Jennifer Leptien, interim director of learning communities, was named director, effective Jan. 12.
Leption was appointed interim when former director Doug Gruenwald retired in August 2016. Before her interim role, she was the program coordinator for learning communities and the Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching. In both roles, she developed and coordinated much of the programming that has enhanced the university's learning communities initiative over the past 12 years.
"We are so pleased that Jen is permanently taking on the role as director," said associate vice president for enrollment and student success Laura Doering. "Not only does she have a stellar reputation for her work here at Iowa State, but she is also recognized nationally for her dedication, persistence, knowledge of best practices and leadership in learning communities."
The position reports to the associate vice president for enrollment and student success and provides university-wide leadership and administration for learning communities initiatives. As director, Leptien is responsible for managing the learning communities strategic planning and priorities, program budget, staffing, assessment, marketing and promotion, and polices and process.
"Serving as director of a nationally ranked learning communities program is both a great honor and opportunity," Leptien said. "My predecessors established a highly successful program so now it is my charge to continue to build upon that success as we move forward."
Leptien earned both her master's degree in family and consumer sciences (gerontology) and her doctoral degree in human development and family studies from Iowa State.
