Ann Gansemer-Topf is the director of the School of Education. Photo by Christopher Gannon.
Ann Gansemer-Topf began serving this month as director of the School of Education and Frances S. and Arthur L. Wallace Professor in the College of Human Sciences.
She oversees all facets of the School of Education, which includes undergraduate programs that prepare hundreds of K-12 teachers each year, master's and Ph.D. programs that prepare leaders at all levels in the education system and high-impact research that contributes to national conversations about education and student outcomes.
Previously, Gansemer-Topf served as the school's director of graduate education. She joined the education faculty in 2012 as assistant professor, with promotions to associate professor (2018) and professor (2023). She was a faculty affiliate in the Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (2019-21).
She brings varied perspectives to her role from early career positions in residence life, full-time academic advising, institutional research and strategic planning.
Gansemer-Topf earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from Loras College, Dubuque; and a master's degree in professional studies/higher education and doctoral degree in educational leadership and policy studies, both from Iowa State.
Her office is in 1620 Lagomarcino. She can be reached by phone at 294-2336, by email at anngt@iastate.edu.
She succeeds Mary Gresham, who had served as interim director of the school since 2021.
