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The Rate of Success Dear Alumni and Friends of Simpson: Every time we host a prospective student event, I talk about the incredible outcomes Simpson College graduates achieve. The Class of 2018 National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) report confirms that claim. Once again, 99 percent of our 2018 graduates are employed full-time or pursuing full-time graduate study. That figure compares with a rate of 86 percent for all colleges and universities across the nation. In explaining that rate of success, I point to two primary factors. First is the strength of the academic and co-curricular programs Simpson students experience. Our proximity to Des Moines allows our students to take full advantage of the almost limitless internship opportunities available to them. In recent years, three-fifths of all new college graduate hiring in the United States has occurred because of student internships. Our faculty and staff work constantly to aid our students with their internships, thereby ensuring the NACE outcomes our students routinely attain. The second factor relates directly to the theme of this issue of The Simpson Magazine. In this edition, you will read accounts of alumni who share insights about the people at Simpson whose influence changed their lives. From my own visits with many of you, I well understand how so many Simpson alumni
credit someone at the college with helping shape their lives. So many of our alumni point to someone whose care, concern and encouragement guided them to choose a path leading to a more fulfilled life and a more enjoyable career. There are so many features of the college that make Simpson singular and exemplary. Of the long list we could compile, perhaps the most important is the quality of the faculty and staff who work so closely with our students. The influence they wield through their commitment, professionalism and care have guided generations of Simpson graduates to richer lives. As you read some of the accounts reported in this issue of the magazine, you will no doubt find parallels with your own Simpson experience. Thanks to all of you for your support for Simpson. I hope you enjoy reading this new issue of The Simpson Magazine. Sincerely,
JAY K. SIMMONS
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5 SIMPSON SUCCESS 6 FACULTY PURSUITS John Walker Faculty & Staff Accomplishments 9 CONTINUING & GRADUATE PROGRAMS
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On the cover: Dick Starr and Bill Wright ’92. See story on page 16.
The Simpson Magazine is published by the Office of Marketing and Public Relations. Send correspondence to alumni.office@simpson.edu.
THE MAGAZINE Jay K. Simmons Simpson College President Produced by the Office of Marketing and Public Relations
Leslie Byars Diehl ’03 Art Director
Oscar Preis Web Development Specialist
Bryan Geelan ’07 Marketing Communication Director
Mary Fortune Marketing Coordinator
Devin Perry Virtual Media Specialist
Contributing Writers Bryan Geelan ’07 Jill Ramthun Johnson ’85
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Office of Alumni Relations Andy English ’05 Director 515-961-1547 Office of College Advancement Bob Lane ’81 Vice President 515-961-1549
Photo submitted.
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No Stranger to Success Matt Chance ’97 named runner-up for national coaching award. AS AN ATHLETE, MATT CHANCE WAS ONE OF THE BEST DISTANCE RUNNERS TO EVER WEAR THE RED AND GOLD. A THREE-TIME ALLAMERICAN AND MULTI-TIME CONFERENCE CHAMPION, HE WAS INDUCTED INTO SIMPSON’S HALL OF FAME IN 2016.
Photo submitted.
As a coach, Chance has built a powerhouse track and cross country program at Bowling Green High School in Missouri. In 21 years, his teams have won more than 50 conference and district championships while he has earned Missouri State Coach of the Year honors three times. But the honor he received last November stands out among the rest.
to less than 20 votes. Chris Metzger of Pinecrest High School in Southern Pines, N.C., narrowly edged Chance for the top honor. Chance was humbled by the recognition, especially when he found out he was nominated by a parent. “We have a great thing going with our cross country and track teams, especially with the family atmosphere we have among our teams,” he said. “I think most of our parents know that if their kids are running here, they are going to be treated well, treated right and respected by the entire coaching staff.” Chance transferred to Simpson after spending his freshman year at Fort Scott Community College in Fort Scott, Kan. After his head coach left Fort Scott, he wanted to transfer closer to his hometown of Lovilia, Iowa, while still competing in track and field. The move to Simpson paid off as Chance—who graduated with degrees in physical education and health—became the only distance runner in school history to earn multiple All-America honors. He never lost a conference championship in the outdoor 5,000 meters, winning the title annually from 1994–97.
Chance earned national runner-up honors for U.S. Cellular’s Most Valuable Coach, a program that honors current coaches of K-12 school-affiliated sports teams who connect to the good in all of us by inspiring their players through true leadership and community involvement. “I loved everything about Simpson,” he said. “I loved my coaches, I loved the kids I ran with and I loved the “[Winning the award] gave me a sense of pride,” Chance atmosphere. It really took me to another level.” said. “I’ve been at Bowling Green for 20-plus years and we’ve had a lot of success during that time. It was really Given his status as an elite student-athlete, Chance in no neat to see the number of people who got behind this, way expected the news he received just months following even people from outside of Bowling Green.” his induction into Simpson’s Hall of Fame. The voting took place online. His supporters took advantage of social media to share his news, and his votes skyrocketed from there.
In March of 2017, Chance found out he had stage four cancer in his head and neck. He underwent eight weeks of chemotherapy and radiation treatments that summer, and was able to beat the disease.
“The process was kind of overwhelming—but in a good way,” he said. “It really took off when a lot of my family, Today, Chance is cancer free, but—as it so often does— friends and even the Simpson community, shared the news the experience changed him. on Facebook. It also gave me a chance to reconnect with a “I really look at things a lot differently now,” he said. “I lot of people.” try to enjoy things a lot more, whether it be as a father, U.S. Cellular presented a check for $25,000 to the a husband or a coach. I just try to enjoy life a little more school district for Chance’s accomplishments. After the than I once did.” n months-long voting process, the final tally came down 5 SIMPSON.EDU/MAGAZINE
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Wandering Years BY AM E LIA SC HAF E R ’22
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP? This is a question that plagues everyone from the time they first start to speak. By high school, most people have an idea of what direction they’re going to take in their life. For John Walker, this realization took a little while longer. In what Walker describes as his “wandering years,” he found out that he had a love for construction and entrepreneurial work. Originally, Walker went to school for psychology but ended up going back to obtain his M.B.A. “I wandered a bit in my academic pursuits when I was younger,” Walker said. “I didn’t really know what I wanted to do with my life, which, looking back at it, I think isn’t abnormal. This allowed me to develop a better view of the world.” So why business? “I come from a family that is deeply ingrained in small businesses,” he said. “I never really considered a corporate, linear path. I enjoy the challenges and control of your own destiny that comes with having your own business.” It wasn’t until Walker began a career in construction that he found his place. Walker worked for several years until he was in a position where he could teach without worrying about anything else. The switch occurred eight years ago. Once he saw a job posting for an assistant professor of business management at Simpson, he knew it was the perfect fit. “I always had teaching in the back of my mind. As I’ve gotten older, I started to develop a ‘giving back’ mindset. Both my mother and grandmother were teachers. I had also discussed with my family that if an opportunity to teach came along, I would take it.” Walker even has a special connection to Simpson College. Walker’s grandfather attended Simpson in 1919, and his mother graduated in 1965. “That’s one of the reasons why I really jumped at the opportunity to teach at Simpson, I have this special connection.”
Assistant Professor of Management
Education: M.B.A., University of Iowa, 2002 B.S. Psychology, Iowa State University, 1995
JOHN WALKER business students with resources, and C.E.O. operates as a single-credit class that gives students a way to discover their strengths and weaknesses within the business field. These two programs aren’t Walker’s only commitments to the campus. This spring, Walker will lead a May Term trip to Southeast Asia. The course allows students to travel to Thailand and Vietnam, where they will explore the business field and delve into the field of social entrepreneurship. Overall, Walker enjoys seeing his students grow and flourish in business. Watching his students find where they fit sparks a certain kind of joy in his soul. “I am still involved with the construction industry through partnerships, but my heart is focused on teaching,” he said. “I’m focused on helping Simpson students become successful and find satisfaction with their lives.”
THREE QUESTIONS FOR JOHN: Favorite book: Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck.
While at Simpson, Walker has helped the business department flourish. He works with Emerge@Simpson and is a faculty advisor for the Collegiate Entrepreneurial Organization (C.E.O.). Emerge@Simpson is an organization that provides 6 SIMPSON COLLEGE
Favorite movie: “Napoleon Dynamite.” The story it tells about finding your strengths is inspiring, as well as hilarious. If he wasn’t teaching: John would probably still be working in construction, as he still has ties to businesses in Des Moines. ■
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Barb Ramos, professor of education, was an invited facilitator for the preconference Leadership Workshop at the Association of Independent Liberal Arts in February in Louisville, Ky. At the same conference, she presented “Taboo Topics: Let’s Talk” on preparing future teachers in suicide prevention, child sexual abuse prevention, trauma-sensitive teaching and social-emotional learning. In March, Ramos presented “Teacher Leadership: If You Want to Go Far, Go Together” at the Critical Questions in Education Conference in Savannah, Ga. Marilyn Mueller, professor of management, earned recertification for three years as a senior certified professional with the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM– SCP.) Patricia Calkins, professor of German, and Sharon Wilkinson, professor of French, authored an article, “Redesigning the Curriculum for Student Persistence in Small Language Programs,” that will be published in the next issue of the ADFL Bulletin, Issue 46 Number 1, 2019. Murphy Waggoner, professor of mathematics, sat for and passed the Society of Actuaries Exam P (Probability). CoryAnne Harrigan, professor of English, presented her paper “Bound Desires and Looser Sports: The Etiology of Florimell’s Girdle” at the Sixteenth-Century Society and Conference in Albuquerque, N.M.
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Chad Timm ‘95, associate professor of teacher education, authored a chapter titled “Under a Watchful Eye” published in the book The Handmaid’s Tale and Philosophy: A Womb of One’s Own. His contribution relies on philosopher Michel Foucault’s work to analyze the ways in which knowledge and power are used to educate and mis-educate handmaids in Margaret Atwood’s influential novel. TENTH EDITION
Mark Green, professor of management, was lead author for the textbook Global Marketing, 10th Edition, published by Pearson PLC.
GLOBAL MARKETING
David Richmond, professor of art, displayed his latest works and delivered a lecture about his work at The Helene Center–Constance Gallery at Graceland University. These works are digital photographic montage and multi-media imagery.
Mark C. Green Warren J. Keegan
Jan Everhart, professor of religion, was invited by the District Superintendent and Simpson Trustee Heecheon Jeon to participate on a diverse panel for Central District United Methodist clergy, focused on the United Methodist Church’s decisions about human sexuality. Nick Proctor, professor of history, was a facilitator at the three-day workshop “Reacting to the Past and OER Design” for Affordable Learning Georgia, RTTP Winter Institute, University of Georgia. Cyd Dyer, college librarian/archivist/professor, is serving on the Board of Trustees of the Indianola Public Library and the steering committee of the Iowa Private Academic Libraries. Terry Grapentine, professor of business administration, was invited to give a talk on critical thinking to the Society of Insurance Research (SIR) at their annual spring conference. His presentation discussed how marketing researchers can improve their critical thinking skills when reporting research results and working with management on marketing planning.
Aswati Subramanian, assistant professor of biology, won first prize in the ‘Art in Science’ contest at the Iowa Microscopy Society meeting for her submission “Eye Candy,” a scanning electron micrograph of a fruit fly eye. Images that were both visually stunning and scientifically accurate and informative were considered for awards.
Scott Slechta ’80, adjunct professor of English and education, is serving as the Teacher Academy instructor for Des Moines Area Community College at Southridge Center, where students take concurrent credit courses while attending high school at both Norwalk and Indianola. Additionally, Slecta serves on the Member Education Task Force for Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, assisting with redesigning the curriculum, educating members on how to become better members and people and increasing chapter-wide participate in education. continued >>>>
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Heather Hulen, head cheer coach, was awarded the Simpson College Achievement Award for Distinguished Community Service at the annual Indianola Chamber of Commerce Awards Ceremony. The award is given in recognition of, and appreciation for, outstanding leadership and service to the civic betterment of Warren County with particular emphasis on voluntary service.
Tayler Keitzer, area coordinator for first-year and Greek areas, was awarded the Outstanding New Professional of the Year by the Iowa Student Personnel Association at its annual conference. Luke Behaunek, dean of students, was awarded the Distinguished Service Award by the Iowa Student Personnel Association at its annual conference.
Photo by Mark Davitt
Marilyn Leek, director of procurement, Photo by Mark Davitt was awarded the Simpson College Achievement Award for Distinguished Dawn Barnes, donor relations and research manager, was Community Service at the annual Indianola elected for a three-year term to the board of directors for Chamber of Commerce Awards Ceremony. the Association of Prospect Researchers for Advancement The award is given in recognition of, and (APRA), Great Plains chapter. Barnes will be serving as appreciation for, outstanding leadership education chair, providing members with current information and service to the civic betterment of on educational opportunities to assist them in achieving the Warren County with particular emphasis on level of knowledge and skill necessary to serve their institution voluntary service. efficiently and successfully.
Jay Wilkinson, director of International Education, was selected to participate in a prestigious, federally-funded Fulbright International Education Administrators two-week seminar that visited the Indian cities of Mumbai, Pune and Hyderabad.
FACULTY TENURE AND PROMOTION April Drumm-Hewitt
Mark Siebert
Mimi Kammer
Rebecca Livingstone
Matthew Lau
Judy Walden
Four Simpson professors were awarded tenure and promotion to Associate by the Simpson College Board of Trustees: April Drumm-Hewitt, associate professor of psychology; Mimi Kammer, associate professor of theatre; Matthew Lau, associate professor of music and Mark Siebert, associate professor of multimedia communication. Two Simpson professors, Rebecca Livingstone, professor of history and Judy Walden, professor of history, were promoted to full professors. n
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A Living Legacy FROM A YOUNG AGE, BRIAN KEMMERER ’13 DREAMT OF BECOMING AN ATTORNEY. BUT AS IT SO OFTEN DOES, LIFE GOT IN THE WAY. FAMILY OBLIGATIONS KEPT HIM FROM RECEIVING HIS BACHELOR’S DEGREE, WHICH KEPT HIM OUT OF LAW SCHOOL. AS A SINGLE PARENT WORKING FULL-TIME, IT SEEMED AS THOUGH KEMMERER WOULDN’T REALIZE HIS DREAM. Then he met the late Andrea Biklen ’93 and discovered the Continuing & Graduate program at Simpson College. “Andrea took an immediate investment in helping me achieve my goals,” Kemmerer said of Biklen, then director of Simpson’s Continuing & Graduate programs. “Not only did she help me find a major that was marketable, but she also helped me design a schedule that allowed me to graduate in two years while simultaneously working full-time as a single parent.” With Biklen’s support, Kemmerer balanced his coursework with his job in the Investigations Division for one of the State of Iowa’s regulatory agencies. On class days, he wouldn’t finish until 9 p.m. after working a full day. Biklen’s big smile helped a lot on those days. “She was always there to encourage me to keep going and do my best,” Kemmerer said.
Biklen was 47 at the time of her passing. She spent 26 years as a student, faculty member and academic advisor at Simpson, allowing her to impact the lives of hundreds of students throughout her career. Andrea is survived by her husband, David, and son, Noah; her parents, W. Michael and Marcia Biklen; a brother, Bryce, and his wife Pam, and their two children, Zachary and Molly; her parents-in-law, Don and Geri Hanson; and extended family and friends.
Kemmerer excelled in the program, graduating Summa Cum Laude in 2013 with a degree in management and business administration. He received the Continuing & Graduate’s Thirty Over 30 Award in 2013 and served as president of the Delta Tau chapter of the Alpha Sigma Lambda Honor Society. Biklen—who nominated Kemmerer for the Thirty Over 30 Award and advised the honor society—was there every step of the way, providing mentorship and, most importantly, friendship. Kemmerer remembers joking with Biklen about injecting “National Lampoon’s Animal House” references into a speech he had to give for the honor society, because Simpson’s chapter—Delta Tau—shared the same name as the fraternity in the 1978 comedy film. Though she appreciated the reference, she didn’t think he should follow through with the idea. “She laughed hysterically, then looked at me very seriously and said not to do that since there were people who wouldn’t get the joke,” Kemmerer said. “We laughed about that for a long time afterward.” Kemmerer went on to graduate with high honors from Drake Law School in 2018. Even though he was five years removed from his time at Simpson, Biklen was quick to congratulate him on his accomplishment. Kemmerer had just received his successful results from the Bar exam when he learned of Biklen’s unexpected passing on Sept. 30, 2018. “I never got the opportunity to tell her that I officially became an attorney,” he said. “While it is difficult to articulate the depths of such a loss, Andrea’s legacy will always live on through those who knew her.” n
Andrea’s family has established an endowed scholarship in her name to assist Continuing & Graduate students who demonstrate financial need. If you would like to donate to the scholarship, click “Give” on Simpson’s website and designate the Andrea Biklen Memorial Scholarship in the description, or mail a check, made payable to Simpson College and noting the memorial, to the Office of Advancement, Simpson College, 701 North C Street, Indianola, IA 50125. n
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Influence and Blessing BY MAR A LE H E W BAI LE Y ’0 6, C HAP L AI N
INFLUENCE IS SUCH A FASCINATING CONCEPT! IT CAN BE EASY TO ASSUME WHO MIGHT INFLUENCE US—PEOPLE WHO ARE WELLKNOWN; THOSE WHO HAVE ACHIEVED WHAT WE DREAM ABOUT AND HOPE FOR. HOWEVER, WHEN I THINK BACK ON THOSE WHO HAVE INFLUENCED ME, THEY HAVE ALSO BEEN THOSE WHO MET ME ON MY LEVEL—AND HELPED ME TO UNDERSTAND MY OWN POTENTIAL TO INFLUENCE OTHERS IN MY OWN LIFE. At a place like Simpson, influencers are found around every corner. A hallmark of our campus community is our ability to show each student their potential and mentor them into the next phase of their lives. In our context, the ability to influence isn’t reliant on a certain degree or amount of work experience. Rather, it is found through meaningful relationship, and the understanding that what you learn and experience at Simpson is preparing you for a future of influencing anyone you might interact with as you go forth into the world.
I find a curious connection between the concepts of influence and blessing. In particular, the way we consider influence at Simpson reminds me of the story of Abram in Genesis, when he is confronted with a big prospect from God. “I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing…in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 12:2, 3b). Abram is to become great, but not through power or wealth or fame. His greatness comes in the form of blessing—a passing on of what was given to him. And this is met with a cumulative force— the blessings continue to build up, from one generation to the next. We are a part of this cumulative blessing. A blessing for the nations, being fulfilled before our eyes. As the Biblical story continues to unfold, from the Hebrew Bible to the New Testament, we will see time and again a cycle of attempted repair—wherein humanity fails in one way or another and God intervenes in various ways to work toward the healing of the world’s brokenness. How many times each day are we offered an opportunity to influence the world? Who has influenced us or shown us what it means to be a blessing to others? May your blessing influence others, and in so doing, you will acknowledge those who have influenced you. n
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Talk to anyone about their time at Simpson and it’s likely they’ll bring up the people they met here—lifelong friends, professors, teammates, even spouses. While having a great curriculum, a beautiful campus and quality facilities are all important to a great college experience, it wouldn’t mean nearly as much without the thoughtful, caring people who help students realize their full potential. The following pages will introduce you to alumni whose lives were impacted, if not changed completely, by the people they met during their time at Simpson. From professors who shed light on career paths to coaches who instilled confidence to peers who cared enough to challenge their ideas, the stories are all unique to the individual. But one theme remained constant: the relationships developed were crucial to the outcome of their lives. This is what is truly at the heart of the Simpson Experience.
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He helped save my dad’s life. The conversations I was able to have with him helped me understand that there were ways I could intervene to get my dad the help he needed. He steered me in that direction.” – Muhlenbruck said of Dr. Alan Magruder
that there were ways I could intervene to get my dad the help he needed. He steered me in that direction.” Originally from tiny Latimer, Iowa, Muhlenbruck chose Simpson largely because his older brother, Kirk, also attended the college. An elementary education major, Muhlenbruck had numerous classes with Magruder and viewed him as a role model.
Tom Muhlenbruck ’88 DR. TOM MUHLENBRUCK ‘88 KNEW HIS DAD WOULDN’T SURVIVE IF HE DIDN’T GET HELP. His father, Leland, struggled with alcoholism for most of his life. Muhlenbruck knew he needed to step in, he just wasn’t sure how. Then he got a helpful nudge from Dr. Alan Magruder. Thanks to a series of “coaching conversations” with Magruder, Muhlenbruck decided to host an intervention. He gathered immediate family and close friends with the goal of convincing his father to get help. As a result, Leland checked into rehab and went without a drink for the rest of his life. “He helped save my dad’s life,” Muhlenbruck said of Magruder, his advisor and a professor in the education department. “The conversations I was able to have with him helped me understand
“He was a great mentor to me and a listening ear,” Muhlenbruck said. “He never passed judgement and was able to coach me into the decision I knew I needed to make to help my family. He never told me ‘this is what you need to do.’” Leland passed away in 2013 at the age of 72. He didn’t have a drink for the last 27 years of his life. “I told [my dad] before he died that he was my hero,” Muhlenbruck said. “He wouldn’t have gotten to that point without Alan Magruder.” Now an educator himself, Muhlenbruck is in his 24th year in the Ankeny Community School District. He has spent the last 14 years as the principal at Crocker Elementary. Serving as both a classroom teacher and administrator during his career, Muhlenbruck enjoys his current role because of the ability to impact more lives. To this day, he applies the lessons he learned from Dr. Magruder when dealing with difficult situations away from school. “In a 26-year career as an elementary school principal, I’ve had to deal with a number of situations where families are going through a great deal of grief. The biggest thing that experience helped me with was to make me empathetic of others and help them understand they aren’t alone.” n
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Robert Hitz (left), Jeff Ide ’76 (center) and John Wilson ’76 (right).
It was there that I discovered the community I desired and made many strong connections.” – Wilson said of the theatre department
John C. Wilson ’76 JOHN C. WILSON ’76 HAS ALWAYS HAD A VARIETY OF INTERESTS. BECAUSE OF THAT, HE BENEFITED FROM A VARIETY OF POSITIVE INFLUENCES DURING HIS TIME ON CAMPUS.
“She was like a mother to the theater majors, but not a coddling one,” he said. “She was very direct, yet supportive.”
An art turned-theater major, Wilson has stayed involved in both disciplines throughout his life. Now in his early 60s, Wilson remains well-rounded.
Wilson remembered a classmate who didn’t show the proper respect for the technical side of theater. He ended up with a straight pin in his costume.
In fact, he is reinventing himself.
The scenic designer and technical director during Wilson’s time was a memorable man named Tom Chaney. A Kentucky native, Chaney had a number of distinguishing characteristics.
A resident of Baltimore since 1977, Wilson is currently an adjunct professor at the University of Baltimore teaching book design. He is also a publishing consultant and a small business owner with his own wellness coaching practice. Additionally, he is a professional standardized patient at the University of Maryland, where he plays the role of people suffering from various diseases to aid in the training of nurses and doctors. Three Simpson faculty members, in particular, made a significant impact on Wilson. Gaile Gallatin was a professor in the art department. Wilson credits her for his love of modern art. “Gaile was my favorite art instructor,” he said. “She was this free spirit who was pretty far out there for Simpson, but I loved that about her.” Gallatin attended the opening of a ceramic cup show Wilson curated for the art center in his hometown of Belmond, Iowa. She joined Wilson and another former classmate on a weekend trip to Chicago to observe the art community. She even provided Wilson an unofficial modern art history “travel guide” for his trip to Paris five years ago. “To see the pieces I remember her lecturing about was really moving,” he said of the trip to France. Pat Faludi (formerly Graber) was the costumer for the theater department and taught a class on stage makeup. Wilson said
she struck a balance between “nurturer and warrior” and made sure everyone respected the technical aspects of the theater, not just acting.
“He was a great southern character and a great storyteller,” Wilson said. “He was a round fellow with a big, red beard and smoked a pipe.” In addition to faculty members, two of Wilson’s classmates— Rich Burk 75’ and Jeff Ide 76’—also had a big impact on his life. Burk was responsible for getting Wilson involved in the theater department. As a director, Burk cast him in Zoo Story alongside the late Bingham Ray ’76, who went on to a significant film career. “It was there that I discovered the community I desired and made many strong connections,” Wilson said of the theater department. Ide was instrumental in helping Wilson discover his sexuality in an era before LGBTQ support groups were common. Though he didn’t come out until moving to Baltimore, Ide sent Wilson on the path to discovery. He even offered a toast when Wilson married Robert Hitz on Aug. 18, 2018. “He didn’t push; he just cracked open the door and was there if I wanted to talk,” Wilson said. “And he’s been there for me throughout our lives.” n
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Dr. Jack Carter (left) and Tom Croat ’62 (right).
Tom Croat ’62
DURING HIS TIME AT SIMPSON, TOM CROAT ’62 DEVELOPED A LOVE FOR PLANTS THAT TRANSFORMED INTO A CAREER AS A WORLDRENOWNED PLANT EXPLORER. IF NOT FOR THE INFLUENCE OF A PAIR OF SIMPSON PROFESSORS, THE WORLD MAY HAVE NEVER KNOWN THE MORE THAN 3,000 SPECIES OF ARACEAE PLANTS DISCOVERED BY CROAT. A native of nearby St. Marys, Iowa, college wasn’t always on Croat’s radar. One of seven children, Croat’s father died when he was only 12, making him vital to the operation of the family farm.
he took in psychology. But then he took a biology class with a young, charismatic professor named Dr. Jack Carter. From there, his career path took shape. Croat remembers being drawn to Carter’s “day-by-day general enthusiasm for his job and for teaching. He was always so interesting and exciting in his lectures.” Exposed to both animal and plant biology at Simpson, Croat quickly decided he liked plants better because of the vast array of species in existence. He was impressed by Carter’s knowledge of plant species.
“Almost everything [Carter] saw, he knew,” Croat said. “From being on the farm, I knew the difference between a huckleberry and a sunflower, but I knew them only by their common “Nobody went to college; it wasn’t even considered something names. I had no idea that plants had scientific names.” you wanted to do,” said Croat. “It was a big shock when I Another biology professor who impacted Croat was Dr. realized I wanted to go to college.” Margaret Watson. Because her specialty was zoology, the Croat enlisted in the Army after high school and did a two-year coursework didn’t interest Croat as much. Her biggest impact was with the English language. tour in Germany. It was there he noticed the highest-ranking officials had college degrees. He also saw that his uncle—a father “She was the one who got me to speak proper English, which figure after his own father died—earned an education degree. was, in fact, a major accomplishment,” he said. “If you heard my English coming off the farm—or anyone from my Following his military service, Croat returned home to help town—we used all the wrong verbs. run the farm. Knowing he wanted to further his education, Croat enrolled at Simpson—just 14 miles away—so he could “Margaret Watson was my salvation.” work and take classes. He went to Simpson not knowing which discipline to pursue. He thought about becoming a teacher and he enjoyed a course
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He had a day-by-day general enthusiasm for his job and for teaching. He was so interesting and exciting in his lectures.” – Croat said of Dr. Jack Carter
Croat is a 50-year staff member at the Missouri Botanical Garden. He remains one of the most active field researchers in the world, particularly in Latin America. He projects the country of Columbia alone is home to 8,000-12,000 undescribed plant species in the Philodendron family, more than twice what is known for that family in the entire world. Now nearly 81 years old, Croat would like to cut his workload from 80 to 40 hours per week. He still spends up to four months per year in the field, but it’s what he loves to do. “My job is not unique, but not very many people have the opportunity to find what they want to do and just do it.” n
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He saw the person and took the time to address each person’s needs or interests.” – Borgeson said of Dr. Carl Halgren
None of it would have been possible without the persistence of a professor who saw potential in a student he felt could make a difference in people’s lives.
Pam Bicek Borgeson ’75 PAM BICEK BORGESON ’75 HAD HER SENIOR YEAR AT SIMPSON ALL PLANNED OUT. SHE BUILT A COMFORTABLE CLASS SCHEDULE, IDENTIFIED A CAREER PATH AND WAS READY TO COAST TOWARD GRADUATION. Then she got a call from Dr. Leon Clodfelder that changed her life forever. Borgeson and her parents were moving her things into Buxton Hall when Clodfelder—a professor in the psychology department—called her dorm room. Because she was a promising psychology major, Clodfelder had tried previously to convince Borgeson to take part in a new program Simpson was helping with called the Bridge Program. The program was designed to help delinquent teenage girls transition back into the community following incarceration for a serious crime. She would have to live with an adolescent while helping that person acclimate to life outside of the maximum security facility in Mitchellville, Iowa. She turned down the opportunity multiple times in the past before deciding to give it a try. “I told him I would take part in the program for two weeks,” Borgeson said. “I met the director of the program, met the adolescent girl I’d be living with and fell in love with the program after about five days.” Borgeson’s plan for her senior year—and beyond—changed in an instant. Rather than working in a hospital with mentally ill patients as she planned originally, she started a career in counseling that has spanned more than 40 years. She started the TAG Emergency Shelter in Naperville, Ill., in 1978 and has held various roles in adolescent and family counseling ever since. She currently serves as an individual and family therapist at Providence Counseling Associates in Naperville.
Originally from the Chicago suburb of Clarendon Hills, Borgeson discovered Simpson by chance. She was committed to attend the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater before her guidance counselor encouraged her to look at private schools in Iowa. At the time, Simpson offered free transportation and lodging for students in the Chicago area to visit, so Borgeson jumped at the opportunity. “I just went because it was going to be a little vacation for me,” she said. “I absolutely loved the visit. I got to meet with many different professors and the students I stayed with were great. I loved every minute of being there and decided to apply.” Once at Simpson, Borgeson met another professor who had a profound impact on her life. Dr. Carl Halgren became a mentor for Borgeson and was someone she could approach about anything. As her advisor, he encouraged Borgeson to try new things and get the most out of her liberal arts education. “He saw the person and took the time to address each person’s needs or interests,” she said. “I’ll never forget when he told me how he appreciated me being adventurous. That gave me enough confidence to keep trying different classes on campus and taking advantage of things I might not normally do.” In addition to encouraging her more adventurous side, Halgren helped Borgeson curb her use of run-on sentences. “That was extremely helpful and a huge insight on his part,” she said. “No other professor in college or teacher in high school identified that problem.” Thirty-seven years following her graduation from Simpson, Borgeson’s son, Brock ’16, found himself in a situation similar to his mother’s. He was set to attend Bradley University, but in April decided he wanted to continue his baseball career. He looked into Simpson and ultimately decided to follow in his mother’s footsteps. “I left the decision with him and said there was no pressure,” said Borgeson. “I just wanted him to be happy. And he picked Simpson.” n
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He is one of the nicest people I ever met. That came through on and off the tennis court.” – Wright said of Dick Starr
Bill Wright ’92 AS A HIGH SCHOOL JUNIOR, BILL WRIGHT ‘92 EXPERIENCED THE PINNACLE OF SUCCESS WHEN HIS TENNIS TEAM AT DENISON WON THE 1987 IOWA CLASS 1A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP. THE MONARCHS BEAT CAMANCHE 6-3 FOR THE SCHOOL’S ONLY STATE TITLE IN THE SPORT. Wright wasn’t the star of the team. In fact, in a sport that considers the top six players to be varsity, Wright was number seven. But he loved the sport and knew he wanted to further his career. He just wasn’t sure he was good enough to play in college.
Wright—currently a senior vice president and managing director at CBRE|Hubbell Commercial in Des Moines— admits he was never a great tennis player, but Starr made him into a good tennis player due to his in-depth coaching methods. “Lots of tennis coaches will tell you to go play matches and they’ll evaluate you based on those matches,” he said. “Then there’s the type of coach Starr was. He broke down the individual components of your game. That took extra effort and extra analysis, and that’s what he did.” Starr’s personalized approach to coaching paid off for Wright during his senior year. In the Iowa Conference Individual Tournament, Wright upset the No. 2 seeded player in the bracket. In a match he admittedly ‘had no business’ winning, Wright remembers looking up and seeing his mentor.
Then, on his campus visit to Simpson, he had a life-changing conversation with head men’s tennis Coach Dick Starr. “I remember Coach Starr being there and he was proud. And I was proud to be on his team.” “[Coach Starr] said, ‘Bill, if you come to Simpson, study hard and work hard on the tennis court, there will always be a Starr made a positive impact on numerous student-athletes spot for you on the tennis team.’” throughout his 30-year coaching career at Simpson. He served as head coach for three teams during his tenure, Wright was sold. leading the men’s tennis team from 1981–97, the women’s tennis team from 1988–96 and the men’s basketball team He went on to play four years for Starr, working his way into from 1967–79. the lineup while earning three varsity letters. But it was his interaction with Starr off the court that Wright cherished He was inducted into Simpson’s Coaches Hall of Fame in above all else. 1997, but Wright remembers Starr’s kindness more than anything. “He taught me so much about what’s important in life,” Wright said. “Ninety-five percent of the time I sat shotgun “He is one of the nicest people I ever met. That came through next to coach on road trips. I wanted an opportunity to talk on and off the tennis court.” n to him. He was genuinely interested in my family and my education…and I found myself thinking ‘this is the type of person I want to be.’” 16 SIMPSON COLLEGE
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American Rivers Conference
Coach of the Year IT TOOK MATT JETER ’98 JUST THREE SEASONS TO TURN THE STORM FOOTBALL TEAM INTO A LEGITIMATE CONTENDER, AND HIS CONFERENCE COUNTERPARTS TOOK NOTICE. Following a 7-3 campaign and a secondplace finish in the league standings, Jeter earned 2018 American Rivers Conference Coach of the Year honors, as voted on by the league’s nine head coaches. An award usually presented to the head coach of the conference champion, Jeter is just the 11th Coach of the Year from a non-league champion in the last 50 years. For Jeter, the honor is a sign of respect for the program’s progress over the last three seasons. “To get voted by your peers...I’m extremely honored and humbled because it shows they respect what we’re doing,” he said. Jeter becomes just the fourth coach in the program’s 124-year history to earn the award and the first since Jay Niemann in 2003. He led Simpson to a four-game turnaround in three seasons after going 3-7 in 2016, his first season on the sidelines. Simpson won seven games for just the 20th time in program history in 2018, benefitting from great individual performances by All-American linebacker Michael Connor and league rushing champ Cam Bunting. Simpson boasted the third-best total offense and defense in the league. But Jeter said selflessness ultimately led to the team’s success. 17 SIMPSON.EDU/MAGAZINE
“No one cared who got the credit, whether it was offense, defense or special teams,” he said. “It was a ‘we greater than me’ mindset that helped propel this team to win seven football games this year.” In a season full of highlights, one game stood out to Jeter. Simpson captured a season-defining win when it upset defending league champion Wartburg 37-36 in overtime on Saturday, Sept. 29 in Waverly. The Storm overcame a six-point, fourthquarter deficit and won the game on a dramatic, do-or-die two-point conversion attempt in overtime. It wasn’t a perfect performance by the Storm—Simpson committed two turnovers on its first two possessions, rushed for just 45 yards and lost the time of possession battle by 15 minutes—but Jeter said that’s what made it special. “There were many instances in that game when we could have quit,” he said. “We got down, but we kept fighting and fighting until we won that football game on the road.” Picked fourth in the preseason coaches’ poll, Simpson found itself in contention for a conference title until the second-tolast week of the season. Losses to Central and Dubuque ultimately prevented the Storm from winning the crown, but that will serve as added motivation moving forward. “We still have a bad taste in our mouth and have some unfinished business,” Jeter said. “The guys are really focused and hungry to go prove something.” The countdown to kickoff in 2019 is on. n
STORM SOFTBALL ABROAD Over winter break, members of the Simpson softball team had the unique opportunity to travel abroad to Cuba. The team, along with a group of friends and family, made the trip to the capital city of Havana from Dec. 14–21. In addition to playing exhibition games against a local team, Simpson players had the opportunity to engage in service projects, soak up Cuban culture and, most importantly, build team unity. “Team-building was the biggest aspect,” third-year head coach Brent Matthias said of the trip. “Our players stayed in homes that didn’t have the amenities we have in America—it reminded our team to be thankful for even the smallest things.” The team engaged in service by helping remove weeds from an organic lettuce farm, yet another opportunity for the team to grow closer together. “Our team really bonded together, and it was fun to see that bond,” Matthias said. “When you’re in a different culture, you can build team unity in a hurry.” The National Collegiate Athletic Association allows teams to compete internationally once every three years. Matthias said Cuba came up as a possible destination due to the country’s history, and the fact that it would be a unique destination for the players and coaching staff. Simpson won three of the four exhibition games during the trip. Once the games were done, the teams shuffled lineups to allow American and Cuban players to compete on the same team. n Photos submitted.
SIMPSON COMMUNITY MOURNS LOSS OF LONGTIME COACH BOB DARRAH Bob Darrah, beloved Simpson golf and wrestling coach and the winningest coach in Iowa High School Wrestling dual meet history, passed away Nov. 26, 2018, at the age of 89.
Darrah earned Iowa Conference Coach of the Year honors 12 times throughout his career, more than any other coach in school history. He was inducted into the school’s Coaches Hall of Fame in 2012, and the wrestling practice facility is named in his honor.
Darrah built a women’s golf dynasty at Simpson in his 23 years as head coach, leading the program to nine Iowa Conference Championships and 15 national tournament appearances from 1989–2012. He coached nine conference medalists, four All-Americans and led the team to two national runnerup finishes.
Prior to his time at Simpson, Darrah posted an incredible 340-17-2 record as a high school wrestling coach. His .950 winning percentage is the all-time best for an Iowa wrestling coach. Though he never wrestled competitively, Darrah is a member of multiple wrestling Hall of Fames, including the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame and the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
Already a Hall of Fame wrestling coach before coming to Simpson in 1989, Darrah turned around a struggling program in his first stint as a collegiate coach. He led Simpson to an 86-25-1 record from 1989-95, winning an Iowa Conference title in 1991.
Simpson held a memorial service in his honor on March 1 at Cowles Fieldhouse. Those unable to attend can watch the event in its entirety on the Overton Funeral Home’s Facebook page. n
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COACHING DUO INDUCTED INTO MISSOURI SPORTS HALL OF FAME Kip Janvrin ’88 and Kirk Pederson ’85 were inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in January for their impressive achievements as co-coaches for the University of Central Missouri track and field teams. The duo has split coaching duties for the past 23 seasons, leading the Mules and the Jennies to a combined 30 indoor and outdoor conference titles. Central Missouri won NCAA Division II indoor and outdoor national titles in 2015.
FINDING THE RIGHT POSITION Senior linebacker Michael Connor put together one of the best seasons by a Simpson player in school history in 2019. He earned American Rivers Conference Defensive MVP honors, landed on the American Football Coaches Association All-America Team, took home D3football.com All-West Region honors and was a finalist for the Cliff Harris Award, given to the top defensive player in the country from a non-Division I college or university. Not bad for someone who didn’t play the position until his junior season. Connor was the driving force behind one of the conference’s top defenses in 2018, helping the Storm to a 7-3 record and a second-place finish in the league. The Woodward, Iowa, native led the conference in tackles (113) and sacks (8.5). Known for his punishing hits, Connor recorded the most sacks by a linebacker in school history.
Inducted into Simpson’s athletic Hall of Fame in 1998, Janvrin was a 10-time AllAmerican and five-time national champion at Simpson. He went on to represent the United States in the decathlon at the 2000 Summer Olympic Games. Inducted into the college’s athletic Hall of Fame in 1995, Pedersen was a five-time All-American and national champion 800-meter runner at Simpson. n
RIORDAN TO COMPETE FOR NATIONAL TEAM IN BRAZIL
When Jeter took the Simpson job in 2016, Connor was listed as a fullback. Because the team’s offensive system rarely used more than one running back, Connor was often relegated to special teams duties.
Conor Riordan, a junior point guard for the men’s basketball team, will represent Simpson on the USA D-3 Basketball Select Team in Brazil this summer. One of only 10 players on the national team, Riordan and his teammates will face international competition from July 10–16, while benefiting from educational, social and cultural outreach opportunities.
“I saw a guy we weren’t using,” Jeter said. “I asked him if he wanted to stay on offense and not play or move to defense and be a ‘war daddy.’ He jumped on board right away.”
Riordan is the first player in Simpson history to compete on the USA D-3 Basketball Select Team.
It didn’t take long for Connor to make an impact. He worked his way into the starting lineup in 2017 before enjoying a breakout season in 2018. Arguably the most disruptive player in the league, Connor recorded either a sack, interception, pass breakup, forced fumble or tackle for loss in every game.
The Ankeny, Iowa, native earned first team all-conference honors in 2018–19 while leading the Storm to a 16-10 record and a fourth-place finish in the American Rivers Conference. He led the team with 18.2 points per game. Also a standout performer in the classroom, Riordan—a mathematics major—is a CoSIDA Academic AllAmerican. n
“He has everything you look for in a defensive player: size, speed, instincts, tenacity, grit...he embodies all of those characteristics,” head coach Matt Jeter ’98 said of his star linebacker.
Connor is the sixth league MVP in school history and the first to come from the defensive side of the ball. He is the program’s 22nd AFCA AllAmerican and first since 2008. n
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G R E E K
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EIGHT GREEK CHAPTERS. ONE VOICE.
NEW GREEK ALUMNI ADVISORY BOARD BRIDGES PAST AND PRESENT A new Alumni Advisory Board connects past and present Greek members in an effort to guide and grow the Greek experience at Simpson College. “This board has been in the works for some time now and is the direct result of some very determined Greek alumni,” said Rich Ramos, associate dean of students. “We have had Greek advisors in place, but we are taking it to the next level by putting more people around the table.” Two alumni and one student from each of Simpson’s eight Greek chapters serve on the board. Vice President of Student Development Heidi Levine and Ramos serve as advisors on the board but do not have voting rights. The board meets each year in the spring and fall. Kaela Phillips ’06, Kappa Kappa Gamma alumna and Simpson Board of Trustees member, chairs the committee. On any campus, the Greek culture is unique in many ways—recruitment, philanthropic alliances, student leadership, residential contracts and maintenance and national governance, to name a few. It can be tough to navigate. That navigation is exactly why the board came to be. The board’s goal is to provide feedback and insight on how to promote the Greek experience on campus, as well as help address any challenges. “Simpson College has the most national Greek chapters of any private college in Iowa,” said Ardene Downing ’62, a Pi Beta Phi alumna. “This board was formed to protect our thriving Greek community. We need to have the strength of one voice. This brings some long overdue unity to all things Greek.”
Front row (left to right): Kaela Phillips ’06, Dan Saar ’05. Back row (left to right): Bob MacKenzie ’70, Nicole Molt Crain ’05, Kyle Hanson ’05, Sam Martin III ’68, Todd Parson ’02, Liz Ehlers Andersen ’99 and Ardene Kildal Downing ’62.
Bob MacKenzie ’70, an Alpha Tao Omega alumnus, played a crucial role in establishing the board’s by-laws. According to MacKenzie, the board will advocate for what is important to the Greek community and help strengthen relationships between fraternal organizations, chapter house corporations, and volunteer fraternity and sorority alumni. MacKenzie credits President Simmons and the current cabinet for helping get the board operational. “This new board will enable us to interact with the administration in a way we couldn’t before,” said Patrick Long-Quian, grand master of Kappa Theta Psi. “Greek chapters could approach the administration individually, but now we can do so collectively through the board. It’s much more efficient and effective.” The Greek legacy is an essential part of Simpson’s identity. Through their leadership and advocacy, board members are committed to making sure that legacy endures. n
SIMPSON STORYTELLERS PROJECT Sweet memories oft will linger. Of those dear days of old, When beneath the whis’pring maples, We flaunted the Red and Gold. Simpson College is looking for storytellers. Flaunt the Red and Gold by sharing memories of your Simpson Experience. Tell us about those moments—big or small—that you carry with you always: that May Term you studied abroad; celebrating a championship with teammates; the bonds you made with your Greek brothers or sisters; taking center stage in a theatre production. Whatever your story, it’s special and worth telling. To share your Simpson story, visit https://simpson.edu/forms/tell-your-simpson-story. The Alumni Office may feature your story on Facebook, Twitter and in Alumni E-newsletter stories.* n 20 SIMPSON COLLEGE
*Not all submissions will be published.
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LONG-TIME PROFESSORS SET TO RETIRE BY AM E LIA SC HAF E R ’22
Mark Bates has been teaching for a total of 41 years, with 21 of those taking place in Simpson’s World Language Department. What’s next for Bates? Moving to Mexico to retire in style. Mark Bates became fascinated with South American cultures and languages since he studied abroad in 1978. Since then, his interest hasn’t diminished. Over the past 21 years, Bates claims his biggest achievement was growing the Spanish program with fellow professor Tracy Dinesen. In addition, he’s been awarded Distinguished Teacher honors (2018), as well as service awards for the various study-abroad trips he’s led. These trips include Nicaragua in 2000, 2002, 2004, and 2006, as well as Argentina in 2016 and Chile in 2018. Prior to teaching at Simpson, Bates taught at Grinnell College, Xavier University and the University of Iowa. After 20 years of teaching, he finally found his place at Simpson. “Simpson was the kind of small liberal arts college where I could work directly with students,” he said. Bates will deeply miss working with students and helping them learn and grow. Traveling abroad with students has been one of his favorite memories with students. One trip, in particular, was narrated in his published short story, “Mambo Night.” Bates will officially retire at the end of the Spring 2019 semester. John Epperson began teaching at Simpson College in the fall of 1977 and will close out his 42-year career this spring. Fortunately, all this time has given him a chance to think about what he wants to do with the rest of his life. “My wife and I will do some traveling, we have a river cruise in Europe set up for
the fall. Not to mention our three daughters live in very interesting places: New York, Los Angeles and Austin, Texas. I also have a lot of books that I want to read. After that…well, that’s to be determined.” During his time teaching political science at Simpson, Epperson helped to start Simpson’s John C. Culver Public Policy Center, along with becoming the chair of the political science department and division. He’s been awarded the Distinguished Teaching Award (1999), Faculty Award for Campus Leadership (2003), and Dick Buxton Award (2015). Over the past 42 years, Epperson met his wife, watched the Simpson football team beat Central in the mud in 1987, worked with students on campaigns, experienced many political shifts and traveled with students on May Term courses to Ireland and the U.K. His fond memories are numerous. “Ultimately, I think my biggest accomplishment, at least I hope, has been the impact I have had on students,” Epperson said. “That will endure long after I have left the institution—at least I hope it will.” Often times, working at Simpson didn’t feel like work for Epperson, and there are many things he will miss once he retires. “I love studying and talking about politics and I would do it for free so I’ll miss doing that. I love working with students and I’ll miss the energy and curiosity that they so often bring with them. I have had the opportunity over the past 10 or 15 years to work with the athletic folks, both on campus and at the Conference level, and I will miss that as well. Finally, I will miss working with my faculty colleagues at Simpson. [They] really are a very talented and dedicated group of people.” The past 42 years haven’t been disappointing for Epperson. His retirement will come with a lifetime of memories and joy. “It has all been a wonderful blur,” Epperson said. “I can see my first class in the now torn-down Heckert Hall as if it happened just the other day.” n
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DOMINATING PROGRAMMERS
Front left to right: Malac Blaeser, Mark Becker, JJ Kosobucki, Payton McBurney, Josh Dietrich, Erik Knouse, Drew Roen, Nathan Magalhaes, Max Folkers, Bryson Cook, Blake Dalmas.
WOW.
THAT MAY NOT BE A TYPICAL WAY TO LEAD A STORY, BUT WHAT ELSE CAN YOU SAY ABOUT THE 11 SIMPSON STUDENTS WHO COMPETED IN THE INTERNATIONAL COLLEGIATE PROGRAMMING CONTEST (ICPC) AT IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY? Simpson’s teams consisted of three teams of three students and one team of two students. Two teams finished in the top 50. The top three teams from all liberal arts colleges in Iowa were from Simpson. Put it this way: Iowa State entered nine teams; Simpson’s top team finished ahead of six of them. Simpson’s second team finished ahead of five, and Simpson’s third team finished ahead of four. “Given the relative size of the two institutions, that is really amazing,” said Mark Brodie, associate professor of computer science. The programming contest is a worldwide event. More than 50,000 students from more than 100 countries compete. The world is divided into regions, each of which holds a contest. Simpson competes in the North Central North America region, which includes Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Western Ontario and Manitoba.
“The problems in this contest are very hard. They require a high level of mathematical reasoning, problem-solving and programming skills,” Brodie said. “Mental stamina is also important, since the contest lasts five hours. There is no internet access, though contestants are allowed to bring along paper materials.” Of course, producing Simpson’s best-ever showing at the contest makes for an even better experience. Simpson’s highest placed team—Mark Becker, Payton McBurney and Malac Blaeser—finished 42nd in the region. The second team—Drew Roen, Nathan Magalhaes and Max Folkers—finished 46th. The third-place team—Blake Dalmas, Bryson Cook and JJ Kosobucki—placed 67th. But that’s only part of the story. Larger schools tend to dominate the competition. The best finish from a liberal arts college was Macalester in 22nd, followed by Carleton in 28th. Now compare Simpson’s placings to those of similar colleges in Iowa: Simpson Buena Vista Coe Northwestern Graceland Dordt William Penn Luther Central Drake
42nd, 46th, 67th 75th, 106th, 133rd 84th, 170th, 175th 86th, 115th, 139th 90th, 176th 92nd, 123rd 105th, 156th 111th, 160th, 167th 116th, 134th, 143rd 119th , 148th, 183rd
“When I first saw the results, I was so amazed that I actually went through the entire standings, team-by team, twice, just This means Simpson is competing against teams from some of to make sure I wasn’t imagining things,” Brodie said. n the largest colleges and universities in the Midwest.
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NEW TRUSTEE Jay Marshall – The Executive Vice President, Co-Chief Operating Officer and
President, Hy-Vee Subsidiaries/Commissaries, was elected to the Simpson College Board of Trustees in October 2018. A 36-year veteran at Hy-Vee, Marshall currently oversees all Hy-Vee locations, as well as guiding the company’s subsidiaries and commissaries. A graduate of Creighton University, he is currently on several boards of Hy-Vee’s subsidiary companies, serves on the Coca-Cola Research Council, is on the advisory board for the National Association of Chain Drug Stores and is a permanent member of the Hy-Vee Board of Directors. Marshall and his wife, Brenda, have three daughters. n
2019 MLK DAY • A LAUNCHES T H L E T I C S
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SIMPSON COLLEGE DIALOGUE PROGRAM On Monday, January 21, Simpson College, along with the rest of the nation, honored the birthday of civil rights activist and leader, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
JOSHUA BARR
Des Moines Civil & Human Rights Director
While this day of recognition and service happens every year at Simpson, this year was used to mark the beginning of a new dialogue program designed to help participants learn the skills necessary to engage in discussions about challenging issues.
Barr is a native of Sumter, SC. He earned his Bachelors of Business Administration in the area of Management from Francis Marion University in Florence, SC in 2003. He went on to complete a Juris Doctorate at the University of South Carolina School of Law in 2007, and The goal is to use the his MBA at Smeal College of inspiration of Martin Business at Pennsylvania State Luther King Day to University in 2010.
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He is a member of the South Carolina Bar Association, and he became a general practice attorney at the Barr Law Firm.
“We are excited to introduce this dialogue model to the Simpson community,” said Heidi Levine, vice president for student development and planning. “Having a way to engage with each other around challenging, and sometimes divisive topics is something important we need to teach and model.”
reshape how our community interacts with one another and find ways to hear and appreciate different viewpoints.” - Heidi Levine, vice president
Barr was a professor at Javeriana University for two years teaching International Business and Law courses in Columbia, South America. He for student development and also served as the International planning Legal Consultant for Corn The dialogue program will be led by a group of students who Products International Andina are trained in the format of this specific program. Participants (now known as Ingredion) and will be divided into groups where they will learn specific steps to the Director of Education for the foundation GSC Ingles Para effectively examine a common question. Todos (GSC English for Everyone).
“The goal is to use the inspiration of Martin Luther King Day to reshape how our community interacts with one another and find ways to hear and appreciate different viewpoints,” Levine said. To kick off the program, Joshua Barr, Des Moines Civil & Human Rights Director, delivered an address reflecting on the importance of open and respectful discourse to Dr. King’s vision and legacy.
From 2013 to 2015, Barr worked as a civil rights attorney and the State Fair Housing Director at the South Carolina Human Affairs Commission. In his current role at the Civil & Human Rights Department in Des Moines, he works to eliminate and prevent discrimination in the areas of employment, housing, local practices and public accommodations. n
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LATE SENATOR JOHN C. CULVER HONORED AT SIMPSON The loss of former U.S. Senator John C. Culver left a big void in the political landscape and specifically at Simpson College.
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[Culver] prioritized public service above personal gain, party and politics. That is having the courage and conviction to stand firm in your beliefs and say, ‘I’m going to do what is right, regardless if it costs me votes, regardless if it costs me my job.’” – Zach Goodrich ’17
ability to consistently reach across the aisle to accomplish things in government. Zach Goodrich ’17 said Culver embodied the virtue of character that seems to be missing in our elected officials today.
The John C. Culver Public Policy Center that bears his name hosted an evening of “[Culver] prioritized public service above remembrance and celebration of the late Senator’s life and work Feb. 27, 2019, where personal gain, party and politics,” said Goodrich. “That is having the courage and several guest speakers relayed stories of the conviction to stand firm in your beliefs and say, man and the impact he had on their lives. ‘I’m going to do what is right, regardless if it Speakers included former Republican costs me votes, regardless if it costs me my job.’” Congressman Jim Leach, former Iowa Full video of the tribute program is available Attorney General Bonnie Campbell and on the Simpson website at: https://simpson. Culver’s former Legislative Assistant Judy edu/academics/centers-and-services/culver-center Riggs. Culver’s legacy extended to Simpson College in 2010, when he established the Public Policy Center to encourage young people to consider paths of civic engagement and public service. Current and former Culver Fellows were present at the remembrance and relayed their personal experiences of how they were inspired by Senator Culver and the work he accomplished during his career. Nearly all students who spoke mentioned Culver’s
Senator Culver passed away on Dec. 26, 2018, but his legacy will live on at Simpson College. A memorial fund has been established through the John C. Culver Public Policy Center at Simpson College. Call 515-961-1683 or click “Give” on Simpson’s website and designate memorial contributions to the Culver Public Policy Center. Mail checks to Culver Public Policy Center, Simpson College, 701 North C Street, Indianola, IA 50125. n
NEW COURSES INTRODUCED Simpson College is excited to announce the launch of new courses of study. Data Science Major – This major will prepare students to understand and utilize “big data” to help solve real-world problems. Data science is one of the fastest-growing fields in the United States. Health and Exercise Science Major & Minor – Combining courses from clinical health science, kinesiology, biology and exercise science, this major will allow students to customize their path through three primary themes–human performance, clinical and health, and wellness. Marketing Communications Major & Minor – Incorporating
strengths in communications and business, this degree will give students the chance to develop skills and cutting-edge thinking around mobile and social media, digital strategies, the latest analytics and more. Data Analytics Minor – Students will learn the fundamental tools of data exploration and modeling they can pair with a major such as biology, environmental science, management, economics and sociology, among others. Business Analytics Minor – This minor will teach students how to interpret analytic results that lead to better organizational decision making. This minor is very “hands-on,” using business data sets and interpretation of results, rather than theory alone. n
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• In an effort to be better stewards of our resources, we have transitioned to an online platform for our Class Notes portion of Touring the Years. We invite you to visit simpson.edu/classnotes to view the wonderful accomplishments of our alumni. If you wish to receive a printed copy of Class Notes, please contact andy.english@simpson.edu. To submit accomplishments and updates to be included in future editions, visit simpson.edu/alumni/update.
Marriages John Wilson ’76 and Robert Hitz, Aug. 18, 2018, Pikesville, Md. The casual celebration was scheduled to be poolside on their property, but due to weather, it was moved to the parish hall of St. Mark’s on the Hill with 60 friends and family attending. Friends of the grooms provided original music and poems during the ceremony. Tara Jenson ’91 and Doug McCafferty, Oct. 5, 2018, South Bloomingville, Ohio.
Erik Hogue ‘95 and Shannon Main ’97, Sept. 29, 2018, Van Meter.
Evagelia (Litsa) Georgiou ’01 and Jason Cregan, Nov. 11, 2017, Nashville, Tenn. Stephanie Vampola ’10 and Ryan Runyan ’12, July 7, 2018, Omaha, Neb.
Nicole Dillinger ‘11 and Troy Findley, May 26, 2018, Dexter.
T O U R I N G
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Amy Jo Looft ’11 and Zachary Feser ’12, April 28, 2018, Indianola.
Patrick PooreChristensen ’12 and Megan Kaiser, April 21, 2018, St. Louis, Mo. David Adams ’13 and Courtney Yearous ’14, June 2, 2018, River Ridge, La. Danny Kelley ’13 and Shelby Storm ’13, June 16, 2018, Smith Chapel, Simpson College.
Korey Kreimeyer ’14 and Jamie Vis ’15, June 23, 2018, Riviera Beach, Fla. Conner McGinnis ’15 and Katie Schaumann, Sept. 30, 2017, Waukee. Peyton Rowe ’15 and Donald Carolus, Oct. 27, 2018, Pleasant Hill. Hannah Brezina ’17 and Aaron Ball, June 17, 2017, Iowa City. Corey Meyer ’17 and Morgan Ryan ’17, Sept. 1, 2018, West Des Moines.
Tom Miller ’17 and Sara Nielsen ‘17, Oct. 20, 2018, Newton.
Cort Singleton ’17 and Morgan Moline ’17, Aug. 4, 2018, Smith Chapel, Simpson College. Alissa Winn ’17 and Alec Swanstrom, Aug. 18, 2018, West Des Moines.
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Births/Adoptions Lillian Renee Bowers, Dec. 22, 2018, to Katie Langesen Bowers ’07 and Jake Bowers, Crown Point, Ind. Laney Jeanne Cooper, Sept. 2, 2015, to Cody Cooper ’06 and Shannon Cooper, Grimes. Molly Marilyn Stalzer, Jan. 31, 2019, to Heather Borton Stalzer ’04 and Nathan Stalzer, Des Moines. Jackson Carolus, Nov. 29, 2018, to Peyton Rowe Carolus ’15 and Donald Carolus, Pleasant Hill. Louise Stevens, July, 17, 2017, to Natalie Lansman Stevens ’06 and Brett Stevens, Midland, Texas, joined Georgia (5) and Stella (4). The Stevens’ are expecting another girl in April 2019. Dayne Lillian Fincham, Nov. 8, 2018, to Mandy Frohling Fincham ’04 and B Fincham, Beloit, Kan., welcomed by brother, Wakefield (6). Tirzah Rhoulhac, June 26, 2018, to Allison Stevens Rhoulhac ’11 and Gregory Rhoulhac ’11, Indianola. Caroline Rose Meier, Oct. 2, 2018, to Mark Meier ’12 and Alyssa Ahrenholtz Meier ’15, Grimes. Rose Ewing, July 5, 2018, to Katherine Craven ’07 and Jack Ewing, Colfax, joins brother Sean. Holt Daniel Geelan, Aug. 28, 2018, to Bryan Geelan ’07 and Tricia Davis Geelan ’10, Indianola.
Sloane Avery ColbyBegovich, born May 23, 2018, was adopted Nov. 1, 2018 by Joey Colby-Begovich ’02 and Aaron ColbyBegovich, Arvada, Colo. Gable Gene Ocker, Aug. 5, 2017, to Lindsey Bice Ocker ’03 and Bill Ocker ’03, Polk City, joins brother, Kinnick (6). Decorah Rose Donaway, Sept. 13, 2018, to Macy Koch Donaway ’11 and Donald Donaway, Boston, Mass.
Deaths Beryl Hoyt ’36, Dec. 17, 2018, Weslaco, Texas. Mary Tunman Bowen ’37, April 23, 2017, Audubon. Elizabeth Gardner Brown ’38, Sept. 6, 2018, Mason City. Howard Baxendale ’39, April 22, 2010, Birmingham, Ala. Mary Krabiel Cook ’40, Jan. 5, 2019, Des Moines. Philip McCrea ’42, Aug. 31, 2018, St. Charles. Verda Wilson Werner ’42, Dec. 14, 2018, Omaha, Neb. Frances Offill Swaim ’43, Nov. 11, 2018, Fairbanks, Alaska. Belva Black Streyffeler ’43, Dec. 6, 2018, St. Charles. Robert Rogers ’44, June 11, 2013, Anita. Bernard Mick ’45, Aug. 30, 2018, Waverly. Dorothy Van Gilst Davis ’45, July 23, 2018, Newton. Beverly Thurlow Wilson ’47, Dec. 10, 2018, Indianola. Esther Fox Brown ’48, April 22, 2013, Spottsville, Ky. Dorothy Henderson Keho ’48, Oct. 4, 2018, Lubbock, Texas. Eldon Carper ’48, Dec. 19, 2017, Naples Fla. Harold Hayes ’49, Jan. 22, 2017, Central Point, Ore. Cleatie Devine Jr. ’50, June 18, 2018, Des Moines.
John Mills ’50, Sept. 20, 2018, Des Moines.
Helen Graham Muir ’61, Jan. 10, 2018, Waterloo.
Ramona Cook Lewiston ’50, July 13, 2017, Montrose.
John Burkhardt ’61, Oct. 31, 2018, San Marcos, Texas.
Jack Blake ’50, Nov. 29, 2018, Bettendorf.
Dennis Powers ’61, Nov. 21, 2018, Ogden.
Jack Reed ’50, May 14, 2018, Port Washington, Wis.
H. Robert Brokaw ’62, Sept. 21, 2018, Scottsdale, Ariz.
Phyllis Warren Head ’51, Aug. 30, 2018, Monticello.
Tom Murr ’63, Aug. 10, 2018, Osceola.
Delbert Gebhart ’51, May 8, 2018, Sun City, Ariz. Charles Turner ’51, Jan. 27, 2019, Redfield. R. Roger Coffey ’52, March 29, 2018, Council Bluffs. Bryan Cross ’52, June 24, 2018, Bedford. Betty Borthwick Maffett ’52, Nov. 22, 2018, West Des Moines. Hazel Higbee Persels ’52, Jan. 28, 2016, Rapid City, S.D. Avery Boose ’53, Dec. 24, 2018, Red Oak. Dwaine Persels ’53, Feb. 6, 2019, Rapid City, S.D. Marilyn Higens Pullman ’54, Jan. 21, 2019, Worthington, Ohio. Robert Zook ’57, April 1, 2012, Longwood, Fla. Ronald “Fox” Clinton ’58, Jan. 6, 2019, Creston. George Brown ’58, Sept. 21, 2016, Saint Louis, Mo. C. Keith Cook ’59, Feb. 5, 2016, Bradenton, Fla. David Guessford ’59, Dec. 5, 2018, Des Moines. W. Ralph Wright ’59, Jan. 14, 2019, Council Bluffs. Richard Vandervelde ’60, Nov. 9, 2018, Holland, Mich.
Clarence Ward Jr. ’63, Nov. 11, 2018, West Dundee, Ill. Lynn Lester ’63, June 3, 2018, Indianola. Larry Adkins ’64, July 3, 2018, White House, Tenn. Phyllis Davis Rambow ’65, Nov. 5, 2018, Overland Park, Kan. Merilee LaPota Curtis ’66, July 15, 2018, Apply River, Ill. Rae Latchem Ward ’66, Dec. 18, 2018, West Dundee, Ill. Bryce Gause ’69, Sept. 20, 2018, Lynnville. Janis Adkins Loiselle ’69, Nov. 22, 2018, Bay City, Mich. Gloria Roeder ’70, Sept. 28, 2018, Des Moines. Martha Templeton Hulsebus ’72, Jan. 26, 2019, Des Moines. Thomas Underwood ’76, Sept. 30, 2018, West Des Moines. Kent Amsberry ’76, Oct. 21, 2018, Indianola. Michael Montinguise ’80, Feb. 10, 2019, Urbandale. Gary Van Sant ’91, Sept. 9, 2017, Pella. Jo Anne Petrone Hagen ’91, Aug. 26, 2018, Fort Collins, Colo. Andrea Biklen ’93, Sept. 30, 2018, Des Moines. Megan Cox Klaus ’12, Oct. 3, 2018, Mount Vernon.
Inja Pak Lew ’60, May 20, 2017, Rocky River, Ohio.
Eric Dalthorp ’14, Nov. 10, 2018, Ames.
Marvin Blakesley ’60, Nov. 11, 2018, Howell, Mich.
Former Faculty & Staff
Ron Kern ’60, Dec. 21, 2018, Cedar Rapids. Darrell Dobernecker ’60, Jan. 14, 2019, Pella. Peggy Waggoner Zook ’60, Oct. 20, 2018, Longwood, Fla. 26 SIMPSON COLLEGE
Robert Burns, Aug. 29, 2018, Des Moines. Robert Darrah, Nov. 26, 2018, Indianola. Carol Soderblom Proctor Hammer, Dec. 29, 2018, Newton.
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Calendar events are subject to change. For complete details and updates, view the full calendar online at http://events.simpson.edu/calendar/.
APRIL
12 Admissions - Junior Visit Day 12–14 Theatre Simpson’s Festival of Short Plays: Interfaith 13 Midwest Undergraduate Mathematics Symposium 13 Storm Classic 5k 14 Madrigal Singers in Concert 14 Simpson College Community Orchestra Spring Concert 16 Jazz Ensemble in Concert 18 Instrumental Chamber Music Ensembles Recital 24 Honors Convocation 25 Undergraduate Research & Creativity Symposium 25 Symphonic Band in Concert 25–26 Kip Janvrin Open 27 SOAR (Simpson Orientation, Advising and Registration)
MAY
3 Baccalaureate 4 Commencement 5–13 Alumni Travel Program: Ireland 6 Football Junior Visit Day 6–24 May Term 31 Simpson Cup Golf Tournament
JUNE 6-7
SOAR (Simpson Orientation, Advising and Registration) 9–14 Middle School and High School Jazz Camp 10 SOAR (Simpson Orientation, Advising and Registration) 22–30 Simpson Youth Academy Summer Residency 23–28 Magic, Mythology and More Humanities Camp 28 Des Moines Metro Opera 2019 Summer Festival Begins
JULY 23
RAGBRAI overnight in Indianola
AUGUST 3
Annual Continuing & Graduate Programs Alumni Picnic 10 CAB/SGA Alumni Reunion 24 Legacy Luncheon 24–26 Welcome Week 2019 27 Classes Begin 28 All College Convocation
SEPTEMBER 19
Wayne Carse Memorial Athletic Benefit
OCTOBER 10 11 18–20 20
SUMMERCAMPS AT
Matthew Simpson Lecture: Dr. Miguel de la Torre Teacher Education Visit Day Homecoming & Family Weekend Campus & Community Worship
You might think that when the academic year ends, Simpson’s campus becomes quiet. Nothing could be further from the truth! Each summer, Simpson is host to a wide variety of summer camps. From music and athletics to humanities and Road Scholars, there is something for almost everyone. For a complete list of camps happening this summer, visit simpson.edu/news-events/summer-camps.
27 SIMPSON.EDU/MAGAZINE
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