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Tricia Seifert '07 Ph.D. Education Hometown: Delta, Ohio |
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"Investing in people is always wise," says Tricia Seifert, talking about both her studies in educational administration and the need for private support for higher education. "That's where our promise lies." Like many of her peers, Tricia worked in college administration before deciding to go to graduate school. She came to the UI College of Education's Student Affairs Administration and Research (SAAR) program to research college students and the impact college has on them. The College of Education believed in Tricia's promise and -- with the help of private contributions -- invested in her by offering a graduate research assistantship and the opportunity to work with the UI professor who "wrote the book on research of this kind … literally." Tricia works closely with Ernest T. Pascarella, the Mary Louise Petersen Professor of Higher Education, who has co-authored two volumes of research titled How College Affects Students. Private support (in the form of endowed professorships like Dr. Pascarella's) helps keep top professors teaching at Iowa, thereby providing the best possible learning environment for students like Tricia. "It's a dream come true to work with Dr. Pascarella," Tricia says. "There is no one better to learn from in this field." And no better place to learn. Private support for the UI College of Education helps fund outstanding resources for students, such as the Center for Research on Undergraduate Education, the College of Education Writing Center, and the ePortfolio Project. Thanks to these resources, and an emphasis on using the latest technology, graduates of the SAAR Ph.D. program enter into higher education administration ready to lead the next generation of college educators. "The UI College of Education helps educators at all levels to recognize the power of technology -- but not only that," Tricia says. "We learn to embrace technology and to equip students to embrace it." One of the best things about the College of Education, Tricia says, is the connection the school maintains with its successful alumni. "Some serious heavy hitters in the SAAR field earned their Ph.D. degrees at The University of Iowa -- even before there was officially a SAAR program here." Those respected alumni provide an incredible support network for students in the college, not just in terms of financial support, but also as advisors, potential employers, and good examples. "Like alumni before me, I expect to remain involved with the UI College of Education long after I've earned my Ph.D. degree," Tricia says. "It's one good way to ensure the high quality of tomorrow's educators, and to be sure they have the support they need."
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