Fall 2020
T H E
M A G A Z I N E
Taking Action SIMPSON .EDU/MAGA ZINE
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
A Note From The President I am honored to be the 24th President of Simpson College. One of the questions I’m frequently asked is why I was interested in this position. Simpson College’s academic reputation, including the accomplishments of faculty and staff and the breadth of programs supported by cocurricular learning and student life, is impressive. I have been particularly impressed by the level of innovation and collaboration across the campus in response to the pandemic, which reflects the community’s commitment to student success. The strength of the Board of Trustees and level of involvement by the Alumni Board of Directors provide insight into the depth of the commitment by both groups to Simpson’s success. Having spent the majority of my academic career at private liberal arts institutions with religious affiliations, I appreciate the unique ways a church’s traditions and values can inspire, connect and motivate a college community. Having grown up in the Methodist Church, the commitments Simpson makes in its Mission, Vision and Diversity and Inclusion Statement particularly resonate with me.
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But it was the luncheon with students that convinced me this was where I wanted to be. Their level of engagement, service and passion for each other and the College was very special. That level of engagement has continued as our student leaders united in support of Black Lives Matter. And their resilience shined through when the women’s cross country team lost an assistant coach. But the highlight for me was when our students returned to campus, because they are what motivate and energize our community. I am excited to be a part of the Simpson team and to play a role in the future of the College. My thanks to each of you for the warm welcome. We are #ONESimpson.
Kind regards, MARSHA KELLIHER, PRESIDENT
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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10
13
24
08
11
14
26
09
12
22
This is Simpson
Alumni Association
Advancement
Continuing and Graduate
Throwback
Faculty Pursuits
Chaplain's Message
Feature Stories
News
Touring the Years
Athletics
Simpson: The Magazine Marsha Kelliher Simpson College President
Chelsea Grenier Marketing Coordinator
Produced by the Office of Marketing and Strategic Communication (OMSC) Cathy Cole VP of OMSC
Devin Perry Virtual Media Specialist
Bryan Geelan '07 Marketing Communication Director Ellie Walter Senior Graphic Designer
Kenneth Ndzedzeni Website Administrator Contributing Writers Bryan Geelan '07 Lisa Carponelli
Photography Luke Behaunek Devin Perry Office of Alumni Relations Andy English ’05 Director 515-961-1547
The Simpson Magazine is published by the Office of Marketing and Strategic Communication. Send correspondence to alumni.office@simpson.edu.
Office of College Advancement Bob Lane '81 Vice President 515-961-1417
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THIS IS SIMPSON
Introducing
President Marsha C. Kelliher
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THIS IS SIMPSON As students, faculty and staff returned to classes at Simpson College in the fall of 2020, they found a new president guiding the way. Marsha C. Kelliher joined the College June 1 as Simpson’s 24th president and the first woman to hold the position. “It’s an honor and a privilege to lead an organization like Simpson College and to be the first female in this role,” Kelliher said. “I want our women to understand that they can do anything. Hopefully they will see that if I can be the first woman president at Simpson College, they can do anything to which they aspire.” Prior to Simpson, Kelliher served as president and CEO of Walsh College in Troy, Michigan. In her career, Kelliher has served in various roles throughout higher education. She held several positions at St. Edward’s University from 1994-2013 before launching a Women’s Leadership Symposium in her role as dean of the Sigmund Weis School of Business at Susquehanna University. She joined Walsh College in 2017. Although Kelliher wasn’t looking for a new role, the search for Simpson College’s new president rose up through a friend. An alumnus of the college, he had always been complimentary of Simpson, Kelliher said — but it was the students who won her over. “As I started looking at Simpson more closely, I was very impressed with the focus on access, and the mission, the vision, the values,” Kelliher said. “But when I met the students and had that wonderful conversation with them, that’s what really sold me on Simpson. “The students were engaged, they were bright, they were very thoughtful and caring both for each other as well as the larger community.” As an undergraduate at Indiana University, Kelliher was inspired to become a college professor by her own professor, but her road through academia paused when she began her career at Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co. in 1982. Kelliher earned her law degree while working full-time, attending evening and weekend classes at South Texas College of Law — one of the experiences that keeps continuing education students top-of-mind for Kelliher. “I actually woke up one time and was in a different class than when I started,” Kelliher recalled. “I’ve never lived that down.” To Kelliher, leading a liberal arts institution requires a deep grounding in the mission. “You have to be able to live the mission, and to live the mission, you have to relate to it and believe in it,” Kelliher said. “I am a Methodist, so that also played a part in my decision. I think when you have a mission that’s grounded in faith, that provides you with rich context to be able to create unique programming for students. Simpson’s commitment to community service, nonpartisan evaluation of public issues and the whole concept of Exploreships™ really resonated with me.”
As president, Kelliher faces the unique task of guiding Simpson as the world recovers from the global COVID-19 pandemic. The onset of the pandemic prematurely closed campus to classes and activities in March 2020, just three months before Kelliher officially began her position. Kelliher credits the ability of faculty and staff to collaborate and adjust on the fly for Simpson’s quick response to the pandemic, but said students have highlighted the need for continued flexibility as the situation evolves. “Right now, we’re hearing that students need additional time management skills and ways to break away from family in order to focus on classes. It’s very difficult when everybody is at home, especially for those who have small children,” Kelliher said. “I think the faculty have been very creative in the ways they have redesigned their approach to teaching.” Over the summer, Kelliher was joined at Simpson by new cabinet members John Woell and Catherine Cole. Woell is the senior vice president and academic dean while Cole serves as vice president for marketing and strategic communication. The key to acclimating new people to Simpson — especially in a pandemic — is matching personal values to the mission of the institution, Kelliher said. “We’re all Zoom zombies like everybody else,” Kelliher admitted. Yet, “They understand who we are, and they understand the importance of our traditions.” In late June, Kelliher launched what she calls her ‘listening tour’ to meet with college departments in order to understand their goals, challenges and opportunities as well as how individual offices were incorporating diversity, equity and inclusion in their daily work. Kelliher completed those meetings by the beginning of Simpson’s 2020-2021 academic year and has begun a similar process with students. “Right now, I want to listen to the community to hear what people identify as opportunities as well as challenges,” Kelliher said. “It is all about finding new ways to live the mission and to ensure that we deliver on the promise that our graduates will lead lives of meaning and purpose.”
ˮIt’s an honor and a privilege to lead an organization like
Simpson College and to be the first female in this role.” Marsha C. Kelliher
President of Simpson College
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THIS IS SIMPSON
QA
with President Kelliher
How can Simpson adapt higher education for the future of Iowa’s workforce? We are meeting with employers and are going to be having some community meetings to really explore what types of knowledge and skills those employers are looking for. We have some additional meetings we’re going to schedule with corporate leaders, as well. There’s a lack of understanding of what it means to be a liberal arts institution. Anything that we can do as leaders and alumni of liberal arts institutions to explain the importance of the depth and breadth of knowledge and skills students receive because they’ve taken courses in so many different areas will help others understand what a liberal arts education is all about. We can explain that there’s intentionality in focusing on developing aspects like communication and critical-thinking skills. The more we can help others understand that it’s things like Exploreships™ — which give students multiple opportunities to grow both personally and academically — the more we can convey what makes a liberal arts education so special.
How will you lead Simpson in addressing enrollment? I see my role as creating a framework so we can set goals as a community and make sure we have the resources to execute the strategies we want to implement. Everybody needs to understand that we all contribute to enrollment. We all have to take responsibility for both enrollment and retention. The best thing I can do is model that for the community and reinforce that message.
How is Simpson prioritizing diversity and inclusion in campus policy? To begin, we are doing an inventory of all the different ways we’re currently addressing and supporting diversity and inclusion on campus. We want to ensure that what we’re doing is consistent with the Methodist tradition of focusing on social justice and access. We’re also looking at additional opportunities for programming at the student, faculty and staff levels. Fostering an open dialogue is going to
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be very important as we move forward. We need to be intentional about creating safe spaces for conversation. People need the opportunity to reflect and become better educated about their own perspectives and biases. The cabinet has benefited from the same programming aimed at faculty and staff, which was implemented by two outside consultants from Drake University. Erin Lain, associate provost for campus equity and inclusion, and Tony Tyler, associate dean of students, customized the training to address the issues on our campus and presented it in a way that was most beneficial to our community. As I met with each of the departments and divisions, I asked them to share how they support our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Statement. In doing that, I gained a better understanding of our campus climate. Throughout the process, I had opportunities for personal growth and development as president of the College and developed a better understanding of the challenges others face.
How will you lead outreach to Indianola and the greater central Iowa community? I’m proud of the fact that our faculty, staff and cabinet members have been very active in the community. Now the conversation is, how can we use those existing relationships to introduce myself and the new vice presidents to central Iowa? I have a history of being very actively engaged in the community in which I reside, and I intend to continue that trend. It’s important that our local business owners know our altered schedule during COVID-19. That information is important to their planning efforts as the College is a vital part of the local economy.
What is the timeline of Simpson's strategic planning process? The cabinet and I worked throughout the summer months to create a framework which will begin the outreach to employers and different members of the community. We hope to present the plan to the board for final approval in the spring.
THIS IS SIMPSON
Snapshot EDUC ATION: LL.M. in Labor and Employment Law, University of San Diego; J.D., South Texas College of Law; bachelor’s degree, Indiana University HOBBIES: Cooking, entertaining guests, golfing, visiting new restaurants and vineyards
New Cabinet Members Join Leadership Team
JOHN WOELL John Woell joined the College July 1, 2020 as senior vice president and academic dean. Previously the associate vice president of strategic initiatives and academic affairs at Albion College, Woell is responsible for overseeing all matters pertaining to the instructional services of Simpson College. He will ensure quality and excellence in the school’s curriculum. At Albion, he oversaw new faculty development, national scholarships and fellowships and Albion’s three named institutes. “Dr. Woell is a visionary leader who has demonstrated the unique ability to collaborate and unite campus communities in new and innovative ways,” Kelliher said. “In today’s dynamic world where higher education is evolving rapidly, John is committed to the enduring value of a Simpson College education, not just for today – but for a lifetime.”
CATHY COLE Cathy Cole joined the College Aug. 1, 2020 as vice president for marketing and strategic communication. Previously the vice president for enrollment management and strategic communication at the University of Montana, Cole is responsible for overseeing communications, editorial and design, visual and social media, advertising, web strategy and sports information. “Cathy Cole is a passionate higher education leader with decades of hands-on experience in marketing, communication, messaging and branding,” Kelliher said. “Her efforts have led to double-digit enrollment and retention growth, friend- and fund-raising, a steep increase in brand equity for her institutions and reinvigorated brands and placement in the competitive landscape of higher education. We are thrilled to have someone of Cathy’s caliber join us as a member of our team as we position Simpson College for an exciting and robust future.”
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ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
Class of 2020: Welcome to the Simpson College Alumni Association It would be an understatement to say that the last few months of your tenure at Simpson were incredibly challenging as you and the entire Simpson community responded to the public health issues presented by COVID-19. Your class showed resilience and grace as you completed your educational pursuits. We are proud of you and how you persevered. It gives us great pleasure to acknowledge your academic accomplishments and welcome you to the Simpson College Alumni Association. Treasure this chapter in your life and recognize that your Simpson journey is just beginning. As you move into the next phase of your life, we know you will be very busy with careers, further studies, community engagement and raising families. We look forward to watching you achieve many great things and your continued involvement with Simpson. There are many opportunities to reach back to your alma mater including, but not limited to, alumni get-togethers, participating in the Alumni Mentoring Program, recommending prospective students and returning to campus during homecoming and other events. We have alumni chapters in Washington, D.C./Baltimore, Colorado and the Twin Cities, as well as alumni stretching across the nation who will be delighted to welcome you to their communities and help you succeed. We are excited to celebrate your milestone achievement and officially welcome you to the Alumni Association during commencement ceremonies Oct. 17.
In Simpson pride, The Simpson College Alumni Association Board of Directors
Welcome to Our Newest Alumni Board Members
The Simpson College Alumni Association Board of Directors has elected the following alumni for membership. These alumni strive to extend the Simpson Experience to our alumni community and represent the over 20,000 living alumni throughout the world. Elizabeth Ehlers Andersen ’99 – Urbandale, Iowa Julianna Sieck Cullen ’00 – Adel, Iowa Brett DePue ’10 – San Diego, California Tyler Kamerman ’00 – Clive, Iowa 8 |
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Ronnie Lindsey ’88 – Fort Wayne, Indiana Jennifer Lashier Samuels ’06 – Ames, Iowa Rhonda Vry-Bills ’91 – Altoona, Iowa Timothy Warrick ’90 – Johnston, Iowa
Brian Williams ’15 – Indianola, Iowa Mariah Young ’15 – Denver, Colorado
ADVANCEMENT
Your gift empowers our future leaders
78%
ON AVERAGE
of traditional Simpson students complete at least one internship prior to graduation.
Beyond every corner of campus
1,700
MORE THAN
community service hours were logged by the class of 2020 during their senior year.
As they embark on a journey to leave their mark on the world
TOP 5 MAJORS OF THE 2020 GRADUATING CLASS
Management
Biology
Accounting
Psychology
Sports Administration
Check out our new donation page to set up a one-time or recurring gift. simpson.edu/GIVE Scan the QR code with your phone or visit
Simpson.edu/give
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CONTINUING & GRADUATE
‘Responsible Leader’ Amber Corrieri Earns National Scholarship Simpson College continuing and graduate student Amber Corrieri earned a prestigious scholarship from Alpha Sigma Lambda, the national honor society that partners with colleges and universities to celebrate the scholarship and leadership of nontraditional students. Corrieri was one of just 14 students in the nation to receive the competitive scholarship. A business administration major, Corrieri is set to complete her bachelor’s degree at the end of the 2021 spring semester. She said her leadership philosophy has been shaped — in part — by her public service. “When I became a city council member in Ames, I learned the difference between responsible and responsive government,”
Corrieri said. “Ultimately, the best leaders know we don’t always have the luxury of doing what’s popular. We evaluate information and opinions and make decisions we believe are in the best interest of our constituents. That’s the true nature of being responsible versus responsive.”
I’m not on campus in a traditional nature, I’ve always felt connected thanks to the continuing and graduate team. There is a personal nature to Simpson that I really appreciate.”
Corrieri’s commitment to her family, community and professional endeavors is time consuming. The mother of two is the director of corporate compliance and communications at Mainstream Living and a member of numerous boards in the Ames community. So, she needed to find a bachelor’s program that fit her busy schedule. She found it, along with an “incredibly supportive” community at Simpson. “Simpson has been amazing,” she said. “While
AMBER CORRIERI '21
Advocating for Iowa’s Latino Community A pillar of the Latino community in Iowa for two decades, Sonia ReyesSnyder has displayed valuable leadership skills throughout a career advocating for marginalized communities. The executive officer of the Iowa Office of Latino Affairs, Reyes-Snyder says listening skills and the ability to bring people together are the most important traits for a leader to possess. Those traits have proven valuable since leaving her war-torn home of El Salvador for the U.S. at the age of 16. Reyes-Snyder came to Iowa in 1997 and started her first job in advocacy in 2002. From there she climbed the professional ladder, landing her current role in 2016. In 2019, she earned dsm magazine’s LGBTQ Legacy Leader Award. She credits the great mentors and supervisors who lifted her up early in her career for nurturing her natural strengths in leadership and advocacy.
ˮI chose Simpson because I was looking for an institution that would value my work experience.”
“I chose Simpson because I was looking for an institution that would value my work experience,” Reyes-Snyder said.
Sonia Reyes-Snyder '21
Reyes-Snyder is proud of her advocacy on behalf of marginalized communities, a trait she passed on to her children. Lizbeth and Yahriel Salinas-Reyes are college students proudly sharing their mother’s passion for activism.
Intersectional Latino and Communications Major 10 |
A student in the continuing and graduate program at Simpson College, Reyes-Snyder is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Intersectional Latino and Communications. A deciding factor in her college decision was receiving credit for her impressive body of work.
S I M P S O N CO L L E G E
THROWBACK
Then & Now
Share your throwback photos of the Simpson College campus on social media. Use #SimpsonThrowback
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FACULTY PURSUITS
Simpson Goes Online Lisa Carponelli, associate professor of multimedia communication When Simpson College stopped holding face-to-face classes on campus because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Manda Gibson ’15 had already started laying the groundwork for faculty to transition to remote teaching.
238
courses moved onto web-based platform*
*in less than 2 weeks
"About a week before spring break, I could see the writing on the wall," Gibson said. "I told myself this is coming, and I'd better get it figured out." As the College’s only online learning and design specialist, Gibson created resources and tutorials to guide faculty through an intense process of transitioning the rest of the semester’s course content into an online learning management system (LMS). In the span of barely two weeks, 238 different courses moved out of lecture halls and laboratories, away from theater stages and music rooms, and onto a web-based platform. To make it all happen, Gibson needed a team. "I said to certain people; I need your help," she said. “No one turned me down.” Gibson pulled co-workers and resources from every corner of campus. Offices were closed because of the virus, but Simpson staff put on headphones at home and worked tirelessly to help closed-caption video lectures recorded by professors. They uploaded test banks. Faculty who taught online before and had used software like Zoom for video conferencing became "Power Users,” also known as peer mentors. Lynne Jensen, information technology services director, was responsible for providing employees with all the hardware needed to work remotely. Sometimes her team even made house calls. “The team sat on people’s front porches — because of social distancing — and helped with their computers or as they worked through their issues with WiFi," Jensen said. Kate Lerseth, associate professor of teacher education and director of faculty development, set up remote training opportunities. She worked with Gibson to provide one-on-one sessions for anyone who asked for help. Day or night.
”I tried to take care of our faculty. So, they, in turn, could take care of our students.ˮ Manda Gibson '15
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The world flipped upside down. It was the teachers who became the students. "There was a full range of emotions," Gibson said. "Some were excited to learn the new tools, and some struggled with the concept [of online teaching] because it's just not what they know." Building an online course is a very intentional process. It takes time and preparation to make use of the interactive tools that create a rich learning experience. The pandemic didn’t allow for that. It was sudden. It was stressful. It was triage. The truth is, some courses just don’t translate in the same way. “No question, I can teach the theory online," professor of biology Amy Doling said. "But much of lab experience in my field is about muscle memory. Students learn how to hold three test tubes in one hand while pipetting with the other. That’s an experience that can be hard to replicate virtually.” Students did their best to adjust. “One of the things that challenged me was the distractions of being at home,” junior Seth Howard said. “It was easy to get off task when I had assignments, unlike being on campus where I could go somewhere to study.” Moving a residential college entirely online is not for the faint of heart. Gibson relocated her campus office to the inside of her garage. That’s where she got the best internet signal. She approached the faculty like a coach approaches her team. Meet each player exactly where they are, give them the tools and the confidence to succeed and then let them do their job. "I tried to take care of our faculty,” Gibson said. “So, they, in turn, could take care of our students."
CHAPLAIN'S MESSAGE
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult. — Psalm 46:1-3 (New Revised Standard Version) Uncertain sure feels like an apt word to describe these times. Experiencing a global pandemic, where a decision you make one day becomes null and void the next. Impossible situations with no easy answers, where we look to leaders who themselves struggle to know how to make the best decision for their communities. Amid the uncertainties of the global pandemic, we’ve also seen matters of justice rise to the surface. I cannot remember a time in my life when so much of my everyday feels so tenuous. I've watched families lose jobs and the needed support to care for their children. I’ve also watched communities mourn and rise up in response to the murders of Black people. What do you do when you look around you and feel like you are grappling for a foothold? When you wake up and the march toward a justice-seeking future feels hopelessly unending? When you realize that even when you’ve made every best decision you can, you are impacted by the decisions of others? We have all had to make decisions in these times — for ourselves, for our families, for our work, for our education — and each one has so many facets to consider. Some decisions are beyond our control but have to be made. We are suffering from what I have come to know as decision fatigue. This is, I believe, one of the greatest challenges to leadership at this time — not to mention the significant burden of decision making when lives are at stake.
knowing which one is right. As the Psalmist writes, “God is our refuge and strength…Therefore we will not fear.” The rapid change of the earth leaves me feeling more uncertain, and if I’m being fully honest, more unworthy to be the one charged with this leadership. My trust in God who understands my angst, sees my fear and desires to meet me here regardless has never been more important. What does it look like to trust in God as a refuge in the midst of this change? It means reminding myself that I am not alone. Acknowledging the unending fear and anxiety of this time, pulling up a (socially-distanced) chair and saying, “Yes. Me, too. I see your fear as I see my own.” As a leader, I can hold the tension of fear of making the best decision and trust that I am doing the best I can. As a faith leader, I can be honest and vulnerable about my own shortcomings and fears about all that is yet to come, and still believe that God is present with us in the midst of all these things. The best that we can do — whether we are leaders or looking to those in leadership — is to find our space of refuge so if the mountains come crashing into the sea, we have a place to turn where we can be met with compassion. I hope and pray that you have that space of refuge when you need it most, and that you’ve considered how you can be that refuge for others when they need it most.
MARA LEHEW BAILEY ’06, SIMPSON COLLEGE CHAPLAIN
For me, leading in times of uncertainty means that I am dually listening to my own heart and the hearts of those around me, and seeking to know God’s heart for justice in the process. I know that each question has many, many possible answers and there is no way of
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FEATURE STORIES
Making A Difference Simpson College alumni from across the United States are contributing to the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. From an ICU nurse giving comfort in a patient’s final hours to an alcohol distiller transforming his product to sanitizer, Simpson alumni — along with current students and staff — are making a difference when the world needs it most.
Feature stories by Lisa Carponelli, associate professor of multimedia communication
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FEATURE STORIES
The #ONESimpson Response Heidi Levine, crisis management team chair; vice president for student development and planning
In early March 2020, a small group of Simpson College campus leaders gathered to discuss how to respond to the spread of a mysterious virus that had just reached the United States. At the time, healthcare leaders around the world knew relatively little about the novel coronavirus and the resulting respiratory infection it caused. Then everything changed. Within two weeks, what we now know as COVID-19 was rapidly spreading throughout the country. As public health officials gathered information about the virus, the group of campus leaders — which became known as the Crisis Management Team — moved quickly to address the rapidly shifting situation. Throughout the process, CMT’s No. 1 priority was to ensure the health and safety of the campus community while honoring the College’s commitment to providing an outstanding, studentcentered experience. CMT communicated with the Simpson College community on a daily basis, ensuring all were apprised of evolving plans. Keeping the health and safety of the campus community at the forefront, we made the decision to hold the final five weeks of classes in an online format. In order to adequately prepare for effective online course delivery, we extended spring break by one week. This allowed faculty to work closely with campus experts to transition courses to virtual platforms. We asked students to come back to campus to gather their belongings and return home. We made provisions for the roughly two dozen students who were — for various reasons — unable to complete the semester from home. And we assisted with the planning
and safe return home for students studying abroad, all while programs and services were revamped to provide connection and support from a distance. The pace of decision-making was dizzying. Our knowledge of COVID-19 changed seemingly from one hour to the next. Together, we pulled together to successfully complete the semester, final exams and May Term. None of this would have been possible without the incredible commitment, dedication and love demonstrated by the people who make Simpson such a special place. In the face of a challenge the world has never before seen, the Simpson College community came together to confront the obstacles created by the global pandemic quickly and effectively. More challenges lie ahead, but I’m confident in our ability to face adversity. Through this trying time, we have truly become #ONESimpson. And I’ve never been more proud.
“The CMT’s number one priority was to
ensure the health and safety of the
campus community.ˮ
Heidi Levine
Chair, Crisis Management Team
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FEATURE STORIES
A Memorable Tenure Great leaders emerge during tough times. It is often the ability to adapt quickly, guide with a steady hand and communicate effectively that shape a legacy. No one understands that better than Elliott Meyer ’21.
“I think this pandemic is going to be
transformative for everyone in my generation.ˮ Elliot Meyer '21
History and Political Science Major
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Meyer is the current Student Body President at Simpson College. He’s double-majoring in history and political science, and you could say his studies have prepared him for this leadership position. He identifies Abraham Lincoln and Franklin Delano Roosevelt as his role models.
Association up and running while students scattered all over the country for the final stretch of the semester. For the first time, SGA meetings were no longer in-person and went completely virtual. Zoom videoconferencing became the norm for nearly every interaction between students, faculty, staff and administration. While grateful for the technology, it was clear to everyone that something tangible was missing.
“They both served during two of the hardest times in our history ... and they’re both remembered as great presidents,” Meyer said.
“A core tenet to learning is the community around you ... All I know about college is connected to the campus itself. It was very hard for me,” Meyer said. He added that logging in to be “at Simpson” was difficult because, in reality, he was nowhere near Indianola.
Meyer’s time in office won’t be easily forgotten. A few months into his oneyear term, the COVID-19 pandemic hit the U.S. and the College moved entirely online immediately after spring break. One of Meyer's most significant obstacles was keeping the Student Government
Meyer plans to go to law school after he graduates in 2021. He says it's too soon to identify how the pandemic will impact his future, but history tells him it's a game-changer. "I think the pandemic is going to be transformative for everyone in my generation.”
FEATURE STORIES
Providing Relief Ryan West ’03 remembers the recession of 2009. He had just started at Iowa Workforce Development and was on the state agency's unemployment insurance side. During the busiest times, staff would field roughly 9,000 calls per day from Iowans looking for information or filing for unemployment benefits. During the spring of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of calls skyrocketed to 35,000 per day. "These are circumstances we have never seen before," West said. "They're historic." In the case of COVID-19, many people from every sector filed for unemployment for the first time. That meant a lot of calls. And a lot of questions. Now the Deputy Director at IWD, West said the agency went from “zero to a hundred” as it scrambled to put the federal government’s Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act to work for Iowans. Sometimes
the Department of Labor's guidance changed hourly, and West realizes that, for those out of a job, there’s a lot of anxiety until that first check comes in. "The key is staying calm," West said. "There are always a lot of questions, and we need to move through them as calmly as possible." Like many businesses in the state, IWD had to change the way its employees handled their jobs. The staff did nearly all of the work remotely. "I never thought I'd see our staff working from home," West said. "And we've done more work now than ever before.” Some employers had to shut down operations. Others’ jobs evaporated. West acknowledges those challenges, but he's also optimistic. He believes there will likely be online opportunities that didn’t exist before. New business ventures will be born out of the recent adversity. Some things will look different when this is finally over. But West insisted, “Iowa is a resilient state.”
“These are
circumstances we have never seen before, they're
historic.ˮ Ryan West '03
Deputy Director at IWD
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FEATURE STORIES
Improvising in the ICU Emily Bray ’18 had two main goals when she covered her shifts at the hospital for COVID-19 patients in Houston: 1) comfort them as best she could, and 2) make sure none of them died alone. “You had to spend more time explaining to them it’s OK,” Bray said. “Your family’s not here, but I’m your family now.”
“I wasn’t
going to let her go alone.ˮ Emily Bray '18
ICU Nurse at HCA Houston Healthcare Clear Lake
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Bray, who completed Simpson and Allen College’s pre-nursing dual-degree program, is a registered nurse who works in intensive care. Treating critical patients is nothing new, but the strict safety protocols that prevented COVID-19 patients from having any visitors changed her job. She knows firsthand that visits can be an essential part of helping patients recover more quickly and move out of the ICU. But with the coronavirus, that wasn't an option. Bray improvised. She let one patient borrow her phone to FaceTime family. She even stayed with a 95-year-old woman while she took her final breaths, praying and singing hymns.
“I wasn’t going to let her go alone,” Bray said. The 23-year-old nurse personally called the family to let them know she was in the room during those final moments. She hoped that would bring them a small amount of comfort amid their grief. Bray credits her ability to handle end-oflife moments with grace to her childhood when she helped her family care for her grandmother who had Alzheimer’s. That’s when she knew she wanted to be a nurse. Bray went on to become a certified nursing assistant at the age of 16. She also worked at a hospice home in Des Moines while studying at Simpson and when she was home on breaks from nursing school. Caring for patients with COVID-19 can change a person. It did for Bray. She says she’s a stronger individual and now an even better nurse. When this pandemic is finally over, Bray says it will bring all of us some perspective. “We will have a greater appreciation for what life was like before.”
FEATURE STORIES
A Race Against Time During the first two-and-a-half months of 2020, the emergency calls to the dispatch center in Maplewood, Minnesota just wouldn't stop. “It was the busiest time we’ve had in our history,” said firefighter and paramedic Brad Davison ’13. “We were up 10 percent from usual. That means we were taking an additional 600 calls a month.” Then came the middle of March, and the call volume plummeted. Maplewood, a suburb of St. Paul, suddenly rolled out the ambulance only two or three times in a 24-hour shift. “No one was calling 9-1-1,” Davison said. “Nobody wanted to go to the hospital because of their fears of contracting COVID.” While most states started issuing stay-inplace orders and shuttering schools and businesses to stop community spread of the virus, Davison said he believes the novel coronavirus was already circulating in his community in the early days of
2020. That’s when all those emergency calls were flooding in. “That’s my sneaking suspicion,” Davison said. "In those early months, we saw a lot of respiratory diseases that weren't influenza." Potentially coming in contact with the virus mandates additional safety protocols whenever EMS rolls to a scene. No matter the type of call that comes in, paramedics now wear safety glasses and masks. If a patient could potentially have COVID-19, there’s a full-body covering and face shield to put on. Gowning up, as they call it, can take an additional two minutes to park the ambulance. When someone is on the ground and unresponsive, everyone starts feeling the clock. “For a family watching us put on this equipment in their driveway, it can feel like a lifetime,” Davison said. “And for a paramedic, it can feel even longer. You just want to get in there and help.”
“You just want
to get in there and help.ˮ
Brad Davison '13
Firefighter/Paramedic at Maplewood Fire Department
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FEATURE STORIES
House Call “What’s your phone number?” That was the question Dr. Jamie Poole ’97 asked every patient he saw in the emergency room at MercyOne hospital in Des Moines during spring 2020. “I had never asked anyone that before,” Poole said. Usually, intake staff handled that question while dealing with paperwork. But with COVID-19, it became a vital tool for Poole to share information with patients — like test results — in the now-highly-restrictive environment designed to minimize close contact.
“I have never
seen such low
oxygen levels.” Dr. Jamie Poole '97 Emergency Medicine Physician at MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center
Sometimes his personal protective equipment (PPE) made him feel disconnected from his patients. The days of a handshake, pulling up a stool and sitting at eye-level were replaced with masked greetings and a friendly wave. When he wore a hood, called a PAPR that served as a protective air-purifying respirator, Poole said it could be hard for him to hear his patients. “At times, I could barely make out what they were saying.” And for the sickest COVID-19 patients, communication could already be a struggle. “I have never seen such low oxygen levels,”
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said Poole when discussing the rapid, shallow breathing and the mental confusion. That’s one thing the doctor will remember about this virus. At the beginning of March, when Oregon, California and New York got slammed by the coronavirus and most protective equipment was rerouted to the coasts, Poole and his partners began searching for supplies. They lucked out. A local Sherwin-Williams paint store was happy to sell the doctors an entire order of soon-to-be-delivered N-95 masks, a suddenly hot commodity in scarce supply. In order to keep his family safe from exposure to the virus, Poole created a whole new strategy for re-entry into his home after his shift at the hospital. He drops everything at the base of his garage stairs and keeps his hands to himself. No more kisses and hugs once he’s through the door. He heads straight into the shower. He sanitizes everything he’s come in contact with. How long doctors, nurses and medical staff will have to take this extraordinary care while performing their jobs is a big unknown. Poole knows it’s a risky time to make predictions about the future. “The information is just evolving so fast.”
FEATURE STORIES
From Spirits to Sanitizer Kyle Doyle is happy to pour you a drink at his craft cocktail lounge in Cumming, Iowa. Ask for the Flyover. Or The Judge. Simpson alumni should try the aptly named Storm Chaser. But back in March, when the nation was shaken by the COVID-19 pandemic, he had to shut down that part of his business. Doyle and his head distiller put their expertise into a mixture much more in demand: hand sanitizer. “We kept getting phone calls for it on a daily basis,” Doyle said. As the owner of Iowa Distilling Co., which boasts specialty spirits Zone Vodka, Prairie Fire Whiskey and Steel Drum Rum, Doyle had the tools. Using a formula approved by the Food and Drug Administration, the company created a limited run of alcohol-based hand antiseptic, a product in short supply as the number of reported coronavirus cases multiplied across the U.S. After hours, Doyle made small batches of hand sanitizer and donated it to police and fire departments in nearby Norwalk and Indianola. He prioritized first responders, noting that they needed protection while they were out protecting the public.
As more micro-distilleries started to switch their production from spirits to sanitizer, Doyle looked for other ways to help. He vividly remembers March 17, a day that is usually a busy one in his industry. Instead of hosting St. Patrick’s Day parties, the bar across the street from the distillery was shutting its doors after a statewide order to close bars and restaurants in an effort to contain community spread of the virus. “Watching that happen, we were wondering how those guys were going to pay rent,” Doyle said. For two weeks in April, Doyle and his team pledged to donate one dollar of every bottle of spirits sold at retail stores around the state to the Iowa Restaurant Association Relief Fund. They wrote a $2,000 check that directly benefited bartenders and waitstaff laid off because of the mandatory closures. For Doyle, whether it’s brewing hand sanitizer or donating profits from his alcohol sales, you can distill it down to a deep sense of responsibility for those in his community. “We just care about our neighbors.”
“We just care about our
neighbors.ˮ Kyle Doyle '05
Owner of Iowa Distilling Co.
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ATHLETICS
“My wife and I have the mentality
that you can’t change everybody, but you can affect change in one person.ˮ George Love
Defensive Coordinator, Storm Football
Agents for Change The death of George Floyd May 25, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota sparked a movement across the United States. Two members of the Simpson College community with ties to the Storm football program have joined the movement as agents for change in central Iowa.
— when 100 or more players come together to work toward a common goal — could provide a blueprint for society to follow. “You practice, you lift, you meet, you study, you do everything together for one common goal,” he says. “I think the world can learn a lot from sports.”
George Love, defensive coordinator for the Storm football team, sparked the Black Lives Matter movement in Indianola along with his wife, Clementé. Following George Floyd’s death, Clementé began walking the streets of Indianola in peaceful protest.
Bill Weathers ’13, a former receiver for the Storm football team, uses his platform as a professional recording artist to raise awareness of social injustice while supporting the Des Moines community he calls home.
She walked alone initially. Then people gradually joined the movement. The Loves used the momentum to host a Juneteenth information session and organize a walk with several members of the Simpson community. The turnout for both events was positive, but Love would have been happy if just one person showed. “My wife and I have the mentality that you can’t change everybody, but you can affect change in one person.” Love believes the nature of a sport like football
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organize numerous peaceful protests. He developed his voice and his mindset growing up in a household that values human rights, making it a part of his life to this day. “If this is something you want to do, it’s not something that’s trendy that you do for a couple of years or a few months,” he says. “It’s a lifelong decision.”
Weathers is the founder of the B.WELL Foundation, a non-profit bearing his stage name. Through the Knowledge is Power initiative, the organization has raised more than half of its $50,000 goal to assist the Des Moines Public Schools. More than $11,000 of that total came from a benefit concert called ‘More Justice. More Peace.’ held in response to the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and others. A prominent figure in Des Moines’ movement to fight racial injustice, Weathers has helped
BILL WEATHERS '13
ATHLETICS
The Lost Season The Simpson College baseball team arrived in Orlando on the evening of March 11, 2020 for its annual spring break tournament. Players, coaches and staff settled into the rental property they would call home for the week and turned on the TV. What they saw changed the trajectory of their season and the entire sports world. The NBA’s Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder were leaving the floor prior to tipoff of their scheduled regular-season game. Jazz player Rudy Gobert had tested positive for COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus. “At that point, we knew it was serious,” said Nathan Roling, head coach of the Storm baseball team. The dominoes fell quickly after that as professional leagues announced the suspension of their seasons. By the afternoon of March 12, the NCAA canceled all remaining winter and spring championships. The American Rivers Conference followed suit. At Simpson, that meant the cancellation of all spring sports: baseball, softball, outdoor track and field, tennis and golf. Only baseball and men’s tennis started their seasons. The remaining sports had yet to suit up for the regular season when the news broke. “It was really tough,” said Brent Matthias, head softball coach, on telling his team the season was canceled. The Storm were preparing for a weekend tournament in St. Louis before flying to Florida for spring break. “When you tell somebody what they’ve worked for, what they love, what they’re passionate about has been taken away, that’s pretty harsh news.”
As sports came to an unexpected end, coaches and players alike were left wondering, ‘what if?’ Matthias said his team was poised to surprise people in 2020. Roling said his squad had a similar outlook, returning most of its starters from the previous year. One member of the baseball team, catcher Truman Schmitt ’20, was particularly disheartened to see the season come to an early end. Coming off an all-conference season in 2019, the senior slugger was hitting .407 with three home runs and eight RBIs in just seven games. The 2020 Academic All-American passed on the opportunity to graduate a semester early in order to play his senior season. Even though the season was cut short, he doesn’t regret his decision. “I hate that the season got canceled, but I loved being around the guys for a little longer,” Schmitt said. “Just the opportunity to be around my best friends was great.”
August 10, 2020, the American Rivers Conference presidents voted to postpone football, volleyball and soccer to Spring 2021. As of that date, the conference planned to move forward with golf, tennis and cross country as scheduled. Visit simpsonathletics.com for the most recent updates.
If there’s a silver lining to a global pandemic, it may be a heightened appreciation for the parts of everyday life that tend to get taken for granted. Roling said it felt like something was missing in the days following the end of the season. Looking back, he thinks that missing piece is the cornerstone on which Simpson College is built: the people. “You appreciate the face-to-face interaction and the personal relationships you develop through your sport, through athletics in general and through an institution like Simpson.”
“I hate that the season
got canceled, but I
loved being around the guys for a little longer.ˮ
Truman Schmitt '20
Storm Baseball
Student-Athletes Named to Academic All-America Teams Men’s basketball player Conor Riordan ’20 and baseball player Truman Schmitt ’20 represented Simpson College in their respective sports on the Academic All-America Team, as presented by the College Sports Information Directors of America. A senior guard, Riordan earned first-team honors after averaging 20.1 points per game to lead the Storm in 2019-20. In the classroom, the Ankeny, Iowa native carried a 3.94 GPA as a mathematics major.
Riordan was also a finalist for the 2020 Jostens Trophy for the nation’s most outstanding NCAA Division III men’s basketball player. A senior catcher, Schmitt earned second-team honors after hitting .407 with 11 hits, three home runs and eight RBIs in just seven games before the season was canceled due to COVID-19. In the classroom, the Hinton, Iowa native carried a 3.97 cumulative GPA as an actuarial science major. S I M P S O N . E D U/ M AG A Z I N E | 2 3
NEWS
Simpson College Students Receive National Recognition for Research Paige Bendt-Wake ’20 and Kathryn Hays ’20 don’t have a lot in common when it comes to their education at Simpson College. BendtWake double-majored in psychology and philosophy while Hays triple-majored in political science, international relations and French. Besides their graduation year, the duo has this in common: award-winning research. Both conducted research projects that garnered national attention in 2020. Bendt-Wake was chosen to present her research on gaslighting at the inaugural Richard Macksey National Undergraduate Humanities Research Symposium hosted by Johns Hopkins University. Hays was invited to present her research on disinformation campaigns at the Council on Undergraduate Research Posters on the Hill event in Washington, D.C.
KATHRYN HAYS '20
PAIGE BENDT-WAKE '20 While neither student had the opportunity to participate in person due to COVID-19, their work represents the importance Simpson College places on undergraduate research. “Undergraduate research is one of many high-impact practices we value greatly for our students throughout their experience,” said Katie Smith ’09, assistant professor of sport science and health education. She also serves as co-director of the Undergraduate Research and Creativity Symposium. BendtWake and Hays would have served as keynote speakers for the 2020 symposium, but the event was canceled due to the pandemic. Bendt-Wake’s research focused on the topic of self-gaslighting as it relates to sexual assault. “As a member of Simpson’s Sexual Assault Response Advocates and a survivor of sexual assault, I realized that victims oftentimes blame themselves in some capacity,” said Bendt-Wake, who plans to pursue a master’s degree in social work. “The research shines a light on the cultural aspects of sexual assault. It showcases that, even without a second or third party, people can harm themselves due to a skewed cultural notion about sexual assault victims.” Hays’ research focused on the topic of disinformation campaigns from foreign governments and how they affect different electoral systems. In her proposal to Posters on the Hill, she concentrated on the contrasting effects of disinformation on the most recent presidential campaigns in the United States and France. “I think this is one of the greatest threats to our democracy right now,” Hays said. “I see the side effects of disinformation in my life every day. One way we can keep disinformation from influencing elections is to teach media literacy at a young age and teach students how to interact with people who have different views.” For more details on the award-winning research conducted by Paige Bendt-Wake and Kathryn Hays, visit simpson.edu/news.
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NEWS
The Simpsonian: Giving a Voice to Students for 150 Years The Nation’s Oldest Continuously Published Student Newspaper. Those words appear on the front page of every print edition of The Simpsonian, Simpson College’s student newspaper. While some contest the validity of the statement — at least seven other papers make a similar claim — there’s no debating the paper’s place as an institution at the College. The Simpsonian celebrates its 150th anniversary this fall. It first printed Oct. 1, 1870, just 10 years after the College opened its doors. Though many changes have taken place over the last 150 years, one constant that remains is the paper’s role in giving a voice to the students. The Simpsonian is run entirely by students. Student journalists pitch ideas, conduct interviews and write stories. Student editors make the final call on what gets published. Student photographers arrange photo shoots and cover events. Student designers lay out the pages to send to print. “They operate without my interference,” said Mark Siebert, associate professor of multimedia communications and director of Simpson Student Media. Faculty advisor to The Simpsonian since 2013, Siebert is there to answer questions and provide guidance. No more. “It’s their paper. It’s their voice.”
Ben Campney ’83 shared his voice in The Simpsonian for five years in the early 80s. The editor-in-chief for the 1979-80 school year, Campney wrote a regular column after his year as editor. “I wrote about whatever short item came to my attention. I usually wrote about campus issues, but sometimes I wrote about national issues,” said Campney. The first edition of his column shed light on the college’s failure to install drains with newly constructed wheelchair ramps across campus, resulting in large pools of water when it rained. “My first column posed the question, ‘Are the ramps there to help the handicapped or create the handicapped?’” While Campney enjoyed his time on the staff, he ultimately pursued a career outside of journalism. A political science major at Simpson, he started out working on political campaigns and ended up spending 28 years working for the City of Chicago as a database programmer. It’s not uncommon for Simpsonian staffers to succeed in careers not directly related to journalism. On the other hand, many staffers take the next step to professional journalism. The Simpsonian’s most recent editor-in-chief, Gunnar Davis ’20, is an education and sports reporter for the Mason City (Iowa) Globe Gazette. “I haven’t encountered anything at the Globe that I didn’t feel prepared for,” said Davis, who helped cover a presidential change, the Iowa caucuses and the COVID-19 pandemic at Simpson during
the 2019-20 academic year. “Working for The Simpsonian taught me leadership, people skills and confidence. My experience helped prepare me to be a professional journalist.” But maybe the biggest benefit of being a part of The Simpsonian is the sense of family it provides. Staffers from all different backgrounds and academic interests come together to work toward a common goal. The paper not only produces impactful stories that make a difference, but friendships that can last a lifetime. “Part of the overall Simpson Experience is the friends you make and keep over the years,” Campney says. “For me, those friendships began from the time we spent together on The Simpsonian.”
Planning for a Simpsonian 150-Year Celebration is underway. The date is yet to be determined. In the meantime, send your favorite memories from your time with The Simpsonian staff to: alumni.office@simpson.edu.
“It's their paper.
It's their voice.ˮ Mark Siebert
Associate Professor of Multimedia Communications and Director of Simpson Student Media
The look of The Simpsonian has evolved over the last 150 years. You can read entire issues of The Simpsonian dating back to volume 1 in 1870 using microfilm at Dunn Library.
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TOURING THE YEARS
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 accomplishments of our alumni. If you wish to receive a printed copy of Class Notes, please contact andy.english@simpson.edu.
Marriages Ronnie Wiedman ’93 and Martha Jones ’14, Dec. 7, 2019, Grimes, Iowa.
Sarah Silk ’11 and Bradley VanderZanden, Aug. 25, 2018, San Antonio, Texas.
Jorge Ramos ’16 and Sarah Hayes ’16, married on Pi Day (3/14/20), Midland, Michigan.
Trey Chumbley ’19 and Lauren Fox ’19, Feb. 29, 2020, Dallas Center, Iowa.
Births/Adoptions Elsie King, May 16, 2020, to Ryan King ’05 and Tiffany Homan King ’06, Indianola, Iowa. Was welcomed home by siblings Graham, Harrison and Neva. Reece Norman, May 21, 2020, to Dana Johnson Norman ’06 and Jacob Norman, Union, Iowa. Kinnick Rauch, Sept. 19, 2019, to Matt Rauch ’06 and Amanda VanFosson Rauch ’07, Pella, Iowa. Joins Keaton and Clara. Will Geelan, May 10, 2020, to Bryan Geelan ’07 and Tricia Davis Geelan ’10, Indianola, Iowa. Joins big brother, Holt. Morgan Alliman, Oct. 9, 2019, to Leah Grothe Alliman ’10 and Kirk Alliman, Adel, Iowa. Joins brother, Bennett. Lena Howard, Oct. 23, 2019, to Laura Anderson ’10, Harlan, Iowa.
To submit accomplishments and updates to be included in future editions, visit simpson.edu/alumni/update
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Jaxon Hamilton, July 20, 2019, to Jacob Hamilton ’10 and Amber Vrbsky Hamilton ’10, Des Moines, Iowa. Joins brothers, Blake and Kaleb. Theodore Hoff, April 22, 2020, to Whitney Rasmussen Hoff ’10 and Elliot Hoff, Ames, Iowa. Hazel Severn, Nov. 20, 2019, to Abigail Loudon Severn ’12 and August Severn ’13, Polk City, Iowa. John Greaves, Sept. 25, 2019, to John Greaves ’14 and Teona Greaves, Margate, Florida. Joins sister, Edyn. Carter Jones, Sept. 25, 2019, to Nathan Jones ’14 and Kelsey McLaughlin Jones ’15, Ankeny, Iowa. Tucker Meyer, March 16, 2020, to Corey Meyer ’17 and Morgan Ryan Meyer ’17, Altoona, Iowa.
TOURING THE YEARS
Deaths Ernestine Stauber Argo ’40, Sept. 23, 2019, Centerville, Iowa. Kathryn Bellman Braught ’41, Oct. 4, 2019, Norman, Oklahoma.
Dr. Larry Richards ’60, June 6, 2020, Ankeny, Iowa. H. Wallace Kinzler ’61, March 21, 2019, Ames, Iowa. David Snodgrass ’63, Aug. 23, 2018, Des Moines, Iowa.
Margaret Sandy Lewellyn ’42, May 31, 2020, North Mankato, Minnesota.
Emily Evalee Greene Hunerdosse ’64, May 7, 2019, Newton, Iowa.
Burl Beam ’43, March 29, 2020, Martensdale, Iowa.
Jay Croft ’65, April 2, 2020, Frederick, Maryland.
Laurola Walker Gibson ’43, April 18, 2020, Osceola, Iowa.
William Fauver ’65, March 25, 2020, Bradenton, Florida.
Doris Bever Andrews ’46, May 14, 2020, Clarion, Iowa. Donna Gose Hicks ’51, April 17, 2020, Des Moines, Iowa. Merrill Blackburn ’52, Nov. 24, 2019, Urbandale, Iowa. Ralph Keller ’52, June 22, 2020, Klamath Falls, Oregon. Sara Beth Crouse McComas ’52, June 29, 2020, Albuquerque, New Mexico. Dorothy Faye Uttley ’52, March 29, 2020, Milo, Iowa. Jane McCoy Peterson ’53, July 28, 2020, Savannah, Georgia. Jeannette Starrett ’53, June 8, 2020, Indianola, Iowa. Lloyd Cleven ’54, March 3, 2020, West Des Moines, Iowa. Dorothy Mathes Blydenburgh ’54, May 11, 2009, Kansas City, Missouri. Dr. Charles Pyfer ’55, May 21, 2020, Eugene, Oregon. Rosemary Weld Harris ’57, Dec. 24, 2019, Columbus City, Iowa.
Barbara McEldowney Carroll ’66, June 6, 2020, Glen Allen, Virginia. Glenn “Butch” Kuehl, Jr. ’66, Sept. 19, 2018, Indianola, Iowa. Joene Marie Dale Edwards ’67, Jan. 24, 2020, Northfield, Minnesota. Esther Rork Wark ’68, March 7, 2020, Milton, Florida. Nancy Haslup ’69, April 7, 2020, Panora, Iowa. Kristine Harlow Erickson ’72, March 27, 2020, Des Moines, Iowa. Gary King ’73, June 12, 2020, Urbandale, Iowa. Lawrence Schwinger ’74, June 1, 2020, Stuart, Iowa. Frederick Grgurich ’76, April 22, 2020, Des Moines, Iowa. Grant Dyer ’77, April 15, 2020, Des Moines, Iowa. Dean Logsdon ’77, Oct. 11, 2019, Windsor Heights, Iowa. William Mullins ’77, March 1, 2020, Osceola, Iowa.
Mary Officer Phillips ’57, Sept. 10, 2019, Ballwin, Missouri.
Dr. Catherine Williams ’81, May 20, 2020, Des Moines, Iowa.
Stephen Tyler ’57, April 2, 2020, Houston, Texas.
Dale Miller ’88, May 22, 2020, Indianola, Iowa.
Donald Phillips ’58, May 7, 2020, Ballwin, Missouri.
Emil Segebart, Jr. ’19, July 11, 2020, Indianola, Iowa.
Oscar Stirn ’58, May 25, 2020, Naperville, Illinois. Judith Karen Lathrop ’60, July 18, 2020, Indianola, Iowa.
Faculty and Staff
Margaret McCombs ’60, April 11, 2020, Cedar Falls, Iowa.
Roger Betsworth, June 17, 2020, Indianola, Iowa.
In Memoriam Services are scheduled for May 23, 2021 for Owen Newlin, a Simpson College Board of Trustee member for 39 years from 1980-2019. Newlin passed away July 12, 2020. He was 93. Newlin spent 38 years at Pioneer Hi-Bred, serving as senior vice president from 1986 until his retirement in 1993. Newlin served as chair of Simpson’s board of trustees from 1985-93. He is the second-longest serving trustee in board history and owns an honorary degree from the College. Services are pending for Tom Urban, a Simpson College Board of Trustee member for nearly eight years from 2009 to 2017. Urban passed away July 10, 2020. He was 87. Urban served as CEO and chairman at Pioneer Hi-Bred, leading Pioneer to become a force in agricultural progress in the world. He also held public office, becoming the youngest mayor of Des Moines at age 33 in 1968. Urban served as chair of Simpson’s non-tuition revenue committee from 2014-16. “The Simpson College community was saddened to learn of the loss of Owen Newlin and Tom Urban,” president Marsha Kelliher said. “As valued members of the board of trustees and champions of liberal arts education, they provided significant contributions in both time and resources to the betterment of the College. They will be sorely missed.”
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