Buena Vista University Alumni Magazine: Fall 2022

CONTENTS

features

12

MEET THE FIRST FAMILY OF BUFORD

Two generations of Beavers show their school spirit through our lovable mascot.

22

ACROSS IOWA AND BEYOND

Every county in Iowa features a BVU educator. See how three School of Education alumni have volunteered to strengthen the state.

GROWTH THROUGH SERVICE

Moderna researcher shares how her life was changed through BVU service efforts in Guatemala.

CONTINUING A LEGACY

Head Coach taps BVU legend in leading a resurgent Beaver volleyball attack.

MENTORING PROJECT STRIVES TO SERVE

Giving back to the community is at the heart of a mentoring effort for first-generation students.

on the cover

LIVING BVU’S MISSION

Brian Singer’s horizons expanded through a service commitment to those in need. Now, he’s changing the lives of thousands of children in Tanzania.

profiles

EXPERT Q&A

Brad Best, BVU Professor of Political Science, doesn’t foresee an expanded U.S. Supreme Court on the horizon.

STUDENT PROFILE

Jacque Lopez, accounting and business major, seeks to give back to her parents who helped her reach a BVU goal.

PHYSICIST EXCITED FOR POTENTIAL

Dr. Heidi Manning, BVU Provost, seeks to bridge instruction with Student Success.

MORE THAN FOUR DECADES OF SERVICE

Dan Phillips reflects on football title while sharing the benefits of a BVU commitment.

news & notes

ACHIEVEMENTS

Beavers excel in many areas.

CAMPUS UPDATES

Learn about the latest upgrades.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Mark your calendars.

HOMECOMING 2022

The Beaver family stayed busy.

CLASS NOTES

News for and about alumni.

FROM THE PRESIDENT

Education for Service harkens back to the earliest days of Buena Vista University. The late Dr. William Cumberland in his History of Buena Vista University writes about the annual Student Recognition Banquet as awards named for legends such as Rollins, Stief, Wesselink, and, yes, Cumberland are announced.

“It is a significant event,” Cumberland writes, “and for the moment reinforces the belief that the purpose of Buena Vista has been and remains Education for Service.”

The stories throughout this edition of our BVU Alumni Magazine share our mission through the students and alumni who have been moved to build for the betterment of others. In these pages, you’ll learn about Brian Singer’s more than 60 working excursions to Tanzania on behalf of Project Zawadi, which benefits students and teachers in one of the world’s poorest countries.

You’ll meet BVU Trustee Dan Phillips, whose history of giving back to strengthen his alma mater—in time, talent, and treasure—stretches across four decades.

You’ll read about three BVU alumni in Kathy Behrens, Pam Bleam, and David Harper, who educate children while volunteering their service to the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners, as they work to protect and strengthen school districts across the state.

You’ll find the story of BVU senior Jacque Lopez and come to know of her determination to serve her parents upon her graduation, doing what she can to give back to her parents who sacrificed so that she may have a transformative experience as the first college student in their family.

You’ll also learn of Dr. Kimberly Perez, an alumna who worked on a medical missionary team in Guatemala thanks to a J. Leslie Rollins Fellowship from BVU. Following work at the Mayo Clinic and at Stanford University, Perez is serving others through her work in the platform immunology group at Moderna.

Perez was one of 17 BVU students I joined as we served the Iowa Mission of Mercy clinic in Cedar Rapids in 2010, an impactful day of volunteer service as we helped provide free dental care to those in need.

As a campus and as a community, we learn and grow as we serve others. I hope you are as proud as me to be a Beaver, one wholly committed—like thousands of others—to live out a mission that’s been a part of our BVU DNA for more than 130 years: Education for Service.

Brian A. Lenzmeier, Ph.D. President

ACHIEVEMENTS

Emily Nix, a senior political science and psychology

double major, co-authored a paper with Dr. Wind

Goodfriend ’98 which was accepted for publication in the Journal of Psychological Inquiry. The paper, “The tragedy of Medusa: A psychological analysis of behavior,” is a feminist analysis of victim-blaming in Medusa’s story (Roman myth version).

Clayton Van Horn ’22 produced a six-part documentary for his digital media capstone project titled Unsanctioned, showcasing the emergence of high school girls’ wrestling. His video was chosen as an official selection in the 2022 Student World Impact Film Festival (SWIFF), which is the premier student film festival. Each year SWIFF receives submissions from 5,000+ aspiring filmmakers from over 100 countries.

Latrice Hodges, senior biology major, spent two months as an intern for the Vermont Center for Ecostudies, gaining hands-on fieldwork experience and learning more about conservation. During her internship, she traveled between Vermont and New Hampshire to work on projects, such as banding birds on Mount Mansfield, performing lady beetle surveys, and LoonWatch where she participated in focused surveys.

A May Day in Ecuador

Twelve students from a variety of majors traveled to Ecuador during May Term to immerse themselves in the Spanish culture and learn more about the landscape. From walking through a farm on the hills of Ecuador to eating lunch with a local family, students learned to broaden their horizons and see themselves as members of a global community. Without the support of generous benefactors, trips like this would not be possible for many students.

Pictured, front from left: Khamedriah Grimes ’22, Mia Norton, Kelsey Gray, Kelsey Roe ’22, and Braedan Evans. Back, from left: Trinity Grimord ’22, Emily Ballhagen, Emma Chase, Errol Alden, Dr. Steven Mills, Molly Barten ’22, Leonardo Nera, and Dr. Callè Friesen ’06.

THE BEAVERS ARE BUSY WITH FACILITY UPGRADES

Every year, we work to improve our campus both in small and large ways. The following are some of the campus projects that were completed throughout the past year or are in the works for the future.

CAMPUS UPGRADES

• The Buntrock Tennis Courts received some notable renovations, including the resurfacing of the courts, new entry gates installed, and lighting repairs.

• J. Leslie Rollins Stadium received upgrades in the way of new branding.

• Lage Communications Center saw a few major improvements with a state-of-the-art recording studio and a full set of brand-new Mac computers for students in our digital media, graphic design, and music production programs, among others.

• BVU has been working to purchase and upgrade housing near campus for employees, allowing us to offer a shortterm housing solution as new employees find their permanent home in Storm Lake.

No matter the size, much of what we are renovating and building here on campus is made possible through gifts made to BVU. These changes improve our campus and help us recruit and retain both students and employees as we offer state-of-the-art facilities along the beautiful shores of Storm Lake.

LIVING BVU’S MISSION

EDUCATION FOR SERVICE

Brian Singer, the founder of Project Zawadi, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving education in Tanzania, is a 1993 graduate of BVU. Before his time as an undergraduate, he’d never flown in an airplane and had rarely traveled beyond the Midwest. Thanks to Dr. Paul Russell, Professor of Economics, Emeritus, Singer spent a month in India as a junior seeing other cultures up close for the first time.

“Dr. Russell told me that based on my interest in the developing world, I should travel to India with the group,” Singer remembers. “I told him I couldn’t afford to go. But Dr. Russell showed me how to secure value-added funding from BVU and made the experience possible.

“I loved that experience so much, it changed my perspective on the world,” says Singer, a native of Le Mars. “I knew nothing about international travel.”

The experience emboldened Singer to pursue more opportunities, including The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Affairs, an immersive semester-long internship. He learned about the program in a presentation in Sioux City and brought the idea back

to BVU. He explained its merits and BVU faculty worked with administrators and benefactors in seeing it through to fruition. Since then, dozens of BVU students have completed the program in Washington, D.C.

As graduation approached, Singer completed a research project on the Peace Corps for an ethics class. He promised himself—and his professor—that he would join the Peace Corps to culminate his work. He did so, but not without assistance from BVU Professor of Mathematics Ben Donath.

“You needed 15 math credits to be a math teacher in the Peace Corps,” Singer recalls. “I had gotten an A at BVU in calculus. That A earned six bonus credits for a total of 11. Ben Donath said, ‘Since you earned an A in Calculus I, you better take Calculus II. So, I did. I earned five credits and it put me at 16 credits. I didn’t know I would need those credits to achieve my goal.”

Singer ended up teaching math in Tanzania for two years and fell in love with the country. He returned to the U.S. and headed back to Washington to attend the School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins

A Buena Vista University internship changed Brian Singer’s perspective on the world.

Ultimately, it changed the lives of thousands of students from Tanzania as well.

A fimbo, an ornately carved stick often reserved for a wise elder deemed worthy of respect, was awarded to Singer by his students in 1995.

University, earning a degree in social change and development. He then worked in New York City for a decade, offering assistance and expertise in microfinance for businesses in low-income communities.

While working in New York, he and his wife, Karen Stupic, founded Project Zawadi, which is the Swahili word for “gift,” a name that came to Singer as he helped an orphaned boy in Tanzania.

“The boy knew his name was Zawadi. He was very young, so that was all he knew about himself.

“The children we support through Project Zawadi are gifts to us,” he continues. “We believe that all children should have the right to receive an education.”

As Singer speaks, he clutches a fimbo, an ornately carved stick that is often reserved for a wise elder deemed worthy of respect. He was awarded the stick by his students in 1995.

Fourteen years ago, Singer and his wife moved from the East Coast to the Twin Cities. He kept Project Zawadi going on nights and weekends. He returned to Tanzania more than 60 times and has worked with volunteers to directly assist more than 800 children.

Project Zawadi has three primary legs:

• A sponsorship program in which children in difficult circumstances are provided supplies that range from textbooks to solar lanterns to uniforms to school fees. Additionally, Project Zawadi offers to sponsor those children through their time in university study.

• The Model Schools Program aids four primary schools through strategic plans that see the facilities receiving ongoing upgrades in desks, room spaces, running water, housing for teachers, and more.

• Tenda Teachers provides training and professional development for primary teachers in Tanzania. “Tenda,” the word for “action,” puts research-based teaching strategies to work in 42 schools, aiding 356 teachers who reach nearly 27,000 students.

The Singers also started Access 2 Tanzania, a firm specializing in wildlife safaris that provides employment for Tanzanians who serve as guides and more.

“Access 2 Tanzania serves 200 customers per year and 20 percent of them become consistent supporters of our efforts,” Singer says. “It allows us to show the differences we can make in the lives of others.”

Singer lives BVU’s mission, “Education for Service” as best as he can. With every life he and his organization touch, he believes he grows that much closer to his alma mater.

“This happened to us because of the flexibility BVU had with me so many years ago,” says Singer, who also served as a founding member of BVU’s Students Concerned About Tomorrow’s Environment (SCATE), an organization that prompted him to visit Storm Lake’s elementary schools to share examples of how children could contribute in keeping the environment clean.

While his interest for the environment has been omnipresent, Singer laughs and notes how he didn’t care for history until attending BVU and meeting then-Professor of History Dr. Jeffrey Perrill. His study intensified his interest in making the world a better place.

“I’ve always felt I should leave the world better than I found it,” he says. “BVU helped me learn about ways to build teams to serve others.”

BVU also helped him find those in need of the gifts he could help provide.

“I went to India solely due to Dr. Russell’s influence,” he concludes. “It changed my life in ways I’m still learning about.

“BVU was the perfect place for me.”

For more information on Project Zawadi, go to projectzawadi.org

The children we support through Project Zawadi ARE GIFTS TO US.

We believe that all children should have the right to receive an education.

& A

One of BVU’s in-house experts on politics and public law, Professor of Political Science Dr. Bradley Best, offers his take on questions related to political polarization and the U.S. Supreme Court. In addition to his work as a political scientist, he serves as campus liaison to The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars.

It seems we’re a polarized nation, perhaps more so than ever. What do political scientists see to be true?

We routinely hear that American politics is highly divisive, that liberals and conservatives are positioned on opposite sides of a wide, unbridgeable chasm. This view is, however, at least in part a reaction to the widely publicized behavior of political elites and, importantly, the media’s preoccupation with conflict. The mass electorate is much less divided. Decades of research by political scientist Morris Fiorina—a leading authority on the subject—reveals that among “ordinary” Americans, the ideological distance between opposing camps is shorter than is generally assumed. Interestingly, Fiorina finds among the mass electorate forces of moderation and consensus that we generally underappreciate.

Describe the point we’re at when it comes to public trust in government institutions.

Public opinion polls reveal that Americans’ trust in the federal government has, overall, declined since the 1960s. For more than a decade now, only 20 percent of Americans say they trust the federal government to “do the right things most of the time.” Arguably, the most concerning data on this subject involves the U.S. Supreme Court. Today, only about half of Americans express a favorable view of the nation’s highest court.

Do you foresee the U.S. Supreme Court expanding in number?

No. The U.S. Constitution established the Supreme Court, but the Congress determines, by statute, the number of justices. Since 1789, the size of the Court has changed many times, but the current number—nine justices—has remained unchanged since the years immediately following the Civil War. In the modern era, proposals to change the size of the Court come and go without consequence. The politics of moment, though contentious, are unlikely to support any change in the number of justices.

DR. BRAD

“Today, only about half of Americans express a favorable view of the nation’s highest court.”

LEND YOUR TIME AND TALENT TO YOUR ALMA MATER

From serving as a guest speaker in a classroom to serving on the Alumni Board, BVU offers numerous volunteer opportunities for you to get involved and lend your time and talent to the University. It could be as easy as joining the Beavers Together Facebook group or promoting BVU in your community.

BVU is proud to see alumni carrying on the vision of the University: “to distinctively and boldly inspire students to serve, empower, and transform communities through Education for Service.”

If you have an interest in lending your time and talents to BVU, please contact us at ALUMNI@BVU.EDU or 712.749.2101 or visit ALUMNI.BVU.EDU.

WHY DO YOU VOLUNTEER?

“I had an amazing four years at Buena Vista! Not only did I earn a degree with the support of professors and staff members who cared about me, but it was where I grew into my adult self. I made many lifelong friends at BV and I am grateful for all of the wonderful opportunities I had as a student. I choose to volunteer on Buena Vista’s Alumni Board because I want to give back to the school where I gained so much!”

“I volunteered for the Alumni Board because I wanted to be able to give back to the future of BV thanks to all the great experiences I had there.”

“It’s an exciting time at BV! From President Lenzmeier’s new leadership and expanded extracurriculars to new academic programs and increased enrollment, I’ve felt more engaged than ever since proudly becoming an alum in 1997.”

“I decided to volunteer on the Board because I finally hit a stage in life where I had the time, connections, resources, and ideas to give back. As ‘they’ say: ‘It takes a village’ or, in this case, a ‘Buena Vista CommUniversity.’”

Meet the

FAMILY’

OF OUR BELOVED BEAVER MASCOT

When it comes to cornering the market on Buena Vista University game-time enthusiasm, few can top the resume of the Dr. Rob ’91 and Missy (Stump) Hatchitt ’92 family.

Consider the following:

• Rob Hatchitt played Buford T. Beaver in the fall of 1988. He also served as a basketball cheerleader his sophomore, junior, and senior years; football cheerleader as a junior and senior. He now serves as an Emergency Room Physician in Des Moines.

• Missy (Stump) Hatchitt served as Buford in the fall of 1989. She earned a spot on the cheerleading roster for the basketball seasons as a sophomore and junior, and football cheerleader her senior year. Missy is a Realtor with The Misty Soldwisch Home Selling Team, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Innovations.

• Their second son, Luke Hatchitt, a sophomore at BVU, played Buford T. Beaver during the summer for Orientation. He’s reprising his role—and the family legacy—this fall at select BVU football contests. Luke, who studies criminology and criminal justice, is a member of the O-Team and is involved in disc golf club, fishing club and trapshooting at BVU, along with esports where he joins older brother, Will Hatchitt, a senior political science major.

With three members of the family donning Buford T. Beaver gear, are the Hatchitts the “first family” when it comes to our beloved Beaver mascot?

“We might be, but we’ve not really thought of it that way,” says Missy, a corporate communications major during her time at BVU. “We’re outgoing and like to get others involved, too. Rob and I were members of the BVU Student Orientation Staff when we were students, the forerunner to the O-Team.”

Buford T. Beaver (the T stands for “The”) earned his name decades ago after being known at various times in the 1940s through the 1960s as Mr. Chips, Chipper, and Bucky. Buford is a staple at athletic contests and special events such as Buenafication Day, often firing up the crowd, posing for photos, and spreading the good vibe at BVU. It’s a similar, though quieter, practice to that of the BVU cheerleaders.

“Students love seeing Buford because it’s an extension of how warm and welcoming we are at BVU,” Luke says. “It’s a great experience!”

“I thought being Buford would be fun,” says Rob, a Des Moines native. “Although I think the reason I got the job was because nobody wanted to wear the Buford suit on a hot football Saturday in J. Leslie Rollins Stadium.”

ONE CODE WE LIVE BY IN BEING BUFORD IS TO NEVER REVEAL YOUR IDENTITY...

BVU’s own “first family” when it comes to being Buford T. Beaver stands with BVU’s lovable mascot during the Homecoming football game on Oct. 1. Missy (Stump) Hatchitt ’92, Dr. Rob Hatchitt ’91, and Luke Hatchitt, a current sophomore have all appeared as Buford during their time as undergraduates.

BUFORD T. BEAVER THROUGH THE DECADES

Rob filled the role for one football season and then donned the normal shorts and rugby shirt of the BVU cheerleading team from then on. He then talked Missy into joining the cheer squad as Buford the fall of her sophomore year.

“One game I remember is when Simpson College came to Storm Lake,” says Missy, a native of Indianola. “The Simpson cheerleaders came over to our sideline and tried to steal me (Buford). My friends, David Caldwell ’91 and Don Ortman ’91, told me to run into the home stands. As I did, a couple of Simpson cheerleaders grabbed me to take me away while Caldwell and Ortman did the same, holding me in place in the BVU bleachers.”

Missy broke character and delivered an “audible” from behind the mask, a no-no when you’re Buford.

“These guys were pulling me in two directions, and I yelled, ‘Buford is not a wishbone!’”

The Simpson cheerleaders laughed and relented. Buford stayed in one piece on the BVU sideline as the two teams battled on the field.

Whomever works under the mask can get as hot as those players who also represent BVU each fall on Peterson Field. Luke has trouble lifting his glasses up on his nose as he sweats while under the Buford costume. Missy remembers allowing the costume to dry on the floor of her dorm room on the third floor of Swope Hall. “That happened after a football game on a rainy Saturday afternoon,” she says.

Rob recalls putting his sprinting skill to work while eluding a group of children who tried to track down Buford following a game in his sophomore year. Rob specialized in 400- and 800-meter runs as a member of the Beaver track and field team.

“One code we live by in being Buford is to never reveal your identity,” he says. “One afternoon, after a game, a group of elementary or middle school students chased me into a building. I had kept far enough ahead of them that I had time to duck into a men’s room, slip out of costume, and then proceed down the hallway with Buford’s costume in my duffel bag. The kids walked right by me as they continued looking for Buford.”

Buford would appear again, but not until the next home game, a practice that continues for the Hatchitts, the “first family” of Buford T. Beaver lore, mascot devotees spanning two generations and 35 years of sportsmanship and fun at Buena Vista University.

Entering class of

2022

Our Storm Lake campus is full of life as the 2022 Fall Semester brought in 235 new Beavers, bringing our total enrollment for all Buena Vista University programs to 1,973. The Class of 2026 is already well on its way to building brighter futures through education.

STUDENT PROFILE

ACCOUNTING, BUSINESS DOUBLE-MAJOR SERVES HER FAMILY & COMMUNITY

Jacque Lopez was a shy, introverted 18-yearold when she came from Cherokee to Buena Vista University in the fall of 2019, the first person in her family to attend college.

“I’m the oldest of four children and I chose BVU because of the close-knit community I could be part of here,” says Lopez, a senior who majors in business and accounting. “I was super shy.”

Over the past three years, Lopez has opened up as she meets rising opportunities. This summer, she earned a national honor and cash award from Jenzabar, the higher education software solutions provider, which will allow her to invest more in her knowledge of accounting software, a world she came to know through work as an intern in the BVU Business Office.

Lopez serves with RAICES (Spanish for “Roots”) and the Multicultural Engagement Leadership Team (MELT) organizations on campus, taking an active role in the community celebration of Fiesta Latina, held each May in Storm Lake.

“I want to remain willing to help anyone who needs assistance,” says Lopez. “To me, that’s what ‘Education for Service’ at BVU is all about.”

BVU is all about opportunity and growth, according to Lopez, a soccer player who has used her involvement in collegiate athletics to improve upon her skill set.

“Being a member of the women’s soccer team has helped me get outside of my comfort zone,” she says. “I hadn’t played near as much as other players on the team, but the challenge to improve while getting to know my teammates has helped me build upon my skills.”

When it comes to classroom experiences, Lopez lauds the efforts of Beth Blankers, Professor of Accounting, and Jennifer Hecht, Associate Professor of Accounting, BVU mentors who have worked closely with her the past three-plus years.

“Beth Blankers and Jennifer Hecht are always available and open to helping me whenever I’m in need,” Lopez says. “Whenever I’m preparing for exams and have a tough time fully comprehending a concept or practice that we’ve covered in class, they both have a way of providing

additional explanation that helps me understand.”

Their willingness to help inspires Lopez to work hard to better herself while keeping in mind the ways she can also serve others in need. In reality, she’s been serving others for years, starting at home,

Lopez has served as a translator, often working with her parents to overcome a language barrier in helping them arrive at the best decisions when it comes to home finance, medical care, education, and more.

“To me, that’s what ‘EDUCATION FOR SERVICE’ at BVU is all about.”

For her part, Lopez doesn’t consider her duty as a translator for her parents to be remarkable or all that uncommon.

“I started when I was probably seven years old,” she says. “I’d go with my parents because they don’t speak English very well. I’d help translate for them at insurance appointments and in visiting with their medical professionals and our teachers and school administrators. My parents did so much for me and my brothers and sister, I wanted to help them when I could.”

That remains a goal for Lopez, who says she’ll share some of her income with her parents in the future. She intends to keep doing so for the next few decades, a family bond that promises to grow stronger as she advances professionally.

“My parents have worked to help me throughout high school and college,” she says. “They’ve also sent money home to Mexico to assist their parents there. One of my greatest accomplishments in life will happen once I graduate from BVU and earn a position with a business in an accounting department. It will make me feel so good to take a portion of my paycheck each month and share it with my parents.”

PHYSICIST EXCITED

FOR POTENTIAL

Demographic shifts have new Provost and VP for Academic Affairs eager to build on BVU’s expertise in online learning, graduate programming

Buena Vista University Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Heidi Manning is a physicist by trade, a problem-solver, who in addition to her teaching and administrative career, was also a Visiting Research Fellow and Post-Doctoral Researcher at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.

“What I do, and what I taught students to do, is to solve problems,” says Manning, who came to BVU in July. “I spent much of my career taking word problems and helping students change those words into a mathematical equation to determine an answer.”

Being an administrator in higher education involves much in the way of problem solving.

Manning pulls from her shelves a book, Demographics and the Demand for Higher Education by Nathan D. Grawe, a demographer who forecasts a cliff that soon approaches, a dearth of babies born across the country from 2008 to 2011, an outcome of the 2008 financial crisis. That demographic dip will hit colleges throughout the country in five years.

The number of high school graduates in Nebraska, South Dakota, and North Dakota, for example, will shrink by seven percent in the coming years. In Iowa and Minnesota, the number of high school graduates will dip by 2.5 percent.

“Grawe predicts that many colleges will lose enrollment,” she says. “Our challenge involves buoying ourselves and shoring up BVU to weather this change.”

Manning has already seen evidence of BVU’s ability to adapt to such market forces.

“The online, hybrid, and graduate programs were so innovative when BVU started them,” she says. “Our long history in this field is a strength as others now get into the market. We cannot survive without online programs, both undergraduate and graduate, because the competition is so fierce for the 18- to 22-year-olds.”

Manning seeks to play on BVU’s strengths in online education while reaching out to even more nontraditional students.

“The number of, say, 26- to 60-year-olds is a huge population,” she says. “Serving those individuals, educating them throughout their life presents an opportunity. We can retrain people and provide added skills for those who’ve gone through changes in the workplace. As jobs change, people need new skills to meet the changing needs of the job market. Can BVU provide that education to equip people?”

Manning, a Minnesota native, has also been impressed with BVU’s dedicated faculty and staff as professionals work to provide a transformational education for students, many of whom are firstgeneration college students.

“The care people have for BVU and the students who come here is very impressive,” she says.

Manning also seeks to work with others in strengthening an already strong tie between academics and the work of staff members in Student Success, led by Dr. Heather Black, Vice President for Student Success.

“Are there ways to interface Student Success with classroom instruction each day?” she asks. “We will continue to make the experience more seamless.”

BEAVER ALUM NAMED VP FOR ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT & MARKETING

An opportunity to serve Buena Vista University brought Dr. Brandon Johnson back to his alma mater, as he was named Vice President for Enrollment Management and Marketing in June.

An immediate way in which this plays out involves BVU’s engagement with the Gardner Institute, a national leader in student success, and the University’s goals as they relate to diversity, equity, and inclusion. University faculty and staff are working with students to raise the level of campus inclusiveness for students of all backgrounds, whether it’s racial diversity, economic diversity, gender diversity, etc.

“Our work in this area is one example I see as making this collaboration seamless in nature and why it is so important,” she says.

Being that beacon allows BVU to better serve students whose retention and graduation rates historically have trailed their peers. Morally, it is the right thing to do. Practically, it makes sense to help ensure a strong future for a university whose main campus is a centerpiece for one of the most racially diverse small cities in the country, she notes.

“Storm Lake is a unique island, and that’s what attracted me here,” Manning says. “Storm Lake is growing. It is atypical of a rural community in the Midwest. It is a strength we can leverage, a characteristic that differentiates us from the other schools in Iowa.”

“My doctoral dissertation was focused on first-year retention,” says Johnson, a 2004 BVU graduate who served as Vice President for Enrollment Management and Career Placement at Tennessee Technological University from 2018 to 2022. “I discovered that the more I learned about student retention, the more I learned about myself, reflecting on the fact that people at BVU built a community and established relationships that helped me succeed. Data and analytics are important but building meaningful connections and believing that each student can succeed is how you impact lives.”

Johnson, who was raised on a farm near Alta, transferred to BVU in the middle of his freshman year. He gave tours for Admissions and played tight end for the football team, and was a member of the Student Orientation Staff, a precursor to today’s Orientation Team.

“I had professors and peers who were looking out for me throughout my journey here,” he says. “I’m working now to live out our Education for Service mission and seeing that it is a part of everything we do. That desire to reach and serve others who were in my place many years ago brought me ‘home’ to BVU.”

Johnson and his wife, Sarah Johnson, are the parents of two children: son Bode, 12; and daughter Reggie, 10.

“THE CARE PEOPLE HAVE FOR BVU AND THE STUDENTS WHO COME HERE IS VERY IMPRESSIVE.”

ONE DAY TO MAKE AN IMPACT

Giving Tuesday is a global generosity movement and at BVU, we are taking the day to rally in support of our students. To continue making current and future students’ dreams possible, we need your support.

Beavers everywhere will join together for Giving Tuesday on Nov. 29 to show how #BEAVERSGIVE.

You do not have to wait until Nov. 29 to make your impact. Visit BVU.EDU/BEAVERSGIVE to make a gift today. Together, we will keep building brighter futures.

Share your story and support by using #BEAVERSGIVE on social!

Leave a Legacy at BVU

As a 2002 graduate of Buena Vista University, I feel indebted to my professors, classmates, and the generous alumni who came before me.

I want the University to be shared with generations to come, so including BVU in my final plans felt natural.

The Z.Z. White Heritage Society exists to recognize people who have made this remarkable decision. If you have made an estate or planned gift commitment to BVU, too, please let me know. Knowledge of such plans allows us to express our gratitude to you within your lifetime, and it ensures that BVU uses your generous gift in the way you prefer.

And if you have not yet done so, please consider making BVU part of your final plans. If not in your will, you can list BVU as a beneficiary of your IRA, 401(k), investment account, or insurance policy. It’s simpler to do than you might think. Feel free to contact me with your questions or concerns.

gratitude,

SCHOOL OF EDUCATION CONTINUES TO MAKE ITS MARK ACROSS IOWA AND BEYOND

Three Alumni Serve on Iowa Board of Educational Examiners, working to strengthen education in the state

BVU Alumni Employed in K-12 Schools by County, 2022 Educators, Counselors, and Administrators

Counties with the most BVU graduates employed:

POLK COUNTY

BUENA VISTA COUNTY

Over the past three years, 100% OF BVU’S SCHOOL OF EDUCATION GRADUATES have earned positions in school districts or graduate school within six months of graduation.

Since 2019, enrollment in the School of Education HAS INCREASED FROM

to

Administrators and teachers throughout Iowa and across the country continue to see first-hand how equipped BVU School of Education graduates are when it comes to entering and serving classrooms, local districts, and their families,” says Dean of the School of Education Dr. Brittany Garling.

The success of the program can be attributed to a variety of factors, one of which involves tradition and reputation. BVU was built, in part, on the strength of its ability to turn out graduates who staffed schools throughout Iowa and the Midwest for decades.

BVU works to place students in classroom settings well before

Since 2018, enrollment in education graduate school programs at BVU HAS SOARED FROM

their student-teaching experience, allowing those students to begin honing their teaching skills in real-life educational settings as early as their first year in the program. Additionally, Garling notes, every BVU School of Education faculty member has taught in a PK-12 system.

This excellence transcends the direct classroom link as now three of the 11 members of the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners appointed by Gov. Kim Reynolds to serve the state on a board committed to strengthening Iowa’s schools are BVU graduates. Here are their stories.

POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY

Statistics compiled by University Advancement.

DAVID HARPER ’98 OTTUMWA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BE AN EDUCATOR? I started coaching when I was first married, and I wanted to make a bigger impact on students’ lives. I loved working with at-risk students since I came from the same background. I came from a single-parent home. My mother did not have her high school diploma but ended up getting her diploma and then a college degree at BVU around the same time as me. She instilled in me to make sure I help others in life.

ON HIS VOLUNTEER ROLE WITH THE IOWA BOARD OF EDUCATIONAL EXAMINERS: I have learned a lot with the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners. This is a way in which I can help serve my districts and other districts throughout Iowa.

Harper ’98, who spent 24 years as a member of the Iowa Army National Guard, was pulled out of college to serve overseas in Desert Storm in 1991. He completed his associate’s degree at a community college, then enrolled at BVU in Ottumwa in 1992.

“I was able to work full-time and finish my education, having received excellent guidance from my professors and mentors at BVU,” says Harper, who has served as a teacher and administrator in Ottumwa, Sigourney, and Pekin of Packwood, where he started the self-contained behavioral disorders program.

Harper isn’t the only BVU School of Education graduate in his family. His wife, Crista (Stone) Harper ‘94 also attended BVU. She teaches in Sigourney.

“Our daughter, Jade Harper, is going to BVU through Ottumwa,” he says. “Jade would like to teach special education.”

KATHY (NIELAND) BEHRENS ’94 CARROLL KUEMPER CATHOLIC RESOURCE TEACHER

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BE AN EDUCATOR? It started at an early age with my enjoyment of playing school with my siblings, but never fully realized until I started coaching junior high volleyball in my late 20s. I decided that it was never too late, and I enrolled at BVU at age 29.

ON HER VOLUNTEER ROLE WITH THE IOWA BOARD OF EDUCATIONAL EXAMINERS: In 2015, I was appointed to fill the term of another educator on the board. I was then appointed for another term and take this position very seriously as we serve districts across Iowa.

Behrens ’94 says her resource position represents her opportunity to make a difference in the lives of students. She studied business for two years at Iowa Lakes Community College following high school. She then wed and worked for a decade at Pella Corp. in Carroll, rising from a position on the factory floor to a role in finance. She helped raise their three children, and has earned a District Volleyball Coach of the Year honor.

In the early 1990s, she returned to college, grateful for the opportunity to take BVU classes at night. Her BVU diploma opened doors for a Title I Reading position with the Carroll Community School District and then as a kindergarten teacher at Kuemper Catholic in Carroll, a role she enjoyed for 19 years until moving into her current position.

Four years ago, Behrens earned a master’s of education degree through BVU, broadening her knowledge in a career field she says she is blessed to serve.

“The BVU master’s degree was all online,” she says. “It was very convenient, a beautiful opportunity for me to continue to grow while serving our children.”

PAM (MILLER)

BLEAM ’85 MANSON-NORTHWEST WEBSTER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL COUNSELOR

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BE AN EDUCATOR? I have wanted to be a teacher since third grade. I love to learn and share it with others. My pride and joy at the Manson-Northwest Webster Elementary School is the Positive Behavior Intervention Supports (PBIS) implementation directed by Melissa Wurth through our local AEA. It changed our culture and climate in and out of our school district.

ON HER VOLUNTEER ROLE WITH THE IOWA BOARD OF EDUCATIONAL EXAMINERS: I was made aware of the position on the board by a family member who taught me to serve and volunteer for my community, school, and state.

Bleam ‘85 made lifelong friends during her time in Swope Hall on campus in Storm Lake. “We had fun entertainment nights, such as movie nights. We also learned about the world through opportunities to travel abroad. We were encouraged to learn a second language.”

Bleam is currently in her 37th year of education, having served as a sixth-grade teacher, a third-grade teacher, and a counselor with administrative duties.

“My BVU professors went above and beyond to help me succeed,” she concludes.

OCT.

October 27

Trunk or Treat Science Center Parking Lot B, Storm Lake Campus

NOV.

November 3

Aquila Theatre performance of “Julius Caesar”

Anderson Auditorium, Storm Lake Campus, 7:30 p.m.

November 17 BVU Alumni Gathering Minneapolis, MN., TBD

November 29 Giving Tuesday

DEC.

December 6 Student Christmas Dinner Storm Lake Campus Dining

December 8 Miracle on Lake Ave

Storm Lake

December 10 Ag Basketball Game vs. Luther Siebens Fieldhouse, Storm Lake Campus, 2 & 4 p.m.

Candlelight Christmas Choir Concert

Lakeside Presbyterian Church, Storm Lake, 7:30 p.m.

December 11 Seasonal Celebration Choir/Band Concert Schaller Chapel, Storm Lake Campus, 3 p.m.

JAN.

January 27-28

Dennis Young Classic Lamberti Rec Center/ Dennis Young Track, Storm Lake Campus, TBD

FEB.

February 4 Alumni Basketball Game

Siebens Fieldhouse, Storm Lake Campus, 2 & 4 p.m.

February 12

Midwinter Choir Concert Schaller Chapel, Storm Lake Campus, 3 p.m.

MARCH

March 20-31

Artist in Residence series featuring Lucas Seastrom, Writer, Historian, and Filmmaker, at Lucasfilm Ltd. and The Walt Disney Family Museum.

APRIL

April 4 International Beaver Day: BVU’s Day of Giving

April 15 Student Recognition Dinner Storm Lake Campus

April 20 Buenafication Day

MAY

May 6

Commencement Storm Lake Campus

April 23 Spring Choir/Band Concert Schaller Chapel, Storm Lake Campus, 3 p.m.

April 28

Spring Block Party Storm Lake Campus

PRESERVING, IMPROVING DOWNTOWN STORM LAKE

Throughout 2022, the Storm Lake City Council has worked with the public to develop a Downtown Master Plan that celebrates the city’s past and present while adapting to the future. The long-term visioning coordinated by ISG, a nationally recognized architecture, engineering, environmental, and planning firm, features recommendations on the enhancement of existing features, improved streetscapes, and new features such as pocket parks, a locally owned brewery, outdoor dining options, walking and biking lanes, and much more.

Lighting improvements, public art, parking considerations, façade improvements, signage upgrades, and spaces for entertainment and community events have all been discussed in a series of public gatherings. A final master plan document is expected to be forwarded to the Storm Lake City Council this winter for its consideration and approval, as residents and business owners work to enhance the downtown experience.

“WE ARE VERY EXCITED AS WE’VE SEEN HOW DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION EFFORTS STABILIZE AND GROW LOCAL ECONOMIES. OUR MASTER PLAN PROMOTES BUSINESS GROWTH AND TOURISM WHILE ENHANCING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR EVERYONE, WHICH IS EXACTLY THE MISSION OF STORM LAKE UNITED.” -Storm Lake United Executive Director Breanna Horsey, BVU ’20 graduate and ’22 master’s graduate

MORE THAN FOUR DECADES OF SERVICE

Dan Phillips’ passion for BVU extends from the gridiron to Alumni Board to Board of Trustees.

Fifty years ago this autumn, Dan Phillips joined the rest of the Beaver football team (pictured above) in hoisting the Iowa Conference championship trophy, the program’s first league title since 1952.

“We beat William Penn in Oskaloosa on the last day of the season,” says Phillips, a 1977 graduate and a member of the BVU Board of Trustees for the past six years. Phillips recounted how defensive players Terry Rolles ’73 and Brad Jones ’77 scored touchdowns that proved pivotal.

The game proved to be a watershed moment for Coach Jim Hershberger, then in his third year at the helm.

Hershberger’s first team went 1-8 in 1970. His second squad fashioned a 6-3 record. The 1972 and 1973 teams, upon which Phillips played, won the Iowa Conference. The 1975 squad, in Phillips’ senior season, won the Boot Hill Bowl and was enshrined in the BVU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2018.

“Coach Hershberger was a powerful influence,” Phillips says while remembering being recruited with Jones from Storm Lake High School after playing on Tornado teams that went undefeated in his junior and senior seasons. “I was 100 percent

sure I’d teach high school history and social studies and coach football. I’d been attending Beaver games and I’d seen the progress Coach Hershberger had made. I wanted to be a part of it.”

Phillips was in the midst of the action, a starter on the offensive line; learning about himself and his teammates as they responded to their coaches.

“I was fond of and deeply respected Coaches Lewis and (Lanny) Grigsby ’60 as a student-athlete,” Phillips says. “I respected and admired Coach Hershberger but grew even closer to him after I graduated. Coach Hershberger was very demanding and pushed us hard to become better players. He also treated everyone with respect.”

Phillips also enjoyed a connection with Dr. Paul Russell, Professor of Economics, and eventual Dean of the Harold Walter Siebens School of Business.

“I thoroughly enjoyed the first class I took with Dr. Russell, and I ended up switching majors to business,” he says. “I am very fortunate as the business world has turned out well for me.”

By 1978, the BVU graduate found himself in Minneapolis, marketing annuity products through investment firms. One of

“...the encouragement and support I’ve received from friends, family members, and my BV family, have been huge assets.”

his clients, Piper Jaffray, offered him a position in the corporate office, as an insurance and annuity product manager. He became an investment advisor in 2000 and has been at it ever since. Phillips and his wife, Jane, raised three children.

Throughout his career, Beaver coaches and professors remained in Phillips’ thoughts. “The instruction I received both on and off the field, and the encouragement and support I’ve received from friends, family members, and my BV family, have been huge assets.”

Phillips began giving back to his alma mater as a 25-year-old. He wrote a check for $25 and mailed it from the Twin Cities to Storm Lake. A few weeks later, while attending Homecoming, Phillips felt a tap on his shoulder.

“It was President Keith Briscoe,” he says with a smile. “The President saw me and thanked me for thinking of Buena Vista.”

When Phillips downplayed his gift and expressed shock Briscoe had made a point to speak with him, the President smiled and offered a prediction that the young graduate would make a gift each year for the rest of his life. Phillips nods while sharing the memory, saying, “President Briscoe was right.”

Phillips expanded on his volunteer service to BVU in 2002 by becoming a member of the National Alumni Association Board of Directors. Eventually, he became President of the organization. In 2016, he answered a call to volunteer with the BVU Board of Trustees.

“I enjoyed playing football and representing Buena Vista during my time as a student,” Phillips says. “I felt blessed to play for such a great man as Coach Hershberger. That being said, my love for the University reached another level when I served on the Alumni Board, which allowed me to see the challenges and rewards of working for our alma mater. I’m grateful for being able to build relationships with BVU faculty, staff, and alumni.

“I see firsthand how important BVU is to my hometown of Storm Lake and to our region,” he says. “I just signed on for three more years as a Trustee because BVU is thriving, and I love it.”

BOARD OF TRUSTEES ADDITIONS ANNOUNCED

Ravi Kumar ’10 Team Lead, Data Use Literacy Program, World Bank

Ravi Kumar, a native of Janakpur, Nepal, has worked with the World Bank for the past decade, meeting his goals of serving an institution that is mission driven while helping some of the most marginalized communities in the world.

“I was the first one in my family to go to college and I know from experience how BVU can be an extraordinary catalyst for change in people’s lives and their careers,” Kumar says. “I am honored to serve my alma mater as a member of the Board of Trustees and help BVU continue to excel at preparing its students to thrive in a world that’s evolving at an unprecedented pace.”

Heath Bartness, who grew up in Lake Mills, started St. Croix Hospice in 2008 and helps lead nearly 1,500 employees in serving more than 3,500 patients per day in 60 locations across 10 states in the Midwest.

“Everything I’ve done seems to have a connection to the past and to a relationship built at BVU,” Bartness says. “I connected with President Lenzmeier and learned about his shared vision for the future. I rallied around the sentiment as I want to offer what I can to benefit a place that means so much to me.”

Heath Bartness ’02

Founder & CEO, St. Croix Hospice

Former President Halverson hoists the co-championship trophy.

SERVICE BOOSTS RESEARCH CAREER

When Dr. Kimberly Perez applied for a position at Moderna, the company didn’t have the worldwide name recognition it has today, a result of its efforts in developing a vaccine for COVID-19.

“Moderna is a great place to work,” says Perez, a 2013 Buena Vista University graduate who serves as a research scientist in Moderna’s platform immunology group. “I’m very happy to be part of a wonderful team of people here.”

Perez was part of three teams at BVU: basketball, volleyball, and track and field. The 2009 graduate of Homer Hanna High School in Brownsville, Tex. was also a member RAICES, Student MOVE, Voices of Praise, and Students of Diverse Populations, during her time as a Beaver.

A highlight of Perez’s experiential learning at BVU came between her freshman and sophomore year when she earned a J. Leslie Rollins Fellowship that funded her work on a medical missionary team in Guatemala.

“I worked in a very rural area in Guatemala,” says Perez, who used her ability as a Spanish speaker throughout the internship. “There was a clinic I served that had no electricity and no running water. I taught mothers about nutrition. I taught about hygiene. We worked to provide services to people who couldn’t access larger clinics. It was very humbling for me.”

Watching women walk miles per day to access, then carry, clean water led Perez to a research experience with Dr. Melinda Coogan,

then BVU’s Associate Professor of Biology. “We used algae to purify polluted water,” Perez says. “After the algae was used to purify water, it could be used to make biodiesel fuel.”

Perez presented research findings at a conference in California the following year, the lone undergraduate to present at the seminar.

“The experience helped me grow,” says Perez. “I love to help people, and I’m not afraid to step out of my comfort zone. Going to Guatemala did that for me.”

Perez, however, had a bit of an adventurous side when she came to BVU, selecting a university 21 hours and 1,300 miles from her parents’ home in the border community of Brownsville. She earned a multicultural scholarship that funded tuition, and room and board, enabling Perez to take an even closer look at the school in Storm Lake.

I don’t know if I would have ended up at Moderna were it not for BVU.

Dr. Perez and a Spanish teacher’s family in Gautemala.

“Being a border town, Brownsville is Mexican-American predominantly,” she says. “My parents were reluctant about me going to school that far from home. At the same time, they also knew how important it was for me to get an education and to experience new things outside of that part of the world.”

Perez earned her bachelor’s degree in a distributive major pairing biochemistry and mathematics. She learned about the Mayo Clinic thanks to the many connections people such as Dr. Stephen Russell, Professor of Molecular Medicine and Consultant Hematologist at Mayo Clinic and a member of the BVU Board of Trustees, and President Brian Lenzmeier, fostered at the world’s premier medical center.

“I knew I really wanted to pursue a career in science and research, so I applied to the Mayo Clinic and was fortunate they thought I was a good candidate,” says Perez, who earned her Ph.D. in five years. She then spent two years at Stanford University serving in a lab directed by Dr. Juliana Idoyaga, who trained under the late Dr. Ralph Steinman, a Nobel Prize winner in physiology and medicine.

Following two years at Stanford, Perez earned a position at Moderna and moved to Boston.

“I don’t know if I would have ended up at Moderna were it not for BVU,” says Perez, 31. “BVU helped me learn about Mayo and helped me earn my first research experience there. The J. Leslie Rollins Fellowship, competing in sports, working on a research project; all those experiences helped me realize what I enjoy doing.”

CONTINUING A LEGACY

Buena Vista University Head Volleyball Coach Will Baumann ’04 began his coaching career as a BVU student. Baumann played baseball collegiately until an elbow injury derailed his pitching hopes. He filled the void on the volleyball court, as a coach, continuing a family legacy.

“As a sophomore baseball player, I was done,” says Baumann, while gesturing to a scar on his right elbow. “And then I had so much time on my hands, I had to fill it. I became an assistant volleyball coach at Schaller-Crestland High School under my aunt, Coach Marilyn Murra.”

Other family members in Baumann’s coaching tree include:

• His mother, Marlene Baumann, coached volleyball at River Valley, Willow, and MMC high schools.

• His brother, Gabe Baumann, who Will joined as an assistant volleyball coach at Bishop Heelan High School in Sioux City in 2004-05.

• His aunt Donna Hardersen, coached volleyball at Hinton High School.

Following two years of work with Murra at Schaller-Crestland, Baumann began student-teaching at Galva-Holstein High School. He simultaneously took the reins as head volleyball coach for the Lady Pirates. That year, his Galva-Holstein team beat his mother’s River Valley team, then Hinton, which featured Hardersen as an assistant coach; and Murra’s Schaller-Crestland team on its way to a state tournament berth.

He pauses and smiles, then delivers a bit of a punchline: “It was a good Thanksgiving that year.”

THIS

DOESN’T FEEL LIKE WORK.

Following a stint at Heelan coaching with his brother, Baumann was hired by the Tripoli Community School District. He taught physical education and coached volleyball at Tripoli for eight years, leading the Panthers to five state championships. During that time, Baumann was named the 2012 Iowa Volleyball Coach of the Year by the National Federation of High Schools. In 2014, he headed to Nevada High School and guided the Cubs to the Class 3A state semifinals, becoming a finalist for National Coach of the Year. The following season, his Nevada team earned a Class 3A state tournament title.

He returned to Northwest Iowa later in 2015 as his father fought cancer. He served as Head Coach at Washington High School in Cherokee for one season while also toiling as an Assistant Coach at BVU.

“After my dad received a clean bill of health, my wife, Erin (Steinkamp) Baumann ’03 and I moved our family to Clarinda, where I coached for two years,” he says.

Along the way, he built Champions Approach, a volleyball clinic that serves 35 high schools in Iowa. Through Champions Approach, Baumann works with coaches and student-athletes to reach their potential. The effort, he says, aids high school programs and players often adversely affected by the high rate of turnover among prep volleyball teams.

“I stepped away from being a head coach four years ago and spent time with my family as I taught and built Champions Approach,” he says. “I had always wanted to take the leap into collegiate coaching, but never did until I got a nudge from the universe last spring.”

He then nudged his former advisor to see if she would take the leap of faith with him.

“Coach Janet Berry (Assistant Professor of Physical Education, Emeritus) was my advisor when I was a student,” Baumann says. “I called her after our fall camp started because I needed someone with her skills and expertise to help me with the logistics and details like travel, scheduling, and more. Janet is super knowledgeable about everything. Having her involved with the team as Director of Volleyball Operations allows me to focus on the development of our student-athletes.”

Coming into his first BVU season, Baumann established a set of rigorous preseason goals for his players to meet. They did so, surpassing his expectations for fall camp. Baumann then tapped assistant coaches in Charity Anderson, Christa Nelson, and Darcy (Voss) Bolling, all of whom have extensive playing and teaching experience across the Midwest.

“With Coach Berry and our awesome assistant coaches, the players are working to adopt our core values, one of which involves the feedback you receive every night on the scoreboard,” he says. “The feedback tells us how to go at it the next day as we pursue our potential.”

As the Beavers started the pre-conference portion of their season, Baumann asked them to pause while journaling about what they did—and what they accomplished—in practice each afternoon. Siebens Fieldhouse grew silent as players contemplated what they learned about themselves and, maybe, one another.

The coach surveyed the quiet in a place he knew as an undergraduate nearly two decades ago. And while there is always work to do, improvements to be made, the longtime volleyball coach seems to love where he’s at, strengthening a foundation that started at Buena Vista University.

“This is the best job I’ve ever had,” he says with a smile. “I truly enjoy this. It doesn’t feel like work.”

BVU ESTABLISHES TEAMS IN WOMEN’S WRESTLING, STUNT

Archery and clay target sports also added as competitive club activities

Buena Vista University ushered in the 2022-23 academic year by announcing the addition of two new sports and a pair of club sports.

STUNT

BVU is the first institution in Iowa to add STUNT, which is among the fastest growing sports in the country. STUNT focuses on the skills and technical elements of cheer, and it complements a growing number of BVU students who take part in competitive dance and cheer on campus.

WOMEN’S WRESTLING

BVU became the third American Rivers Conference institution to add women’s wrestling to its roster of athletic endeavors, a sport that’s growing in popularity on high school and college campuses across the country. BVU is the 12th NCAA Division III school in the Midwest to feature women’s wrestling.

ARCHERY & CLAY TARGET SPORTS

Archery and clay target sports were added late this summer, and practices began in September. The establishment of both teams comes at a time when student interest in these shooting sports is rising, as evidenced by the number of high schools expanding their offerings to include them.

Archery and clay target sports follow recent club sports additions at BVU such as rodeo, livestock show team, and esports.

BVU senior Taylor Wedemeyer, center, congratulates freshman Molly McCauley (No. 6) while senior Hannah Smith (No. 12) cheers in the background during a victory over Martin Luther College in Siebens Fieldhouse.

BUENA

MENTORING PROJECT STRIVES TO SERVE

First-Generation Students & Students of Color

By Dr. Heather Black, Vice President for Student Success

At Buena Vista University, we are working diligently to eliminate equity gaps when it comes to first-generation students and students of color, as statistics both nationally and locally show those students don’t enjoy the same graduation rate as their peers.

The reasons are numerous: lack of familial experience in college; economic insecurity; more pressures involving employment commitments to help the student and their family; and more.

This issue is very important to me, primarily for these two reasons: 40 percent of our new students identify as first-generation college students; and the fact that I, too, was a first-generation college student when I was in their shoes.

Peer-to-peer mentoring programs have been found to be successful in guiding first-generation students and students of color toward graduation. With that in mind, BVU Student Success has initiated a mentorship pilot program this fall.

The program focuses on these priorities:

We are committed to a service aspect that aligns with BVU’s mission, “Education for Service.” Giving back to one’s community is vital for good mental health as doing so boosts a sense of belonging and purpose. Research shows that moments of kindness not only help and make others feel better, those acts also have a positive long-term effect on the giver. Our mentors will guide their mentees to service efforts within our community.

We will feature a social aspect that allows new students to find “their crew.” Mentors will be intentional in leading new students to events and organizations they can join. Mentors will help mentees attend activities among clubs and organizations until the mentee is comfortable and confident enough to attend on their own.

Mentors will help students establish good academic habits. Studies show that first-generation college students often feel inhibited when participating in group-study sessions or asking questions about where to access assistance. We will build on the successful structure of BVU’s Center for Academic Excellence in doing all we can to help new students achieve success in the classroom.

Finally, our mentors will encourage mentees to become leaders themselves. One of greatest outcomes of this initiative will see new students who one day become mentors accept and meet the responsibilities of helping other first-generation students and students of color grow into their BVU journey.

Our first mentors are also first-generation students, upperclassman who serve our campus and community through the Education for Service Program, or in other efforts such as BV Buddies (a mentoring program that matches our students with students in the local high schools and middle schools), Student MOVE, RAICES, Black Student Union, MELT (Multicultural Engagement and Leadership Team), and more.

Our mentors are succeeding in the classroom. They are connected to their peers and to our faculty and staff. Several have successfully completed internships and have a plan in place as they position themselves in careers that will begin soon after graduation.

712.749.2101

We are grateful for BVU’s Trustees Opportunity Fund, which has funded this pilot project. We are excited to grow with our mentors and mentees through an initiative that will positively impact dozens of students this year and in the years years to come, making BVU, our alumni, our students, and our greater community even better equipped to live out our mission: “Education for Service.”

CLASS NOTES

1970s

Steve Roe ’77, University of Iowa Director of Athletic Communications, was elected to the College Sports Information Directors Hall of Fame.

1980s

Melody (Cotton) Bruns ’84 has been promoted to Vice President of Autism and Community Services at ChildServe.

significant contributions to programs and services for students with disabilities.

Mark Hopkins ’93 is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Educational Leadership Program at the University of Iowa.

Tony Kopf ’94 is the Compliance Officer/ BSA Officer at United Republic Bank in Elkhorn, Neb.

Lisa Nissen ’94 is a Middle School Special Education Teacher at Sibley-Ocheyedan Community School District.

Angie Phillips ’95 is a Fourth Grade Math and Science Teacher at Davis County Schools.

Stacey (Weaver) Cole ’96, Storm Lake Community School District Superintendent, has been appointed to serve on the Iowa Department of Education’s Superintendent Advisory Council for the 2022-23 school year.

Josh Rasmussen ’97 is the new Superintendent for the Adair-Casey & Guthrie Center School District.

Jennifer (Biwer) Patterson ’02 became Registrar at Riverland Community College, stationed in Austin, Minn.

Aaron Fuller ’03, Knoxville Police Chief, has been named to the 2021 Red Rock Area Top 10 Under 40 by the Marion County Development Commission, honoring young professionals throughout the county who are making a difference in their communities.

Jeremy Christiansen ’04 is the Superintendent and High School Principal at Boyer Valley Community School District.

Jaclyn (Hugg) Wang ’05 and husband Justin Wang welcomed baby John Paul Pro to their family on July 5, 2022.

James Larsen ’05 is an Assistant Principal at Wilson Middle School in Council Bluffs.

Kristy (Arnold) Smith M.S.Ed. ’05 is the Guidance Counselor at Humboldt Middle School.

Jennifer (Rysdam) Pavlovec ’06 has been promoted to Vice President of Finance at ChildServe.

Ty Seaman ’86 (left), retired Storm Lake Community School District teacher and wrestling coach, was the recipient of the 2022 Iowa Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association’s President’s Award, presented to him by Clint Koedam ’97 (right).

Jan (Beranek) Spielman ’86, a Private Wealth Advisor with Ameriprise Financial in Spencer and Storm Lake, was named to the list of “Best-in-State Wealth Advisors” published by Forbes Magazine, also being named to this list in 2021.

Susan (Briscoe) Tideman ’86 is the Executive Director at Blue Valley Educational Foundation.

1990s

Kimberly (Sellers) Johnson ’91 is the Work-Based Learning Coordinator at Sumner-Fredericksburg Community School District.

Julie (Eddie) Meyer ’92, Special Education Consultant with Prairie Lakes Area Education Agency, was awarded for Distinguished Service by the Iowa Council of Administrators of Special Education, which is presented to individuals making

Andrew Offenburger ’98, Associate Professor of History at Miami University, is working with students to create the “Small Town, Big World” series of profiles on Storm Lake residents.

Michael Jensen ’99 is the Principal Technical Program Director at Nike.

Jacob Hedger ’99 is the new High School Principal at Logan-Magnolia Community Schools.

2000s

Adrienne (Poland) Schwarte ’00, Associate Professor of Art/ Design at Maryville College, is a member of Leadership Blount’s Class of 2023, a community leadership program.

Staci (Keenan) Nevinski ’01 graduated from Iowa State University in May 2022 with a master’s in accounting and a master’s in business analytics.

Sara Rye ’01 was promoted to Assistant Vice President/ Retail Branch Manager at Clear Lake Bank & Trust and successfully completed the Iowa Bankers Association Leadership Institute.

Kevin Bresnahan ’02 married Christin Larkin on May 28, 2022 in Waukon.

Laura (Swingen) Schleusner ’07, owner of Java 18 and LMS Properties in Garner and Controller at Clear Lake Bank & Trust, was named as the February 2022 Entrepreneur of the Month by the NIACC John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center and North Iowa Area Small Business Development Center.

Derek Jansen ’07 was promoted to Vice President - Actuarial Modernization at F&G.

Wendy (Lehman) Peichel ’07 has been promoted to Senior Wealth Planner at Strong Tower Wealth Management.

Matt Hanson ’07 captured his fourth Ironman North American Championship in the 140.6-mile Des Moines Triathlon.

Joe Kuefler ’08 is the Director of Electric Strategy at Hearth & Home Technologies.

Adam Nederhoff ‘08 is a Financial Representative for Thrivent in Iowa Falls.

Nick ’08 and Courtney (Pennell) Buelt ’08 welcomed baby Ezra Thomas to their family on July 16, 2022.

Joni Elder ’09 is a Social-Emotional Learning Coach at Davis County High School.

Courtney (Bevins) Hamilton M.S.Ed. ’09 is a Kindergarten Teacher at Newell-Fonda Community School.

2010s

Margo (Muhlbauer) Hansen ’10 was the recipient of the quarterly Dunlap Community Development Corporation’s “That’s How It’s Dun” award, a recognition to honor those who go above and beyond in their volunteer service to the Dunlap community.

Trish (Slate) Bayer ’10 earned the Certified Manager of Community Associations (CMCA) designation from the CMCA International Certification Board. She is employed with Associa Colorado.

Adrian Wallace ’11 works in Commercial Lines Emerging Capabilities & Competitive Intelligence - Operations at Nationwide.

April (Abbas) Degner ’11 married Shane Degner on August 20, 2022 in Albert City.

Jenna (Kenkel) Hucka M.S.Ed. ’11, Literacy Consultant with Green Hills AEA, was named Shelby County Mother’s Association’s Young Mother of the Year.

Scott ’12 and Kirsten (Brown) Radke ’12 welcomed baby Raymond Michael to their family on Feb. 15, 2022.

Tonya (Jacobson) Santos ’12 officially opened the doors at The Spot, the new rolled ice cream shop in Storm Lake, on July 8, 2022.

Keifer Nevius ’12 and wife Miriah welcomed baby Lucien Rain to their family on June 29, 2022.

Erin (Maynard) Pinkerton ’12 is a Fourth Grade Teacher at Storm Lake St. Mary’s School.

Kyle Auffert ’13 and wife Amanda welcomed baby Nolan Christopher to their family on Feb.10, 2022.

Doug Dimig ’13 and wife Rebecca welcomed baby Rowan Allan to their family on May 13, 2022.

Alexandra (Olesen) Blinkmann ’13 is the Provider Compensation Program Director at Banner Health.

Nathan Johnson ’13 is the Director of Major Gifts at Iowa State University.

Carolyn Powers ’13 is a Fifth Grade ELA Instructor in the Humboldt Community School District.

Krista (Schuck) Miller ’13 is a Kindergarten Teacher in the Cherokee Community School District.

Morgan (Gehling) Reinking ’13 M.Ed. ’22 is a Kindergarten Teacher at Franklin Elementary School in Le Mars.

Kathryn (Osborne) Loew ’13 is an English Teacher at Newell-Fonda High School.

Cindy (Barahona) Roth ’13 is a Special Education Instructional Assistant at the Storm Lake Middle School.

Nicole Nee ’13 is a Middle School Special Education Instructional Assistant with the Storm Lake Community School District.

Amber (Sorgea) Jordan ’14 has been named Director of the Office of Disability Services at Lincoln College and continues to serve as the college’s Assistant Diving Coach.

Gwen (Walton) Martin ’14 and husband Kyle welcomed baby Elzada Brettlynn to their family on March 22, 2022.

Bea (Biedenfeld) ’14 and husband Justin Klein ’13 welcomed baby Nolan Shea to their family on March 13, 2022.

Alicia (Nitzschke) Hoffman ’14 is the Deputy Clerk for the City of Remsen.

Taryn (Reimers) Reichter ’14, Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant/Licensed at Cherokee Regional Medical Center and current Occupational Therapy student at Condordia University, has been awarded a $3,500 scholarship from the Iowa Hospital

Education and Research Foundation Health Care Careers Scholarship Program.

Jaime Oberg-Hanson M.S.Ed. ’14 assumed command responsibilities of Delta Company, 224th Brigade Engineer Battalion in Johnston.

Patrick Osborn ’15 is the Planning Manager at Leonardo DRS.

Sahara Scott ’15 received her Master of Science degree in Information Sciences from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She works as the the Story Center Publication Manager for the Mid-Continent Public Library.

Steve Gutschenritter ’15 and wife Abby welcomed baby Ford William to their family on July 25, 2022.

Erin (Whitehill) Krough ’15 has been promoted to Assistant Vice President/ Deposit Operations Manager at Pinnacle Bank.

Krislyn Erickson ’16 is the Underwriting Associate at CNA Surety in Sioux Falls, S. Dak.

Bailey McQueen-Jones ’16 was honored during the Council Bluffs Area Chamber of Commerce’s Mid-Year Meeting as part of the 34th class of Leadership graduates, made up of 20 professionals from across the community.

Nicole (Radmaker) Christians ’16 was married to Brandon Christians in Spirit Lake on August 27, 2022.

Sheri (Stumpf) Blair M.S.Ed. ’16 is a Middle School Counselor at Creston Community School.

Tanner ’17 and Lesa (Turnquist) Heckt ’15 welcomed baby Miley Kate to their family on April 9, 2022.

Yadira (Alday) Munoz ’17 M.Ed. ’20 and husband Eric welcomed baby Melissa to their family on April 3, 2022.

Tyler ’17 and Jana (Timmerman) Morrissey ’17 welcomed baby Nora Nicole to their family on May 16, 2022.

Tyler Larson ’17 is an Internal Medicine Resident at University of Nebraska Medical Center.

Michelle (Eccher) ’17 married Seth Peirce in Fonda on June 11, 2022.

Dallas ’17 and Erin (Rachuy) Heuton ’18 welcomed baby Jayda James to their family on May 29, 2022.

Amy (McBee) Scroggie ’17 is a Special Education Teacher at Creston High School.

Jake Jensen ’18 is an Investment Performance Specialist at Principal Global Investors.

Tyler Oberreuter ’18, beef cattle Veterinarian at Valley Veterinary Center, was recently awarded the $2,500 IVMA Future Service Scholarship presented by Cattle First from Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc.

Mitch Girres ’18 married Brooke Hoffman on July 2, 2022 in Graettinger.

Molly Nuckolls ’18 is the Children’s Librarian at Shenandoah Public Library.

Christian Kladstrup ’18 is a member of the Des Moines University Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Class of 2022.

Angela Duffy ’18 is a Special Education Teacher at Humboldt High School.

Kendall Candor ’18 is an elementary Physical Education Teacher with the Le Mars Community School District.

Brooke Noble ’18 is a Special Education Instructional Assistant at Storm Lake High School.

Lesa Haughey ’19 of Tama has joined WCF Financial Bank in a Customer Support role.

Caylyn McCormick ’19 is the Coordinator of Disability Services/Jail Coordinator for Crawford and Buena Vista counties at Rolling Hills Community Services.

Ali (Grein) Poeppe ’19 is a Second Grade Teacher and the Head Volleyball Coach at Sibley-Ocheyedan Schools.

Emily Kenny ’19 joined Spectrum News 1 as a Digital Journalist covering food production and agriculture.

Logan Krause ’19 has been promoted to Director of Ticket Operations at Drake University.

Jordan Buhs ’19 is the Sixth Grade Literacy Teacher and Assistant High School Baseball Coach for the Humboldt Community School District

Laura Stangl ’19 is a High School Special Education Teacher at OABCIG Community School District.

Tiana Tesch ’19 is a Special Education Teacher at Lincoln Elementary School in Spencer.

Kennedy (Colvert) Candor ’19 is a Clark Elementary Academic Interventionist and 9th Grade Volleyball Coach at Le Mars Community School District.

2020s

Gage Smart ’20 has been signed to the Washington Wild Things Baseball Team as Pitcher after being 10-9 in his collegiate baseball career at BVU and as a Graduate Student at Campbellsville University.

Abbie Tillman ’20 graduated from Emporia State University with a Master of Science in Art Therapy Counseling.

Kaitlin Francis ’20 has been promoted to Mako Product Specialist at Stryker.

Laura Petersen ’20 is a College Recruiter at Kimley-Horn in the Greater MinneapolisSaint Paul area.

Micah Barnes ’20 was crowned Miss Rodeo Iowa 2023.

Alyssa (Rihner) Clark ’20 is a Third Grade Teacher in the Spencer Community School District.

Katie (Cuthrell) McKibben M.A. ’20 and husband Matt welcomed baby Russell Guy to their family on May 30, 2022.

Samantha Sadler M.S.Ed. ’20 is the School Counselor at OABCIG High School.

Crystal McHugh M.S.Ed. ’20 is the Mental Health Coordinator and General Relief Director for Plymouth County.

Jordyn Daggs-Olson ’21 earned third place in Best Video Promo or PSA for “Don’t Be Afraid: Join BVTV” and third place in Best Corporate Video for “BVTV Tour (DIGI Day 2020)” in the Iowa College Media Association’s annual contest.

Evan Grant ’21 earned third place in Best Corporate Video for “BVTV Tour (DIGI Day 2020)” in the Iowa College Media Association’s annual contest.

Ryan Radke ’21 married Courtney Paulsen on June 4, 2022.

Anthony Gallagher ’21 serves as a Business Teacher and Golf Coach for the Indianola Community School District.

Ryley McGregor ’21 married Josie Clay on August 20, 2022 in Dakota Dunes, S. Dak.

Rhondee Knudsen ’21 is a Kindergarten Teacher at Odebolt Elementary School.

Kayla (Worrell) Woods ’21 is a 7th Grade English Language Arts Teacher at Chariton Middle School.

Brooke McGehee ’21 is a 6th and 8th Grade Language Arts Instructor at Creston Community Schools.

Derien Beauregard ’22 is a Police Officer for the Storm Lake Police Department.

Josh Dunsbergen ’22 married Laney Stanton on June 11, 2022.

Sarah Smithburg ’22 is a Middle School Special Education Teacher at Fairfield Community School.

Regan Sylvester ’22 is a Third Grade Teacher at Storm Lake Elementary School.

Abigail Bakerink ’22 is a Kindergarten Teacher at the Lenox Elementary School.

Taegen (Bossard) Ryan ’22 married Nic Ryan on June 25, 2022. Taegen is a Fourth Grade Teacher at Van Allen Elementary School in Chariton.

Sarah (Longmeyer) Cogdill ’22 is a First Grade Teacher at Charter Oak-Ute Community School District.

Regina Haltom ’22 is a Kindergarten Teacher at Clarke Community Schools in Osceola.

Kaetlyn Warburton ’22 is a Fourth Grade Teacher at Spencer Community Schools.

Sara (Stegemann) De Jong ’22 is a Special Education Teacher at SibleyOcheyedan Elementary School.

Jayden Wiltgen ’22 is a 7th and 8th Grade Special Education Teacher at Cherokee Middle School.

Noah Becker ’22 works for Seasons Center and is a Youth Services Worker at Clay Central Everly Elementary School.

Michael Knapp ’22 is the Head 9th Grade Baseball and 9th Grade Boys Basketball Coach at Storm Lake Community School District.

Hailey Hartman ’22 is a Fourth Grade Teacher for the Storm Lake Community School District.

Bailey Harward ’22 is a 7th Grade English/ Language Arts Teacher at Davis County Middle School.

IN MEMORIAM

Richard Hanson ’64, Fort Collins, Colo.

John “Tom” Rutter ’64 Cherokee

Marian (Currie) Benson ’35, Austin, Minn.

Ken Armstrong ’42, Storm Lake

Susie (Davis) Pierson ’46, River Falls, Wisc.

Vernette Wessman ’47, Richfield, Minn.

Leroy Hensley ’49, Vacaville, Calif.

Betty (Huseby) Stein ’49, Gilmore City Eva (Kracht) Bilsten ’49, Sun City, Ariz.

Jack Lyster ’64, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Luella (Wohlers) Wolff ’64, Urbandale

Robert Eppler ’66, Omaha, Neb.

Tom Samsel ’67, Storm Lake

William Roach ’67, Winterset

Peter Scarano ’69, Clinton

Kathryn (Isaacs) Wimer ’68, Storm Lake

Marilyn (McClintock) Bentley ’69, Valley Center, Kans.

Marlene (Hildreth) Stacy ’69, Rockwell City

Barbara (Tamisiea) Purtle ’83, Council Bluffs

Lisa Anderson ’86, Oskaloosa

Thomas Minard ’86, Maitland, Fla.

Linda White ’86, Waukegan, Ill., formerly of Storm Lake Jay Cranston ’87, Storm Lake Lee Ring ’87, Council Bluffs

Ray Pike ’88, Missouri Valley, U.S. Air Force Veteran, 24 years of service Elizabeth (McKay) Hines ’89, Surprize, Ariz.

1990s

John Andersen ’50, Iowa City, Iowa, WWII Navy Veteran

Marjorie (Hogge) Anderson ’53, Sioux Rapids

Marlene (Erickson) Barber ’53, Alta Mary Lou (McMullen) Miller ’54, West Des Moines

Gordon Hoover ’54, Fort Dodge

Margene (Schnell) Ballard ’55, Sac City and Des Moines

Kenneth Peterson ’56, Hampshire, Ill.

John “Jack” Clarkin ’56, Wheaton, Ill.

Gary Fiscus ’57, Farmington, Minn.

Charles Brotherton ’57, Wall Lake Almeda (Erholm) Gordon ’58, Gowrie Robert Ruchensky ’58, Farmington, New Mex.

Janet (Leith) Block ’58, Lake City James Zech ’59, Rockwell City

Frances (Hattig) Burwell ’60, Camarillo, Calif.

Richard Finnestad ’60 Boone Caila (Hall) McCaulley ’61, Williamsburg, Va.

James McDiarmid ’62 Pittsboro, N.C. Nancy (Spielman) Smith ’64, Bridgeport, Tex.

James “Mick” Whitehill ’70, Decorah

Jerry Olson ’71, Des Moines

Sharon Held ’71, Cherokee

Shirley (Lockwood) Clark ’72, Spencer

Richard Pennington ’74, Hinton Steven Kock ’75, Carroll Dallas Steenblock ’75, Storm Lake Charles “Kirk” Page ’76, Twin Falls, Idaho

Beverly (Babb) Schoon ’76, Waukee

Alan Johnson ’78, Fort Dodge Karen (Peters) DeWolf ’79, Ames

Dorothy (Smith) Willardson ’79, Gowrie

Carolyn (Yungschlager) Steig ’79, Plano, Tex.

1970s 1980s

Judy (Prine) Warrick ’80, Gowrie

Marietta Anderson ’81, Fort Dodge and Mason City Salli (Looft) Harmon ’81, Council Bluffs

Joen (Morris) Larson ’81, Princeton

Michael Maranell ’82, Omaha, Neb.

John Paulsen ’83, Lake View

Connie (Ward) Fengel ’91, Riverton Jane (Fresh) Stevenson ’92, Bloomfield

Virginia “Ginger” (Stowell) Kerr ’94, Lone Rock

Shelly (Langer) Smith ’96, Exira James Dooley ’96, Fort Dodge

Christine (Nonnweiler) Atwell ’97, Garner

Ted Pattschull ’98, Mason City Terri (Mikkelsen) Miller ’98, Winterset

Ryan McCaulley ’00, Fort Dodge, formerly of Manson Kristy Klein ’02, Yankton, S. Dak., formerly of Alton Liesa (Hormann) Cloke ’03, Eldon Megan (Souba) Bauer ’06, Storm Lake

Kevin Griffiths ’11, Ottumwa Jannell (Post) Kiechle ’14, Ottumwa Katherine (Swanson) Nielsen ’15, Harlan

Coco Bryant M.S.Ed. ’21, Cedar Rapids

STAY CONNECTED

610 West 4th St. Storm Lake, IA 50588

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

AND THE SURVEY SAYS…

you to everyone who completed the 2022 BVU Donor Survey earlier this year!

were amazed by the number of responses and are so grateful for all of you. We learned so much, but here are the top five lessons you shared with us.

MORE THAN 93 PERCENT OF YOU INDICATED THAT YOU READ THE BVU ALUMNI MAGAZINE. This is wonderful!

THE MOST COMMON REASON WHY ALUMNI AND FRIENDS GIVE TO THE UNIVERSITY: THEY APPRECIATE THE QUALITY EDUCATION THAT BVU PROVIDES. Thank you to all of the alumni and friends who choose to pay it forward. We promise to continue offering a top-notch education at BVU.

MORE THAN 86 PERCENT OF YOU ARE SATISFIED WITH HOW WE INFORM YOU ABOUT THE IMPACT OF YOUR GIFTS. From an annual Personal Impact Statement to the monthly Beyond the Arch e-newsletter, we promise to continue to share all the wonderful ways your support of BVU makes an impact on the lives of students.

ONLY ABOUT HALF OF YOU ACTIVELY FOLLOW BVU ON SOCIAL MEDIA. If you aren’t actively following BVU on social media, we invite you to start today (@buenavistauniversity).

ALMOST 10 PERCENT OF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN ADDING BVU TO YOUR ESTATE PLANS. If you are interested in learning about how easy it is to include BVU in your estate plans, please reach out to Matt Astleford ’02, MBA, Associate Vice President, at: astlefordm@bvu.edu, 712.749.2648

Thanks again to everyone who participated this year. Please watch for an opportunity to take the 2023 survey in January. In the meantime, please don’t hesitate to share your thoughts with the Office of University Advancement at: alumni@bvu.edu, 712.749.2101