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Simpson Success Stories

A student turns an international internship into a full-time job. A graduate uses math and medicine to save lives. An assistant professor receives funding to research Iowa streams. These are stories of how we thrive thanks to Simpson.

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Esports Success at Simpson and Beyond

ryan

Finished Business

Beth

Overcoming and Empowering

Shelton’s determination to break through barriers really began at birth. Born with one hand, she knew from the get-go that her life would be filled

I want to make sure we can help amplify voices and talent, and to encourage people to be different.

Inspiring Change
Billy
Good

Dealing Well and Doing Good

Willis was “born into the automobile business” at his father’s Chevrolet dealership in Smyrna, Delaware, where he started washing cars as an eight-

Pagie

Righting Wrongs

Workplace misconduct runs rampant. In fact, 75 percent of U.S. office workers say they have witnessed or experienced it. Civil rights attorney Paig

Jay Byers

Standing Tall Together

Greater Des Moines is in the fast lane, speeding by its competition.

Georgia Porter

Cracking the Code

Georgia Porter began programming her promising future by triple majoring in math, computer science and computer information systems at Simpson. Her

Hitting all the High Notes
Meghan
Flo

Going Global for Juvenile Justice

Tuyishime “Flo” Florance ’22 has already been on an incredible journey. Born in Tanzania, she and her family fled to the U.S. in 2008 to escape the

Tyler

Tyler Kamerman '00 Joins Iowa Nonprofit Many Hands

Andrew

Hunger for Entrepreneurial Education

Erin

Making A Compelling Case

Brooke

Backing Healthy Families

Simpson College alum Audrey Johnson from the class of 2005

America the Ballad: Keeping history alive through song

Audrey Johnson ’05 founds solo touring company that combines history and music

Simpson College alumni Ryan Skaar and Derek Lyons posing in front of their ExpresSeed paltform created by NanoBio Designs LLC.

Research sparks Simpson startup

Research collaboration between professor and student produces innovative genetic technology

Simpson College alum Brady Spangenberg from the class of 2004

Redefining the career path

Alumni Brady Spangenberg's unconventional journey combines humanities and agriculture

Simpson College alum Audrey Lovan from the class of 2018

Building a problem-solving mindset

Audrey Lovan ’18 applies lessons learned at Simpson in career at Google

Claudia Cole Meek, Simpson College class of 1977

Spreading love through art

Alum Claudia Cole Meek captures Simpson Sweetheart spirit through Valentine's Day cards

Simpson College student Anna Wanek

Anna Wanek

Women’s tennis star wins conference title after two-year hiatus

Photo of Simpson College graduate Gwen Dickmann Hefner.

Gwen Dickmann Hefner ’07

Influencer Gwen Dickmann Hefner ’07 builds social media following as The Makerista

Simpson College professor CoryAnne Harrigan poses with a carton of food from the Iowa Food Cooperative.

CoryAnne Harrigan

English professor champions Iowa Food Cooperative, connecting local food producers with consumers

Simpson College graduate Eric Christensen ’94 on his family ranch in Colorado.

Eric Christensen ’94

Eric Christensen ’94 helped his family's 100-year old ranch stand out in a competitive market by telling its story

Photo of Simpson College alumnus and fashion entrepreneur Renauld Shelton (right) posing with his brother, Maurice Thomas III.

Renauld Shelton ’10

Entrepreneur Renauld Shelton ’10 took his passion for fashion and created a clothing label

Simpson College graduate Brittany Peters at the 2021 spring commencement ceremony

Brittany Peters ’21

From Indianola, online and everything in-between, Brittany Peters ’21 completed a winding journey to graduation

Simpson College alumnus Amy Rowe ’12 poses in her garage

Education alumnus turns garage into library for kindergarteners

Amy Rowe ’12 offers personal collection of more than 2,000 books to her kindergarten class

Lyra Halsten

Lyra Halsten ’21

Andrea Biklen Memorial Scholarship assists continuing and graduate student in reaching goal

Simpson College graduate Megan Cline

Megan Cline ’20

A flexible evening and online program helped Megan Cline ’20 advance her career at Nationwide

Simpson College graduate Connor Robson

Connor Robson ’20

Three Exploreships helped Connor Robson ’20 land a job at a Big Four accounting firm

Simpson College graduate Gable Johnson

Gable Johnson ’20

Exploreships with nearby college athletic programs and professional sports teams helped Gable Johnson ’20 get accepted to graduate school at the Un

Simpson College graduate Erin Magoffie

Erin Magoffie ’20

Highly-involved and civically-minded, Erin Magoffie ’20 will attend the University of Virginia School of Law

Simpson College graduate Matt Turnley ’20

Matt Turnley ’20

Three unique Exploreships helped Matt Turnely ’20 sharpen his passion for wildlife conservation and continue his education at BYU

Simpson College graduate Morgan King ’20

Morgan King ’20

Theatre arts major Morgan King ’20 serves as the Drama Director for Des Moines Public Schools, combining her love of theatre and education

Simpson College graduate Eric Mathis

Eric Mathis ’20

Vocal performance major Eric Mathis ’20 endured setbacks early in his college career to become a leading performer, ultimately getting accepted int

Simpson College graduate Brendan Owings

Brendan Owings ’20

Balancing extracurricular activites with coursework helped prepare the former student-athlete for the dental program at the University of Missouri-

Simpson College graduate Baillee Furst

Baillee Furst ’20

The marketing communications and event planning manager for the West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce had a different career in mind before discoveri

Simpson College graduate Katrina Hartman

Katrina Hartman ’20

A variety of Exploreships reaffirmed Katrina Hartman's decision to become a physician

Simpson College graduate Emma Fleddermann with a tortoise at Blank Park Zoo.

Emma Fleddermann ’20

An internship at Blank Park Zoo helped Emma Fleddermann ’20 chart her course for the future

Simpson College graduate Sam Adeniyi

Sam Adeniyi ’20

Sam Adeniyi ’20 discovered the real world of cybersecurity at Simpson College

Simpson College graduate Truman Schmitt poses at Transamerica

Truman Schmitt ’20

Truman Schmitt ’20 turned his internship into a full-time job as an actuary at Transamerica

Simpson College graduate Molly Fisher

Molly Fisher ’20

Molly Fisher ’20 discovered her passion for coral reef conservation on a May Term trip to the Cayman Islands

Portrait of Simpson College graduate Stacey Olson

Stacey Olson ’20

Stacey Olson ’20 discovered her passion for the theatre following a guest lecture from a professional costume designer during her sophomore year at

Simpson College graduate Nick Janssen ’20 poses with his parents on campus.

Nick Janssen '20

Nick Janssen ’20 used two internships while at Simpson College to launch his auditing career at a Big Four accounting firm

Cole Hippen receives his Master of Arts in Criminal Justice degree.

Cole Hippen completes educational journey

Stephen Henrich ’13

Congratulations to Stephen Henrich ’13: Finalist for Rhodes Scholarship

Stephen Henrich, Rhodes Scholar Finalist

Stephen Henrich, Rhodes Scholar Finalist and ’13 Alum

Dr. Allison Boardman

Dr. Allison Boardman

Tiffany Thomas-Killam

Simpson alumna accepts Golden Apple award

Gable Ripken

Internship with the Ripken Experience Benefits the Double Major

Sadie Timms

Moving Quickly, Sadie Engelken

On the Road to Affect Change