University of Northern Iowa

06/17/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 06/17/2025 11:16

UNI names Allison Rank as inaugural director of the Center for Civic Education

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -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.

Rank will begin her duties at UNI on June 30.

"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."

Rank joins UNI from the State University of New York at Oswego where she worked in the Department of Politics as an associate professor and the department chair. She has won numerous awards over the years, including the Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching, a SUNY system-wide honor. In 2019, Rank received the Stand Out Faculty Award from the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge, which is a national civic engagement project involving more than 500 higher education institutions and 900 campuses across the country. She was one of just two faculty members chosen for this award to recognize her work during the 2018 election cycle. She serves on the Steering Committee for the American Democracy Project, a nationwide nonpartisan partnership among universities, including UNI, to prepare informed, active citizens who engage different viewpoints and perspectives. Last year she received ADP's Barbara Burch Award recognizing exemplary leadership in advancing civic learning.

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"Allison brings incredible energy and expertise to this role," said Brenda Bass, dean of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences. "She's exactly the right person to launch the center and help UNI take its commitment to civic education to the next level. I'm excited to see the difference her leadership will make for our students, faculty and communities across Iowa."

Rank earned both her PhD and Master of Arts in Political Science from the University of Washington. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Women's Studies from Miami University.

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.

Under the leadership of Jennifer McNabb, professor and head of the Department of History, and Scott Peters, professor and head of the Department of Political Science, the center has already secured a competitive National Endowment for the Humanities-backed curriculum initiative, hosted a naturalization ceremony on campus, supported the award-winning Panthers Voteprogram, and hosted faculty workshops integrating civic dialogue into teaching. Their work has provided critical momentum and direction to support the center's launch and prepare for Rank's future direction.

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