Tag Archives: Upper Iowa University

Cedar Valley’s Reade to Co-Chair Leadership Iowa Program

Dr. Melissa Reade, Leader Valley Program Director will co-chair the 2016-2017 Leadership Iowa program.

Professionals from the Cedar Valley are taking their leadership skills to the next level through the Iowa Association of Business and Industry’s (ABI) Foundation’s Leadership Iowa program. For the last 34 years, ABI and the ABI Foundation have identified many of Iowa’s best leaders and helped to equip them with knowledge and tools to make a difference across the State.

Dr. Melissa Reade, Leader Valley Program Director with the Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber, and a 2015-2016 graduate of Leadership Iowa, will serve a one-year term as the Leadership Iowa Program Co-chair. Her role will be to assist in setting the curriculum, lead planning and execution of the monthly class sessions through co-facilitation of the topic, speakers, and activities. Program co-chairs provide the link within a session and between sessions, so participants see the connectivity from month to month. She will also serve as a member of the Leadership Iowa Board of Governors.

“Melissa was selected based on her willingness and ability to coach, mentor and assist the next class of Iowa leaders. Her strengths and leadership style and her experience in facilitation and

coordination with diverse groups of learners will be an asset to this year’s class, “ says Kay Neumann-Thomas, Vice President, Programs, with the Iowa Association of Business and Industry Foundation, “She has a strong desire to invest in and develop others.”

Each year, 40 talented individuals are selected from a large applicant pool and are selected based on their individual merits, but also for the desire to achieve the best balance of candidates representing varied industries and different geographical areas. Four leaders were selected from Cedar Valley companies and organizations for the 2016-2017 Leadership Iowa class. Participating Cedar Valley leaders include: Jim Atty of Waverly Health Center; Jeremy Kauten of The VGM Group; Justin Marchant of Upper Iowa University; and Sharina Sallis of CUNA Mutual.

Leadership Iowa participants will travel around the state once a month to learn from experts about government; agriculture and renewable energy; education; healthcare; advanced manufacturing and transportation. Reade stated, “It is a great opportunity to learn about and celebrate all of the impactful things taking place across the state in various industries. Leadership Iowa is truly a game-changing and eye-opening opportunity for the state’s leaders. I’m thrilled to walk alongside the 2016-2017 Leadership Iowa class.”

The Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber is an active member of ABI. Information about leadership development opportunities in the Cedar Valley can be found at www.cedarvalleyalliance.com or by calling Steve Dust, CEO at (319) 232-1156.

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Upper Iowa University online bachelor’s and MBA ranked by U.S. News & World Report for 3rd consecutive year

The online undergraduate programs at Upper Iowa University and its online master of business administration (MBA) program have been ranked for the third consecutive year by U.S. News & World Report. U.S. News published “2015 Best Online Education Programs” on its website January 7.

The UIU online bachelor’s programs are ranked in the top third nationwide, coming in at 87 of 283 colleges and universities who responded to the annual online education survey. UIU is one of only three Iowa-based, number-ranked schools on the U.S. News list.

The publication’s rankings of online graduate business programs changed substantially this year and are not considered comparable to the previous two years the magazine has done the rankings. Previously, U.S. News ranked all online graduate business programs (MBA and non-MBA) on one list. In 2015, the publication separated the rankings for MBA online programs from those of other non-MBA graduate business programs. U.S. News also changed the criteria and methodology for ranking of MBA programs, placing greater weight on reputation and admissions selectivity.

Under the new ranking system, UIU is ranked 123 of 223 colleges and universities that submitted data on their online MBA programs. Only 196 of those programs received a numeric ranking, and UIU is the only Iowa-based school ranked.

http://www.uiu.edu/ocm/news/2015/jan/us-news-rank.html

Upper Iowa University names William Duffy as 22nd president

FAYETTE, Iowa (April 26, 2013) – The Upper Iowa University Board of Trustees has named William R. Duffy II, Ed.D., as the 22nd president of the Fayette-based University. Board Chair Bob Firth and Trustee Bill Cook, chair of the presidential search committee, made the announcement Friday at the end of its regular Board meeting.

“We have conducted a nationwide search for a new president, and recommended five candidates to the Board from which it could choose the three finalists to bring to campus for interviews,” said Cook. “The Board deliberated very carefully, but unanimously decided to forego further interviews and to select our internal candidate, who knows the University extremely well – especially its potential for growth through Academic Extension – and who has already proven that he shares the University’s mission and vision.”

“We are very grateful to the Search Committee for the excellence of the Search Process, and we are very grateful to Dr. Richard Patrick, who has done an excellent job of leading the University as acting president since last September,” Firth added. “We thank all the faculty and staff at UIU for working together without a hitch throughout this transition, and we are confident that we have found the right leader for our future.”

“I am deeply honored and humbled to have been chosen by the UIU Board,” Dr. Duffy said. “I am committed to the success of this University, and I believe fully in its ability to change the lives of students. I am especially honored to lead a University that proudly serves a large number of the U.S. military family and a wide diversity of international students.”

Dr. Duffy has served Upper Iowa as senior vice president for Academic Extension for four years. He has been responsible for all off-campus offerings, including 19 UIU education centers in the United States, and the UIU distance education programs, which include online and independent study. Since last fall, he has also assumed leadership of the UIU Integrated Enrollment Center that provides student services to all elements of the University from recruitment, through admissions, enrollment, financial aid, registration, matriculation and commencement.

Before joining UIU, Dr. Duffy served for 12 years as the executive director at the University of Tennessee at Martin, where he had similar responsibilities. Dr. Duffy is a retired colonel in the U.S. Army, in which he held numerous leadership positions that involved planning, organizing, managing resources/equipment and recruiting, among other responsibilities. He received his bachelor’s degree from the U.S. Military Academy, a master’s degree and Education Specialist degree from Appalachian State University, and his Ed.D., from the University of Memphis.

Dr. Duffy assumes his new responsibilities as University President immediately.

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