Alumni Board of Directors

If you have any ideas or suggestions, concerns or comments for the Board or individuals residing on the Board, please email cgalumniboard@simpson.edu.

Kelly Babberl ’13

• Major: Business Management
• Employment: Contract Analyst, Wells Fargo
• My Simpson Experience: Not only do I feel that I received an outstanding education that prepared me for my next steps of graduate school, I truly enjoyed the networking opportunities that participating in the C&G Program offered me.

April Betzer ’09

• Major: Business Management and Marketing
• Employment: Client Specialist, Benefit Source, Inc.
• My Simpson Experience: Simpson, for me, was family—so many friends and professors supporting my goal of graduating and setting a good example for my daughter. Tragically, in the Spring of 2008, I lost my father…but the Simpson support never wavered. When I could have easily taken a break or given up all together, my Simpson family was there supporting me beyond the classroom. I am happy to say, with their support, I didn’t miss a beat. I graduated Cum Laude in May 2009 and although he wasn’t sitting in one of those chairs in the gym, I know my dad was there—and he was just as proud of me as my fellow students and teachers. I wouldn’t have changed my experience for anything. I learned just as much about myself as I did about the subjects I was studying.

Donna Burkhart '14

• Major: Management
• Employment: Human Resources Coordinator, Iowa State University

Jamie Busby '13 (BA) and '16 (MAT)

• Major: Economics and Finance and Master of Arts in Teaching
• Employment: At Risk Coordinator, Indianola Middle/High School

Sarah Davitt ’09 (BA) and ’11 (MAT)

• Major: Biology and Master of Arts in Teaching
• Employment: Academic Coach, Simpson College
• My Simpson Experience: Simpson was a place where I could truly be myself, pursue what I was interested in and be supported in every way by all of the staff members I encountered. The professors at Simpson truly cared about me as a student and as a future professional.

Amy Day ’05

• Major: Marketing
• Employment: Director of Marketing Communications, Living History Farms
• My Simpson Success and Favorite Memory: As a student, Simpson’s Continuing and Graduate Programs gave me new skills to apply in the workforce, both immediately and in the future. As a staff member, my favorite memories involved watching students progress from being a little nervous and unsure on their first day of class to confident and capable on graduation day!

Gage Edwards ’10

• Major: Marketing
• Employment: Logistics Account Manager, Worldwide Logistics

Brady Fry ’15

• Major: Business Management
• Employment: Category Manger, Casey’s General Stores, Inc.

Susanne Gerlach ’07 

• Major: Marketing
• Employment: Director — Municipal Advisor, PFM Financial Advisors LLC
• My Simpson Experience: Being a Simpson College alumna continues to provide opportunities for career enhancement, philanthropic generosity, personal development and life-long friendships.

David Hawkins ’14

• Major: Business Administration
• Employment: Business Initiatives Consultant 3-Associate Vice President, Wells Fargo
• My Simpson Experience: I realized I am a life-long learner and Simpson provided me with objectivity which helped me progress in my career.

Holly Merk-Wilcox '16

• Major: Marketing and Integrated Marketing Communications
• Employment: Community Relations Coordinator, Trumark Home Care

Bryce Pieper ’16

• Major: Business Management
• Employment: Iowa Student Loan
• My Simpson Success: My academic adviser Andrea did a great job of continuing to push me towards completion of my degree without pushing too much.

Douglas Smith ’99

• Major: Corporate Communications
• Employment: Director, Des Moines Education Association, an affiliate of the ISEA and NEA
• A Word of Advice: While I was a ‘non-trad’ student at Simpson, I was amazed at the life-long relationship I formed with advisors, professors and classmates. Stay determined, stay focused—you can complete your degree regardless of what life throws at you!

Keely Smith '17

• Major: Criminal Justice
• Employment: State of Iowa — Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division
• My Favorite Simpson Memory: My favorite memories of Simpson are the lifelong connections I have made with faculty, staff and fellow students. I received an uplifting email from one of my favorite professors a few months before graduation that inspired me and reminded me of why I was in the human services field. I will cherish her words always.

Terri Steinmann ’10

• Major: Master of Arts in Teaching
• Employment: Teacher, Des Moines Public Schools
• My Simpson Experience: I was in the very first cohort of the Simpson MAT program. We were small but mighty!

Alissa Swanstrom '17

• Major: Intergrated marketing Communications
• Employment: Operational Risk Consultant, Wells Fargo

Cortney Thede ’17 (Secretary)

• Major: Business Management
• Employment: Director of Operations-Sales, Principal Financial Group
   

Katie Truetken ’12 (President)

• Major: Business Management
• Employment: Sr. Client Account Consultant, Mercer
• My Simpson Experience: I enjoy the lifelong friendships and connections I’ve made throughout my time at Simpson. I am grateful for the opportunity to stay involved by serving on the C&G Alumni Board of Directors. I look forward to future opportunities to serve Simpson College so that I may always stay connected and give back to my alma mater.

Stacey Watts '19

• Major: Computer Information Systems
• Employment: Specialist, IT Applications, Nationwide Financial

Lisa Zimmerman ’16

• Major: Business Management
• Employment: Business Integration Manager at Farmers Mutual Hail
• My Favorite Simpson Memory: The overwhelming support that I received from my advisor, Andrea, as well as the rest of the faculty. I was motivated and encouraged to continue moving towards the completion of my degree. I truly believe that is what kept me going through all the busy times as a C&G student.