The Iowa Academy of Education is planning an induction ceremony for two administrators from Iowa State’s College of Education.

Walter Gmelch, dean of the college, and Jerry Thomas, professor and chairman of health and human performance, will be honored by the FINE (First in the Nation in Education) Foundation for their outstanding efforts in the field of education.

Cathy Curtis, alumni officer for education administration, said the induction is designed to recognize the very best education scholars in Iowa.

“The Iowa Academy of Education is a group of leaders and scholars in education who get together to discuss the research on education in Iowa and apply it to improving the education in Iowa,” Curtis said. “FINE provides money and supports initiatives to help make education in the state of Iowa the best in the nation.”

The Iowa Academy of Education is very selective; it consists of only 10 Iowa scholar members, she said, and the honorees are nominated and selected by the academy.

Gmelch, who came to ISU in 1998, said he feels very honored to be recognized with his fellow research colleagues in the state of Iowa.

“Even though I am serving as dean of the College of Education, my roots are also in my academic interests in scholarship, teaching and service to public schools,” Gmelch said.

Some of his goals for the college of education are to “improve the quality of learning and teaching, strengthen research and scholarly productivity; enhance outreach and extension programs, infuse technology in instructional programs, develop a teacher education program of national reputation.”

“Iowa is the most supportive state in the union for educators,” Gmelch said. “The core values of family, community spirit and work ethic reinforce a supportive education state.”

Thomas, who also came to ISU in ’98, said it too has been an honor to be recognized among a very elite group of individuals.

“It’s a nice honor for a couple of reasons,” Thomas said. “First, it is supported by the foundation FINE — a group of people who try to provide direction and leadership in the area of education in the state.

“The other reason is that it is composed of only a few people from the University of Iowa, Iowa State and University of Northern Iowa,” he said.

At Arizona State University at Tempe, Thomas served as a professor for exercise science, associate dean for the graduate college and chairman of the department of exercise science and physical education.

Gmelch and Thomas will join three other Iowa educators at the induction on Oct. 28 in Des Moines. The induction is in connection with the academy’s annual conference and the Thomas Urban Research Award, which recognizes outstanding research in Iowa.