Jennifer Teitle, assistant dean for student professional development in the Graduate College at the University of Iowa, was named the recipient of the 2021 Assistant and Associate Deans Leadership Award, the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) announced Dec. 2.
Teitle is the third-ever recipient of the prestigious award, which she received for her contributions to the UI Graduate College community, including establishing the Three-Minute Thesis (3MT) competition, developing the Graduate Student Success Center, and building and maintaining professional networks for students. Teitle was presented with the honor at an awards ceremony during the CGS 61st anniversary in New Orleans.
“I am thrilled that Jen’s outstanding leadership has been recognized by the Council of Graduate Schools with such a prestigious accolade,” says Associate Provost and Dean of the Graduate College Amanda Thein. “In every aspect of her work, Jen advocates for an equitable and inclusive experience that supports graduate students in their academic, personal, and career goals. I know I speak for my colleagues in the Graduate College and across campus when I say that we are exceptionally fortunate to benefit from Jen’s professional insight, integrity, and dedication to graduate student success.”
Graduate College accolades
The University of Iowa is the only GCS member to have recipients of both the Assistant and Associate Deans Leadership Award (Jennifer Teitle, 2021) and the Debra Steward Award (John Keller, 2017).
The Assistant and Associate Deans Leadership Award recognizes individuals who have shown exemplary commitment to graduate education by demonstrating creativity and innovation in response to institutional challenges, building partnerships both internal and external to the graduate school, effectively advocating on behalf of graduate education; fostering inclusiveness in the graduate community; and engaging student voices.
Teitle joined the UI faculty in 2006 and was named assistant dean of the graduate college in 2015. She earned a PhD in language, literacy, and culture from Iowa in 2012.
Teitle says working with graduate students and postdocs in the college has been the most engaging aspect of her career, made possible by Graduate College colleagues who understood her goals and helped her reach them.
“Associate Dean Daniel Berkowitz, my first mentor in graduate education, used to tell me that sometimes you need to ‘stop swimming and look back at the shore.’ What he meant is that good work can sometimes feel like you are swimming against the current, but it’s important to look back at where you started and see how far you’ve come,” says Teitle. “For me, the CGS award is a moment to look back at the shore and see how much the culture of student-centered graduate education has developed in the last 10 years and to prepare for the next part of my swim.”
About the Graduate College
Ten of the graduate programs at Iowa rank among the top 10 in the nation, according to U.S. News and World Report.
Iowa’s Graduate College accounts for more than one-fifth of the university’s total enrollment, supporting graduate education campuswide.
The college approves proposals for new graduate programs, evaluates existing programs, and confers most University of Iowa graduate degrees. It also administers interdisciplinary graduate programs in fields ranging from genetics to book arts, a point of distinction for the college.