Higher education expert to join Iowa State University faculty

Ames, Iowa — Linda Serra Hagedorn, professor and chair of the educational administration and policy at the University of Florida, has accepted a position at Iowa State University as the director of the Research Institute for Studies in Education (RISE) and will also serve as a professor of educational leadership and policy studies (ELPS). Both appointments become effective on Aug. 16.

 

Hagedorn's research interests include community college student success and identification of community college retention, transfer, equality, and degree acquisition. She sees her new position as a way to further ongoing research efforts and explore new research areas with the faculty and staff of RISE.

 

"It's attractive to come to a program like RISE that is functioning well, and mold it into something even better," Hagedorn said. "As a researcher with quantitative skills, I will be looking for additional research grants, expanding the research capacity, and better integrating the activities of RISE with ELPS . I hope to involve more students, create more assistantships, and provide opportunities for graduate students to be trained and exposed to research."

 

John Schuh, distinguished professor in educational leadership and policy studies, chaired the search committee for the RISE director. He said hiring Hagedorn came as a natural choice.

 

"She is a top scholar, no question," Schuh said. "She comes here with excellent administrative experience, a wonderful record of securing funding for research, and an overall superb background."

 

Hagedorn's many accomplishments demonstrate her commitment to the field of education. Prior to joining the Iowa State faculty, she directed the Institute of Higher Education at the University of Florida. She was also the director of the Transfer and Retention of Urban Community College Students Project (TRUCCS), a longitudinal study of over 5,000 students enrolled in the Los Angeles Community College District. Additionally, Hagedorn serves on the editorial boards of several scholarly journals, and is the founding editor of the Florida Journal of Educational Administration and Policy.

 

Hagedorn has already set her sights on working with new areas of data. She said she is excited to do more analyses of large government data bases, which will open up many avenues to ELPS students and faculty, by expanding their horizons and research opportunities.

 

"I'm looking forward to this responsibility," Hagedorn said. "Being the director of a research center is new for me. I've had the opportunity to meet most of the folks at RISE, and am excited to meet new friends. Eeryone has been very welcoming."

 

Aside from Hagedorn's appointment, no other staff or faculty changes are expected within the RISE or ELPS programs. Schuh said many of the faculty and staff are looking forward to working with Hagedorn.

 

"We are very fortunate that she's chosen to join us," Schuh said. "There is no question that having her as part of the faculty will benefit everyone, especially students."