Staff honored by ISPA peers

A trio of Upper Iowa University (UIU) staff members were recognized by their peers during the annual Iowa Student Personnel Association (ISPA) Conference, which was held for the first time on the UIU Fayette campus Oct. 19-20.

Louise Scott, UIU vice president of student development, was presented the ISPA Distinguished Service Award, while Amy Tucker, UIU director for student activities, was bestowed the organization’s Outstanding New Professional Award during the two-day event. In addition, the ISPA membership expressed its appreciation toward Daryl Grove, UIU assistant dean of students, for his most recent service to the association as its past president.

“Louise has served Upper Iowa University and its students for over 30 years. She is a pioneer in the area of student affairs and a pillar of the Iowa Student Personnel Association,” said Daryl Grove, who as ISPA past president was provided the opportunity to make the award presentations on Tuesday, Oct. 20. “A leader in her community, and with the support of students, peers, colleagues and fellow ISPA personnel, she will be missed by all of us as she looks to retire in 2016.”

“Amy Tucker has brought a wealth of knowledge to Upper Iowa University,” Grove earlier commented. “In addition to consistently putting students first, her attributes include attention to detail, a commitment to assessment, and furthering her understanding of student development theories. She has also provided a commitment to ISPA as a former graduate student rising star and as the current co-conference coordinator.”

Additional ISPA honors were presented to Quinneka Lee, ISPA treasurer and Cornell College assistant director of residence and intercultural life, Outstanding New Professional Award; Abby Hahn, a recent graduate of the higher education student affairs master’s program at Iowa State University and current Simpson College first-year area coordinator, Graduate Student Rising Star Award; Molly Bauman, ISPA information coordinator and Central College area coordinator, Outstanding Service Award.

The theme for the 41^st ISPA Conference was “Embracing Change, Leading Transformation. Keynote speakers included Dr. John Schuh, director of the Emerging Leadership Academy at Iowa State University, and Valerie Hart-Craig, assistant director of the Charles E. Brown African American Cultural Center. Among the sessions/roundtable discussions were “Technology for Student Affairs,” “So, You Think You Can be a Dean,” “Learning and Serving without Boundaries,” and “Campus Traditions.” Approximately 75 people from 15 Iowa educational institutions attended the 2015 event.

“It was a great privilege for Upper Iowa University to host the ISPA board of directors, ISPA conference committee, its membership and other guests. The Peacock family was especially proud and honored to see Louise, Amy and Daryl presented with their well-deserved awards and recognition,” said UIU President William R. Duffy. “Daryl and all the UIU staff members who helped pulled this event together are to be commended for their efforts. All who attended the conference are truly ‘Embracing Change and Leading Transformation.’”

The ISPA developed from a series of meetings in 1969 between senior student affairs officers from Iowa State University, University of Northern Iowa and University of Iowa. From the success of these early meetings, private and smaller colleges were later invited to attend. The ISPA now invites higher education professionals from across Iowa to participate in the annual conference each fall. The event serves as an opportunity for networking among professionals of varying educational experience. The conference also allows participants to share ideas and practices in the world of student affairs and take these experiences back to their respective college campuses.