About Us
Iowa Student Personnel Association
Mission Statement
Iowa Student Personnel Association provides high-quality and affordable professional development while seeking opportunities to cultivate leadership, advocacy, and meaningful relationships for higher education professionals throughout the state of Iowa.
Equity & Inclusion Statement
Iowa Student Personnel Association (ISPA) affirms and supports the unique identities in our community by striving for social justice and practicing inclusive engagement.
ISPA values and appreciates diversity by providing opportunities to engage in continued conversations and participate in meaningful professional development. ISPA celebrates all facets brought to our community by striving to work inclusively and welcome all voices.
History
The Iowa Student Personnel Association (ISPA) we know today began as a series of meetings between Senior Student Affairs Officers (SSAOs) at Iowa State University (ISU), the University of Northern Iowa (UNI), and the University of Iowa (UI) in July 1969. A close group of SSAOs working at each institution met monthly in a central location (usually Toledo, Iowa) to exchange information. The SSAOs in attendance sometimes dedicated meetings to an area reporting to all of them, and invited directors from those areas to the meetings to join the conversation.
The group saw much success from these meetings. Several months in, the group decided to invite both private and smaller schools to attend the monthly meetings. Wartburg College, Simpson College, ISU, UNI, UI, Luther College, Cornell College, Morningside College, and Grinnell College were among the first schools to attend the regular meetings. Increasing group membership representative of all higher education experience levels prompted the group to begin meeting once a year instead of monthly. This annual meeting is recognized today as ISPA's annual conference. The original annual conferences were held each fall at ISU. ISPA's annual conference is still held every fall, and have been hosted by institutions across the state of Iowa. Previous hosting institutions include Grinnell College, St. Ambrose University, and ISU.
ISPA credits much of its success to its passion for helping higher education professionals connect through professional development opportunities, share ideas, and work together to further higher education in the state of Iowa. ISPA began and remains NASPA and ACPA neutral. All national groups are welcome to be a part of ISPA.
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Site background image by photographer Carl Wycoff https://www.flickr.com/photos/carlwwycoff/
ISPA Presidents
The following individuals previously served as Presidents of ISPA.
Jerry Parker
Drake University
2019–2020
Louise Paskey
Briar Cliff University
2015–2016
Erin Swancutt
Simpson College
2011–2012
Karla Carney Hall
Iowa State University
2007–2008
Renee Romano
University of Northern Iowa
2003–2004
Louis W. Stark
Coe College
1999–2000
Roger Hadley
Waldorf College
1995–1996
Carolyn Rants
Morningside College
1991–1992
Bill Hinga
Central College
1987–1988
Jim Thorius
Iowa State University
1983–1984
Daniel Carey
Morningside College
1979–1980
Sarah Moschenross
Grinell College
2018–2019
Daryl Grove
Upper Iowa University
2014–2015
Mandi McReynolds
Coe College
2010–2011
Sentwali Bakari
Drake University
2006–2007
Deb Liddell
University of Iowa
2002–2003
Kathleen MacKay
Iowa State University
1998–1999
Jerry Price
Drake University
1994–1995
Sally Walker
Iowa State University
1990–1991
Jim Petty
Clarke College
1986–1987
Charles Lang
Loras College
1982–1983
Collen Jones
University of Iowa
1978–1979
Quinneka Lee
Wayne State College
2017–2018
Kodee Wright
Drake University
2013–2014
Travis Greene
Grinnell College
2009–2010
Pete Englin
Iowa State University
2005–2006
Mary Johnson
Loras College
2001–2002
Ann Highum
Luther College
1997–1998
Stan Kabat
St. Ambrose University
1993–1994
Dan Robinson
Iowa State University
1989–1990
Barbara Handcock-Snyder
Iowa State University
1985–1986
Jon Dalton
Iowa State University
1981–1982
Gary Valen
Simpson College
1977–1978
Tom Hicks
Coe College
2016–2017
Tony Tyler
Drake University
2012–2013
Lynn Lundy Evans
Iowa State University
2008–2009
Jane DeHaven
Grand View College
2004–2005
Alexander "Lex" Smith
Wartburg College
2000–2001
Donna Vinton
University of Northern Iowa
1996–1997
Sharon Dendurent
Cornell College
1992–1993
Carol Nemitz
Iowa Wesleyan College
1988–1989
Lynnea Halberg
University of Iowa
1984–1985
Janet Carl
Grinnell College
1980–1981