Our Staff
![Headshot](/sites/iisc.uiowa.edu/files/styles/square__1024_x_1024/public/2022-10/travis_kraus5.18_0.jpg?h=80aec6ff&itok=CJ-y7F6O)
Travis Kraus
Travis is an Associate Professor of Practice in the School of Planning and Public Affairs and Director of the Iowa Initiative for Sustainable Communities (IISC). Travis joined IISC in August 2016 and manages the day-to-day operations of the IISC and works with community partners and University of Iowa faculty, staff and students to facilitate engaged-learning projects that promote economic development, social justice, and sustainability.
Travis has held an appointment as Faculty Fellow for Engaged Teaching and Scholarship with the UI Office of Community Engagement. He serves on the board of directors for EPIC-N, an international network of community engagement programs, and he also enjoys serving on the board of the local arts non-profit, Public Space One.
Prior to joining the IISC, Travis led the Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development organizations in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, worked as a regional planner for the Southeast Iowa Regional Planning Commission, and was a successful small business entrepreneur for many years. Travis earned a Master's degree in Urban & Regional Planning from the University of Iowa, where he also earned a Bachelor’s degree in English and a secondary teaching certificate.
Jennifer New
Jennifer New is a writer, business owner, and longtime University of Iowa administrator. For more than a decade, Jennifer served as the associate director of the Obermann Center for Advanced Studies, an interdisciplinary research center. She oversaw communications, public-facing programming, and community engagement training for graduate students. Jennifer has published three books and hundreds of articles. In addition to her work with IISC, she has a business called Hypha that is aimed at helping non-profits and community engaged organizations tell their stories and connect to potential collaborators via program development.
A graduate of the Iowa City School District, Jennifer has her BA from the University of Iowa and an MA from the University of Washington in Seattle. She has a K12 teaching certificate and multiple certifications in the areas of yoga and trauma. She serves on multiple local boards, especially in the area of the arts.
IISC Faculty and Staff Network
![Headshot of man in glasses and plaid shirt.](/sites/iisc.uiowa.edu/files/styles/square__1024_x_1024/public/2024-01/aron_aji.jpg?h=ab622562&itok=HyXTMskB)
Aron Aji
![Jerry Anthony Jerry Anthony](/sites/iisc.uiowa.edu/files/styles/square__1024_x_1024/public/2022-09/jerry_anthony.jpg?h=a78d1e1f&itok=Mud2QtvW)
Jerry Anthony
![Loyce Arthur Loyce Arthur](/sites/iisc.uiowa.edu/files/styles/square__1024_x_1024/public/2022-09/loyce-sm.jpg?h=4b9b3a25&itok=dPzuf_Ns)
Loyce Arthur
![Micah Bateman Micah Bateman](/sites/iisc.uiowa.edu/files/styles/square__1024_x_1024/public/2022-09/bateman_micah.jpg?h=8ddcff3a&itok=dFTY6z8s)
Micah Bateman
![bennett.jpg bennett.jpg](/sites/iisc.uiowa.edu/files/styles/square__1024_x_1024/public/2022-09/bennett.jpg?h=52605a11&itok=QQ2yFnws)
David Bennett
![Nick Benson Nick Benson](/sites/iisc.uiowa.edu/files/styles/square__1024_x_1024/public/2022-09/nick_benson.jpg?h=bab15a74&itok=_xbMWw8M)
Nicholas Benson
![Headshot of smiling caucasian man in a suit and tie](/sites/iisc.uiowa.edu/files/styles/square__1024_x_1024/public/2024-01/jason_brummond.jpg?h=ab622562&itok=uY8vi6XL)
Jason Brummond
![connerly.jpg connerly.jpg](/sites/iisc.uiowa.edu/files/styles/square__1024_x_1024/public/2022-09/connerly.jpg?h=8f391919&itok=ltz5W9jd)
Charles Connerly
![David Cwiertny David Cwiertny](/sites/iisc.uiowa.edu/files/styles/square__1024_x_1024/public/2022-09/david_cwiertny.jpg?h=902bf82d&itok=FCre9Tj3)
Dave Cwiertny
![Frank Durham Frank Durham](/sites/iisc.uiowa.edu/files/styles/square__1024_x_1024/public/2022-09/frank_durham.jpg?h=2e2ae3be&itok=MhqxaUaf)
Frank Durham
![Leslie Finer Leslie Finer](/sites/iisc.uiowa.edu/files/styles/square__1024_x_1024/public/2022-09/leslie_finer_0.jpg?h=7f412c8f&itok=JxJefVaM)
Leslie Finer
![Daria Fisher Page](/sites/iisc.uiowa.edu/files/styles/square__1024_x_1024/public/2022-07/daria_fisher_page.jpg?h=2a479378&itok=NNpeS44P)
Daria Fisher Page
![Richard Fosse Richard Fosse](/sites/iisc.uiowa.edu/files/styles/square__1024_x_1024/public/2022-09/fosse.jpg?h=2427eb87&itok=Ft_J-Ttx)
Richard Fosse
![Claire Frances](/sites/iisc.uiowa.edu/files/styles/square__768_x_768/public/2023-08/Claire_Frances.jpg?h=ab622562&itok=M8--UN5i)
Claire Frances
![Eric Gidal](/sites/iisc.uiowa.edu/files/styles/square__1024_x_1024/public/2022-11/download-2.jpg?h=d0dd59e8&itok=dSed5AtQ)
Eric Gidal
![Megan Gilster Megan Gilster](/sites/iisc.uiowa.edu/files/styles/square__1024_x_1024/public/2022-09/megan_gilster.jpg?h=7d929dff&itok=yv0suFGO)
Megan Gilster
![hanley_paul.jpg hanley_paul.jpg](/sites/iisc.uiowa.edu/files/styles/square__1024_x_1024/public/2022-09/hanley_paul.jpg?h=902bf82d&itok=HUfNaxmY)
Paul Hanley
![Close up photo of a smiling man wearing a hat and sunglasses on a beach.](/sites/iisc.uiowa.edu/files/styles/square__1024_x_1024/public/2023-08/NH%20beach_0.jpg?h=ab622562&itok=sEudGg9M)
Nic Hartmann
![Kylah Hedding - headshot](/sites/iisc.uiowa.edu/files/styles/square__1024_x_1024/public/2024-01/kylah_hedding.jpg?h=ab622562&itok=Be9MvAtG)
Kylah Hedding
![Karen Heimer photo Karen Heimer photo](/sites/iisc.uiowa.edu/files/styles/square__1024_x_1024/public/2022-09/karen_heimer_photo.jpg?h=9fb06fb2&itok=Np_XUe_C)
Karen Heimer
![Ali Hval](/sites/iisc.uiowa.edu/files/styles/square__1024_x_1024/public/2022-11/FU0REp4WIAAX23f.jpg?h=0d998fbf&itok=EGSBjKAp)
Ali Hval
![Travis Kraus Travis Kraus](/sites/iisc.uiowa.edu/files/styles/square__1024_x_1024/public/2022-09/travis_kraus5.18.jpg?h=46119024&itok=CaSi36oy)
Travis Kraus
![Headshot of a smiling caucasian man wearing glasses in a pink shirt and necktie](/sites/iisc.uiowa.edu/files/styles/square__1024_x_1024/public/2024-01/zach_kucharski.jpg?h=ab622562&itok=_z1xvkTm)
Zack Kucharski
Jennifer New
![Phuong Nguyen Phuong Nguyen](/sites/iisc.uiowa.edu/files/styles/square__1024_x_1024/public/2022-09/phuong_nguyen.jpg?h=7f412c8f&itok=q97hpb_2)
Phuong Nguyen
![haifeng_qian.jpg haifeng_qian.jpg](/sites/iisc.uiowa.edu/files/styles/square__1024_x_1024/public/2022-09/haifeng_qian.jpg?h=2c4a579f&itok=Hd2sYG9s)
Haifeng Qian
![Michelle Scherer](/sites/iisc.uiowa.edu/files/styles/square__1024_x_1024/public/2022-11/scherer_michelle.jpg?h=ab622562&itok=5MgOIfft)
Michelle Scherer
![Carrie Schuettpelz](/sites/iisc.uiowa.edu/files/styles/square__1024_x_1024/public/2022-11/Carrie%20Schuettpelz-tschoon-001_2021_11_03_0.jpg?h=8278b513&itok=zgk6Q465)
Carrie Schuettpelz
![Smiling caucasian man with beard](/sites/iisc.uiowa.edu/files/styles/square__1024_x_1024/public/2024-01/Alex_Scott_1.jpg?h=ab622562&itok=9mEPgwGw)
Alex Scott
![Christine Shea](/sites/iisc.uiowa.edu/files/styles/square__1024_x_1024/public/2023-08/Christine_Shea.jpg?h=ab622562&itok=zwV_g1J2)
Christine Shea
![Adam Skibbe Adam Skibbe](/sites/iisc.uiowa.edu/files/styles/square__768_x_768/public/2022-09/adam_skibbe.jpg?h=52605a11&itok=NsvBrt8Y)
Adam Skibbe
![headshot of white man looking to the side.](/sites/iisc.uiowa.edu/files/styles/square__1024_x_1024/public/2023-10/uFhMxD3I_400x400.jpg?h=a7e6d17b&itok=XpNym7io)
Scott Spak
![spears.jpg spears.jpg](/sites/iisc.uiowa.edu/files/styles/square__1024_x_1024/public/2022-09/spears.jpg?h=65adf93e&itok=hjUmQY43)
Steven Spears
![Chris Stoakes Chris Stoakes](/sites/iisc.uiowa.edu/files/styles/square__1024_x_1024/public/2022-09/chris_stoakes.jpg?h=902bf82d&itok=HbYs7fpJ)
Christopher Stoakes
![stover-peggy.jpg stover-peggy.jpg](/sites/iisc.uiowa.edu/files/styles/square__1024_x_1024/public/2022-09/stover-peggy.jpg?h=43cde201&itok=iRQf5Nwp)
Peggy Stover
![Rachel Young](/sites/iisc.uiowa.edu/files/styles/square__1024_x_1024/public/2023-02/rachel-young2_0.jpg?h=436b82d4&itok=zLFtt76A)
Rachel Young
![Samantha Zuhlke Samantha Zuhlke](/sites/iisc.uiowa.edu/files/styles/square__1024_x_1024/public/2022-09/samantha_zuhlke_cropped.jpg?h=ab622562&itok=iHDg2rA9)