Essential Estrogen

Sen. Chuck and Barbara Grassley, both graduates of the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, have made an endowment gift to the university that will be used to provide a professorship.

"When I was at Iowa State Teachers College, now UNI, I received a world-class education from outstanding professors like Dr. Erma Plaehn, Dr. George Robinson and Dr. Leland Sage," said Sen. Grassley. "Today, faculty members continue a tradition of excellence. Looking ahead, the recruitment of top-notch teachers is fundamental to UNI's strength and the education of the next generation."

Chuck Grassley received a bachelor's degree in political science education in 1955, and a master's degree in social science education in 1956 from the Iowa State Teachers College. Today he is an honorary trustee of the UNI Foundation, an honorary UNI athletics letter winner, and an honorary member of the UNI chapter of Omicron Delta Kappa, a national leadership honor society.

"We received excellent educations and are both proud graduates of UNI," said Barbara Grassley. "Now, as we look to the future of our alma mater, we want to be sure new students have the same kind of opportunities to learn from the best professors, whether the students are recently out of high school like Chuck was, or returning to the classroom after a long absence like me."

Barbara Grassley received a bachelor's degree in accounting from UNI in 1983. She became a UNI student in 1954 but left for 26 years to raise their five children.

The professorship, housed in the Department of Political Science, will be called the Chuck and Barbara Grassley Endowed Professorship in Political Science.

"Through the years, the university has benefited in so many ways from the active involvement of these two wonderful alumni," said UNI President Benjamin Allen. "The engagement and support of people like the Grassleys have helped UNI become one of the leading undergraduate institutions in the country. This endowed professorship will help ensure that the UNI of the future will be an even better place to pursue a top-quality education."