UI staff recognized for excellence

Fourteen staff members at the University of Iowa received 2013 awards for excellence presented by the UI Staff Council.

Board of Regents Staff Excellence Award

This award is given to staff members whose accomplishments have significantly benefited the university, brought honor or recognition to the university, and had a significant positive impact on the state of Iowa.

Jeffrey Dolan, Department of Physics and Astronomy

Dolan served as the lead system engineer for the design, delivery, and assembly of electric and magnetic field instruments flown on the NASA sponsored Van Allen Probe spacecraft. He successfully collaborated with colleagues across the nation, supporting the integration and testing of the instruments following their installation.

Due to his efforts, the instruments have performed exceptionally well since their space launch in August 2012. Dolan’s commitment to the UI and research began in the early 1990s as a student engineer, and continued to blossom throughout his career as he became the operations manager and hardware engineer for the now renowned National Advanced Driving Simulator, and assumed his current position in the Department of Physics and Astronomy.

Lori Dolan, Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation

Dolan is the clinical trial director of Bracing in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Trial, a national medical trial that involves evaluating the use of braces on adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis. She is a mentor and role model for researchers and trial coordinators in 27 locations spanning the U.S. and Canada, helping them improve patient care and achieve the highest standards of excellence. Her leadership has been instrumental in the creation and implementation of evaluation programs for pediatric orthopedic patients, and she frequently goes above and beyond the duties required of her position to advise medical students, residents, and faculty interested in clinical research.

Barbara Hannon, Department of Nursing

Hannon is an advanced practice nurse and the UI Hospitals and Clinics Department of Nursing Magnet Program director. Magnet recognition is the highest award given for excellence in nursing by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, bestowed only after rigorous review and on-site evaluation. Since her appointment as director, UI Hospitals and Clinics has achieved three Magnet designations. A leader in her field, Hannon has enhanced the university’s ability to attract and retain top nurses from across the country by engaging in mentorship and advocacy on behalf of her fellow practitioners.

Mary Heath, College of Education

Heath has dedicated 30 years to the UI as a clerk, secretary, and project assistant. She currently serves as the administrative coordinator for field experiences, where she expertly facilitates the placement of 300 practicum students and student teachers each year. Her exceptional interpersonal skills, fastidious nature, and administrative prowess have contributed to positive, sustained relationships with area K-12 teachers and institutions, helping to ensure there will always be a place for future student educators.

Jennifer Lassner, Division of Sponsored Programs

Lassner is the executive director of the Division of Sponsored Programs, where she assists members of the UI community in obtaining external funding for research and other valuable initiatives that advance the university’s mission. She is the lead negotiator on grants and contracts with state agencies such as the Iowa Department of Public Health, and works tirelessly to facilitate collaboration among partner institutions and expand the UI’s presence with national organizations including the University Industry Demonstration Partnership. Thanks in large part to her efforts, 2012 marked the fourth consecutive year that external research funding exceeded $400 million.

Charles Swanson, Hancher Auditorium

Swanson has served as the executive director of Hancher since 2002. During that time, his vision and leadership has strengthened performing arts at the university and throughout the state, despite the presence of formidable obstacles following the 2008 floods and destruction of Hancher Auditorium. In just several short years, Swanson has created innovative partnerships that have produced several performances and interdisciplinary projects across Iowa, including Living with Floods, an art and education initiative spanning seven cities. Other contributions include the implementation of performance art residency programs, and a well developed funding plan that has increased Hancher’s endowment by nearly $5 million, ensuring the continued support of valuable programming.

University of Iowa Outstanding Staff Award

This award recognizes staff members who have made outstanding accomplishments and contributions that significantly benefited or brought honor or recognition to the university.

Susan Beckett, College of Engineering

During her 31-year career as an IT professional, Beckett has been an invaluable support for the College of Engineering and the campus as a whole. She has consistently worked to establish a user oriented computing environment, effectively managing software, and assisting with the reinvention of the help desk. Her professionalism and a commitment to diversity have led her to chair the Council on the Status of Women, serve on the board of the Women’s Resource and Action Center, and become an at large member of the UI Staff Council. Beckett has also made significant contributions to mediation services on campus.

John Doershuck, Office of the State Archeologist

Doershuck serves as the state archeologist of Iowa. He is active on campus-wide committees and task forces, where he is recognized for his ability to promote discourse across disciplines. Under his direction, a UI Research Council subcommittee formulated a policy on the authorship of scholarly works that is now a part of the University Operations Manual.Doershuckis remarkably dedicated to historic preservation across the state, and he makes sustained outreach efforts in communities around Iowa, according to his nominators. Through his commitment to service, Doershuck has proven to be an exceptional ambassador for the university.

Dennis Heimdal, Iowa Lakeside Laboratory

Heimdal is the sole full-time environmental laboratory specialist at the Iowa Lakeside Lab in Milford. He successfully re-opened the location following a multiple year closure, re-equipping the space and diligently obtaining the accreditations necessary for full operation. Since then, he has performed expert water quality analyses for northwest Iowa communities and companies, as well as expanded testing capabilities that allow the lab to contract with other states. Heimdal provides hands-on training to high school and undergraduate students through educational presentations and outreach, and has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to the UI and the Great Lakes Region.

Lindsay Jarratt, Chief Diversity Office

Jarratt serves as diversity resources coordinator, overseeing the planning and promotion of educational programs. She is consistently recognized by colleagues for her passion for social justice and her work to create a more welcoming campus community and climate.Jarrattdirects the UI’s National Coalition Building Institute affiliate, and recently coordinated its annual conference. She offers support to individuals and organizations working to create change, and has helped facilitate such events as the Million Hoodie March and the Celebrating Cultural Diversity Festival.

Teresa Kulper, Human Resources

Kulper is the director of Human Resource Services. She is responsible for the development, administration, and evaluation of key campus programs that include Threat Assessment and Behavior Risk Management. Throughout her time at the UI she has promoted a holistic, collaborative approach to situation management, and has developed consistent protocol to assess and handle cases. Her work frequently takes her across disciplines, and has illustrated her vision and talent when it comes to meeting the changing needs of the university and its employees.

Pauline Wieland, School of Music

Wieland joined the School of Music staff as a secretary III in 2001, and quickly established herself as a key player in graduate and undergraduate admissions, student recruitment, and academic coordination. Following the 2008 floods, Wieland was a stabilizing force for the department as she maintained operations even as the Voxman Music Building was taking on water. She worked long hours to ensure all academic processes were functioning and the School of Music could resume classes on time that fall. Wieland continues to be an invaluable resource within the department, and has worked closely with other faculty and staff to implement a web based admissions system.

David J. Skorton Award for Staff Excellence in Service

This award is given to staff members who have made significant contributions and have shown exceptional imagination and dedication to improving the university.

Carly Amour, Student Disability Services

Though Amour is a Student Disability Services advisor, she has gone beyond the requirements of her position to serve as the deaf/hard of hearing services coordinator. In this role, she arranges for the interpreting needs of students, as well as trains faculty and staff on how to close caption their own videos. Amour co-chairs the Council on Disability Awareness, coaches a deaf student volleyball team, and recently piloted the Hawkeye Accessibility Ambassador program, an advocacy group that encourages construction teams to consider the needs of people with handicaps during the design process. Her tremendous efforts have resulted in a more inclusive and supportive campus environment that fosters student retention and success.

Janis Mendenhall, REACH Program

Mendenhall is the coordinator of Career Development and Transition for UI REACH: Realizing Educational and Career Hopes Program, an on-campus, two-year certificate for individuals with cognitive and learning disabilities in the UI College of Education.

Mendenhall was instrumental in REACH’s implementation and its subsequent development into a well established and highly respected program. Initially expected to create between five and 10 local job sites for REACH student internships, she came back with more than 75. An exemplary role model and compassionate advisor, she is an inspiration for families and disability advocates across Iowa.