Alumni Awards

Zach Rus ’08

Zach, a 2008 graduate with a degree in corporate communication, has dedicated his career to creating meaningful change at the intersection of philanthropy, education, and advocacy, and for using his lived experience to promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and access. Currently serving as Executive Director of Iowa Safe Schools, Zach leads the state’s largest LGBTQ+ youth organization with a mission to ensure that every student in Iowa feels safe, seen, and supported. 

Before stepping into his role at Iowa Safe Schools, Zach spent several years with Ellipsis, formerly Youth Emergency Services & Shelter and Youth Homes of Mid-America, where he rose through the ranks to become Chief Philanthropy Officer and Engagement Director. Under his leadership, Ellipsis saw record-breaking growth in fundraising and community engagement, including a 152% increase in event revenue. His tenure also saw the launch of new initiatives that connected hundreds of volunteers and donors to meaningful causes. 

A proud first-generation college graduate, Zach credits his Simpson experience, including his time as a Student Ambassador and especially his membership in SAE, for sparking his lifelong passion for education, leadership, and inclusion. His career has taken him across the country, with leadership roles at Buena Vista University, the University of Chicago, Illinois Institute of Technology, and national consulting firms, where he helped institutions strengthen their cultures of philanthropy and connection. 

Named one of the Des Moines Business Record’s Forty Under 40 in 2025, Zach’s work has been recognized for its innovation and heart. Among his proudest accomplishments are co-creating the Teen Zone at Capital City Pride to support queer youth, organizing holiday drives to fulfill wish lists for more than 150 children and families, and designing and providing more than 2,000 “pause bracelets” to Greater Des Moines community members as a reminder to care for one’s mental health. 

Zach’s biggest passion is creating a community where all humans have access to the care and support they need regardless of where they come from. He hopes to help create a world where people are accepted for who they are without having to fit into the “boxes” society assigns them. Outside of work, Zach is an avid pickleball player, a devoted uncle to 15 nieces and nephews and one great-niece, and a dog lover. Zach truly believes in the power of connection—whether through family, community, or a shared purpose.  

Robert Lyons ’17

Robert has been a standout leader since his time at Simpson College, where he served as Student Body President, co-founded the Rotaract Club, and helped launch the satirical newspaper The Acorn. Robert expresses that Simpson gave him freedom to explore his interests, to rethink what he thought he knew, and the tools to shape the trajectory of his life. From the moment he arrived on campus, Robert demonstrated a commitment to community engagement that continues to define his career and service today. 

Since graduating in 2017, Robert has advanced academically and professionally while maintaining an extraordinary dedication to public service. In 2019, he earned his MPA with honors from American University and co-founded LULAC Council #381 in Denison, Iowa. There he has served as Treasurer, securing $160,000 in grants and establishing programs that support local youth, including scholarships, a Legal Assistance Fund, and a youth council. He also served as a Field Organizer for the Biden Campaign, consistently ranking among the top organizers nationwide, and joined the Simpson College Alumni Board, helping to re-engage the Washington, D.C./Baltimore Alumni Chapter. 

Robert’s dedication to cultural heritage is equally impressive. As Co-Vice President of the Donna Reed Foundation for the Performing Arts, he helped secure the Germania Opera House’s placement on the National Register of Historic Places and reopened it to the public post-pandemic, while creating internship opportunities for Simpson history students. 

In 2021, Robert received a Presidential appointment to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, where he helped implement programs that have delivered over $2 billion in assistance to rural communities and the national food supply chain, while also securing $75 million for rural healthcare facilities. He also became one of Iowa’s first “virtual” Elders, elected to the United Presbyterian Church Session in his hometown. While in D.C., Robert was elected to the Board of the Kiwanis Club of Washington, D.C., the city’s oldest club, where he serves as Secretary and has represented the club at the Kiwanis International Convention. 

Robert recently moved back to Iowa and now serves as the outreach manager for AARP Iowa. 

His nominator says, “Robert is a great ambassador of Simpson College who always seeks to embody all that he gained and cultivated here. He is dedicated to public service, has a drive to do his best in all things, and still finds time to be a true friend and mentor to those around him.” 

Mark Miller ’79

A magna cum laude graduate in accounting and business administration, Mark was an active member of ATO, serving as president, treasurer, and scholarship chair during his years on campus. He was also a member of Epsilon Sigma and was honored early in his career with Simpson’s Recent Alumni Achievement Award in 1987. 

Professionally, Mark built an impressive career that spanned nearly four decades in finance, corporate services, and real estate. He retired from Dow/DuPont—later Corteva Agriscience—after serving as Director of Corporate Services and North America Office and Lab Facility Manager, overseeing global facilities and real estate strategy. Even in retirement, Mark continues to advise organizations through his work with Peoples Company as a strategic advisor. 

Beyond his professional and corporate experience, Mark has volunteered his time and expertise to numerous nonprofit and community organizations. His service includes roles as “Chair of the Choose Des Moines Communities” board of the Greater Des Moines Partnership, former president and director of the Johnston Chamber of Commerce, and board member of the Van Meter Community School District, among many others. 

At Simpson, Mark’s impact has been extraordinary. From 1981 to 1989, Mark served as an instructor of accounting, earning “Lecturer of the College” honorary status awarded by faculty and students in 1989. He served as a member of the Board of Trustees for three sessions including one as president of the Alumni Association Board, and was named an Honorary Lifetime Trustee in recognition of his service. During his tenure, he chaired the Resource Committee, sat on the Audit and Business & Finance Committees, and played an integral role in the 2012 presidential search. He also served for more than a decade on the Alumni Association Board, including as president, helping to shape the alumni network we know today.  

Most recently, Mark joined the Mercy College of Health Sciences Board of Directors. He is currently serving as Vice Chair and Treasurer, where he established a scholarship fund in memory of his late wife and nursing school alumna, Anne —a beautiful continuation of their shared legacy of education and service. 

Mark’s contributions to Simpson have strengthened the college across generations through his leadership, mentorship, and steadfast support. 

His nominators describe him as “a true example of what it means to live the Simpson values every day—faithful, generous, humble, and always ready to give back.” 

MacKenzie Bills ’16

From her days as a Culver Fellow at Simpson College to her global work in public service, MacKenzie has embodied Simpson’s commitment to leadership, civic engagement, and service to others. 

A Political Science and International Relations major with minors in French and Religion, MacKenzie graduated cum laude and was active across campus as a Culver Fellow, Wesley Service Scholar, member of Pi Beta Phi, and member of College Democrats. She was also involved in speech and debate, RLC, Alpha Lambda Delta, and Omicron Delta Kappa, where she received the Emerging Leader Award. 

Her passion for civic participation led her to found Simpson Votes, a nonpartisan initiative that registered hundreds of students to vote and became a model for sustained voter engagement on campus that continues to this day. 

After graduation, MacKenzie received a Fulbright Award to teach English in Malaysia as a U.S. cultural ambassador and later worked for the U.S. Department of State. She has also served as a Philanthropy Advisor for USAID, a Consultant and Partnership Manager, and ran as a candidate for the Iowa House of Representatives.  

Beyond her professional accomplishments, MacKenzie has continued to give back to her communities. She has served as President of the Andrew Goodman Foundation Alumni Network, Treasurer and Board Member for the Valley Vista Condo Association, and as a One Simpson Day Ambassador. She remains closely connected to Simpson through her ongoing work with Culver Center alumni programming, supporting the next generation of student leaders. 

MacKenzie credits Simpson with helping her develop the critical thinking and leadership skills that shaped her path, saying “Simpson’s academic rigor and strong community allowed me to grow my network early and think critically in diverse spaces—skills that have opened doors across the world.” Despite those open doors around the world, MacKenzie remains highly engaged here at Simpson, particularly with the Culver Fellows program, helping launch the Culver Fellows Alumni Association, attending Culver Center events and programs, and mentoring and advising Fellows since her graduation in 2016. Culver Center director Seth Anderson shares, “what makes MacKenzie so special is something less tangible, but much deeper than an award, or a scholarship, or anything else that fits neatly on a resume. It’s not something that can be quantified… it’s the singular passion and devotion that MacKenzie brings to everything she does.” Simpson College is fortunate to benefit from that devotion and passion.

Ishaya David ’17

Ishaya’s journey of service began even before graduation. At Simpson College, he served as a Community Advisor, Junior and Senior Class President, and as a student representative to the Board of Trustees, advocating for his peers with thoughtfulness and integrity. He also worked as a research and multicultural assistant, supporting students and faculty alike, while developing the leadership and organizational skills that would propel him into a career of service. 

One of Ishaya’s most defining moments at Simpson came in October 2015, when he received the heartbreaking news of his brother’s passing on his birthday. Being far from home in Nigeria, it could have been an isolating and devastating experience. But the Simpson community rallied around him—classmates, professors, and staff not only offered words of comfort but also raised funds to ensure he could be with his family. This moment of compassion left an indelible mark on Ishaya, reinforcing his belief in the power of community and the responsibility to support others in times of need—a value he has carried forward into every endeavor. 

Since graduating, Ishaya has transformed Dreams Alive—a nonprofit organization in Nigeria founded by his late brother to improve healthcare awareness among youth—into a multifaceted organization focused on creating lasting, community-driven impact. Under his leadership, Dreams Alive now provides equitable access to free healthcare, business training and capital, as well as educational support. Through its Free Medical Outreach programs, the organization has delivered comprehensive healthcare services to over 25,000 people in rural communities, mobilizing more than 120 medical professionals, including doctors, pharmacists, nurses, dentists, and volunteers. Recognizing the importance of economic empowerment, Ishaya launched the Women & Young Adults Empowerment Program, which offers intensive business training and interest-free loans. In its first year, 80 beneficiaries received support to start or expand small businesses—achieving a remarkable 100% loan repayment rate. Ishaya and his team have also made significant contributions to education by providing learning materials to rural schools across Nigeria. Additionally, they have organized multiple food drives, delivering a month’s supply of food to over 1,000 households facing food insecurity. Through his strategic leadership and commitment to impact, Ishaya has secured critical funding to sustain and expand these initiatives, ensuring long-term transformation for the communities Dreams Alive serves. 

In addition to his humanitarian work, Ishaya is accomplished academically and professionally. He completed a Global Health Fellowship in Geneva, earned a Master of Public Health and a Doctor of Pharmacy, and now serves as a Clinical Pharmacist at Unity Point Health Trinity. Despite these demanding roles, he continues to prioritize service, demonstrating that humanitarian leadership and professional excellence can go hand in hand. 

His nominator says, “Ishaya has an unquenchable enthusiasm and a deep desire to leave this world better than he found it. He embodies the humanitarian spirit in all that he does. I’m proud to call him a friend, and I can think of no one more worthy of the Simpson College Recent Alumni Humanitarian Service Award.” 

Ishaya’s commitment to bettering the world, his ability to transform personal tragedy into compassion-driven action, and his dedication to public service make him an ideal recipient of the Recent Alumni Humanitarian Award.