
AS&R Statement on Racial Injustice and Systemic ChangeBlack Americans have a long history of being a target of oppression, hate crimes, and violent acts because of their race. The recent deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Sean Reed, Breonna Taylor, Nina Pop, Tony McDade, and George Floyd highlight the continued violence on Black Americans, and racism towards Black people. We know as a predominately white office at a Predominately White Institution (PWI), it is not enough to be 'not racist' - we must actively and boldly be anti-racist. We have not done enough in this area and are committed to doing better. Black students, staff, and faculty are impacted daily by the racist inequities of higher education, and as a staff committed to excellence and student success, we must work for and with our community to seek justice and equity. The intent of this post is not performative allyship, but an expression of our values and commitment to our community(ies) to work toward anti-racism and liberation for Black people. Our goal is to align our actions with our values and be held accountable for our work by our community(ies). Our staff is committed to:
In Solidarity, The Academic Support & Retention Staff Dr. Mirra Anson, Senior Director, Academic Support & Retention Danielle Martinez, Director of Student Retention, Academic Support & Retention Stephanie Preschel, Director of Academic Success, Academic Support & Retention Angie Lamb, Assistant Director Stephanie Huntington, Assistant Director Samantha Flores, Academic Specialist Kristi Norris, Coordinator Dusty Persinger, Coordinator Lisa Von Muenster, Administrative Services Coordinator and Graduate & Student Staff |
Academic Support & Retention oversees:
Early Intervention Programs, Tutor Iowa,
and the Academic Resource Center
Academic Support & Retention coordinates campus-wide programs and initiatives that facilitate the academic success of all undergraduate students.
What We Do:
- Coordinate and assess academic initiatives, programs, and courses.
- Facilitate early intervention and student support through actionable data and evidence-based practices.
- Identify groups of students who may experience challenges and coordinate campus-wide partnerships to promote equity and systemic change.
- Serve the campus community via training, workshops, and data sharing about the student experience.