New members elected to Board of Trustees

The Simpson College Board of Trustees announced the election of five new board members on Oct. 18, 2019. John Hines ’80, Thomas Keating ’77, Izaah Knox, Reneé Murphy ’92 and Susan Voss ’76 were presented with membership at the board’s plenary session on Homecoming Weekend. 

Other recent additions to the board of trustees include Brianne Fitzgerald ’02, Virginia Croskery Lauridsen, Steven Alan Ramsey ’11 and Jay Marshall. Fitzgerald began a two-year term as Alumni Association President at the Oct. 18 session, Lauridsen and Ramsey were elected into membership in the Spring of 2019 and Marshall was elected in October 2018.

Board members serve a three-year term beginning on the date of appointment.

View the entire Board of Trustees

Dr. John D. Hines ’80
John D. Hines graduated from Simpson in 1980 and currently works as a board-certified gastroenterologist at the Iowa Clinic in West Des Moines. After graduating from Simpson, he earned his MBA at the University of Iowa and obtained his medical degree at Des Moines University. Hines is a member of several professional societies, including the American Osteopathic Board of Internal Medicine. He is also a fellow of the American College of Osteopathic Internists and a fellow of the American College of Gastroenterology. 

Thomas J. Keating ’77
Thomas J. Keating graduated from Simpson in 1977 and currently serves as the executive director of the Iowa High School Athletic Association. The Philadelphia native began his career as a teacher and coach, most notably at Dubuque Wahlert from 1980-2003. He taught, coached and served as activities director at Wahlert, coaching the Golden Eagles volleyball team to 11 state championships. He moved to Xavier High School in Cedar Rapids in 2004 where he earned the National Catholic Educational Association’s Educator of the Year award in 2010. Keating is a longtime advisory committee member for the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union and is a member of the National High School Athletic Coaches Association’s Hall of Fame.

Izaah JB Knox
Izaah JB Knox is the executive director of Urban Dreams, an organization providing Central Iowa with a wide range of human service programs that break down barriers for underserved and underrepresented populations. He is a graduate of Drake University, earning his bachelor’s degree in journalism before earning a master’s degree in education. Prior to employment at Urban Dreams, Knox held a number of positions at Des Moines Area Community College. An active member of the community, he has served on the Des Moines Human and Civil Rights Commission, the Capital Crossroads 2.0 Social Capital along with multiple boards, committees and workgroups. His numerous awards include Des Moines Business Record’s Forty Under 40 (2016), Des Moines Register Person to Watch (2015) and U.S.A President’s Volunteer Service Award (2012).

Reneé D. Murphy ’92
Reneé D. Murphy graduated from Simpson in 1992 and currently serves as the owner and chief nexus officer of Sassy Social Media Management, LLC. A veteran public relations professional, Murphy also holds the title of vice president of marketing at CJM Financial, Inc., which is owned by her husband, Trent. She has also held positions as a cognitive therapist with On With Life, a collection agent for Norwest Financial, a medical transcriptionist with various companies including the Mayo Clinic, a teacher in three school districts in Arizona and a cheerleading coach for 15 years. Following her graduation from Simpson, Murphy earned her master’s degree in special education from Drake University.

Susan E. Voss ’76
Susan E. Voss graduated from Simpson in 1976 before earning her Juris Doctorate at Gonzaga University School of Law. She currently serves as vice president of government relations at American Enterprise Group, Inc. in Des Moines. She has also worked in several Iowa state agency positions since 1981, most recently serving in the Iowa Insurance Division. She was First Deputy Commissioner from 1999-2005 and Iowa Insurance Commissioner from 2005-13.

Brianne Fitzgerald ’02
Brianne Fitzgerald graduated from Simpson in 2002 and currently serves as the program director at the Alzheimer’s Association of Greater Iowa. She is also the president of B Greater Consulting, a firm that works with nonprofit organizations to complete projects they may not have the resources to undertake on their own. She has a long history in the non-profit sector, serving as the communications and engagement officer for Iowa Economic Development Authority, the marketing and communication director for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Iowa and corporate relations manager at United Way of Central Iowa. Among her volunteer experience, Fitzgerald has served on Simpson’s Alumni Board of Directors since 2014. She received her master’s degree from the University of Northern Iowa in 2017. 

Virginia Croskery Lauridsen
Virginia Croskery Lauridsen is a world-renowned classical musician and former faculty member at Simpson. She currently serves as president-elect for the Des Moines Metro Opera, chair of education for the Civic Music Association, on the board of overseers for Opera America and on the advisory board for the Des Moines Symphony Sound of the City Campaign. As a performer, she was a winner of the Third International Pavarotti competition and an original cast member in the first national tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Phantom of the Opera.”

Steven Alan Ramsey ’11
Steven Alan Ramsey graduated from Simpson in 2011 and is currently an assistant prosecuting attorney in Kansas City. After graduating from Simpson, the Kansas City native attended the University of Notre Dame Law School, obtaining his Juris Doctorate degree in 2014. Focusing his career efforts in his home state of Missouri, Ramsey has worked for former Governor Jeremiah Nixon, clerked for the Missouri Supreme Court and worked for the Missouri Attorney General’s Office. He also volunteers for Anytown KC, Missouri Boys State and Kansas City’s professional sports teams.

Jay Marshall
Jay Marshall is the executive vice president, co-chief operating officer and president of Hy-Vee Subsidiaries/Commissaries. A 36-year veteran at Hy-Vee, Marshall currently oversees all Hy-Vee locations, as well as guiding the company’s subsidiaries and commissaries. A graduate of Creighton University, he is currently on several boards of Hy-Vee’s subsidiary companies, serves on the Coca-Cola Research council, is on the advisory board for the National Association of Chain Drug Stores and is a permanent member of the Hy-Vee Board of Directors.