Monica Griffin Madura, EdD, MBA, serves as Director of Retention and Student Services in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Iowa. In this role, she leads the coordination and implementation of college-wide student success, retention, and graduation initiatives aligned with institutional strategic priorities. Working at the intersection of policy, practice, and student experience, she partners with academic departments, advisors, and campus units to develop coordinated systems of support that help students navigate challenges, persist through setbacks, and achieve their academic goals.

With more than 20 years of experience in higher education, Dr. Madura has held leadership, advising, student services, teaching, and advocacy roles dedicated to supporting student growth and achievement. She is known for translating strategy into action by bringing people, data, policy, and systems together to drive meaningful student outcomes. Her work focuses on developing proactive, student-centered interventions that identify barriers early, reframe academic challenges, and normalize help-seeking behaviors, while creating sustainable frameworks that empower advisors and staff to support students more effectively. She enjoys working alongside students, faculty, advisors, and campus partners to build sustainable support systems that empower students to persist, re-engage, and thrive. One of the most rewarding aspects of her work is helping students discover a path forward during difficult moments and witnessing their resilience as they move toward graduation and life beyond the university.

Dr. Madura earned her Doctor of Education in Educational Policy and Leadership Studies with an emphasis in Higher Education Administration from the University of Iowa, a Master of Business Administration from Kaplan University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Sociology from the University of Iowa.

She is passionate about helping students find a path forward, particularly during periods of transition or academic difficulty, and believes that student success is strengthened through collaboration, compassion, and data-informed decision-making. By fostering strong partnerships across campus and advancing student-centered policies and practices, she works to ensure that all students have access to the support, resources, and opportunities needed to thrive. 

Reach Out to Monica For:

• Student success, retention, and graduation strategy
• Collegiate academic standards and academic rebound processes
• Student support and proactive intervention strategies
• Re-enrollment and student re-engagement pathways
• Academic policy implementation
• Strategic planning and student success partnerships