Jessica Moon Asa, Ph.D

Jessica (she/her) believes that an extraordinary education isn't just about strong academics, it's about exploring who you are both inside and outside the classroom. Having served as the Director of the University Honors Program since 2004, she has a deep commitment to shaping a community where high-achieving students can thrive. That commitment stems from lived experience—she first came to UNI as an undergraduate earning a BA in Family Services and later an MAE in Postsecondary Education: Student Affairs. She earned her PhD in Educational Leadership at Iowa State University. Having sat in the same seats honors students now occupy, Jessica understands the feelings of pressure, potential, and promise that high-achieving students navigate. 

Jessica oversees the program's student recruitment, academic advising, and scholarship administration along with the development of curricular and co-curricular initiatives. She is a strong advocate for active, discussion-driven learning—the kind of classroom experience where curiosity leads, diverse perspectives meet, and lightbulb moments happen. Above all, she hopes to cultivate an environment where students feel fully supported as they push boundaries, embrace intellectual risk, and step confidently into their future.

FAVORITES & FACTS

• Favorite Band: Foo Fighters
• Favorite Flower: Hydrangea
   
• I have a hard time distilling books, movies, and shows down to a favorite—too much pressure! 
• I watch way more TV than I should.
• I'm just one state shy of visiting all 50—Alaska is on the bucket list!
• I have a seven-year-old daughter, Brynn, who keeps me on my toes.

EDUCATION

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Education | Higher Education Leadership
Iowa State University

Master of Arts in Education (M.A.E.) in Postsecondary Education | Student Affairs
University of Northern Iowa

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Family Services
University of Northern Iowa