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.
Leanne Back '81
- Major: Elementary Education
- Employment: Retired, Northwest Area Education Agency
Jon Bailey ’06
- Major: Religion
- Employment: Pastor, Aldersgate United Methodist Church
Kisha Barnes '96
- Major: Elementary Education
- Employment: Principal, Des Moines Public Schools
Buddy Boulton ’94
- Major: History
- Employment: Director of Planned Giving, Grinnell College
Joshua Brown '04
- Major: Political Science
- Employment: Vice President, Iowa State Education Association
Ben Campney ’83
- Major: Political Science
- Employment: Retired IT Manager, City of Chicago Public Building Commission
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
Jenna Davidson '07
- Major: Biology
- Employment: Assistant Professor, Mercy College of Health Sciences
Saul Davis '79
- Major: Criminal Justice
- Employment: Director, Concordia University Dearborn Center
Matt DeWolf '03
- Major: English and Journalism/Mass Communications
- Employment: Owner/CEO, MK Quinn Media, Inc.
Dylan Dinkla '12
- Major: History
- Employment: Trust Officer, Security National Bank
Kyle Doyle '05
- Major: Marketing and Economics
- Employment: Owner and President, Iowa Distilling Company
David Farnsworth '99
- Major: Accounting
- Employment: Partner, McGowen, Hurst, Clark & Smith, PC
Brianne Fitzgerald '02 (President)
- Major: Corporate Communications and Marketing
- Employment: Program Director, Alzheimer's Association Greater Iowa Chapter & President of B Greater Consulting
Brady Fry '15 (Continuing & Graduate Representative)
- Major: Business Management
- Employment: Category Manager, Casey's General Stores, Inc.
Terry Handley '09 (Alumni Trustee)
- Major: Business Management
- Employment: Retired President and CEO, Casey's General Stores, Inc.
Kate Hayden '15
- Major: Multimedia Journalism
- Employment: Technology and Innovation Reporter, Business Record
Paul Hengesteg '99
- Major: Theatre and German
- Employment: PhD Student and Graduate Assistant, Iowa State University
Carrie Kruse '06
- Major: Accounting
- Employment: Economic Development Coordinator, City of Des Moines
Joel Laufer '73
- Major: Economics
- Employment: Attorney of Counsel, Robinson, Waters & O'Dorisio, PC
Guy Leman '99
- Major: Environmental Science with Biology emphasis
- Employment: Certified Financial Planner Professional, Compass Financial Services
Robert Lyons '17
- Major: Political Science and Public Relations
- Employment: Campaign Field Organizer
Emily Nichols '09 (Secretary)
- Major: Corporate Communications and Spanish
- Employment: Interactive Lead, Lessing-Flynn Advertising
Kaela Phillips '06
- Major: Political Science
- Employment: Instructional Design Consultant, Wells Fargo
Steven Ramsey '11
- Major: Political Science and Applied Philosophy
- Employment: Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, Jackson County (MO) Prosecutor's Office
Barbara Rauch '72
- Major: Math and Education
- Employment: Retired Financial Manager, Department of Defense
Tom Shandley '75 (Alumni Trustee)
- Major: Psychology
- Employment: Senior Consultant at Academic Search, Inc. and Retired VP of Student Life, Davidson College
Erica Shannon Stueve '09
- Major: Religion and Political Science
- Employment: Director of Legal and Regulatory Affairs, Iowa Primary Care Association
Jim Spooner '82 (Alumni Trustee)
- Major: Management
- Employment: Senior Vice President-Wealth Management, UBS Financial Services
Chad Timm '95
- Major: History
- Employment: Professor of Education, Simpson College
Dana Woods '78
- Major: English
- Employment: Director-Marketing Strategy & Communications Media
Maribeth Wright '87
- Major: Management
- Employment: Executive Director, Iowa Higher Education Loan Authority
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.