Lola Lopes realizes that today's undergraduates are essential in securing a healthy future for not only the University of Iowa, but for the entire nation.

"We absolutely must have people who are well-educated, who understand the mistakes of the past, and can prevent themselves from falling into the same traps later on," she said.

She takes it upon herself as associate provost to try to ensure that the every undergraduate at UI achieves his or her full potential, and she makes sure UI does its part by providing students with everything that was promised to them when they decided to enroll.

Lola also has a gift of being able to work well with her colleagues and associates, and she is the first to admit that much of her success is because of them. Her ability to listen to the advice and opinions of faculty from all departments has undoubtedly improved the education system at UI.

"I have worked hard to find ways to support the ideas and plans of the people who have worked for me. Each office is filled with people who have good ideas about how to improve either the education or the service that we provide to students. I feel proud that in the six years that I have been in my current job, we have found ways to bring into existence programs that have been on people's wish lists for many years," she said.

UI will lose this treasured faculty member to retirement this year, but her legacy will live on. Staff members in the admissions office have created a new enrollment management report with an unforgettable and unique name: The Lola Report.

- Jacob Maxson