Leah Gutknecht
Assistant to the President for Compliance and Equity Management
Title IX Officer
ADA/504 Coordinator
Phone: 319-273-2846
Email: leah.gutknecht@uni.edu
Leah initially joined the OCEM as an Associate Director and was later promoted to the position of Assistant to the President for Compliance and Equity Management and Title IX Officer. She oversees overall office operations, the functions of equal opportunity and affirmative action, and compliance with Title VII, Title IX, and ADA. Leah holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Design and the Human Environment and a Master of Business Administration Degree, both from the University of Northern Iowa.
Previous roles she has held help bring valuable experience to OCEM in workplace management, human resources, and compliance. Her years of leadership in OCEM is evidenced by implementing best practices, facilitating prevention and education efforts, profoundly understanding the community the office serves, and exhibiting innovative and proactive strategies to continually improve services. Leah is strongly committed to maintaining equity across campus and is passionate about promoting a culture of respect within the University. To this end, Leah maintains numerous certifications as an Affirmative Action Professional, Civil Rights Investigator, Mediator, and Title IX Coordinator, Hearing Officer, and Investigator. Leah is engaged at the national level with her status as an Association of Title IX Administrators (ATIXA) Advisory Board Member, speaker, and trainer.
Kaylee Michelson
Assistant Director
Phone: 319-273-2846
Email: kaylee.michelson@uni.edu
Kaylee serves as the OCEM's Assistant Director. Within her role she conducts intakes, investigates reports and formal complaints of discrimination, harassment, and sexual misconduct, informs parties of resources and options, constructs investigation reports, and assists in training and prevention programs. Kaylee obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Family Services, in addition to Business, Psychology, and Gerontology minors from the University of Northern Iowa.
Prior to joining OCEM, Kaylee served as a Campus Coordinator/Sexual Assault Advocate with the Riverview Center. This position allowed her to become familiar with UNI’s complaint and investigation process, which motivated her to take on her current position that provides a more broad and neutral perspective on issues pertaining to discrimination, harassment, and sexual misconduct. Her previous experience included, helping individuals navigate criminal cases and Title IX complaints, assisting with evidence collection and preservation, working with diverse populations in the community, providing support and resources to individuals, and engaging in education and prevention efforts. These prior experiences help inform her efforts in investigations, triage, and training and prevention efforts. Kaylee maintains certifications as a Title IX Investigator and Title IX Decision Maker. She is committed to communicating effectively to ensure all individuals involved in investigations receive a fair process and are equally informed on the options, services, and support available.
Brenda White
Equity Investigator
Phone: 319-273-2846
Email: brenda.white@uni.edu
Brenda serves as an Equity Investigator. She conducts intakes, investigates formal complaints of discrimination, harassment, and sexual misconduct, informs parties of resources and options, compiles investigation reports, and assists in prevention efforts. She received Bachelor's Degrees in Art Education and Art Therapy from the University of Wisconsin-Superior and a Master of Educational Leadership Degree from the University of North Dakota.
Before joining OCEM, Brenda served as the Director of Residence Life at another university where she also served as an investigator on their Title IX team. Brenda has held a variety of positions in higher education where she gained valuable experience in Title IX processes, Clery requirements, case management, intervention facilitation, program implementation, and conducting administrative hearings. Brenda is trained as a Title IX Investigator and Title IX Appeal Officer. She continues to participate in active, ongoing training pertaining to her role in order to ensure and elevate the quality of her work.
Molly Taiber
Equity Specialist
Phone: 319-273-2846
Email: molly.taiber@uni.edu
Molly serves as a case manager and assists with offering supportive measure and resources for individuals reporting discrimination, sexual misconduct, and harassment. Committed to equity within the campus culture, her neutral position ensures individuals receive a fair and just process. She engages in prevention efforts that educate and empower the campus community of their responsibilities and rights to each other. Molly also coordinates the university's equal opportunity and affirmative action efforts. She obtained a Bachelor's Degree in Communication Studies from the University of Iowa and Ed.D in Education from Iowa State University.
Hannah Menken
Graduate Assistant for Green Dot
Hannah has been working as a GA with OCEM since August 2022. She is a 2021 alum with a Bachelor's Degree in Family Services and a minor in Mental Health. Hannah is currently in her second-year as a graduate student in the UNI School Counseling Program. Hannah plans to be a professional school counselor in a high school setting once she graduates.
Hannah's role within OCEM is The Graduate Assistant for Green Dot. She oversees program planning, scheduling trainings and events, and she assists with campus outreach to ensure culture change on campus.
Isabella Johnson
Graduate Assistant for Sexual Assault Prevention
Isabella joined OCEM in August 2022. She graduated from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in May 2022 with her Bachelor's Degree in Interdisciplinary Health Sciences and minors in Psychology and Gender & Women's Studies. Isabella is currently a graduate student in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program.
Isabella is OCEM's Graduate Assistant for Sexual Assault Prevention. She oversees the OCEM's social media accounts, promotes services provided by our office, and organizes events on campus to promote sexual assault prevention.
Christian Kreger
Student Assistant
Christian joined OCEM in January 2022. He is a senior majoring in Sociology, and minoring in Social Justice.
Christian assists with data collection for the development of the Affirmative Action Plan, and various projects such as Green Dot and the Title IX 50th Anniversary.