NorthernIowan t h e u n i v e r s i t y o f n o r t h e r n i o wa’s s t u d e n t - p r o d u c e d n e w s p a p e r s i n c e 1 8 9 2
JUNE 8, 2012
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FRIDAY
VOLUME 108, ISSUE 55
CEDAR FALLS, IOWA
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NORTHERN-IOWAN.ORG
UNI FOUNDATION
Former professors give millions to UNI Former CBA dean and bestselling author Robert Waller, deceased math professor Bonnie Litwiller make multimillion-dollar gifts to the university KARI BRAUMANN Executive Editor
Two former University of Northern Iowa professors recently donated millions of dollars to the university to fund scholarships, a professorship and various campus programs. Robert Waller, the bestselling author of “The Bridges of Madison County” and other works, donated an undisclosed seven-figure sum. Waller, a UNI alumnus, was a professor in the College of Business Administration for 20 years and served as the first dean of the college for six years. Bonnie Litwiller was a professor of mathematics at UNI, retiring in 2000. UNI received a $1.5 million gift from her estate after Litwiller died in January 2012. The funds from Waller’s gift will go to several different areas. A portion of the funds will be used for the Robert James Waller Scholarship in Economics, an annually funded full tuition and fees scholarship for a student majoring in ecnomics; the Charles T. Leavitt Scholarship in Economics; the Robert James Waller Professorship in Economics; and the Robert James Waller College of Business Faculty Enrichment fund. Waller’s gift will also support jazz scholarships and the Honors Program. In addition, the Rod Library will receive royalties from his books. “UNI allowed me to explore my intellectual interests and my tastes, as a stu-
dent, a professor and a dean,” said Waller. “As a professor, UNI provided me room to experiment with courses and course content; and as the first dean of the business school, to have some influence on the direction of the university. I am pleased to lend support to my alma mater and to help it grow as a first-class university,” Waller said in a UNI press release. UNI President Ben Allen said Waller’s gift “will have an immediate and significant impact on current and future generations of UNI students and faculty,” according to the
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UNI allowed me to explore my intellectual interests and my tastes, as a student, a professor and a dean. ... I am pleased to lend support to my alma mater and to help it grow as a first-class university.
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Robert Waller Former UNI professor and dean
release. “We are grateful to see an alumnus, former professor and dean give back to the university in such a significant way,” Allen continued. “We also appreciate the way that Dr. Waller continues to challenge all of us at UNI with his own rigorous scholarly work. Robert’s gift provides support for our students and the example he sets inspires us to always strive for excellence in our academic programs.” Litwiller’s gift will support the Bonnie Litwiller Mathematics Teacher Scholarship. The scholarship will be awarded to students who demonstrate financial need and academic excellence, with preference to secondary math teaching majors. Litwiller taught at UNI for more than 30 years, beginning in 1968. She was a prolific scholar, co-authoring more than 900 journal articles, publishing four books and editing 26 books for the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Litwiller often published articles with fellow UNI professor David Duncan. The two collaborated to write about a wide variety of topics, including number patterns and an analysis of the game Yahtzee. Litwiller served as president of the Iowa Council of Teachers of Mathematics. She received several awards for her service, including the 2003 Iowa Council of Teachers of Mathematics Lifetime Achievement Award, the 1995 University of Northern
ADMINISTRATION
Associate provost Arthur resigns KARI BRAUMANN Executive Editor
Virginia Arthur, the associate provost for faculty affairs at the University of Northern Iowa, is leaving the university for a new position. Arthur was recently named provost and vice president of academic affairs at Metropolitan State University in Minneapolis. Arthur began work
at UNI in February 2009. Before her appointment at UNI, she was a professor of management at the College of Saint Benedict/St. John’s University in St. Cloud, Minn. According to a May 23 article in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, Arthur commented on the transition in a prepared release. “I am excited about the opportunities and challenges
ahead of me,” Arthur said. “I will be joining an institution with which my personal values are well aligned.” Arthur will assume her new position at ARTHUR Metropolitan State July 16, according to the Courier article.
ERIC CLAUSEN/Northern Iowan
Former University of Northern Iowa professor and bestselling author Robert Waller speaks at UNI Oct. 19. UNI recently announced that Waller and former UNI professor Bonnie Litwiller have each made multi-million-dollar gifts to the university.
Iowa Outstanding Service Award and the 1993 Regents Award for Excellence from the Iowa Board of Regents. “Dr. Litwiller’s gift will honor her legacy of national leadership in mathematics education by encouraging gifted students to become mathematics educators, thus bringing a new generation of potential leaders into the profession,” said Joel Haack, dean of the College of Humanities, Arts and Sciences in a press release. “Of course, it will provide an
impact on these educators’ students as well, so that this gift will reach generations of students.” Waller’s and Litwiller’s gifts both came through the UNI Foundation’s “Imagine the Impact” campaign. The campaign aims to raise $150 million to support students, faculty and programs at UNI, according to its website, www.uni-foundation.org. As of Dec. 31, 2011, the foundation had raised $137.5 million toward that goal.