Cynthia Board Schmeiser has impacted the education of nearly every student in the United States through her work at ACT and the creation of the Common Core State Standards.

On Wednesday, April 23, at 1 p.m., she will speak at the University of Iowa College of Education on equity among underrepresented populations on college campuses.

Schmeiser’s talk will take place in the Teacher Leader Center, Room N140 Lindquist Center. It will be followed by a reception and is free and open to the public. The event is part of the Distinguished Speakers Series presented in the college and hosted by Nicholas Colangelo, dean of the UI College of Education.

“Cyndie has had a powerful impact on standardized assessments both as the president of ACT’s Education Division and currently as the College Board’s chief of assessment,” says Colangelo. “Expertise, integrity, and vision have been hallmarks of her career.”

Schmeiser’s talk, entitled, “Beyond Test Scores to Seeking Equity in Access and Opportunity” will be about inequities in access to rigorous courses, college applications, and under-matching in college selection for underrepresented students.

“Her presentation will focus on the critical issue of assuring equity, which is one of the major challenges for all of us educators today,” Colangelo says.

Schmeiser recently retired from her career at ACT, where she was the former president and chief operating officer of the Education Division. She received her bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degrees from the UI College of Education. In 2013, Schmeiser was named a Distinguished Alumni by the University of Iowa Alumni Association.

“My interest in underrepresented students stems back to my graduate school days at the University of Iowa,” Schmeiser says. “I’m always interested in finding more opportunities for underrepresented students to successfully navigate the college-going process.”

Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all UI-sponsored events. If you are a person with a disability who requires a reasonable accommodation in order to attend this event, contact Elizabeth Holm in advance at 319-335-6111 or elizabeth-holm@uiowa.edu.