Tovar bio as of 10.28.24

Dr. Liz Tovar serves as both the executive officer and associate vice president for the Division of Access, Opportunity, and Diversity, and senior associate athletics director for Student-Athlete Academic Services in Iowa Athletics. In her dual roles, she reports to the university president, provost, and athletics director. She is a key member of the President’s Cabinet and the athletics senior executive team. 

In her campus role Dr. Tovar oversees the Office of Civil Rights Compliance and the Office of Access and Support. The Office of Access and Support ensures compliance with state diversity laws, provides research and grant support, and oversees student pipeline programs. The Office of Civil Rights Compliance manages the institution’s adherence to federal and state laws on bias, harassment, discrimination, equal employment opportunity, disability, free speech, and sexual misconduct.

Dr. Tovar spearheads initiatives such as the Journey to Unity series fostering a respectful and productive campus culture as well as the  Engagement Framework which builds leadership skills within a globally diverse society and workforce. Under Dr. Tovar’s leadership, the division provides access and opportunity to all students through various support programs including a $6.6 million partnership with the John Deere Foundation, launching the John Deere Scholars Program, to increase higher education access for high school students demonstrating a financial need. 

In athletics, Dr. Tovar oversees student-athlete academic services, managing advising, tutorial, and student development support for approximately 650 student-athletes across 20 sports programs. Under her leadership, student-athlete graduation rates have reached an all-time high of 89% and an average grade point average of 3.15 across all student-athletes. 

She launched the athletics Hawkeye Life Program, focusing on leadership, community engagement, academic success, career development, health and well-being, and diversity and inclusion. Dr. Tovar also played a crucial role in the $6 million renovation of the Gerdin Athletic Learning Center, enhancing the educational development of Hawkeye student-athletes.

Dr. Tovar began her career at the University of Kansas, where she earned degrees in psychology, clinical psychology, and educational leadership and policy studies. Before joining Iowa in 2013, she served in athletic student services roles at Kansas, Northern Illinois University, and The Ohio State University.

She serves on the Board of Directors for United Way of Johnson and Washington Counties, chairs the NCAA Region Five Postgraduate Scholarship Committee, serves on the Board of Trustees for KU Endowment, and is a member of the AAU Chief Diversity Officer Steering Committee.

Dr. Tovar is married to Steve Tovar.