The University of Iowa has named Saba Rasheed Ali associate provost for graduate and professional education and dean of the Graduate College. She has served in the role on an interim basis since July 1, 2025. Her appointment is effective Feb. 1.

Ali, a professor of counseling psychology in the College of Education, joined the UI faculty in 2003. She served as the college’s associate dean for research from 2017 to 2025. 

Ali’s research focuses on how people experience work, including issues related to work stress, career development, and access to meaningful employment. Ali also has a long record of community engagement, including founding and leading Project HOPE, a STEM-focused career education program that serves rural Iowa students. She was named a University of Iowa Distinguished Chair in 2025 in recognition of her contributions to teaching, research, and public engagement.

“Saba is a thoughtful and collaborative leader who has demonstrated a clear commitment to the success of our graduate and professional students,” says Kevin Kregel, executive vice president and provost. “She has shown strong leadership during her interim service, and I am confident she will continue to strengthen graduate education at Iowa.”

Ali succeeds Amanda Haertling Thein, who began an appointment as dean of the University of Colorado Boulder School of Education in July 2025. In her permanent role, Ali will continue to guide efforts to support graduate and professional students, strengthen academic and research programs, and advance graduate education across the university.

“Graduate and professional students are vital to the strength of our academic and research community,” says Ali. “I look forward to working with colleagues across campus to strengthen the programs, services, and policies that support them and ensure that our decisions reflect the needs and experiences of the students we serve.”

Ali holds a PhD in counseling psychology from the University of Oregon, a master’s degree in community counseling from Loyola University Chicago, and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from West Virginia University.