Robert Reason, professor and associate director for research and administration in the School of Education at Iowa State, has been named the interim associate dean for undergraduate academic affairs for the College of Human Sciences earlier in October.

“Well, my experience at Iowa State is quite long actually, I got my doctoral degree from here so I came here as a student in 1999, and graduated in 2001,” Reason said. 

Although his academic career did not get its start at Iowa State, Reason was never far from Ames as he studied student affairs at Grinnell College. While studying there, he discovered his love for the co-curricular aspects of college life, and appreciated the support he received from those who worked in student affairs, Reason said.

That was the spark that started Reason on a career dedicating time supporting students and faculty through the college experience.

“[I] thought that was a great way to spend my career,” Reason said.

Reason left Iowa for a brief time while when he served as a hall director at Mankato State University in Minnesota while completing his master’s degree.

From there, Reason found his way back to Iowa as a hall director and career services professional at Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. While at Coe College, he coordinated career services and volunteer services.

After ten years, Reason decided to come back to Iowa State in 2011 as an associate professor.

“[I spent] a lot of time in resident life, and then came back here [to Iowa State]to get my doctoral degree because I knew early on that I liked doing research and writing as much as I liked helping the students, and so I wanted to do both,” Reason said.

He was drawn back to his Iowa State roots by the the School of Education he graduated from, where he would be able to continue doing the work he enjoys.

Reason said the program is one of the best programs in the country when it comes to higher education and student affairs.

“I knew I was coming back to a great place to work,” Reason said.

Reason has served as an associate professor and was promoted in 2014 to associate director for research and administration in the School of Education. Earlier this month, Reason was named the interim associate dean for undergraduate academic affairs.

“So far so good, it has been a wonderful experience, Iowa State is a great place to work, it’s a great place to have graduated from,” Reason said. “I’ve only been here a couple of weeks but it has been a lot of fun,” said Reason.

In his new position, Reason said he has the opportunity to be engaged in a range of topics that interest and excite him. He said he is “rarely bored,” and on any given day can go from working with international programs, to helping with different curriculums, to supporting undergraduate students.

Reason said while holding this new position, he hopes to to learn about strategic enrollment and management in the College of Human Sciences in order to help stabilize enrollment at the university, as well as maintain and retain as many students as possible in order to increase graduation rates.

“It’s almost as if, if you get them past the first year their chances of leaving drops in half, so if you get them past the second year it drops in half again,” Reason said.

As for the future, Reason can’t say what it will bring, but he said he knows he will always have a teaching opportunity here at Iowa State. 

“[I would] at least teach one course a year to keep connected with the students, to keep connected with the program that I am a part of,” Reason said.