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Administration / Executive Leadership Team
Dr. William R. Duffy II
President
duffyw@uiu.edu
Holly Wolff
Executive Assistant to the President and
Assistant Secretary of the Board of Trustees
wolffh@uiu.edu
Holly Wolff brings seven years of experience working at the University. As the University's events and transportation coordinator, Ms. Wolff has had the opportunity to interact regularly with faculty, members of the Board of Trustees, administration, staff, students and visitors to campus. Ms. Wolff has also served on the Events Rates and Advisory Board, was a member of the Student Center Management Team, and served on the following committees: Staff Welfare, New Student Days, Homecoming, Ribbon-Cutting, Family Weekend, Holiday Planning, Commencement and Diversity.
Ms. Wolff graduated cum laude from Upper Iowa University with a B.A. in communications (emphasis in media production) and is currently enrolled in UIU's Master's of Higher Education Administration program. As the recipient of the Erma K. Ledgerwood Scholarship, Ms. Wolff has been paying it forward as an active member of Team Peacock, riding RAGBRAI to raise money for student scholarships. She is also a member of the National Association for Presidential Assistants in Higher Education.
Ms. Wolff and her husband, Tim, reside in Oelwein with their three children: Ashten, Katie, and Carson.
Ismael J. Betancourt Vélez, E.M.I.B.
Vice President of International Programs
betancourti@uiu.edu
Mr. Betancourt joined the UIU staff in August of 2012. He brings more than 13 years of experience in higher education and provides leadership for all international operations at the UIU's Fayette campus as well as the campuses in Hong Kong and Malaysia.
Mr. Betancourt comes from Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he held the position of Executive Director for International Education. In this capacity, Mr. Betancourt managed all international-related offices including the Office of International Student Services, the Office of Study Abroad, the Academic Service Learning Semesters and the Intensive English Program. Furthermore, Mr. Betancourt closely worked with the Office of Undergraduate Admission as it relates to the admissions and recruitment of international students. Prior to Xavier University, Mr. Betancourt held the positions of Director of Education Abroad at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona, and Director of the Office of International Services at Saint Louis University in St. Louis, Missouri.
Mr. Betancourt has held leadership positions at NAFSA: Association of International Educators and currently serves as a Certified Site Reviewer for the American International Recruitment Council (AIRC). He is also a member of the Forum of Education Abroad, the Association of International Education Administrators (AIEA), and an ex-Board member of the Greater Cincinnati World Affairs Council.
Mr. Betancourt holds a Bachelor's Degree in International Business and International Studies, an Executive Masters in International Business, and is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration. All degrees are from Saint Louis University.
Dr. Eric P. Eller
Faculty Chair
Associate Professor of International Business
ellere@uiu.edu
Eller was appointed to a two-year term on the Board as the incoming faculty chair. He joined UIU in 2008, leaving a previous position as tenured Associate Professor of Economics at Buena Vista University, to head the new UIU International Business major. Eller has led and co-taught the May term travel course to Haiti for the past three years, having led student travel experiences to Russia, Germany, Egypt, Greece, Turkey, Peru, and the Galapagos Islands at previous institutions. He was co-author of the University's Faculty Internationalization Grant (FIG) program and currently serves as its committee chair. The FIG has enabled 18 UIU faculty from across the institution to travel and conduct research internationally (either as part of a faculty team or individually) since its inception two years ago. Eller also currently co-chairs the committee developing the new Honors Program and will co-teach the first Honors course in Fall 2012 with his wife, Dr. Katrina Farren-Eller, Assistant Professor of English.
Oliver Evans, Ph.D.
Interim Chief Academic Officer and Senior Vice President
evanso@uiu.edu
Dr. Evans joined the University in January 2013. During the past 18 years, Dr. Evans served at Kendall College in Grand Rapids, Mich., as college president, foundation president, vice president of academic affairs, and professor of humanities. Under his direction Kendall College increased enrollment, expanded undergraduate and graduate academic programs, and supported the development of a state-wide dual enrollment program with more than 30 high schools. During his tenure, Kendall College implemented strategic improvements to programs and systems which enhanced student retention, expansion of career services, transformation to a laptop campus, and developed relationships with several high schools in China. Evans also guided Kendall College in its merger with Ferris State University, and the creation of the Kendall Foundation, all the while maintaining Kendall’s identity and faculty senate.
Dr. Evans is a peer reviewer for The Higher Learning Commission (HLC), where he has chaired more than 30 site visits, is a member of the training corps for consultant evaluators and team chairs, and conducts specialized training for college presidents.
Evans earned his bachelor’s degree in English from Albion College, and his master’s and Ph.D. in English from Purdue University.
Randy Fehr
Interim Chief Financial Officer
fehrr@uiu.edu
Randolph (Randy) Fehr is a retired Vice President for Business Services from Buena Vista University. He has served in higher education for over 30 years at both private and public institutions. Since his retirement September 1, 2007, he has done consulting at several institutions. He is also a director on the board of Central Bank in Iowa and has been involved on a volunteer basis. These include being president of the board of Faith Hope and Charity, a home for disabled children, and also a member of an area development corporation. Mr. Fehr's experience has been with building projects on campuses, planning budgets, financial reporting, human resources, risk management, investment management and other phases of the business services area. Mr. Fehr received his Bachelor's Degree in Economics and Business Administration from Park College, his Master's Degree in Business Administration and University management from Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan and an Honorary Doctorate from Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa.
Melissa MacTaggart
Vice President Human Resources
mactaggartm@uiu.edu
Melissa MacTaggart joined the UIU staff on September 26, 2011. She came to the University from Polaris Industries in Spirit Lake, IA. Melissa has held several Human Resource Management positions within several industries over the last 15+ years.
Melissa is a proud alum of Upper Iowa, having earned her bachelor's and master's degree from UIU in Business Management with an emphasis in Human Resources. Melissa holds a certification as Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) through the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM).
David S. Miller
Director of Athletics
millerds@uiu.edu
Mr. Miller has served as the Director of Athletics at UIU since May of 2009. As the Director of Athletics, Mr. Miller provides leadership, direction, and senior management to 13 intercollegiate programs and over 325 student-athletes who compete on the NCAA Division II level in the highly competitive Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). Previously David served as the Director of Athletics at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. He has held leadership positions in intercollegiate athletic administration at Southern Methodist University, Ohio University, and Truman State. Mr. Miller began his career in intercollegiate athletics at the U.S. Air Force Academy while serving on active-duty. He is a member of the D2 Athletic Directors' Association Football Task Force and serves as the liaison for the NSIC for Men's Golf. David is the past of the Chair of the NSIC Administrators Committee and the Ethics and Eligibility Committee. He previously served on the NCAA Division II Men's Golf Regional Advisor Committee. As well, he is a former Board member of the Division II Athletic Director's Association, the College World Series of Omaha, and the Omaha Sports Commission. He is originally from Manning, Iowa and received his bachelors degree in Business Administration from Regis University and his Master's of Sports Administration from The Ohio University.
Andrew Wenthe
Vice President of External Affairs
wenthea@uiu.edu
Mr. Wenthe has been with Upper Iowa since 2005. The Office of External Affairs provides leadership on regional economic development initiatives, government relations, and community relations, in addition to providing oversight of the Heartlanding Information Technology Services Center, a faculty and student operated information technology service that provides website development and technical support to area business owners.
Wenthe's responsibilities include leadership of Advancement, Alumni Relations, Development, Grants and Foundation Relations, as well as Fayette Admissions, Financial Aid and Communication and Marketing.
Wenthe serves as the principal investigator for numerous grants and chairs the Upper Iowa Business Development (UIBD) Grant Advisory Committee. UIBD grants of up to $100,000 are awarded annually and on a competitive basis to businesses starting up, relocating or expanding in the City of Fayette.
