UNI names Allison Rank as inaugural director of the Center for Civic Education
The University of Northern Iowa is pleased to announce Allison Rank as the founding director of its new Center for Civic Education. Launched with a $1 million appropriation from the State of Iowa, the new center will serve as a nationally recognized leader in research, teaching and public outreach in free speech and civic education.
In this position, Rank will oversee the planning and implementation of the center’s activities, foster relationships with important stakeholders, work to secure grants and lead strategic planning for the center. She will also hold an appointment as a professor of political science.
"I’m honored to join UNI and lead the new Center for Civic Education,” said Rank. “This is a unique opportunity to bring people together — students, educators and community members — around free speech and informed dialogue. I look forward to developing programs and resources that strengthen civic leadership and engagement across Iowa and beyond."
Building on a years-long effort to make civic education an institutional priority, the center will serve as a hub for outreach activities and K-12 educational programs that promote civic literacy. The center’s impact will go beyond UNI campus. It will:
- Promote civic learning at UNI and other universities by researching and encouraging effective curricular innovation and professional development for faculty and staff.
- Enhance UNI's civic engagement activities through a wide range of programs and events that expose students and members of the public to differing viewpoints and give them opportunities to engage in meaningful dialogue with one another.
- Foster civic learning among Iowa's pre-service and in-service teachers, offering them opportunities for continued professional development in civic learning.
Learn more about Allison Rank and the Center for Civic Education on Inside UNI.