Simpson College establishes Culver Fellows alumni organization

The graduates of Simpson College’s John C. Culver Public Policy Center have established the John C. Culver Fellows Alumni Association, honoring the senator’s vision to cultivate and promote public service.

The alumni association will serve in an advisory role for the Center, offering fundraising support, mentorship to current Culver Fellows and supporting the implementation of Culver’s vision to cultivate future generations of empowered and thoughtful public servants.

“The Alumni Association will serve as a permanent support mechanism for the continued growth and success of the Center and Simpson College alike,” said Nick Laning ’17, Culver Fellow alumnus and chair of the board of directors of the alumni association. “The legacy of Sen. Culver has always been public service and preparing the next generation of leaders. This board will work hard to ensure that legacy remains strong.”

The Culver Center is committed to inspiring young people to actively participate in our democracy and encourage them to consider public service as their life’s work. Since the Culver Center’s inception in 2010, more than 40 young, talented and civic-minded students from around the country have become Culver Fellows. 

Now, the same students who helped the Culver Center grow to new heights will ensure continued growth through the alumni association.

“The most recent news about Simpson College being ranked as one of the top college campuses in the nation for student voting shows the commitment the center has to civic engagement and public service,” said Steffi Lee ’15, Culver Fellow alumna and vice-chair of the board. “As a board, our goal is to help students stay passionate about public policy and continue to do this type of impactful work not only on the Simpson College campus, but also in their communities.”

The alumni association’s membership comprises young professionals working across the country in fields including law, international relations, journalism, government relations, not-for-profits and more. The association’s immediate goals include, but are not limited to: 

Increasing diversity, equity and inclusion among Culver Fellows while promoting diversity-focused programming and discussions with the Simpson College community as a whole
Ensuring the permanency of the Culver Center by working to endow scholarships for future fellows
Advising on the recruitment and selection of future Culver Fellows

“I look forward to working with the Culver Fellows Alumni Association to build on the successes of the Culver Center’s first ten years of operations,” said Seth S. Andersen, director of the Culver Public Policy Center. “This committed group of alumni will expand the reach and influence of the Center’s programming while supporting and cultivating current and future Culver Fellows.”

Members of the Culver Fellows Alumni Association are part of a network of more than 20,000 living Simpson College alumni across the world. 

“The alumni of Simpson College are passionate about their alma mater and dedicated to future generations of Simpson students,” said Andy English ’05, director of alumni relations. “The Culver Fellows Alumni Association will serve an important role in ensuring the Center continues to develop the type of leaders the entire Simpson community can be proud of.”

About the John C. Culver Public Policy Center
The John C. Culver Public Policy Center was established at Simpson College in 2010 to honor the service of John C. Culver, who served the people of Iowa for 16 years in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. Simpson College strives to honor the example of the late John C. Culver by inspiring young people to pursue careers in public service with integrity and moral courage. The Center’s nonpartisan programs seek to educate and inspire young people to actively participate in our democracy and encourage them to consider public service as their life’s work.

About Simpson College
Simpson College is a private, liberal arts college located in Iowa with campuses in Indianola, West Des Moines and online. Founded in 1860, the college has 1,268 undergraduate and graduate students. Simpson offers 74 majors, minors and programs in addition to three graduate programs. Outside of the classroom, Simpson is a member of the NCAA Division III American Rivers Conference, hosts eight Greek houses on campus and sponsors many extracurricular options for student involvement.

Program Contact
Seth Andersen, Director, John C. Culver Public Policy Center at Simpson College
Direct: 515-961-1354
Email: seth.andersen@simpson.edu
 
Media Contact
Cathy Cole, Vice President for Marketing and Strategic Communication
Direct: 515-961-1595
Email: cathy.cole@simpson.edu