in Elementary and Middle Level Education (EMLE), will strengthen science learning and elevate the teaching profession in rural elementary schools across the Midwest.

Atwood-Blaine is principal investigator for the National STEM Teacher Corps Pilot Program: Midwest Alliance for Rural Elementary Science. UNI joins the University of Kansas, the University of Minnesota and Iowa State University in the effort. 

Researchers are studying effective approaches to teacher preparation in rural settings to help build long-term support networks for educators across the region. The project focuses on strengthening hands-on science instruction while also supporting student learning in literacy and mathematics. A cohort of rural elementary science teachers are receiving a $12,000 annual stipend for four years to support professional development, mentorship and collaboration with researchers and education leaders. 

Curricular updates include 'esports' flair

A new esports administration minor and certificate option, as well as an esports coaching certificate, lets students pair interest in gaming and digital culture with the practical skills of coaching, event management, leadership and media production. The interdisciplinary programs combine coursework in recreation, communication and media, educational psychology and learning technologies. Students can earn standalone certificates or build a minor. The options complement numerous majors. In addition, the master’s in recreation, tourism and nonprofit leadership was renamed recreation administration to better reflect the roles its graduates pursue. 

Grant continues to grow school psychologists 

A $2.8 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education, secured by Green Hills Area Education Agency in collaboration with UNI’s School Psychology Program and six additional AEAs, continues a “grow your own” approach to address shortages of school psychologists in rural and high need districts. This is the third phase of an initiative which has produced 14 graduates. Participants complete a primarily online graduate program while committing to serve in rural Iowa schools for at least three years after graduation. 

Student teaching study highlights rural impact 

A College of Education analysis has estimated UNI student teachers generated approximately $11.76 million in financial benefit for their rural schools between fall 2020 and fall 2024. Nicole Skaar, professor in Learning, Leadership and Community (LLC), guided the study alongside graduate assistant Ben Christensen and university partners from the Institute for Decision Making and Wilson College of Business. Researchers examined placements in 1,787 rural classrooms. They found the work completed by student teachers equates to approximately $2.61 million annually in instructional value. The study noted student teacher contributions create important flexibility for licensed teachers while strengthening instruction for students throughout rural communities.

College welcomes new faculty, staff 

The College of Education welcomed these new additions this fall: 

• Educational Foundations and Professional Experiences (EFPE), Kevin Kemp, student teaching coordinator 
• Elementary and Middle Level Education (EMLE): Janet Jahn, assistant professor 
• Literacy, Early Childhood and Special Education (LESE): Katie Casper, assistant professor, special and inclusive education; Jacob Steiss, assistant professor, literacy education 

Key professional staff additions have included: 

• Child Development Center: Tam Burt, director, UNI Child Development Center
• College of Education Advising and Teacher Education Success: Ruth Palmer and Macy Wright, academic advisors 

Fellowships advance scholarship

Faculty members explored topics including AI in education, identity and belonging, use of robots and coding related to literacy, and special and inclusive education through this year’s Dean’s Summer Fellowships. Grants for up to $4,500 per project went to: Xumei Fan, LLC; Seunghoon Han, EMLE; Oluwaseun Oti, LESE; and a team of Theresa Hirst, Amy Staples, David Hernandez-Saca, Tara Tedrow, LESE, and Kristine Donnelly, EMLE. 

Retirements mark decades of service 

The College of Education celebrated six faculty and staff members whose retirements this past year represent decades of service to UNI. They included: 

• Robert Boody, professor, 34 years
• Barbara Gager, academic advisor, 30 years 
• Roark Horn, assistant professor of practice, four years (at UNI)
• Lori Norton-Meier, professor and director, Jacobson Center for Comprehensive Literacy, six years (at UNI) 
• Mary Beth Rygh, clinical associate professor, 15 years 
• Timothy Weih, associate professor, 24 years  

Transitions

The College of Education honored the passing of two emeritus faculty in the past year: 

Kathy Oakland, part of the Department of Teaching, who passed in March 2026. She retired from UNI in 2018 after a 26-year career which followed years of teaching speech and English to junior high and high school students. 

Deborah Deemer, part of the educational psychology and foundations faculty for 28 years, died on July 4. She retired in June 2023. 

The college was also notified of the death of May 2026 graduate Ryle McFarland of Muscatine, shortly after achieving her dream to earn her elementary education degree. 

Events strengthen alumni and community connections

From conferences and lectures to service initiatives and recruitment events, the College of Education continued to bring together alumni, educators, students and community partners. 

UNI's Sesquicentennial Celebration

UNI’s Sesquicentennial Celebration added special energy to activities throughout the year, including college alumni tents and a gathering recognizing recreation, tourism and nonprofit leadership (RTNL) alumni. Faculty and students also participated in the university-wide Spring into Service initiative, contributing volunteer hours through projects supporting schools, nonprofits and community organizations across the Cedar Valley.

Other events included:

• More than 400 prospective students and family members attended the annual Made to Teach visit day.
• The Bill and Linda Tubbs Teaching Connections focused on “Teaching for Democracy,” bringing together educators and community leaders for conversations about civic literacy, Iowa social studies standards and the role of education in democratic engagement. Featured speaker was Beth Ratway with the American Institutes for Research. 
• The 20th African American Read-In drew nearly 2,000 first graders from more than 100 classrooms and 50 schools throughout Iowa. 
• Shinho Kim, Framingham State University, explored robotics-based STEM education in keynote and workshop presentations for the Carlton-Mellichamp Lecture in Education. 
• The Social and Emotional Learning Conference welcomed 400 attendees exploring resilience, emotional intelligence and belonging in schools. Keynote Stephanie Jones, Harvard Graduate School of Education, and children’s author Susan Verde led the list of speakers. Alumna and emeritus professor Judith Finkelstein added financial support this year through a donation to the UNI Foundation.