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Nibbelink
Retires after 35 Years of Teaching Math
Nibbelink waves "goodbye" to his math career, "hello" to new adventures. |
Math Education Professor Bill
Nibbelink describes his career as a “series of
glorious accidents.” After more than 35 years at The
University of Iowa College of Education, Nibbelink is retiring.
Nibbelink never planned to attend college, let alone teach
college courses.
“I was a terrible high school student,” he said.
“I watched my friends going off to college and I sort
of intended to farm, but then I thought maybe I should give
college a try.”
After earning his bachelor’s degree at Calvin College
in Grand Rapids, Mich., Nibbelink then earned his master’s
in math at the UI and his Ph.D. in math education at The Ohio
State University.
He joined the College in 1971 and said he’s been happy
ever since.
“I don’t think I was here more than a few months
before I realized this is a perfect fit for me,” he
said. “I can’t think of a more pleasant place
to work.”
Doug Paul (PhD ’81),
who worked with Nibbelink as a teaching assistant, also chose
him as his dissertation advisor. Paul said he thinks of Nibbelink
as someone who enjoyed teaching and interacting with students.
“Dr. Nibbelink was also knowledgeable, not just about
what was going on in the field currently, but what was going
on for the previous 30 years,” Paul said.
Atkinson
Makes World Better One Student at a Time
Professor Alice Atkinson |
After more than three decades
of guiding students in early childhood education, Associate
Professor Alice Atkinson
is retiring.
Atkinson began her career at The University of Iowa as an
instructor in the Department of Home Economics. She has been
a College of Education faculty member since 1991.
Atkinson’s professional interests include studying
children’s growth and development, how families’
care for young children, and child care issues. Her research
focused on parents’ relationships with non-family care
providers in both child care and center settings, and understanding
the role of home providers.
She said her proudest professional moments have come from
developing the early childhood program and observing her students
achieve.
“I have enjoyed working with students and watching
them grow and learn and accomplish their goals, especially
helping graduate students—often women with families—find
the confidence to finish their degrees,” she said.
Carol Mertens (MA
‘89/PhD ‘00) served as Atkinson’s teaching
assistant when her youngest daughter was four years old. Atkinson’s
support and kindness made a major impact in her life.
“She’s compassionate, kind, and knowledgeable,”
she said, “and so in tune with people.”
Atkinson’s colleague, Professor Gary Sasso, said he’s
impressed with Atkinson’s impact on her students, on
state-level discussions of early childhood education, and
her giving nature.
“She has a long history of helping and doing things
for people, and takes a real progressive stance on how to
make the world better,” he said, noting Atkinson’s
stint in the 1960s as a Peace Corps volunteer in Ethiopia.
Atkinson will actively continue in early childhood education
in retirement. She will maintain a 30-year commitment as a
board member for 4Cs resource and referral agency, with services
for parents and professionals and care for homeless children.
She’s chair of the Johnson County Empowerment Board
that supports over 30 programs for young children and their
families. Next fall she will enter her 13th year as a volunteer
in her neighborhood school’s kindergarten classroom.
In her spare time, Atkinson said she looks forward to playing
flute in the New Horizons Band, staying physically active,
working on family history projects, bird watching, and reading.
“I enjoy learning new things and look forward to traveling
to new places, maybe for an extended period of time,”
she said.
Frisbie
Retires from Testing and Teaching
Professor David Frisbie |
David
Frisbie, a professor in Educational Measurement and
Statistics, will be remembered as a strong leader and mentor
when he retires this spring after more than two decades with
The University of Iowa College of Education.
Frisbie began work at the UI Evaluation and Examination Service
in 1981. Since 1986 he has directed the Iowa Statewide Testing
Program within Iowa Testing Programs.
Frisbie counts helping to develop two generations of the
Iowa Tests as some of his proudest professional accomplishments.
“It’s been gratifying to have a project of that
magnitude completed and turn out well,” he said, adding
that he’s particularly enjoyed working with educators
from around the state and helping them understand assessment
concepts.
Doug Becker (PhD ’91),
said he considers Frisbie an important mentor.
“He is professional in everything he does, has the
highest level of integrity, and is a solid person,”
Becker said. “I think the world of Dave and I think
he will be missed.”
Scott Bishop (PhD
‘00) agrees with Becker’s thoughts, adding that
as his advisor and instructor, Frisbee encouraged him to be
active in his field and challenge himself professionally and
academically.
“His support of his former students continued even
after they left the University as he was always willing to
provide feedback on various issues,” Bishop said. “On
the occasion of my own retirement I’m sure that I will
look back and appreciate the positive influence he had in
my life.”
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