- The daughter of an immigrant father and the first child in her family to attend college.
- B.A. in zoology from the University of Kentucky in 1972; M.S. from Purdue University in 1974; and Ph.D. in cellular, molecular, and developmental biology from the University of Arizona in 1978.
- Two postdoctoral research years at Indiana University before joining the molecular biosciences faculty at the University of Kansas in 1981.
- Stints as acting chair of KU’s Department of Physiology and Cell Biology and associate dean in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
- Appointed dean of KU’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences in 1995, the largest academic unit on the KU campus.
- Provost of Purdue University from 2001–2007.
- Appointed 20th President of the University of Iowa on Aug. 1, 2007
- Married to Ken Mason, an educator and textbook author who teaches biology at the UI.
Key Accomplishments as University of Iowa president (2007 – 2015)
Enhancing student success
- Freshman retention rates are up from 83% in 2007-08 to 85.8% in 2013-14
- Four-year graduation rates have risen from 47% in 2007-08 to 51.1 % in 2013-14
- 90% of 2013 graduates were employed or in graduate school within 7 months of graduation
Putting students first
- Offered debt counseling to all students taking out a private loan
- Opened 40,000-square-foot state-of-the-art learning commons
- Expanded free tutoring service to additional gateway courses
- Six-point plan to combat sexual assault
Improving access
- Expanded partnership agreements with Iowa community colleges
- Improved distant learning programs
- Provided free summer classes through Summer Hawk Tuition Grants
- Implemented programs geared to first-generation and under-represented students such as the Storm Lake Scholars program
- Enrollment has grown from 30,328 in Fall 2007 to 31,387 in Fall 2014
Providing national leadership
- Immediate past chair of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities board of directors
- Chair, Big Ten Council of Presidents and Chancellors
- Member, board of directors, American Council on Education
- Member, board of trustees, Universities Research Association
- Member, board of directors, Campus Compact
- Member, Association of Governing Boards Council of Presidents
Guiding flood recovery
- Overseeing a historic era of campus transformation in the wake of the 2008 Iowa River flood that damaged more than 2 million square feet of building space on campus and total damages exceeding $1 billion.
Capital projects (about $150 million a year since 2007)
- New projects completed since August 2007
Pappajohn Biomedical Discovery Building (2014)
Hansen Football Performance Center: Phase I Indoor Practice (2012) and Phase 2 Football Operations (2014)
Hoak Family Golf Complex (2012)
West Campus Transportation Center (2012)
College of Public Health Building (2011)
Information Technology Center (2011)
Campus Recreation & Wellness Center (2010)
State Hygienic Lab (2010)
Hydraulics Wave Basin Facility (2010)
Beckwith Boathouse (2009)
Sports Medicine Clinic (2009)
UI Bioventures Center (2008)
- Renovations completed since August 2007
Main Library Learning Commons
Quad Ravine
Stanley Hydraulics Laboratory
Stuit Hall
Expansion of the Hawkeye Tennis & Recreation Complex (indoor turf)
Field House
Chemistry Building
Dental Science Building Addition & Renovation
Carver Hawkeye Arena Addition & Renovation
University Capitol Centre
Oakdale Renewable Energy Plant
Restoration of the Old Capitol
Numerous flood recovery projects following flood of 2008
- Still under construction
Hancher Auditorium Replacement - $176 million
Art Building Replacement - $77 million
Mary Louise Petersen Residence Hall - $53 million
Voxman Music Building - $152 million
University of Iowa Children’s Hospital - $292 million and $65 million for parking
- Still in renovation (all flood mitigation/permanent recovery)
Theatre Building - $5.5 million
Mayflower Residence Hall - $7 million
Iowa Advanced Technology Labs - $9.79 million
Iowa Memorial Union - $21.6 million
A high resolution photo for members of the media is available for download here.