CME Staff

Jamie brings to UNI more than 14 years of experience in the field of education with ten of those years being in higher education. Jamie started in education as a fourth grade teacher in the public school system in Indianapolis, Indiana. Upon earning her Master of Education degree in Higher Education Student Affairs from Indiana University, Jamie worked for Campus Living at East Carolina University in Greenville, NC. There she served as Coordinator, where she was the Chair of the Diversity Education Team, co-authored the Graffiti/Offensive Incidents Policy, founded CultureFest, a university wide program that is in it's tenth year, and served on the Chancellor's Diversity Council.

Prior to her appointment at UNI, Jamie served as Assistant Director for the Center for Race, Ethnicity, & Diversity Education at Elon University in Elon, NC. There she created the center's Black Student Success Program, directed S.M.A.R.T. (Student Mentors Advising Rising Talent) peer-to-peer mentoring program, and organized many campus-wide events and programs around diversity and inclusion.

Jamie is excited about what is ahead for the CME and whole heartedly believes that the strength of the CME lies with the UNI student body, faculty, staff, and surrounding community. Jamie is passionate about equity and justice for all. She lives by the platinum rule, "treat others the way they want to be treated." 

When not at work Jamie enjoys spending time with her husband and a beautiful baby boy. Jamie also loves to bake and every now and then you can find Jamie on stage performing.

Jenny Murphy has worked as a secretary for many years, sold real estate and is a master gardener. Jen is a Black Hawk County Commissioner and sits on the Black Hawk County Conservation Board. She has two children and four grandchildren.

Working with students and assisting in implementing programming at the Center for Multicultural Education is very rewarding to Jen.

In her spare time, she enjoys family, do-it-yourself projects in remodeling her 1930's home, travel, biking, reading and exploring Iowa’s natural areas.  Jen also writes poetry and is working on her first book. 

Keyah is a native of Waterloo Iowa, graduated from West High School. She attended the University of Iowa where she received her BA in Health Sciences. Keyah worked in the health care field during and after her undergraduate career; she relocated back to Waterloo in 2010 and began pursuing her MA in which she received in Community Health Education and a Certificate in Global Health. She was employed with John Deere during her graduate work; upon receiving her degree she was laid off and offered a position with Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare as the Community Health Coordinator.

In her position she developed and implemented numerous programs for ethnic minority, low income and children in the community. Keyah is a Youth Mental Health First Aid trainer she also serves on multiple boards including but not limited to the Waterloo Human Rights Commission, Tri-County Board of Directors, President of the KBBG FM Radio Community Advisory Board, and served as the Co-Chair for the Diversity and Inclusion Team for Wheaton.

Keyah has always been an advocate for youth, education and diversity; she has worked with Upward Bound, Talent Search and other mentoring programs. She is excited to fulfill the role of Assistant Director for the Center for Multicultural Education at UNI. “I look forward to contributing to the CME through programs that supports the mission, vision and values of this campus/community, we have a great team and are ready to do great things!”

In her spare time Keyah coaches’ high school girls’ basketball; she enjoys exercising spending quality time with her family and traveling.