Alumni Board of Directors | Simpson College

Simpson alumni go on to do great things, but one of the best things they do is give back their time and talents to the College. Whether a graduate of an undergraduate program or a Continuing and Graduate program, the Alumni Board of Directors represents the best interests of alumni with the College’s administration.

Board members are expected to contribute their time, talents and treasure to advance Simpson’s already strong reputation. If you have any ideas, suggestions, concerns or comments for the Board or individuals residing on the Board, please email alumni.board@simpson.edu. Or, if you know an alum that would be a great board member, we want to know about them! To nominate someone for a board position click here.

2017-18 Alumni Association Board of Directors
2017-18 C&G Alumni Board of Directors

Jon Bailey ’06

Major: Religion
Employment: Pastor, Aldersgate United Methodist Church

Rebecca Bentzinger ’77

Major: Religion
Employment: Retired Director of Spiritual Care, Washington Hospital Center
My Simpson Experience: At Simpson, I was prepared to face the important societal, religious and ethical questions that we grapple with each day in our world. I enjoyed my activities in religion, philosophy, music and Pi Beta Phi.

Buddy Boulton ’94

Major: History
Employment: Director of Planned Giving, Grinnell College
My Simpson Experience: I came to Simpson as a first generation student in the fall of 1990. I played basketball for the Redmen/Storm (the name changed halfway through my time at SC), which gave me an immediate group of friends on campus. We won the Iowa Conference championship my sophomore year, and I was the captain of the 1993-94 squad. Simpson College stretched me as an individual and gave me opportunities I wouldn’t have had otherwise. I grew, learned, failed and succeeded at Simpson—all of those experiences have made me who I am today.

Kathy Brackney ’71

Major: Home Economics
Employment: Retired Buyer, Sears Roebuck and Co.
My Simpson Success: My wonderful friendships that have continued to today! Also, helping support Simpson not only monetarily but also through the Alumni Board and Simpson Guild.

Ben Campney ’83

Major: Political Science
Employment: Retired IT Manager, City of Chicago Public Building Commission
My Simpson Experience: I enjoyed my time on the Simpsonian and having the time at Simpson to be involved in multiple political campaigns. It was the volunteer involvement and interning in the Iowa House of Representatives that paved the way for my entire career.

Sam Chiodo ’79

Major: Art
Employment: Art Teacher, Des Moines Public Schools

Brooke Christofferson ’96

Major: Communications and Political Science
Employment: Vice President – Client Solutions, USA Today Network
My Simpson Experience: It may be cliché but my Simpson Experience will always be some of the most wonderful years of my life. Even 20 plus years later, my closest friends are from my Simpson years. I wanted to make the most of my college experience and tried to pack everything and then some into those four years. While at Simpson, I had the opportunity to earn my degree and learn from professors that cared about not only my academic education but me. A few things that have stuck with me years later are my exposure to different thinking, learning hard work makes a difference and that the world is much larger than me. I also had the opportunity to learn just as much outside of the classroom as I did in the classroom by serving as a student ambassador, orientation leader, president of my sorority and editor of the Simpsonian to name just a few of my activities. The people, my education and my activities all combined to give me the ultimate collegiate experience—The Simpson Experience.

Jenna Davidson ’07

Saul Davis ’79

Matt DeWolf ’03

Kyle Doyle ’05

Keith Edmonds ’83

Major: Physical Education and Health
Employment: Retired Educator and Administrator
My Simpson Experience: I am a 1983 graduate of Simpson College where I participated in basketball and wrote for the Simpsonian. I enjoyed my time at Simpson and the many friends that I met during my 3 years there.

David Farnsworth ’99

Major: Accounting
Employment: Partner, McGowen, Hurst, Clark & Smith, PC
My Simpson Experience: Simpson gave me the foundation to succeed both professionally and personally. The faculty prepared me for my industry and were instrumental in helping me land my internship, which has turned into a successful career with the same company since I graduated. I also had the pleasure of participating in football, which led to many life long friendships with my teammates. Last but definitely not least, I met my wife at Simpson and we have two wonderful girls! Simpson is where it all started.

Brianne Fitzgerald ’02

Major: Corporate Communications and Marketing
Employment: Communications & Engagement Officer, Volunteer Iowa; Owner, B Greater Consulting
My Simpson Experience: Choosing Simpson College was one of the best decisions I’ve made in my life. It was the place I needed with the support I needed, to find my passions and build my experience. I was able to travel abroad, complete several internships, join the greek system, live in a theme house and be guided and instructed by some of the best faculty and staff any private school has to offer. My Simpson Experience set me up for the future—everything that a first generation college student could have expected and wanted all rolled into one. I’ve taken away not only a quality education, but a lifetime of friendships, connections to amazing alumni, and the experience I needed to start my career. Now as an alum, I am able to stay connected and give back in so many ways. I know that my gifts of time, talent and treasure will help future students have a strong Simpson Experience just like I did years ago.

Brady Fry ’15

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

Terry Handley ’09 (Alumni Trustee)

Paul Hengesteg ’99

Major: Theatre and German
Employment: PhD Student and Graduate Assistant, Iowa State University
My Simpson Experience: Three things come to mind when I think of my Simpson Experience: lifelong friends, theatre and study abroad. It never fails to amaze me that the bonds formed with people (fellow students and faculty/staff alike) while as a student are bonds that remain important to me today. I have friends that I can call after weeks or months of not talking, and pick up without missing a beat. It isn’t surprising that many of those friends were fellow theatre students—with the amount of time we spent together, bonds like ours were bound to happen. I also thank my Simpson Experience for including a semester in Germany, which was decidedly not part of my original plan as a new student. The time abroad transformed my whole world!

Jack Jetmund ’83

Michelle Kopp ’02

Carrie Kruse ’06

Major: Accounting
Employment: Economic Development Coordinator, City of Des Moines
My Simpson Experience: I had the opportunity to play on the women’s tennis team all four years while at Simpson College. I also had the amazing opportunity to travel abroad to Italy my senior year for May Term to study art and architecture. Simpson College did a fantastic job in preparing me to become a CPA by offering many opportunities for internships as well as a CPA exam review course, all of which I took full advantage of. Getting involved on the Alumni Board has been a rewarding experience and has provided a great way for me to give back to the college that has given me so much.

Guy Leman ’99

Major: Environmental Science with Biology emphasis
Employment: Certified Financial Planner Professional, Compass Financial Services
My Simpson Experience: I loved my time at Simpson. I participated in football and enjoyed my area of study tremendously. Going to school in a small town and experiencing the athletic competition of other small Iowa colleges is something that changes you. I met all sorts of people through my years at Simpson, and it becomes more than just a place you lived, it becomes a part of who you are.

Emily Nichols ’09 (Secretary)

Kaela Phillips ’06

Steven Ramsey ’11

Barbara Rauch ’72

Major: Math and Education
Employment: Retired Financial Manager, Department of Defense
My Simpson Experience: I was a music major for one semester before changing to math and education. I am a member of Alpha Chi Omega, and I attended summer school sessions allowing me to graduate in three years.

Tom Shandley ’75 (Alumni Trustee)

Major: Psychology
Employment: Senior Consultant at Academic Search, Inc; Retired VP of Student Life, Davidson College
My Simpson Experience: I was president of Barker Hall, the Campus Activities Board and a four-year tennis letter winner.

Erica Shannon Stueve ’09

Adam Soyer ’97

Jim Spooner ’82 (Alumni Trustee)

Joe Strong ’09

Chad Timm ’95 (President)

Major: History
Employment: Associate Professor of Education, Simpson College
My Simpson Experience: The Simpson Experience transformed me. My Experience was powerful in the way that it emphasized educating the whole student, intellectually, spiritually and physically. At Simpson I didn’t just choose a career, I decided on a way to BE in the world. Some might describe this as vocational discernment, or a coming to consciousness or linking the person you wish to be in the world to the work that helps you earn a living. I call it the Simpson Experience.

At Simpson, I analyzed significant and sophisticated problems from multiple perspectives and disciplines, cognitive dissonance was encouraged if not required, and I engaged in conversations with otherness in a safe and supportive environment. The conversations across-disciplines ensured that I approached complex problems with appropriately complex solutions. Finally, I learned how to take what I learned in the classroom out into the world and to change it.

Of course my Simpson Experience included more than just classwork, from wrestling in the National Tournament for Coach Darrah and participating in Greek Life to falling in love with my Simpson Sweetheart Andrea. These experiences, combined with the challenging curriculum and supportive faculty and staff, shaped me into the person I wanted to be and prepared me to be that person in the world outside of school.

Dana Woods ’78

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

2017-2018 Membership

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.

Shellie Benson ’12

Major: Business Management
Employment: Technology Manager, Wells Fargo

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.

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: Communications Specialist, Kum & Go
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 (Past-President)

Major: Marketing
Employment: Senior Managing Consultant, 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: Operational Risk Manager, 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.

Jessica Hazelton ’07 (BA) ’13 (MAT)

Major: Psychology and Master of Arts in Teaching
Employment: Teacher, Indianola School District
My Simpson Experience: Simpson is always going to be a part of who I am. From the beautiful campus to my classmates and professors, it all will always hold a special place in my heart.

Melissa Kauffman ’10

Major: Business Management
Employment: Account Executive, Jester Insurance Services

Holly Merk ’16

Major: Marketing and Integrated Marketing Communications
Employment: Director of Marketing & Admissions, Glen Oaks Alzheimer’s Special Care Center

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.

Keely Pueschel ’17

Major: Criminal Justice
Employment: Iowa Department of Corrections
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.

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!

Stacy Smith ’07

Major: Rhetoric and Speech Communication
Employment: Medical Assisting Program Chair/Assistant Professor, Mercy College of Health Sciences
My Simpson Success: I graduated Summa Cum Laude

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!

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.

Alissa Winn ’17

Major: Integrated Marketing Communications
Employment: Business Systems Consultant, Wells Fargo

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.