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From the Association President

It brings me great pleasure to tell you that the Office of Alumni Relations and Alumni Association soon will occupy new office space. The university has dedicated the house across from University Book & Supply (on 23rd Street) to our offices. Over the years, different university offices have occupied this space. Many of you will remember this building as the Home Management House. Most recently it housed Individual Studies and International Student Services.

Renovations, which will include a new three-season porch, tuck pointing and foundation work, have been started. Structurally, the interior of the house is in good condition. We are updating the carpeting, doing some painting and making adjustments for improved accessibility. Our goal is to be relocated and settled into our new home by early September, with the intention of having an open house on Homecoming weekend. On your next visit to UNI, stop by the new University of Northern Iowa Alumni House.

At our April board of directors meeting, the president of the UNI Foundation invited the Alumni Association to be a part of the building of the McLeod Center. The board voted to accept a challenge to raise $200,000 to complete the hospitality suite within the Center. The suite will be named the University of Northern Iowa Alumni Association Hospitality Suite. All lifetime members of the Association have received an invitation to support this project. Annual members and other alumni and friends are invited to be a part of this venture as well. It is our hope that you will participate in this very exciting “first” for the Association. We are proud to support this project and look forward to the visibility this new space will give to the Association.

The above two projects are major steps toward increasing the visibility of the Alumni Association. We have waited many years for a “place to call home” and I know you share our excitement as that dream is met. Being asked by the university to be a partner in the McLeod Center is another indication that we are maturing as an Association and are making a difference in the lives of our alumni and students. I hope you are as proud of these accomplishments as are the Association staff and I.

In addition to all of these exciting changes, I want to let you know that I have taken on a new personal challenge as well. I have accepted the position of vice president of the UNI Foundation. My work with the Foundation will focus on generating endowment support, particularly for intercollegiate athletics. I will begin my work with the Foundation in July and am looking forward to the challenges it will provide. I will continue to be very involved with the Alumni Association, as we collaborate to meet the goals of this wonderful university. I look forward to those new partnerships and I thank you for allowing me to serve you as the president of the University of Northern Iowa Alumni Association.

Noreen Hermansen ‘71
President, UNI Alumni Association

From the Association Chair

Welcome, Panther Friends! Recently, the University of Northern Iowa conducted its spring commencement exercises. What a pleasure it was to be a part of another UNI graduation ceremony. We can truly celebrate the passion our university has for education. This family of UNI students and their families, UNI administration, faculty and staff, many UNI alumni and their friends filled the Dome for yet another graduation ceremony that was a “Class Act!” Stop for a moment to think about the impact UNI has made in your life.

Great things continue to happen with our Alumni Association. As the organization has matured, so has its board of directors. We are fortunate to have diverse talents among our board members. (Thank you, UNI, for helping us to discover our own gifts and talents when attending our awesome university; a university that puts “Students First.”)

One of our board members, Ron Rice, ’70 ’73, has shared great insight and experience with our board, as he chairs our Board Governance Committee. He writes, “The University of Northern Iowa Alumni Association Board of Directors is engaged in a long-term policy setting process designed to bring clarity to the expected outcomes of the Association. This governance process is also intended to improve the internal operations of the board, giving staff greater flexibility to determine the means to accomplish the intents of the board.”

As the whole board has been involved in this process, and will continue to be, we look forward to seeing our ideas and initiatives mature. In October, I relinquish the chair to Barbara Harper Norman, ’74. Barb is another fabulous and talented UNI alumna.

I look forward to continuing my involvement at UNI. Thank you to all current members of our Alumni Association. Your generous contributions of time, talent and support help the passion and legacy of Panther Pride live on. And, to all non-members, I offer a warm invitation. We want you to let your Purple and Gold out. We welcome hearing from all of you.

And finally, it is with mixed feelings that I share news of our director’s newest assignment at UNI. After 17 years as the director of Alumni Relations and president of the Alumni Association, Noreen Hermansen ’71, has accepted the position of vice president of the UNI Foundation. Noreen will be focusing on generating endowment support, particularly for intercollegiate athletics.

During her tenure as director and president, the staff increased from three full-time employees to seven. The programs and services offered by the Association increased from eight to more than 20. Together with her staff she has served more than 90,000 alumni in all 50 states and in countries around the world.

Her accomplishments for UNI go far beyond what I could possibly list here. Quite obviously, Noreen has served our organization with much personal dedication and Panther pride. I am personally thankful for the opportunity she has given me to maintain a lifelong relationship with my alma mater— something she has facilitated for so many graduates.

We are so fortunate that she has dedicated her professional career to the advancement of the University of Northern Iowa and will continue to do so in the coming years with the Foundation. Best wishes, Noreen.

Beth Jorgensen Harris ‘89
Chair, UNI Alumni Association

Alumni Events in Review

Dallas/Fort Worth, TX

Alumni in the Dallas and Fort Worth areas gathered May 22 for a pre-game alumni social and Texas Rangers baseball game. Despite the heat, alumni enjoyed the event and the Rangers’ victory.

Des Moines, IA

In January, more than 90 alumni gathered for a pre-game celebration for the UNI vs. Drake men’s basketball game. Area alumni are also involved with the Des Moines Arts Festival on an annual basis. In June 2005, more than 100 alumni volunteered at the festival on behalf of UNI and helped raise money for the Alumni Association Scholarship Fund.

Omaha, NE

More than 100 alumni and friends in the Omaha area gathered for the first time in several years on February 9. The group enjoyed a pre-game social and cheered on the Panther men’s basketball team against Creighton.

Phoenix and Tucson, AZ

In February, alumni in the Phoenix and Tucson areas hosted an evening reception for alumni and friends and welcomed head football coach Mark Farley ‘87. The annual summer alumni social and Arizona Diamondbacks baseball game is scheduled for July 23.

Sarasota, FL

Alumni gathered March 12 to cheer on the Panther baseball team against Fairleigh-Dickinson. The Panthers claimed the 13-3 victory.

Washington DC

On February 15, alumni gathered for the annual alumni reception and welcomed special guests University President Robert Koob ’62 and Athletic Director Rick Hartzell ’74.

Basketball Season

The Alumni Association hosted pre-game gatherings for both the men’s and women’s Missouri Valley Conference basketball tournaments. The women advanced to the semi-final round at the tournament in Normal, Ill. The men’s team faced Southwest Missouri State in the quarterfinal round and was selected to play Wisconsin in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Hundreds of Panther fans attended the Alumni Association’s pre-game gathering in Oklahoma City.

Alumni Association Seeks Board Members

The UNI Alumni Association is seeking nominations for its board of directors. The board consists of 24-32 directors, representing alumni by graduation decade.

The board is responsible for creating and executing the strategic goals of the Alumni Association, including financial planning and programming. Directors must be UNI graduates, members of the Alumni Association and available to attend quarterly meetings in Cedar Falls.

For more information on serving on the Board of Directors or nominating another graduate, please contact Amy Mohr ’00, at 319-273-ALUM or 888-UNI ALUM.

Upcoming Events:

Phoenix Alumni Social and Arizona Diamondbacks Baseball Game – July 23
Twin Cities Alumni Social and Minnesota Twins Baseball Game – August 7
Chicago Alumni Social and Cubs Baseball Game – August 30
Stadium Hall Reunion - October 14-15
Homecoming - October 14-15
Denver, CO - TBD

Alumni Association accepts challenge to complete hospitality suite

Construction of the new McLeod Center is well underway, and plans for the facility include an Alumni Hospitality Suite for gatherings during athletic events. The Association has accepted a challenge to raise $200,000 to create the suite.

Association members, alumni and friends are invited to participate in the completion of the Hospitality Suite by making tax-deductible donations to the fundraising effort. The Association will match the first $50,000 in donations. See more about this initiative at www.unialum.org/alumnisuite.