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Meet Mark Jastorff,UNI’s new Director of Alumni Relations.NIT: Mark, why did you decide to come to UNI?It sounds cliché but: Great University. Great People. Great Opportunity. Alumni Relations is my first love, and when I learned more about UNI (thanks to people like Connie Hansen, Dan Schofield and alumnus Jeff Leibermann), I already had a pretty decent feel for UNI. This felt like a place where I could be part of a team that is making a real difference on many levels. A real bonus is the opportunity to be at a university with the growing stature of UNI, doing something that I truly enjoy AND getting to move closer to family in South Dakota. There is a sense of pride here that we found very appealing. I like the new challenges and landscape of a mid-major university that still has a small-campus feel to it. NIT: What’s the short version of your life story?In a way, life is coming full circle—my father was born in Rock Rapids and his parents are from Iowa, and we still have family in Council Bluffs. I was born and raised on a college campus. Additionally, practically all of my professional life has involved working in higher education. I graduated from Black Hills State University in 1979, and worked there for eight years before moving to Dickinson State University in North Dakota for five years. The last 13 years were spent in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan where I started as the first full time alumni director in Lake Superior State University history. At the time of our move to UNI, I was vice president for student life and alumni relations. The move to UNI offers me an opportunity to get back to what I do best and most enjoy. I bring all sorts of experience to UNI, including admissions, development, alumni, public and university relations, student life and of course, alumni relations. I understand how all of these units can work together to strengthen a campus. I’ve even done radio play-by-play for the schools where I’ve worked, and really know how even sports broadcasts are important to promoting a campus. NIT: What is your capsule view of alumni relations in 2006 and beyond, and how has alumni relations changed during your career?Alumni have never been more important to a campus. The ideas, energy, time and resources that former students can bring to the table are essential to the life of the university. The university needs to be willing to communicate, to listen and then act on what alumni are telling us. Alumni relations was just beginning its journey as a true profession when I first started. Back in the day, you could throw out some chips and beverages, talk with a few folks and be successful. As alumni relations evolved, alumni offices wanted to drive the programs and services for the campus and for their alumni. There was some give and take, but mostly “we” just knew what was right for the campus and for our constituents. Today, alumni relations is much more collaborative. Rather than always creating and inventing, we adapt existing opportunities to meet needs. Partnerships across campus and off-campus ensure new opportunities and success. I think it is where we should be as a profession—alumni associations and alumni relation offices can help drive the bus if necessary, sometimes steer, other times navigate and sometimes just go for the ride in virtually every aspect of a university’s life. |
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NIT: What motivates you?Making a difference. Pure and simple. NIT: What’s on your short list of things to do as soon as you get settled into your new office?I want to meet as many people as I can, on and off-campus, to get a feel for UNI. I am reading the history of the campus right now, as I get a grip on who and what have shaped UNI. I want to know the challenges and opportunities from the perspective of the faculty, staff, administration, alumni and students. And I want to attack what we can, as soon as we can. We don’t want to wait around while the new guy figures it all out. Oh yeah, buy a bunch of UNI stuff at the bookstore. |
Alumni Association Seeks Board MembersThe 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. |
NIT: What are your impressions about UNI? About the state of Iowa?We really liked the campus and the people we met. The community has a real sense of pride — both in the city and in the university. During our visits, we were looking for one or two things but mostly, did it feel like home? It did. And here we are! We’re looking forward to learning more about our new home state. NIT: What do you do for fun?I still try to play hoops as much as possible. At 6’6”, I play much shorter these days. The elbows are still sharp; I just can’t seem to catch as many people so I can test them out. I read a lot—sometimes three or four books at a time. I’m a sports nut—especially collegiate athletics. Naturally, as a former deejay, I still like to just crank up the tunes, sit back and soak it in. We love being a part of a campus and all that it offers. I expect that folks will see us all over the place, and I hope they take the time to introduce themselves. From the Association ChairDuring Homecoming weekend 2005, I proudly accepted the gavel as new chair of the Alumni Association Board of Directors. For the past four years, I’ve commuted from Chicago to Cedar Falls for board meetings. The experience has been well worth it. For the first time since graduation, I’ve had a reason to associate with UNI on a regular basis. 
When I attended the university during the ’70s, I was a young wife and mother with a full-time job and two small children. I graduated in 1974, relieved to be finished with writing papers in the middle of the night—after I’d made dinner, washed the dishes and put the kids to bed. It was a challenge, for sure, but I was ambitious, with a great appreciation for taking on near-impossible tasks. However, I did find out the hard way that a 15- to 17-hour class load, along with family obligations, was more challenge than I needed as a freshman. After that first forgettable semester, I took off the rest of the year and regrouped with the help of the (then) new off-campus facility, the University of Northern Iowa Center for Urban Education (UNICUE). Hundreds, if not thousands, of Waterloo community residents may never have taken regular college classes were it not for UNICUE, providing a jump-start to their college education. Certainly my semester there gave me a chance to slow down the pace, get desirable grades and re-enter UNI with confidence. My educational experience was excellent and I’ll never forget the compassion of some of my UNI professors. One of my favorites, Dr. Keith McKean, a professor in Southern literature, made me a believer with his usual comment, “You’re going to be just fine, Barb. You’ll do well in whatever you choose.” A number of my professors were just as encouraging and their words stayed with me those times when I felt too tired to do school work after doing home work. It was all worth it when I made the Dean’s List several times before I graduated. As chair of the Alumni Association, I am extremely uplifted and invigorated by some of UNI’s initiatives: for instance, construction of the McLeod Center is progressing beautifully, along with the alumni pledges for the Alumni Association Hospitality Suite; Northern Iowa’s Students First campaign recently announced that some $112 million was raised in its nationwide campaign, assuring funds for a number of student scholarships and programs; and the various infrastructure improvements just keep going and going. Indeed it is a great time to be part of the UNI family. As alumni, you have an important role in this family. If you are not already a member of the UNI Alumni Association, join today. Contact the Alumni Association at www.unialum.org or stop by our new campus home, 1012 W. 23rd St., across the street from University Book & Supply. On a final note, after 17 years as director and president of Alumni Relations, Noreen Hermansen is moving to the Foundation Board as vice president for the UNI Foundation. Noreen has been priceless to the UNI Alumni Association and we love her and will miss her in this office (but we know where to find her). The new Association director joins the organization in January 2006. Let us hear from you! Barbara H. Norman ’74 Alumni Events in ReviewChicagoMore than 70 alumni and friends attended the annual summer social and Cubs baseball game event held August 30. DenverNearly 100 alumni and friends gathered at the Mountain Ranch Club at Coors Field for an alumni social and Colorado Rockies baseball game September 24. Des MoinesAlumni in the Des Moines area gathered October 13 for their annual Homecoming Happy Hour. The men’s basketball game at the new Wells Fargo Arena November 20 drew a crowd of more than 450 for a pre-game social. The Panther spirit carried over to the game and helped lift the Panthers to a victory over Western Carolina. Don’t miss the annual pre-game celebration for the men’s basketball game vs. Drake January 28! PhoenixAlumni and friends gathered for the Annual Alumni Social and Diamondbacks Game in August. An alumni reception is planned for February – watch your mail for invitations! UNI FootballThe UNI football team made its first trip to the 1-AA national championship game in December 2005. Pre-game events before the semi-final game in San Marcos, Texas, and Chattanooga, Tennessee, brought together Panther fans before two of UNI’s biggest games in university history. In addition, game-watch events were held in more than 15 cities across the country during the quarterfinal, semifinal and championship games. More than 8,500 Panther fans made the trip to the championship in Chattanooga, including nearly 300 that traveled on Alumni Association-sponsored chartered flights. Twin CitiesThe Alumni Associations at UNI, Iowa and ISU hosted a joint alumni social before a Twins baseball game August 7. Upcoming Events: Washington D.C. – February |
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