After spending the last 23 years as a professor in the University of Iowa’s College of Education, Dr. Saba R. Ali became Interim Dean and Associate Provost of the Graduate College this summer.
Serving graduate students through policy and programming are two unyielding tenets for Ali in this role.
“Services we provide to graduate students are critical and remain a very high value of mine,” Ali says. “When we think about policies, fellowships, and programming, it comes back to ways that we can support graduate students and the faculty who supervise them.”
Dr. Amanda Thein, who moved on from the position as Graduate College Dean in July, worked with Ali for many years as colleagues in the College of Education. Ali looks to Thein’s tenure as dean for inspiration in providing equal opportunities for all graduate students coming from many different walks of life.
“Amanda had such a thorough understanding of policy and a strong sense of fairness. I admire these traits and hope to emulate how she carefully considered different factors when making decisions,” Ali says.
Decision-making carries unique responsibilities for Ali given the interim nature of her role.
“I have to be careful that I'm not making a decision that is permanently going to affect the next leader, and I want to make decisions collaboratively with people who are affected by those decisions to the extent possible,” Ali explains.
Gaining new perspective
Ali brings her expertise as a counseling psychologist and a professor of counseling psychology with her to this new position as interim dean. Specifically, Ali’s research focuses on vocational psychology.
“My research centers around issues like work stress, career development, and work dignity,” Ali says. “This aspect of my career lends itself to working in the Graduate College because one part of our work here is to assist graduate students with their career development through the services that we provide. I really like learning about people's work.”
Ali’s curiosity to learn more about others to facilitate growth that best fits that individual’s needs is conducive to success in this new role.
In addition to serving as a professor of counseling psychology, Ali was Associate Dean for Research in the College of Education. After leading a college-specific program, Ali is learning about the encompassing nature of the Graduate College.
“In the past month, I have broadened my horizons on how much the Graduate College does to support graduate students on this campus,” Ali says.
From Neuroscience, Genetics, Immunology, and Human Toxicology, Ali is excited to learn the intricacies of the interdisciplinary programs housed in the Graduate College. In addition to the interdisciplinary programs, the Graduate College houses the School of Library and Information Sciences, the School of Planning and Public Affairs, the Center for the Book, the International Writing Program, and the UI press.
The contributions made by these units housed within the graduate college serve a unique and important role to the university. The creative scholarship and community engagement fostered within these units is equally important.
“Graduate education and research, from the discoveries that are made in science to advancing the creative arts, are critical to our state,” Ali says.
One job of the Graduate College Dean is advocating for graduate education across local and state levels.
“I’m continuing to think about how we tell the story of graduate education, to show how the research that people have been doing here benefits the state of Iowa,” Ali says. “I think showcasing these benefits helps people understand what the role of graduate education is in their lives.”
Ali recalls the important role Iowa has played in her own life. “Iowa holds a special place for me because I started here as a postdoctoral fellow,” Ali recounts. “I have benefitted from the resources and support provided to me throughout my time, and I hope to do the same for others.”
Dean Ali’s perspective will continue to benefit the Graduate College over the next year.