College of Education
Message from the Dean
“Since UNI’s early days, generations of teachers, principals, and expert health and community leaders have found their start here. We remain the anchor of UNI’s renowned Teacher Education Program — preparing more teachers for Iowa than any other institution.
We excel in training principals and superintendents — more than a third of those in our state — as well as school psychologists and teacher librarians. We prepare students for nonprofit leadership and tourism roles to support whole communities.
Nearly 150 years of leadership in education is just the beginning. Through Our Tomorrow: The Campaign for UNI, we’ll invest in our people and programs to achieve the greatest impact for communities across Iowa and beyond.”
COLLEEN S. MULHOLLAND
DEAN, COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
Campaign Priorities
- Undergraduate scholarships to keep the College of Education accessible to the next generation of Panthers.
- Community college scholarships to grow our 2+2 program and support community college students who want to enroll at UNI in the College of Education.
- Doctorate of Education (Ed.D.) scholarships for Ed.D. students preparing for next-level careers.
- Scholarships to seed new alternative pathways for adult learners and career changers who now want to teach.
- Growing summer camps and pipeline programs, like UNI Minority Educators for Today and Tomorrow (UMETT) program, allowing high school students from underrepresented communities to explore careers in teaching.
- Supporting undergraduate research so that more of our students can delve into ambitious projects.
- Strengthening the Purple Pathway for Paraeducators, such as Teach Waterloo, which supports those ready to take the leap into teaching, with a focus on building a more diverse pipeline of great teachers.
- Broadly implement the Professional Development Schools model for K-12 education students and professors to conduct classes in an actual school.
- Supporting the Institute for Educational Leadership, which works with educators and superintendents in Iowa to address issues in education and shape policy.
- Building endowed faculty positions that bring the best faculty to UNI.
- Enhancing educational technologies throughout our facilities to support our faculty in giving students the most dynamic learning experience in every program.
- Undergraduate scholarships to keep the College of Education accessible to the next generation of Panthers.
- Community college scholarships to grow our 2+2 program and support community college students who want to enroll at UNI in the College of Education.
- Doctorate of Education (Ed.D.) scholarships for Ed.D. students preparing for next-level careers.
- Scholarships to seed new alternative pathways for adult learners and career changers who now want to teach.
- Growing summer camps and pipeline programs, like UNI Minority Educators for Today and Tomorrow (UMETT) program, allowing high school students from underrepresented communities to explore careers in teaching.
- Supporting undergraduate research so that more of our students can delve into ambitious projects.
- Strengthening the Purple Pathway for Paraeducators, such as Teach Waterloo, which supports those ready to take the leap into teaching, with a focus on building a more diverse pipeline of great teachers.
- Broadly implement the Professional Development Schools model for K-12 education students and professors to conduct classes in an actual school.
- Supporting the Institute for Educational Leadership, which works with educators and superintendents in Iowa to address issues in education and shape policy.
- Building endowed faculty positions that bring the best faculty to UNI.
- Enhancing educational technologies throughout our facilities to support our faculty in giving students the most dynamic learning experience in every program.
Hear from UNI faculty and students
“I KNEW I WAS GOOD TO GO.”
“With the teacher shortage we’re facing, we need teachers who are ready to go on day one. Unlike most colleges, at UNI you get real classroom experience starting your first year as an education major. By the time I graduated, I had so much experience in the classroom — and amazing support from faculty along the way — that I knew I was good to go. Now, my peers come into my classroom and can’t believe I’m only a first-year teacher. This is why UNI graduates get hired so much quicker!”
AKEILI HAWKINS ’22
ELEMENTARY EDUCATION MAJOR
IRVING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHER
AN URGENT NEED FOR SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS
“The UNI School Psychology program prepares school psychologists for the full range of school practice including psychological assessment, systems consultation, early childhood practice and behavioral and mental health supports. There is an urgent need for UNI school psychology graduates in our schools to support educators, students and families as they navigate the academic and mental health struggles brought on by the pandemic.”
NICOLE SKAAR
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR & COORDINATOR, SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY PROGRAM
THE NEXT GENERATION OF SCHOOL LEADERS
“K-12 schools in Iowa are experiencing some of the most challenging years ever, and training up the next generation of educational leaders has never been more important. The UNI Educational Leadership program partners aspiring school leaders with experienced mentors to accelerate their entry into the profession. Our program doesn’t merely graduate prepared leaders; instead, we welcome them into the #UNIEdLead family and provide them with support for years after receiving their leadership credential.”
MATT TOWNSLEY
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP