Jennifer Owens has been named director of student services for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Iowa State University.
Owens will work across all LAS programs and majors to ensure the success of students through undergraduate academic advising; undergraduate orientation and onboarding; and the college’s academic policies and procedures.
Additional duties include managing the unit’s budget and determining long-range goal setting. She will also spearhead ongoing data-analysis efforts that will assess the impacts of policies, the availability of high-demand courses and the professional and developmental needs of academic advisers.
“The LAS college has a rich history of providing excellent student advising, and I’m excited about the expertise, vision and talent that Jennifer brings to this important role,” said Amy Slagell, associate dean for academic programs in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. “Today’s Iowa State students arrive to campus with a unique and diverse set of strengths, needs and expectations. Under Jennifer’s leadership, I am confident that LAS student services will empower these students to thrive with state-of-the-art advising tools, practices and data.”
Owens’ wealth of experience includes two decades of serving Iowa State students. Since 2012, she has worked as the department director for LAS Student Services. In this leadership role, Owens managed teams of academic advisers who provided vital services to more than 6,000 undergraduate students each year.
During her tenure at Iowa State, Owens has received notable recognition for her dedication to the university. In 2016, she was honored for her service to the Program for Women in Science and Engineering (WiSE); and in 2014 she was named to the Emerging Leaders Academy by the Office of the Senior Vice President and Provost.
A proud Iowa State alumna, Owens earned her M.S. in water resources.
“Jennifer Owens has the collaborative and executive skills that are perfectly matched for this position that will be instrumental in helping today’s generation of LAS students explore, engage and excel during their time at Iowa State University,” said Slagell.