Dr. Cindy Waters
Dr. Cindy Waters, born in Iowa and still living on the farm that has been in her family for three generations, has been an advocate for lifelong learning for decades. She taught Family & Consumer Science (FCS) in the Independence Community High School and Middle School for 21 years and played an active role in the state Family & Consumer Science Advisory Council.
In 2001 she joined the faculty at Upper Iowa University as an assistant professor in education. During her 15-year tenure at UIU she taught human growth and development; child and family nutrition; personal, school, & community health; and early childhood classes. During that timeframe she earned a Ph.D. from Iowa State where she was the first Ph.D. graduate from the Iowa State University Family & Consumer Sciences Leadership Academy, gained tenure, and was promoted to full professor. From 2006 to 2011, Dr. Waters served on the Iowa Department of Education’s evaluation team that evaluated private colleges. Dr. Waters also served on various Iowa Department of Education panels and teams such as the State Distance Mentoring Model Implementation Team and Iowa Educator Preparation State Panel. |
Cindy’s contributions to lifelong learning and impact have been felt inside and outside Iowa’s borders. In 2011, she and a colleague presented “Eat Your Breakfast, Honey”: Eating for Success in School and Beyond” at the 3rd International Paris Conference on Education, Economics, & Society in Paris, France. In 2015, Cindy and a colleague presented “There’s an elephant in the room . . . but can he read?” to the Iowa Reading Association. In 2006, she was selected to present her dissertation research at the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences 97th Annual Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina. In 2018, Cindy was part of a Upper Iowa University team that presented their work at the Magna Teaching Professor Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, and later at the Special Education Conference in Wisconsin.
After retiring from full time teaching at UIU, she was not finished with education or promoting lifelong learning. She continued to teach online courses and supervise student teachers for 5 more years, earning promotion to Professor Emerita in 2017. She now volunteers with 4-H in Buchanan County, is an elected member of that county’s Extension Council, and is affiliated with many areas of Family & Consumer Science and education through Iowa State Extension and Outreach. She is a current officer with the Buchanan County Health Center Auxiliary, and an active member of St. John’s Catholic church.
Recently, another action that illustrates Cindy’s commitment to lifelong learning is her preservation of the K-6th grade one-room schoolhouse she attended. She now owns the structure and she and her husband Gary have moved the schoolhouse to their farm. The school, now fully restored and filled with educational antiques, currently serves as a community center and museum.
After retiring from full time teaching at UIU, she was not finished with education or promoting lifelong learning. She continued to teach online courses and supervise student teachers for 5 more years, earning promotion to Professor Emerita in 2017. She now volunteers with 4-H in Buchanan County, is an elected member of that county’s Extension Council, and is affiliated with many areas of Family & Consumer Science and education through Iowa State Extension and Outreach. She is a current officer with the Buchanan County Health Center Auxiliary, and an active member of St. John’s Catholic church.
Recently, another action that illustrates Cindy’s commitment to lifelong learning is her preservation of the K-6th grade one-room schoolhouse she attended. She now owns the structure and she and her husband Gary have moved the schoolhouse to their farm. The school, now fully restored and filled with educational antiques, currently serves as a community center and museum.