Benjamin Cooper

Associate Professor

Department of Mathematics

Stephanie Eveland-Parrott
Assistant Professor of Instruction
Department of Chemistry

As an Assistant Professor of Instruction in the Chemistry Department, I work with more than a thousand students each semester. I believe that every student who enters my classroom, lab, or lecture hall carries potential that has not yet been fully expressed. My purpose is to create the conditions, both inside and beyond the classroom, where that potential can emerge: an environment that is honest about difficulty, generous with support, and grounded in the belief that growth is possible for everyone.

When I joined the department in Fall 2024, coming from a much smaller institution, I saw an opportunity to bring this perspective to a larger community. I view faculty assembly as a way to deepen that work and to contribute to the structures that shape student success. By representing the students who move through our courses each year and the faculty who teach them, I can help ensure that the support we provide functions not only as a safety net but as a scaffold that strengthens the broader campus community. The growth that happens inside the classroom is shaped by the world outside it, and my responsibility to students extends to the university environment as a whole. My service on the chemistry undergraduate curriculum committee has introduced me to campus-wide conversations about AI use, accessibility, and retention, all of which directly influence the student experience. I want to be present wherever those decisions are made.

Students come to learn a subject. They leave as people who think differently. My job is to support that transformation, not only by delivering content, but by modeling curiosity, resilience, and a willingness to be changed by the community I help create.

Mohammad Farajzadeh-Tehrani, PhD
Associate Professor of Mathematics
Joined UI Faculty in 2018

I am writing to seek your support to serve on the CLAS Faculty Assembly beginning Fall 2026.

I previously served on Faculty Assembly from 2019–2022, shortly after joining the University of Iowa as an assistant professor. That experience gave me a deep appreciation for the Assembly’s pivotal role in addressing issues that shape the academic life of our College. Even as a junior faculty member, I was actively engaged in representing colleagues in the Department of Mathematics while also contributing to broader conversations affecting faculty across CLAS. For example, after consulting with colleagues and working with the Assembly leadership, I initiated a request to invite IT administrators to present and clarify university policies regarding personal devices, providing faculty an opportunity to ask questions and voice concerns about how those policies affect our work.

Since earning tenure in 2022, I have gained broader experience and perspective on how CLAS and the university function. I served on the CLAS Outreach and Engagement Ad Hoc Advisory Committee in 2024, have been involved in recruiting graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, and faculty in the Mathematics Department, and regularly teach and advise students at multiple levels. Through these roles, I have developed a clearer understanding of the interconnected challenges we face — balancing research excellence, effective teaching, responsible governance, and meaningful service.

As a faculty member in a foundational discipline that serves students from across the College, I am particularly attentive to issues related to curriculum, student preparation, instructional quality, faculty support, and the evolving role of technology in our classrooms. I value thoughtful, evidence-based discussion and collaborative problem solving, and I believe Faculty Assembly is strongest when it reflects a wide range of experiences and perspectives.

If elected, I will work to represent faculty concerns carefully and constructively, to support policies that strengthen both teaching and research, and to help ensure that faculty voices remain central in decisions that shape the future of CLAS. I would be honored to serve again and respectfully ask for your support.

Dorit Kliemann

Assistant Professor

Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences

I am honored to be nominated as candidate for representing the faculty at large in Faculty Assembly. Since joining the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at the rank of Assistant Professor in 2020, I have worked to build an active research program, teach effectively (through the substantial challenges brought on by the pandemic), and contribute meaningfully to departmental and collegiate service. These experiences have given me a practical understanding of the challenges faculty (especially early-career faculty) face in balancing research productivity, high-quality teaching, and service while navigating a changing academic environment.

Over the past three years, I have served as a unit FA representative for the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences. I have worked to ensure their perspectives are reflected in committee discussions and decisions. Participating in Faculty assembly's regular deliberations on major policy questions and its role as a forum for issues affecting all faculty, CLAS, and the University has given me a strong appreciation for the continuity and impact of its work within shared governance. 

In addition to my service as FA unit representative, my interdisciplinary research collaborations across campus and my service on the executive committee of the Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Graduate Program broadened my experience with cross-departmental collaboration, further informing how I approach policy discussions and faculty representation. I strongly value an effective and constructive relationship between CLAS leadership and faculty, and I view FA as an essential body for fostering communication and trust across the college. I wish to continue contributing to this reciprocal dialogue, informed and transparent decision-making, and strong shared governance within CLAS. I would be honored to receive your vote and represent the faculty at large in FA.  

Mona Maalouf

Associate Professor of Instruction, Department of Chemistry

Director of Undergraduate Studies, Chemistry

PhD. Chemistry, University of Iowa

Joined UI Faculty in 2016

I am honored to accept the nomination to serve in the Faculty Assembly. As a Fulbright Scholar, an international faculty member, and a proud graduate of the University of Iowa, I have engaged with our academic community from multiple perspectives: as a graduate teaching assistant, a long-time instructor of undergraduate students, and currently as Director of Undergraduate Studies in the Department of Chemistry. These experiences have given me a broad and deep understanding of both the opportunities and challenges faced by faculty. My international background further enables me to recognize the diverse experiences of faculty from varying cultural and academic contexts.

Over the years, I have taught undergraduate students at all levels, from first-year foundational courses to advanced senior-level classes, gaining firsthand insight into their needs and the essential role faculty play in fostering their success. My involvement in curriculum and program updates has strengthened my commitment to ensuring that faculty have the resources needed to deliver their courses.

I am equally committed to supporting and advancing the research mission of the university. Research is integral to the academic experience: it enriches course content, enhances student engagement, and strengthens the intellectual capability of our institution. To remain fully connected to this mission, I continue to conduct laboratory work myself, maintaining active involvement in hands-on research. Staying engaged in laboratory research not only informs my teaching but also keeps me aware of the challenges tenured and tenure track faculty face in balancing research, instruction, and service.

In serving on the Faculty Assembly, I will work to support faculty with their needs across teaching, research, and service; strengthen communication between faculty and administration; and help with decisions that reflect the perspectives of those who engage daily in the core work of our university. Supporting faculty strengthens our entire academic community, and I would be grateful for the opportunity to represent my colleagues in this capacity.

Stephanie DiPietro

Associate Professor of Sociology and Criminology

PhD University of Maryland

Joned UI Faculty in 2020

I joined the University of Iowa in 2020 as an Associate Professor of Sociology and Criminology. Throughout my time here, I have served the University and my department in multiple capacities, including as the Director of Graduate Studies for Sociology and Criminology, a member of the University Judicial Board, as an external reviewer for two departments in CLAS, and as chair of a Decanal review committee. These experiences have given me a deep understanding of both faculty and institutional priorities across CLAS. 

The College’s strategic goals emphasize advancing research and scholarship, fostering student success, and supporting shared governance. I am committed to advocating for both instructors and researchers, ensuring that our faculty have the resources and policies they need to maintain excellence in teaching while also advancing knowledge through scholarship.

On Faculty Assembly, I would work to support policies that empower faculty to equip students for success while also fostering a robust environment for research and creative activity. I ask for your vote to serve on CLAS Faculty Assembly, where I will continue to advocate for policies and initiatives that strengthen our College and its mission.

David Dowling, PhD

Professor, School of Journalism and Mass Communication

Joined UI in 2006

The challenges of artificial intelligence, accessibility, enrollment, and free speech affect every CLAS faculty member. These issues are shared across the college and are compounded by increasingly precarious fiscal conditions for public higher education in Iowa. While daunting, such challenges can be addressed most effectively through strong shared governance. If elected to Faculty Assembly, I would bring twenty years of experience as a faculty member across two units, six years in the Department of English and the past fourteen in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, to support collaboration and collective problem solving in pursuit of the college’s goals. Faculty Assembly provides an essential forum for faculty to engage in the deliberation and decision-making necessary to develop innovative and practical responses to these challenges.

Shared governance is realized when faculty from across units gather in a common forum, something like a village square, to raise new issues, deliberate concerns, and shape the future direction of the college. Over two decades of teaching, research, and service, I have had the privilege of working across units to advance both instructional and research initiatives. Faculty must not only be present in such conversations but actively engaged in the decisions that will guide our institutional future. As a scholar of media communication and journalism, I value the role of open forums in democratic systems and the importance of deliberation in shaping collective outcomes. I would be honored to bring that commitment to civic responsibility and democratic engagement to my service on Faculty Assembly. I do not take for granted this important space for cross-unit engagement within CLAS, and I would dedicate myself to helping refine and advance a shared vision that serves the best interests of all stakeholders in our broader educational mission.

Kylah Hedding

Assistant Professor of Instruction

School of Journalism and Mass Communication

Faculty Advisor, Public Relations Student Society of America

PhD, Media and Communication, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Joined the UI faculty in 2016

We are in a time of great uncertainty in higher education, and Faculty Assembly must continue to be open and engaged in shaping our future. I am honored to be nominated as the representative for Group II and commit to representing the diverse needs of CLAS faculty to ensure we are able to fully realize our academic mission. Over the past decade, I have joined my colleagues to address the changing expectations and needs of our faculty, staff, and students. These include, but are not limited to, adjusting our pedagogical approaches during and after Covid, protecting academic freedom in a shifting political landscape, and understanding how to assess, implement, and respond to new technologies in the classroom. I am well-positioned to understand and advocate for the various constituencies that the CLAS Faculty Assembly represents.

I understand the challenges of balancing the research, teaching, and service requirements CLAS faculty face. While I started as tenure-track faculty, and I absolutely admire and respect the academic research conducted by my colleagues in CLAS, I discovered my passion was for teaching. I chose to switch to the instructional track, where I have focused wholeheartedly on ensuring our students have the storytelling, writing, critical thinking, and professional skills that will help them succeed at Iowa and beyond. As I conclude my first year on the instructional track, I can bring insights into the respective challenges facing both tenure and instructional track faculty. I teach a wide variety of classes including GE, skills-based, and theory-oriented classes, both large and small, and I have developed and redesigned several classes to help meet department and CLAS curriculum goals. As the Group II representative, I will advocate for the resources and policies that best address the teaching, research, and service needs of our faculty.

I have always believed in an interdisciplinary approach to both teaching and research, and I engage across campus in a variety of areas, including as an advisory board member for the Sustainability Certificate, and as member of the Honors Scholarship and Faculty Communicating Ideas Award committees. Finally, as my department representative to Faculty Assembly from 2021-2024, I experienced firsthand the triumphs and challenges FA encounters as it contributes to Iowa’s shared governance. I will draw on these experiences, as well as a decade of professional experience in strategic communication, to help ensure the Faculty Assembly can address the issues important to faculty in the most productive and effective manner possible.

James Wo
Associate Professor, Department of Sociology and Criminology
PhD, Criminology, Law and Society
Joined UI Faculty in 2017

I am an Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology and Criminology, with a courtesy appointment in the School of Planning and Public Affairs. Since joining Iowa in 2017, I have been consistently involved in service at the department and college levels. Within my department, I have served multiple terms as an elected member of the Executive Committee, chaired the Colloquium Committee, worked as Job Market Coordinator, and served on search, awards, graduate admissions, and undergraduate studies committees. I also represented my department in Faculty Assembly during a particularly active period, including college-wide debates over undergraduate language requirements and the MOP proposals. In that role, I worked to thoughtfully convey departmental perspectives while engaging in broader conversations about policy and governance within CLAS.

At the college level, I have served on the CLAS committee that allocates student technology fee funding. Beyond campus, I have been actively involved in professional service through the American Society of Criminology, including serving as Chair of the Gene Carte Student Paper Competition, as a program committee sub-area chair, and most recently as an elected Executive Counselor for the Division of Communities and Place. I serve on the editorial boards of Criminology and PLOS One and regularly review for journals across sociology, criminology, and urban studies. 

I also value community engagement, including service on the Advisory Council for Student Safety at Punahou School in Honolulu, mentoring with Big Brothers Big Sisters, volunteer coaching in Iowa City youth sports, and teaching a summer course on crime prevention and environmental design for high school students. Across these roles, I bring experience working with students, faculty, administrators, and community partners, and I would be glad to continue contributing in Faculty Assembly.

Bingbing Zhang

Assistant Professor

School of Journalism and Mass Communication

Joined the UI faculty in 2023

I have been nominated to serve as a representative to the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Faculty Assembly, and I am writing to ask for your support. I have appreciated the opportunity to participate in the Assembly as a unit representative for the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, and I would be excited to continue serving in a broader role with the same energy and commitment. As an Assistant Professor in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, my research focuses on media effects, political communication, health and science communication, and emerging technologies. In recent years, my work has examined how generative artificial intelligence is reshaping journalism and the broader information environment. I have been fortunate to publish in leading journals in our field, receive several top paper awards at conferences such as the International Communication Association and the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, and secure external research support from organizations including the National Science Foundation and the Arthur W. Page Center.

Beyond research, teaching and mentoring are central to why I chose an academic career. I teach undergraduate courses in strategic communication and media effects as well as graduate seminars on social scientific approaches to media and communication. I enjoy creating a classroom environment where students actively connect theory with real-world communication challenges, particularly as media technologies continue to evolve. I also care deeply about mentoring students at different stages of their academic journeys. In my advising, I often draw inspiration from the Chinese philosophy “因人制宜,” which emphasizes adapting guidance to each individual’s strengths, goals, and needs. Seeing students develop their confidence, ideas, and professional paths is one of the most rewarding parts of my work, and I am grateful to have received the Distinguished Mentor Award at the University of Iowa.

I am deeply committed to the academic mission of this college and university, and I value the opportunity to work alongside colleagues from many disciplines. If elected to the Faculty Assembly, I would look forward to contributing to conversations that support both research excellence and high-quality teaching across the college. I am particularly interested in policies that help faculty and students navigate the opportunities and challenges that emerging technologies bring to education, academic integrity, and scholarship. I believe thoughtful shared governance is essential to the strength of our academic community, and it would be an honor to represent faculty perspectives while supporting the shared mission of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Kirsten E. Kumpf Baele
“Distinguished” Associate Professor of Instruction 
Department of Languages, Linguistics, Literatures and Cultures (LLLC)

PhD, German, University of Iowa

I contribute actively to the university’s mission through a broad portfolio of services that span campus, community, and local engagement. I work regularly with faculty across the university, with members of the central administration, and with community partners to help shape policy, articulate shared visions, strengthen curriculum, and support strategic planning. 

Currently, I serve on the Undergraduate Education Policy and Curriculum Committee (UEPPC) an experience that has deepened my understanding of how undergraduate academic policies are developed, how curriculum changes move from idea to implementation, and how teaching standards are shaped across our institution. Our committee meets weekly to review degree programs, evaluate academic policies, and support student success. As a UEPPC member, I recognize how closely governance and teaching are intertwined; the decisions we make at the policy level directly shape the learning environments we create in our classrooms. Although this is a one-year appointment for me, it has been a very meaningful service role, and I will genuinely miss the work when my term ends this coming May. That is precisely why I am seeking new ways to contribute to shared governance and continue supporting the academic mission of our university. Assembly is strongest when it brings together a wide range of perspectives, listens deeply, and thinks collectively about the future of our academic community. As an instructional track faculty member, whose primary work is teaching, I bring a perspective rooted in the lived realities of students and instructors. I see how policies translate into practice, and I believe that effective governance requires this on-the-ground insight.

I enjoy networking and growing professionally and personally. Throughout my career, I have been able to build sustainable relationships with colleagues at the University, College, and Department-level. This active participation helps me better understand my own values and principles and gain a full range of perspectives. At a time when higher education across the nation is facing challenges, I recognize that the strength and vitality of the units in which I work rely heavily on my commitment and contributions. I find value in discovering, together with others, positive solutions that I hope will have a long-standing impact.

Current UI Awards: “Distinguished” Associate Professor of Instruction (2024-26); Spring 2026 Scholarly Teaching Fellow

Current Service – I serve as/on the:

• Testing Chair for our local chapter of the American Association of Teachers of German (AATG): I manage the administration of the National German Exam in our region.
• Director of the Anne Frank Initiative (AFI): I collaborate with a 12-member plus three student intern board and lead initiatives that investigate Anne Frank’s literary contributions and her ongoing legacy in a more globalized, international, and contemporary context.  Board members and I organize events and undertakings connected with research, pedagogy, and artistic output that strive for advocacy for our university, our state, and beyond.
• Humanities Studies Group (HSG): This is a group of select Tenure Track and Instructional Track faculty members who have distinguished themselves on campus and outside of the university in their teaching, service, and research. In this working group, I provide insight on how to create and implement new programs in Humanities Teaching and Research in Humanities. This group was commissioned by CLAS Dean Sara Sanders and former Univ. of Iowa Vice President of Research Dr. Martin Scholtz.
• Elected member of the Executive Committee for the Department of Languages, Linguistics, Literatures and Cultures (LEAC): As a member, I advise and collaborate with the DEO and ADEO in overseeing departmental operation and initiatives.
• Elected faculty representative on the Board of Trustees of Student Publications, Inc., the independent nonprofit organization that oversees The Daily Iowan, DITV and its other media properties.
• The Formal Mentorship Community Education Group, the International Studies, Translation and Language and Global Humanities Group, and the LLLC Work in Progress Group.
• Mentor to OUR fellows, Fulbright candidates, and honors teaching practicum students
• Faculty search committees and MFA thesis committees

Recent Recognition: 2022 Outstanding Outreach and Public Engagement Award (2022); Provost Global Forum (co-recipient) 2022; Anne Frank Center in Cooperation with the Anne Frank House (Amsterdam) Anne Frank Sapling Award (2022)

Debra Trusty

Associate Professor of Instruction, Department of Classics, University of Iowa

Museum Studies Program Coordinator, Division of Interdisciplinary Studies

Department of Classics Honors Coordinator

My career at the University of Iowa has been shaped by a commitment to undergraduate student success, pedagogical innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and university-wide service that strengthens both all areas of campus. I would be honored to continue this work as a member of the Faculty Assembly.

As an instructional‑track faculty member, I have taught students in large-enrollment General Education courses housed in the Classics, upper-level seminars cross-listed in History and Anthropology, First-Year seminar classes for honors program students, and faculty-led study abroad programs coordinated by International Programs. My teaching philosophy is grounded in equity, curiosity, rigorous academic standards, and a commitment to cultivating global and critical thinkers. I strive to make the humanities relevant and accessible through experiential learning, digital pedagogy, independent research advising, and collaborative exploration of the ancient world. These efforts have been recognized through multiple Impactful Faculty and Staff distinctions (2020–2025), a Distinguished Associate Professor of Instruction appointment (2023–2025), the International Engagement Teaching Award (2023), and multiple university-wide awards for student success and teaching innovation. These honors reflect not only my passion for teaching, but also my understanding of the pressures and challenges instructional‑track faculty face, including high teaching loads, unclear expectations for service, advancements in technology and AI, evolving assessment standards, partisan politics affecting higher education, and the invisible labor of mentoring.

Outside of the classroom, I have invested deeply in shared governance and academic service at departmental, collegiate, and university levels. I currently serve as a CLAS representative on Faculty Senate, a member of the ITS’s Academic Technology Advisory Council, and a participant in initiatives focused on undergraduate mentoring and curriculum development. I served on CLAS’ General Education Curriculum Committee (2022-2023) and currently am the coordinator for the Museum Studies certificate program (2023-2026) and Honors coordinator for Classics (2022-2026). In these roles, I have continuously advocated for clearer communication, equitable policy implementation, and stronger support structures for faculty whose work centers on teaching, mentoring, and student support.

If elected to the Faculty Assembly, I will proudly voice instructors’ perspectives during discussions on curriculum, academic integrity, AI policy, and assessment. In particular, I will promote the creation and support of resources that enhance student learning and reduce unnecessary burdens on instructors, such as accessible technology, support methods for at-risk students, consistent SDS processes, and transparent administrative procedures. Furthermore, I will encourage conversations focused on improving the retention of instructional‑track faculty, including clearer expectations for promotion, stability and fairness in workload, and increased access to professional development. This includes the recognition and inclusion of instructional‑track expertise in college-wide initiatives, planning, and decision-making. Finally, I will combine my experiences as an instructor, administrative coordinator, and collegiate servant to collaborate with all members of the university to support the preservation of the humanities. My goal is to serve as an informed and empathetic advocate for CLAS faculty, particularly those whose primary contributions lie in teaching, advising, and the day‑to‑day well-being of our students. I would be honored to represent you and continue creating a supportive, fair, and collaborative environment that is supportive to all Hawkeye staff, faculty, and students.

Thank you for your consideration.

Joshua Albrecht

Assistant Professor, Music Theory

PhD, Music Theory, Ohio State University

Joined the UI faculty in 2023

Arriving at the University of Iowa in 2023, this is my third academic job, having served four years at Kent State University and seven before that at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, a small private college in Texas. I believe this wide array of academic experiences has given me a unique perspective on the particular challenges facing higher education in these times, around the country and in different kinds of institutions. 

My research also lies at the intersection of the sciences and the humanities. I am a music theory professor in a large School in the arts, but I also have founded and run the Iowa Cognitive and Computational Musicology lab, through which we conduct experiments with human participants to answer music questions using empirical methodologies. Situated as I am at the intersection between humanities and scientific methodologies, I believe I can offer unique perspectives on the inherent value of many different disciplines and how they can inform and enrich one another. 

Abbey Dvorak

Associate Professor, Music Therapy

Neurologic Music Therapist

Director, Tremble Clefs Iowa

Iowa Mid-Career Faculty Scholar

Williams-Cannon Faculty Fellow

Iowa Neuroscience Institute

Voxman School of Music

I am honored to be nominated to serve on the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Faculty Assembly. As a faculty member whose work spans both art and science, I recognize how essential the Assembly is in representing faculty perspectives and helping the College navigate issues that directly shape our academic environment. 

In my role as Associate Professor of Music Therapy, I collaborate regularly with colleagues in CLAS, and other colleges, centers, and institutes across campus. These interdisciplinary partnerships allow me to observe firsthand the opportunities and challenges facing our faculty and students. This breadth of experience has helped me understand how policies and resource decisions affect departments of differing sizes, missions, and demands.

My approach to leadership is grounded in active listening and evidence‑informed decision-making. As Area Head for music therapy, and a member or chair of multiple promotion and tenure committees, I consistently strive for thoughtful evaluation of faculty work. I also bring strengths in strategic thinking and supportive collaboration. These qualities help me navigate complex issues and bring people together around shared goals. My prior experience as faculty at two other universities, across different regions of the country, provides me with a broad understanding of how institutional culture and policy shape faculty work and student success, enabling me to bring a well‑informed and adaptable perspective to shared governance.

If elected, I will work to advocate for policies that (a) strengthen teaching and learning, (b) support faculty wellbeing and professional development, and (c) enhance our collective capacity for research and creative scholarship. I welcome the opportunity to work with colleagues across CLAS to address our shared challenges and advance the mission of the College and University. Thank you for your consideration.

YoonJee Kwak 

Assistant Professor of Ceramics, School of Art, Art History & Design 

Joined the University of Iowa Faculty in Fall 2025 

I am an Assistant Professor in the Ceramics area in the School of Art, Art History and Design. Since joining the University of Iowa in Fall 2025, I have appreciated being part of a vibrant academic community where research, creative practice, and teaching intersect across many disciplines within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. 

As an artist and educator who has worked in international contexts, I have seen how institutional and cultural environments shape the ways faculty teach, conduct research, and support students. These experiences have strengthened my belief in the importance of thoughtful dialogue and collegial collaboration as we address shared opportunities and challenges within the college. 

If elected, I would approach service on the Faculty Assembly with a commitment to listening carefully, learning from colleagues across CLAS, and contributing constructively to conversations that support strong teaching, research, and creative work. I would be honored to serve the college and to represent our faculty in this role.