CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Dr. Liz Tovar, University of Iowa Executive Officer and Associate Vice President of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Division and Senior Associate Athletics Director for Student-Athlete Academic Services at the University of Iowa, is one of 13 Eastern Iowa women to be named 2023 HER Women of Achievement Honorees.
The award, created by The Gazette, recognizes the hard work, advocacy and influence of women throughout Eastern Iowa who have gone above and beyond to benefit her friends, family and community.
The Gazette and presenting sponsor FSB will host the HER Women of Achievement Luncheon on Tuesday, June 13 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at The Midnight Gem in Swisher, Iowa. Tickets are $45 per person and are available at https://store.thegazette.com/collections/events/products/her-women-of-achievement.
The UI Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Division comprises the Office of Institutional Equity (OIE), the Center for Inclusive Academic Excellence (CIAE), and the Inclusive Education and Strategic Initiatives (IESI) unit. In addition to serving as the executive officer for diversity, equity, and inclusion Tovar serves on the senior management team within the athletics department supervising the daily operations within academic services and manages academic and personal support services for approximately 650 student-athletes across all 21 UI sports programs.
Dr. Tovar began a career in academic services at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kan., where she also received undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral degrees in psychology, clinical psychology, and educational leadership and policy studies, respectively. Before joining the University of Iowa staff in 2013, Tovar managed student services and advised student-athletes in academic, personal, and professional development at Kansas, The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, and Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Ill.
2023 HER Women of Achievement Honorees
Connie Arens, Mercy Medical Center
Samantha Dahlby – NewBoCo
Dr. Jennifer Doll – Iowa Humane Alliance Veterinary Services
Linda Henecke – Big Brothers Big Sisters
Erin Langdon – Foundation 2 Crisis Services
Marlen Mendoza – LULAC & Mendoza Consulting
Lucie M. Mordecai – Abbas International Healing Center
Kate Moreland, ICAD & Kate Moreland Consulting
Connie Parrish-Heidemann – Wilson Ave. Hy-Vee
J’nae Peterman – Waypoint Services
Dr. Liz Tovar – University of Iowa
Cathy Walz, Archdiocese of Dubuque
Alana Willenborg, Top Shape Gym
