Saba Rasheed Ali, director of Project HOPE and an expert in vocational psychology, employment issues, and career development of underserved youth, has been named associate dean for research at the University of Iowa’s College of Education. Ali will assume her new role July 1.

Ali will replace departing Associate Dean for Research Christopher Morphew, who has accepted a position as dean of the Johns Hopkins School of Education in Baltimore. College of Education Dean Daniel L. Clay announced Ali’s appointment in a staff email at the end of May.

As a professor and researcher, Ali has focused on exploring the educational needs of underserved youth, especially those living in rural communities. She started Project HOPE (Healthcare Occupations Preparation and Exploration), a STEM-based curricular intervention, to connect middle school students from small, economically-challenged towns to health science professions, professions they could practice in their hometowns.  “The work that I do really looks at the career aspirations of rural students and how we help them achieve those career aspirations,” says Ali.