• Activities
• Adventure
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• Commuter Services
• Counseling Center
• Dining
• Disability Services
• Health & Wellness
• Leadership Opportunities
• Office of Student Development
• Orientation
• Residence Life
• Security
• Service Learning
• Student Complaint Form
• Student Government
• Student Handbooks

Meet the Staff of OSD

Contact l Meet the Staff l Office of Student Development

Jennifer Biederman - Administrative Assistant for OSD

Jenn Biederman has been an Administrative Assistant in the Office of Student Development since 2002. Her responsibilities vary on a day-to-day basis and include some of the following: assist students, answer incoming calls, photograph & issue University IDs and assist in the production and distribution of publications. Jenn is currently taking classes to gain a degree in Graphic Design. Prior to working at UIU, she worked as a dental assistant for eight years. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband, Jon, and two girls. Jenn also is an avid scrapbooker, cardmaker & has had several cards published. 

Daryl Grove - Assistant Dean of Student Development and Director of Leadership and Adventure

Daryl Grove is our Assistant Dean of Student Development and Director of Leadership and Adventure at Upper Iowa University as well as Dr. Fun. He loves traveling, kayaking, being outdoors, RAGBRAI and spending time with friends and family. Daryl lives in Fayette with his wife Marta and three little peacocks in training. Responsible for leadership, health services, outdoor pursuits, Peacocks for Progress, swimming pool, and orientation Grove strives to empower students and provide useful, helpful and fun opportunities to the campus community.

Meg Hammes - Assistant Dean of Student Development/Director of Counseling Services

Meg Hammes, LMSW, is new to the Assistant Dean of Student Development/Director of Counseling Services position at Upper Iowa University. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from the University of Northern Iowa and a Masters in Social Work from St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa. Meg has worked within the clinical social work field for more than 20 years. During that time, she has worked in a variety of settings with children and adults, including foster care, domestic violence, trauma and abuse. For the past 10 years, Meg has been working within school districts throughout Southeastern Wisconsin and Northeastern Iowa providing school-based social work and mental health services.   Meg has a strong commitment to providing empowerment-based counseling services and promoting positive mental health programming throughout campus. While at home, Meg enjoys gardening, reading and spending time with her husband and two children. 

Joey Lapel, Graduate Assistant for Intramurals & Adventure

Joey Lapel is the new Intramurals and Adventure Graduate Assistant. He is a peacock and has earned his Bachelor's degree from Upper Iowa University in Elementary Education and is pursuing his Masters in Education with an emphasis in reading while leading the intramural program, outdoor pursuits, campus swimming pool and other adventure-based student programs. He is excited to offer opportunities for students to actively participate in sports and outdoor activities (a sport for everyone and everyone in a sport). Game on!

Kayla Ludwigson, Graduate Assistant for Leadership & Health

Kayla, originally from Alma, WI, is the new Graduate Assistant for Leadership and Health. She graduated from Upper Iowa University with a double major in Human Services and Psychology with a minor in sociology. She is pursuing her Masters of Public Administration with an emphasis in Government. As a GA, Kayla works to develop leadership and wellness programming and serves as co-advisor of Wellness Council. In her free time, she likes watching the Green Bay Packers and New York Yankees, reading, baking, and watching scary movies. She is looking forward to this upcoming year and getting to work with all of the students.

Jean Merkle - Associate Dean of Students

Jean Merkle is the Associate Dean of Students for Upper Iowa University. She received her Bachelor's Degree in Communication from the University of Minnesota, Morris and Master's Degree from Augustana College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Jean arrived at Upper Iowa University in 2003 and has been in the field of Higher Education since 1994. She has served in multiple capacities of Student Development throughout her 16 year career; Residence Life, First Year Experience, Career Services, Security, and Student Activities. Jean's current responsibilities include being the Director of Residence Life and Security. Jean is married to Jeff Merkle and has 3 children and resides in Fayette. 

Amanda Passmore, Graduate Assistant for Student Activities

Amanda Passmore is the Graduate Assistant for Student Activities.  Amanda graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Northern Iowa.  She is pursuing a Master of Higher Education Administration at Upper Iowa University.  Amanda works with clubs and organizations on campus like Peacock Entertainment Crew and Greek Council.  Amanda works to help students get engaged with campus life and to participate in all the clubs and organizations Upper Iowa University has to offer.

Louise Scott - Dean of Student Development

Louise Stivers-Scott, Dean of student Development, has been in higher education for over 29 years. She has served UIU for 25 of those years as an Associate Dean of Students and Director of Career Development before becoming the Dean. Dean Scott earned her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Union College in Barbourville, Kentucky and her Masters in Higher Education from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Dean Scott believes that learning happens just as much outside the classroom as inside. Dean Scott believes that it is important that students gain skills that they can use throughout their lifetime and supports her student development colleagues to achieve this end. Her door is open, so come and visit.

Kari Solheim - Administrative Assistant for OSD

Kari Solheim has been the Administrative Assistant for the Office of Student Development since 1991. She received her Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design from Upper Iowa University in  2011. Some of her responsibilities include managing the Office of Student Development, assisting students with a wide variety of inquiries, scheduling appointments with OSD staff and the local clinic, creating publications, maintaining the UIU Alert system and the Fayette campus access ID system. Kari enjoys improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the office, keeping up with her three sons, and creating through graphic design, photography, scrapbooking and other media.

Courtney Thompson - Assistant Director of Residence Life and Coordinator for Educational Initiatives

Courtney O. Thompson is the Assistant Director of Residence Life & Educational Initiatives at Upper Iowa University. He received his undergraduate degree in Secondary Education with a minor in Counseling from Northern Caribbean University and his master's degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and is currently enrolled in the Masters of Higher Education Administration (MHEA) degree here at Upper Iowa University. Prior to his arriving at Upper Iowa University, he served in several leadership positions at other schools, to include serving as Vice President of Academic Affairs for the Student Government and Resident Assistant/Advisor in the Office of Residence Life at Northern Caribbean University, Graduate Assistant for the Office of Residence Life and Head Resident Counselor for Upward Bound at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.

Amy Tucker, Director of Student Activities

Amy is the new Director of Student Activities at Upper Iowa University. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Community Sociology at Wartburg College and her Master of Higher Education degree with an emphasis in Student Affairs at Iowa State University. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, reuniting with college roommates, singing, serving her community, and scrapbooking. Amy advises the Peacock Entertainment Crew (PEC) and Student Government Association (SGA), oversees Greek Life on campus, provides campus activities to the Fayette campus, and assists with orientation and leadership programs. Amy is originally from Sumner, IA and excited to be back home in northeast Iowa to serve the students at Upper Iowa University!

Lea VanHorn, Administrative Assistant

Lea VanHorn works part-time as an Administrative Assistant in the Office of Student Development. For over 5 years, she has enjoyed working at Upper Iowa University and her experience includes Events Coordinator, writing for The Bridge alumni magazine and Administrative Assistant for Career Services (now Career Development).  She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Mass Communication and Minors in English and Sociology from Iowa State University.  Lea finds the most rewarding part of her job is working directly with students to schedule appointments, provide University ID cards and process paperwork.  Lea resides in her hometown, West Union, with her husband, Jeremy, and their three sons.  Favorite activities include volunteering as a youth leader at United Methodist Church, gardening with her boys and trying new recipes.

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