CLASS NOTES

Achievements

  • 1950s

    Patricia (Nelson) Meisel, FA’59, MME’60, Owatonna, MN, has been inducted into the Music Hall of Fame for Austin High School in Austin, MN to honor those who are graduates of Austin High School and who have excelled in the field of music.

  • 1970s

    George F. Davison, Jr., JO’71, JD’79, Des Moines, IA, has served as the commencement speaker for the 136th Commencement of the Missouri Military Academy in Mexico, MO, of which he is a 1968 graduate.

  • Debra S. Klein, LA’73, Arlington Heights, IL, published mystery novel titled, “Serving Up the Truth.”
  • Christopher J. Risewick, ’74, Des Moines, IA, has been inducted into the Iowa Business Hall of Fame.
  • Bruce A. Green, JD’75, Primghar, IA, has retired as Primghar City Attorney after a 40-year career in that role.
  • Nick A. Gradisar, JD’76, Pueblo, CO, has been inducted into the Pueblo South High School Alumni Hall of Fame.
  • Nicholas Colletti, JO’77, Grapevine, TX, has been named the Director of Development at the Wilkinson Center.

  • 1980s

    Jane Hasek, MS’80, MSN’00, was awarded the Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa Business Hall of Fame 2024 Laureate.

  • A.J. Johnson, III, MPA’81, Urbandale, IA, has retired from the City of Urbandale after a 15-year career as City Manager.
  • Janece “Jan” B. Clough, FA’83, Macomb, IL, had a solo art exhibit entitled “Looking and Thinking” at the Western Illinois University Art Gallery from February 25, 2025 to April 4, 2025.
  • Glen G. Hall, BN’83, Ankeny, IA, has been posthumouly awarded a Live United Leader Award from the United Way of Central Iowa in honor of his exceptional efforts in giving, advocating and volunteering to create lasting change in Central Iowa.
  • Glen T. Dacy, FA’84, Arlington Heights, IL, has been named Vice President of News Content and Streaming at Fox’s Chicago local news stations WFLD (Fox) and WPWR (MNT).
  • James A. Nussle, JD’85, Stoughton, WI, has retired as President and CEO of America’s Credit Union, the national association for credit unions, after over a decade leading the association.
  • Anna (Filippelli) Purdum, PH’89, Pacific Palisades, CA, stepped into a new role as Vice President of Global Market Access at Orca Bio.

  • 1990s

    Rob Tekolste, BN’90, has been promoted to President of Sammons Financial Group.

  • Brent Mardis, BN’91, has been promoted to Senior Vice President & Chief Development Officer at Sammons Financial Group.
  • Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., MA’91, JD’92, Alexandria, VA, received an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters degree from Western Governors University.
  • Michael J. Elston, AS’91, Woodbridge, VA, has been named Vice President, Labor Relations for the United States Postal Service.
  • Mike Mock, AS’92, JD’95, has been promoted to President of Sammons Wealth Management Group.
  • Joan E. Harris, AS’92, Minneapolis, MN, has joined Ogletree Deakins’ Minneapolis office as special counsel.
  • James A. Duea, MSE’92, Urbandale, IA, has been named as a new Assistant Director at the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union.
  • Tim C. Schott, MST’92, MSE’99, MSE’00, EdS’11, Des Moines, IA, has been named the new Principal of Samuelson Elementary School in the Des Moines Independent Community School District in Des Moines, IA.
  • Paige E. (Riggs) Fiedler, JD’94, Urbandale, IA, has been named to the Simpson College Board of Trustees.
  • John P. Steddom, MSE’95, Pella, IA, has been hired as the new associate principal at Oskaloose Elementary School in Oskaloosa, IA.
  • Galen G. Howsare, EDs’95, Urbandale, IA, was awarded the 2025 Rotary District 6000 Guardian of Integrity Award.
  • August S. Bassani, PharmD’96, Fulshear, TX, has been named Chief Executive Officer of Professional Compounding Centers of America (PCCA) in there U.S. business unit.
  • David I. Hansen, JD’97, has been named to the new Central Iowa Advisory Board of MidWestOne Financial Group.
  • Alan Cubbage, LW’ 97, was inducted into the Alumni Hall of Achievement at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications.
  • Thomas G. Kane, BN’98, Chicago, IL, was named to the 2025 Barron’s “Top 1,200 Financial Advisors” list.
  • Darcy M. (Tague) Doty, ED’98, BN’04, ED’11, ED’23, Urbandale, IA, started a new position as Vice President, Motor Vehicle Administration Operations & Customer Experience at the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA).
  • Kimberly K. Scarsi, PharmD’99, Omaha, NE, has been promoted to Chair of Pharmacy Practice at University of Nebraska Medical Center.

  • 2000s

    Sarah B. (Saxer) Todd, PharmD’00, Atlanta, GA, has been promoted to Director of Pharmacy for Emory University Hospital and Emory Orthopedics and Spine Hospital.

  • Dr. Dominic A. Formaro, Jr., AS’00, Altoona, IA, has been named a new general surgeon at Ottumwa Regional Health Center.
  • Ann W. (Wagner) Dieleman, MBA’00, Kansas City, MO, has been named to the Simpson College Board of Trustees.
  • Justin D. Ohl, BN’01, MPA’06, MSE’21, Waukee, IA, has been promoted to Activities Director at Waukee Northwest High School in Waukee, IA.
  • Rick J. Drabek, MBA’02, Ankeny, IA, has been named the new Internal Audit Director by the Des Moines Independent Community School District in Des Moines, IA.
  • Rep. Brian J. Meyer, JD’02, Des Moines, IA, has been selected as Iowa House Democratic minority leader.
  • Amy G. (Geigley) Cain, MST’04, MSE’19, Des Moines, IA, has been named the new Principal of Pleasant Hill Elementary School in the Des Moines Independent Community School District in Des Moines, IA.
  • Natasha “Tess” A. Davis, AS’05, Carlisle, IA, has been hired as the new Director of Teaching and Learning for Newton School District in Newton, IA.
  • Tambi L. (Greene) Tyler, MSE’06, Des Moines, IA, has been named the new Principal of North High School in the Des Moines Independent Community School District in Des Moines, IA.
  • Larry J. Carlson, MSE’06, Van Horne, IA, has been named the new Principal at MOC-floyd Valley Middle School in Orange City, IA.
  • Sarah L. Nachazel, MSE’08, Iowa Falls, IA, has been named the new Northeast Hamilton Elementary School Principal in Blairsburg, IA.
  • Praveen V. Bannikatti, MAT’08, Des Moines, IA, has been named the new Principal of Lincoln High School in the Des Moines Independent Community School District in Des Moines, IA.
  • Jonathan E. Brendemuehl, JO’08, MPA’10, Des Moines, IA, has been named the Director of the Broadlawns Medical Center Foundation.
  • Nicole A. Werner, AS’09, and Anthony B. Roark, AS’09, Jefferson, SD, celebrated the third anniversary of their craft brewery, Jefferson Beer Supply.
  • Adam C. Gregg, JD’09, Urbandale, IA, delivered the keynote address at Central College’s 2025 Spring Commencement Ceremony.
  • Curt S. Steger, JD’09, Carroll, IA, has been appointed and approved by the Carroll County Board of Supervisors as the new county attorney of Carroll County in Iowa.
  • Kelly L. (Dorman) Ruden, MSE’09, MSE’19, West Des Moines, IA, has been named the new Principal of Lovejoy Elementary School in the Des Moines Independent Community School District in Des Moines, IA.

  • 2010s

    Cole A. Lindholm, Urbandale, IA, has been named the new president and CEO of Hope Ministries after a 25-year career with the nonprofit that serves those experience homelessness, hunger, abuse, or addiction in Central Iowa.

  • Tonya M. Moe, MSE’10, Cedar Rapids, IA, has been named Assistant Director of the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union.
  • Casey P. McDermott, AS’11, MS’15, Malcolm, IA, has competed in the Elite Women’s Team Competition at the 2025 Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle in Chicago, IL with Crown Running Team out of Dubuque, IA and placed 11th.
  • Heather R. Bruce, AS’12, BN’12, Ankeny, IA, has been named to the new Central Iowa Advisory Board of MidWestOne Bank.
  • Brandi R. (Henderson) Otto, MSE’12, EdS’16, Ankeny, IA, has been named the new Principal of Jackson Elementary School in the Des Moines Independent Community School District in Des Moines, IA.
  • Amber M. Deardorff, MPA’12, Ames, IA, has been named the President and CEO of Mary Greeley Medical Center in Ames, IA.
  • Courtney Chabot Dreyer, JD’12, Polk City, IA, has been appointed to the Board of Directors for Bank Iowa, one of the leading independent ag banks and the second-largest family-owned bank in the state of Iowa.
  • Dustin M. Mueller, JD’13, Des Moines, IA has been named to the new Central Iowa Advisory Board of MidWestOne Financial Group.
  • Daniel A. Pelletier, PharmD’13, De Wit, IA, started a new position as System Manager Specialty Pharmacy Operations at CommonSpirit Health.
  • Gabriella “Abby” (Bedore) Delaney, JO’13, Altoona, IA, has been named a 2025 40 Under 40 Emerging Community Bank Leader by Independent Banker magazine.
  • Robin M. Goodman, BN’14, Stockton, CA, has been named the new Women’s Tennis Associate Head Coach at University of Tennessee in Knoxville, TN.
  • Brian C. Wall, PharmD’14, Gaithersburg, MD, welcomed as Vice President of Professional Affairs for the Iowa Pharmacy Association.
  • Cindy R. Bassett, MSE’14, Ames, IA, has been named the new Director of Student Services at Boone Community School District in Boone, IA.
  • Elizabeth A. Cady, PharmD’14, Hillsboro, IL, has received the 2025 Early Transformative Teaching Award from the AACP Women in Academia Special Interest Group, as well as the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Pharmacy SIUE Excellence in Teaching Award and the SIUE SOP Teacher of the Year Award.
  • Aaron W. Ahrendsen, JD’15, Carroll, IA, has been appointed and approved by the Carroll County Board of Supervisors as the Assistant County Attorney for Carroll County in Iowa.
  • Raymond J. Starks-Taylor, AS’16, BN’16, JD’19, Arlington, VA, has been named a 2025 Virginia Rising Star in Business Litigation by Super Lawyers®.
  • Reed C. Fisher, AS’17, JO’17, Boulder, CO, finished the 2025 Chicago Bank of America 13.1 Half Marathon in 5th place. Reed was also named to the USATF National team for the 2025 World Athletics Championships, where he will be one of three American men competing in the marathon.
  • Austin R. Strawhacker, MPA’17, Des Moines, IA testified in front of the United State Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship in a hearing titled “Golden Age of American Innovation: Reforming SBIR-STTR for the 21st Century.”
  • Angela S. De La Riva, MPA’18, Indianola, IA, has been selected for and graduated from the Community Connect leadership program from Lead DSM that inspires and teaches participants that leveraging their purpose improves their lives and our community.
  • Sara N. (Jensen) Kent-Schenider, AS’19, Des Moines, IA, has been selected for and graduated from the Community Connect leadership program from Lead DSM that inspires and teaches participants that leveraging their purpose improves their lives and our community.
  • Kevin Kelly, MCL’19, Dublin, Ireland, has placed 2nd in the inaugural Dublin City Half Marathon, which had over 12,000 participants over all categories.

  • 2020s

    Jeremy Sievers, MA’20, married Felicia Coe.

  • Josmi C. Joseph, PharmD’20, Des Plaines, IL, has started a new position as Ambulatory Care Pharmacist at Ascension.
  • Kelly M. Current, AS’20, Urbandale, IA, has been selected for and graduated from the Community Connect leadership program from Lead DSM that inspires and teaches participants that leveraging their purpose improves their lives and our community.
  • Adam W. Fogg, BN’22, Baltimore, MD, has competed at the 2025 World Indoor Athletics Championships in Nanjing, China at the 1500 meters.
  • Jack A. Zettl, BN’22, Nashville, TN, has competed at the 2025 Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle in Chicago, IL finishing 81st place out of 23,733 runners.
  • Caroline A. Gander, PharmD’22, Loves Park, IL, has received her Board-Certified Infectious Diseases Pharmacist certification from the Board of Pharmacy Specialties.
  • Peyton J. Haas, AS’23, JO’23, Ankeny, IA, has been selected for and graduated from the Community Connect leadership program from Lead DSM that inspires and teaches participants that leveraging their purpose improves their lives and our community.
  • Laura D. Schultz, PH’24, Waukee, IA, has been hired by the Greater Des Moines Partnership in Des Moines, IA, as their Content and Social Media Specialist.
  • Lily V. Bassett, AS’24, Des Moines, IA, has been selected for and graduated from the Community Connect leadership program from Lead DSM that inspires and teaches participants that leveraging their purpose improves their lives and our community.
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