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TRANSFORM LIVES TO TRANSFORM THE WORLD Pg. 10
SIMPSON .EDU/MAGA ZINE
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S I M P S O N : T H E M AG A Z I N E
WHAT CAN SIMPSON ADULT EDUCATION DO FOR YOU? Leverage 3 game-changing advantages 1
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VARIETY
FLEXIBILITY
AFFORDABILITY
Start or finish your B.A. degree, earn your master’s or complete a certificate program
Eight-week courses offered six times a year allows you to schedule at your convenience
Maximize your ROI with low tuition and potential for financial aid and/or employer reimbursement
Fully online and in-person programs offered at our West Des Moines campus.
"Simpson has been very flexible, making going back to school an easier transition for me. I love the one-on-one interactions and friendliness of my professors." Megan Cline, Adult Education Student
Learn more at simpson.edu/adult-ed
Continue Your Journey. Master Your Future. S P R I N G 2 022 | 3
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Timely Transformation
T
he energy on Simpson’s campus is palpable. We have had so much to celebrate this year — including the launch of new academic programs, imminent facilities enhancements all across campus, record-setting fundraising, another national championship for Speech and Debate, a national title for Shooting Sports Club, and a historic run by our women’s basketball team. Despite the daunting challenges of these times, Simpson is clearly a College on the move. The Board of Trustees’ official endorsement last fall of our strategic plan, “Transform Lives to Transform the World,” marks a thrilling new
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chapter in Simpson’s story. Our deepened commitment to innovative learning, individual attention and inclusive educational access is designed to cultivate a diverse community of learners who pursue lives of meaning and purpose in creative and profound ways. You’ll be reading — and seeing — much more about our strategic momentum in the months ahead. Of course, transforming lives has been a hallmark of the Simpson educational experience since its founding in 1860. Inside this Simpson Magazine, you’ll meet just a few of our students, faculty and alumni determined to making a difference in their professions — and their
communities. From medicine and music to business and beer, learn what’s on tap for some of Simpson’s finest. Cheers to another great year for Simpson College. Enjoy your summer!
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Timely Transformation
Alumni Association
Transforming Lives
Faculty Pursuits
Athletics
News
Advancement
Chaplain's Message
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Touring the Years
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Backing Healthy Families "Math is My Superpower!" Remarkable Run
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Game On
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Simpson: The Magazine Marsha Kelliher Simpson College President
Contributing Writers Andy English '05 Bryan Geelan '07
Produced by the Office of Marketing and Strategic Communication (OMSC) Roger Degerman Vice President
Micheline Oleson Senior Graphic Designer
Alisa Reynolds-Good Director
Jessica Thomas Digital and Visual Media Specialist
Kenneth Ndzedzeni Website Administrator
Photography Luke Behaunek Jessica Thomas Office of Alumni Relations Andy English ’05 Director 515-961-1547
Office of College Advancement Bob Lane '81 Vice President 515-961-1417 The Simpson Magazine is published by the Office of Marketing and Strategic Communication. Send correspondence to alumni.office@simpson.edu.
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ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
CLASS OF 2022 Welcome
to the Simpson College Alumni Association
Your time at Simpson probably wasn’t what you expected. It would be an understatement to say that you encountered some incredibly challenging times as you and the entire Simpson Family navigated a global pandemic during your college tenure. Your class showed resilience and grace; we are proud of you and your academic accomplishments. It is a true privilege to welcome the Class of 2022 to the Simpson College Alumni Association. You are a member for life. There are no fees or dues charged, just a lifetime of opportunities to remain engaged with the Simpson community. We look forward to watching you achieve many great things on your journey and encourage you to extend your Simpson experience by staying involved as proud alumni of Simpson College. In Simpson pride, The Simpson College Alumni Association Board of Directors
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ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
KENYAN SAFARI BREAKS NEW GROUND In 2013, Carl ’65 and Norma McBride Pullen ’66 revived the Simpson College Alumni Travel Program with a tour of Germany. Over the next several years, alumni also enjoyed abroad adventures in Italy and Ireland. This year, several alumni ventured into Africa for an unforgettable safari. The safari was inspired and prompted by Paige Rice ’78, who lived at the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in Kenya from 1999 to 2000. Having returned to Kenya numerous times since her departure, Rice was excited to share her love for the country with her fellow Simpson alumni. The tour began in Nairobi with an up close and personal visit to the Giraffe Centre, followed by a trek to Sheldrick Wildlife Trust — an elephant orphanage that helps reintroduce young elephants back into the wild. The group then traveled by bush plane to Ol Pejata Conservancy, Lewa Wildlife Conservancy and the well-known Maasai Mara National Reserve for 11 days of morning and evening game drives and other optional excursions. “For me, each day brought something better than the last,” Brett Martin ’03 said. “Whether it was spotting a fresh lion kill on our night game drive, interacting with children at a school in Lewa, taking a sunrise hot air balloon ride or discovering a 24-lion pride, each experience was beautiful and impactful.” Martin says making friends with tour guides, hosts and fellow travelers along the way made the safari especially meaningful. The Simpson Alumni Travel Program strives to extend the Simpson experience, allowing alumni and friends of the College to experience travel abroad opportunities similar to those offered during May term. “Experiencing other cultures and other parts of the world is vital to individual growth,” Andy English ’05, director of alumni relations, said.
Back row L to R: Leon Langlitz ’80, Julie Wolfram Smith ’04, Andy Smith, Paige Rice ’78, Elizabeth ‘Betty’ Shandley Osher ’76, Steve Osher Front row L to R: Denise Griffey ’79, Andy English ’05, Brett Martin ’03 “Simpson College instills the importance of lifelong learning in our students, and what better way to learn about others and especially one’s self than by experiencing the world around us.” The Alumni Travel Program also hosted a tour of Spain and Portugal in late May 2022 and will announce future plans for their 2024 tour in fall 2022.
JOIN US!
UPCOMING SIMPSON ALUMNI ASSOCIATION GATHERINGS Don’t miss out on these fun-filled alumni events hosted by the Simpson College Alumni Association. Additional events will be added throughout the summer months. For updates, more information and to register, visit simpson.edu/alumni-and-giving/events.
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JUN
Simpson Cup Golf Outing (4-person best shot) Indianola Country Club, Indianola
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Simpson Night at Iowa Cubs Principal Park, Des Moines
JUN
24 JUN
Simpson Night at Friday Night Live Concert Series Memorial Park, Indianola
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AUG
13 AUG
Simpson Day at the Blank Park Zoo Blank Park Zoo, Des Moines
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Mixers with Marsha Glen Oaks Country Club, Des Moines
Storm Golf Outing – Athletic Benefit (4-person best shot) Indianola Country Club, Indianola Simpson Day at the Iowa State Fair Stockman’s Inn, Iowa State Fairgrounds, Des Moines
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TRANSFORMING LIVES
TRANSFORM LIVES TO TRANSFORM THE WORLD
STRATEGIC
Simpson College Strategic Plan Seeking to thrive with heightened distinction in the 2020s and beyond, Simpson College is focused on the determined pursuit of the “3 Rs” in higher education: recruitment, retention and revenue. Those priorities are at the heart of the College’s strategic plan, “Transform Lives to Transform the World,” which was unanimously approved by the Board of Trustees last October. “The board supports the plan’s priority emphasis on innovative learning opportunities, individual student attention and inclusive access for creating a diverse community of learners,” says Board Chair Terry Handley ’09. Those themes are depicted in the plan’s five platforms, which incorporate Simpson’s historic mission centered on equipping and inspiring students to “lead lives of meaning and purpose.” The College has already achieved early victories on a variety of fronts, as noted with the platform graphics featured in this story. “It’s incredibly gratifying to see how our #ONESimpson community is already rallying together to design and execute these initiatives,” says President Marsha Kelliher. “Our plan is a living organism that will evolve in a variety of high-impact ways as our faculty, staff and alumni continue to bring forward great ideas.” Of course, strategic harmony between senior College leadership and the board is paramount to ensuring success across all platforms, particularly as they relate to addressing a wide range of facility needs.
"Our plan is a living organism that will continue to evolve in a variety of high-impact ways…” “Partnering with President Kelliher and senior leadership, the board has identified key opportunities for capital improvements across campus to enhance the overall student experience,” says Handley. “In fact, some of those enhancements are already underway with several academic and athletic projects moving forward this summer. And we intend to keep building on that momentum.” Simpson’s strategic plan is slated for continual refinement through 2025. Undoubtedly, newly emerging initiatives will be developed through the balance of the 2020s. To learn more and stay updated on the plan, please visit simpson.edu/strategicplan.
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INDIVIDUAL Student Attention
• Retention management system, AVISO, implemented • Expanded health and wellness services includes nurse practitioner • Dunn Library renovation to create new home for teacher education begins (summer 2022) • Renovation of Jordan Lecture Hall in Carver Science Center begins (summer 2022) • Facility upgrades for Cowles Fieldhouse, Buxton Stadium, Hopper Gymnasium, McBride Baseball field and the Simpson Softball Complex begin (summer 2022)
DIVERSE
Community of Learners • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion division established with Keyah Levy serving as inaugural vice president • College approves affiliation with United Methodist Reconciling Ministries Network
TRANSFORMING LIVES
PROGRESS 2021-22 INNOVATIVE Learning Opportunities
PLATFORM
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PLATFORM
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• Certificate in Trauma and Resiliency debuts • 3-1 nursing partnership with Mercy College of Health Sciences launched • Revised general education approved • Esports exceeds enrollment expectations while competing nationally • Simpson Productions adds technical director • Career Development adds internship coordinator
INCLUSIVE PLATFORM
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PLATFORM
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Educational Access
• Athletics adds women’s and men’s gymnastics; men’s volleyball; and women’s wrestling • Continuing, Graduate & Online Education (CGOE) initiates comprehensive marketing campaign • CGOE programs feature expansion of modalities and access • Urban Dreams partnership removes application barriers
LEAD PLATFORM
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Lives of Meaning and Service • Return of Campus Day features 475 students, faculty, staff and alumni providing 1,300 hours of community service • Religious Life Community and Residential Life form partnership
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TRANSFORMING LIVES
Backing Healthy Families
G
rowing up, Brooke Preston ’15
made her fair share of trips to the local chiropractor. Seeking relief from a variety of sports injuries beginning with her time in gymnastics at age three, Preston found great comfort in those visits, which ultimately inspired her chiropractic career.
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TRANSFORMING LIVES
“We would go as a family and get adjusted,” says Preston, a doctor of chiropractic in the Des Moines area. “It’s something that I always remember and recall as being kind of a treat.” Preston came to admire her hometown chiropractor as much more than a trusted health professional. He made a memorable impact as her high school basketball coach and their families formed close ties while going to church together. She quickly learned that enjoying a fruitful life goes well beyond professional accomplishments. “He was really involved in our community and I wanted that for myself,” says Preston. “So when I envisioned the life that I wanted, this was just kind of the obvious choice for me.”
Learning to adjust and excel When Preston transferred to Simpson, she immediately immersed herself in abundant student opportunities. She was involved in Tri Beta Biological Honor Society; Pre-Health Society; Exercise Science Club; CheerTeam; Triathlon Club; and Catholic Worker House. Preston concedes her classes at Simpson were anything but a breeze. When she was struggling with organic chemistry, Dr. Derek Lyons '07, associate professor of chemistry and physics, provided her with some insightful intervention that helped change the trajectory of her academic career. “He actually helped identify that I have a little bit of a learning disability,” says Preston. “I am so grateful he took the time to help me. I did so much better in his class, and others, after that.” She continued to thrive academically in chiropractic school. Preston earned national recognition with a $25,000 scholarship from ChiroHealthUSA for her academic achievements and went on to graduate with honors.
Family friendly focus Nearing four years of practicing chiropractic care, Preston says she relishes the rewarding dynamic between sharing and advancing her professional skills while finding a variety of ways to engage her community and Simpson College.
“I've always really enjoyed being able to go forth and serve,” says Preston. “One of the things Simpson did really well was providing a lot of volunteer opportunities.”
No two days are the same at the office, where she treats a wide range of patients and cases.
“Can Play,” a nonprofit dedicated to providing athletic opportunities free of charge for children and adults with financial or adaptive needs.
“I’ve had patients as young as four days and as old as 97 years,” says Preston. “Family care is something I absolutely love. I’m really passionate about helping people with wellness and their overall health care routines.”
Amidst the many demands of business ownership, Preston still finds time to coach “Girls on the Run,” a national YMCA program for third- through fifth-graders. “We prepare them to run a 5K. We also teach them about confidence, body image and self-talk. Being able to make an impact in my community is what I’m really looking forward to the most.”
“I’m really passionate about helping people with wellness and their overall health care routines.” A certified specialist in pregnancy, prenatal and pediatric chiropractic care, she counts helping new moms and their babies among her greatest joys. “A lot of times moms come in who want to breastfeed, but they are having difficulty,” says Preston. “Helping infants with their relaxation makes them better sleepers and eaters — and they’re often more able to latch. Seeing their difficulties go away is the most amazing thing.”
Minding her own business Preston recently opened her own practice, Bloom Chiropractic Company, in West Des Moines. She shared proceeds from her grand opening with
When she’s not providing direct care for patients or serving her community, you can often find Preston back on Simpson’s campus. An active member of Simpson’s Alumni Association, she frequently shares her insights with the Pre-Health Society and provides one-on-one mentoring for students.
Great expectations As a lifelong learner, Preston continually embraces opportunities to enhance her skills and expertise. She also presents seminars across the country, teaching chiropractic students and other doctors of chiropractic about various care techniques. Whether it’s mentoring, teaching, learning or giving back, Preston says she holds herself to high standards. She’s driven to be an exceptionally competent and caring chiropractor willing to make any adjustment necessary to ensure excellence in all she does. “I’ve had a chance to do some really cool things already. I’m dedicated and want to be really good at what I do. Because to be mediocre, it’s just not what I’m meant for.” S P R I N G 2 022 | 1 1
TRANSFORMING LIVES
HITTING ALL THE HIGH NOTES —
Photo by JiYang Chen
From Carnegie to the Met — and Europe Meghan Kasanders ’14 is quickly becoming a big name in opera music. Opera News calls her a “wonderfully promising, rich dramatic soprano…a master of her craft.” Not bad for someone who really didn’t know anything about opera when she arrived at Simpson College. “I remember my first day of classes at Simpson,” says Kasanders. “I was walking with a fellow freshman vocal major and she said, ‘I’m so nervous — all I know about opera is Pavarotti and Renee Fleming.’ And I’m like, ‘yeah, right.’ But I had to run back to my dorm room and Google them because I had no idea who they were.”
“That was the most wonderful and most scary week of my life,” says Kasanders. “To step onto the Met stage and see 4,000 seats full of people that are just rooting for you — it was just incredible.” Of course, among her most loyal and enthusiastic fans are the friends and mentors she came to know at Simpson. Kasanders says she’s deeply indebted to Simpson music faculty icons who had a profound impact on shaping her success, including the late Dr. Robert Larsen ’56, Dr. Kimberly Roberts ’98, Dr. Michael Patterson ’75 and Dr. Tim McMillin ’97.
“They became so much like family because of the care, devotion and attention they gave each one of us students. The growth I made from my freshman to senior year is the most substantial growth I’ve experienced in my time of singing. If not for them, [my career] just wouldn’t have gone the way it has.”
It’s humbling to realize how far you can go. Coming back strong The devastating impacts of our global pandemic are the only low notes in her otherwise meteoric rise to stardom. In 2020, COVID caused stage shutdowns worldwide — wiping out much of her first, full-year schedule of performances as a freelancer.
As fate would have it, 10 years after that Google search, Kasanders found herself performing with Fleming at Carnegie Hall.
She says the time off stage gave her a much deeper appreciation for what music means both to her and a hurting world in need of healing.
“What a whirlwind — what a full circle,” says Kasanders, who holds three degrees from Julliard and a master’s in vocal performance from Rice University. “It’s humbling to realize how far you can go.”
“It really hit me when I came back to Des Moines, where I got to sing unmasked with a full orchestra,” says Kasanders. “I could feel and hear the whole orchestra and the acoustics of opera singing. When I walked off the stage I cried, because this is what it’s supposed to be like.”
Indeed, she has come a long way in a rather short time. Just five years after her Simpson graduation, Kasanders took the stage at the Metropolitan Opera as one of nine Grand Finalists.
For her 2019 performance in Mozart’s Don Giovanni at the Julliard Opera Theater, Opera News opined, "Meghan Kasanders’ opulent timbre and reserves of power made her Donna Anna the undisputed diva of the evening…” Photo by Richard Termine
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Kasanders says she’s eager to savor many more such moments, as she resumes a fuller performance schedule that will take her across the U.S. and Europe in 2022.
TRANSFORMING LIVES
CHEERS
TO HIS BEST YEARS Spreading his wings from butterfly-born beer to NASAworthy research, Ethan Madden '22 has found his bio-rhythm at Simpson. Four years ago, Madden wasn’t even sure he was college material due to some troubling personal circumstances. Today, the highly praised student scientist is celebrating his graduation from Simpson with academic distinction. “I was really worried about my future,” Madden says. “I definitely didn’t come from a place where I thought college was going to be an easy thing to do or have any financial support from my family.” The Simpson Promise scholarship changed everything, providing a fulltuition that he says, “opened a lot of doors.” Madden is among many students from Iowa receiving such an award — designed to help students and families in need. The biology major has blossomed while participating in collaborative, cutting-edge research. He’s always brewing something special in the field — like turning butterfly yeast into beer. Madden assisted Dr. Aswati Subramanian, assistant professor of biology, in spearheading the lab work and fieldwork behind Pearl Crescent Butterfly IPA. The new brew made its debut last fall at West Hill Brewing Company in Indianola — owned and operated by Simpson alums Doug ’05 and Heather Norris Gaumer ’05.
Assistant biology professor Aswati Subramanian (left) has served as Ethan Madden’s mentor for a wide range of research opportunities. In all, Aswati’s team netted and swabbed the leg and mouth areas of seven butterfly species throughout Warren County before releasing them back to the wild. The swabs yielded 22 starter cultures which led to the creation of more than 160 culture plates. Madden eventually isolated a pure colony of brewer’s yeast that defined the new beer. “This project was a lot of fun — a perfect blend of art and science,” Aswati says. “It really shows what we can achieve when Simpson faculty and students come together with the Indianola community.” Proceeds from the limited release of Pearl Crescent Butterfly IPA benefitted butterfly conservation at the Neal Smith Wildlife Refuge in nearby Prairie City, Iowa, providing funds for internships and research on native butterfly species.
Much more than he imagined “It’s been exciting to use my interests in biological research in a way that resonates with the community,” says Madden. “My work with Dr. Subramanian has been great. She’s essentially given me the foundation of my career. Because of her, I’ve been able to build myself as a scientist and pad my resume.” Madden’s impressive portfolio also includes presenting research at NASA with Dr. Subramanian, interning at the University of Colorado and being one of five students nationwide to receive the Carver Spirit of Innovation Award.
"It’s been exciting to use my interests in biological research in a way that resonates with the community.” Next, Madden will pursue a Ph.D. in Genetics and Molecular Biology at the University of North Carolina. Considering where he started at Simpson, he’s a bit overwhelmed by all he’s accomplished.
Madden’s metamorphosis into a remarkable research scientist will continue next fall at the University of North Carolina, where he expects to earn a Ph.D. in genetics and molecular biology.
"I think my past self would be shocked. Graduating in the first place is wild, but then having everything else on my [resume] is pretty cool, too."
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TRANSFORMING LIVES
HUNGER FOR ENTREPRENEURIAL EDUCATION Andrew Firestine ’22 has big dreams — a lot of them. At 35, he realizes the only way for any of them to come to fruition is through education. That’s why he enrolled in Simpson’s Continuing Graduate and Online Education program to pursue a degree in business management. Firestine came to Simpson with some education already under his belt, but he was seeking a program that would be convenient and flexible enough to fit into his demanding schedule. He says Simpson’s online, eight-week course structure works extremely well for him.
“They know that as adults we have a little bit more going on than the normal, traditional student. Sometimes, for example, we might need a little more time to complete an assignment. So they’re understanding and flexible.” Simpson’s business management program is feeding Firestine’s healthy entrepreneurial appetite. He wants to have his own business one day, but which business will it be?
Exploring all his options “I have a lot of businesses I envision for myself,” says Firestine. “I’ve thought about a video game store, a book store, a café, a 3D print shop — I’ve got a lot of passions. Obviously, I need to narrow it down.”
“It fits into my work schedule perfectly,” says Firestine. “And the online courses allow me to work at my own pace.”
Whatever path he chooses, Firestine is determined to make a meaningful impact. He’s already doing that at the Des Moines Area Religious Council (DMARC), where he works full-time for its mobile food pantry.
And, he adds, Simpson’s faculty provide the kind of personal attention and support he needs.
Each day, Firestine is out and about serving food to people in need throughout the Des Moines
Continuing Graduate and Online Education student Andrew Firestine says the business management degree he’ll soon earn at Simpson “…can be applied to anything I might do.” 14 |
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area. As someone who has experienced his own financial struggles, he can relate and fully empathize with the people he meets. “I’ve come to know a lot of people on a firstname basis,” says Firestine. “How you picture people on food stamps or who need a food pantry, take that picture and throw it out the window because they’re just like everyone else. Doing this opens your eyes to the struggles people are going through.” Firestine says his business management education is helping him to understand the big picture of what it takes to run a nonprofit. He believes his increased depth of non-profit knowledge could lead to advancement at DMARC or position him to head out on his own in any one of the directions he’s considering. For now, he’s just focused on completing his bachelor’s program in December. “My degree in business management is just so broad, it can be applied to anything I might do, really.”
TRANSFORMING LIVES
GOING GLOBAL FOR JUVENILE JUSTICE Tuyishime “Flo” Florance ’22 has already been on an incredible journey. Born in Tanzania, she and her family fled to the U.S. in 2008 to escape the Burundian Civil War. Moving from Vermont in 2014 to attend Des Moines North High School, Florance was determined to attend college and use her degree — and unique life experiences — to make a difference. The first-generation student and Wesley Service Scholar graduated from Simpson this spring with a double major in criminal justice and human services. Florance’s heart for service is closely tied to the love she feels for the people of her African homeland. During college, she had bittersweet experiences returning to Tanzania and Burundi, where she encountered a lot of homeless children. Of course, Florance is quick to add that she’s also unfortunately witnessed plenty of painful poverty while living in the U.S. “It’s one thing to hear about it when you’re very privileged and you live in the suburbs,” says Florance. “But it’s another thing to walk outside and realize, ‘Oh my gosh! It’s right there.’ Having seen it definitely makes me want to do more.” Helping troubled youth is among Florance’s primary passions. Her senior year internship at the Polk County Juvenile Drug Court gave her a behind the scenes look at the juvenile justice system and the circumstances influencing and impacting young law offenders.
She’s also worked and interned as a youth counselor for two Des Moines area non-profits dedicated to helping juveniles involved in criminal behavior find a better path. In doing so, she’s gained invaluable insights about providing youth with the support they need to thrive and make better choices. “The biggest part is providing them the same opportunity other kids are getting,” says Florance. “A lot of these kids getting into trouble are coming from very impoverished areas where they don’t have the same access to resources everyone else is getting.”
The biggest part is providing the same opportunity other kids are getting.
Setting the stage for success Florance says she is certainly grateful for the resources available to her at Simpson, including the mentoring faculty who personally invested in her success. Next, she’s headed to law school, at the University of Kansas. Having a law degree, Florance says, will position her to have a direct impact on the U.S. juvenile justice system and the young people it affects. Ultimately, she is hopeful of returning to Tanzania, where she says she can give back by serving youth in so many different ways related to policy making and resource development. Yet, even as she dreams big, Florance is mindful of managing her expectations. “My biggest takeaway is to focus on the one person that you can make a difference with. You’re going to be working with a lot of kids from different backgrounds and it’s going to be hard to save them all. But when you save at least one, that’s all that matters.”
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TRANSFORMING LIVES
MAKING A
COMPELLING CASE Erin Magoffie ’20 took advantage of multiple internship, research and study abroad opportunities to earn a prestigious placement at the University of Virginia (UVA) Law School. The work ethic instilled in her at Simpson has served her well in thriving among the best of the best. “Simpson encouraged me to work hard in ways that some of my [UVA] peers don’t have to,” Magoffie says. “Coming from Harvard and Columbia, they enter the program thinking the name of their school speaks for itself. I’m not relying on a school name to propel me forward; it’s my experiences from Simpson that push me.” Magoffie seemingly did it all at Simpson. She participated in numerous politically-focused internships, studied abroad at the University of French Polynesia and was one of just 10 students nationwide to earn a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) at Biosphere 2 in Arizona — the world’s largest earth science laboratory. She also benefited from Simpson’s Capitol Hill Internship Program (CHIP), which included a role at Earthjustice researching science issues related to policy and legislation, as well as lobbying. On campus, Magoffie played soccer, competed in speech and debate, served as a student ambassador and held leadership roles with Tri Delta sorority. After leaving Simpson, Magoffie says she felt prepared to take on virtually anything.
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Excelling with ease “Simpson made me an incredibly well-rounded person. I can walk into a room and relate to most anyone there — and that makes me a really good candidate for a lot of opportunities.” Magoffie’s latest assignment includes spending her Fall 2022 semester studying at the University of Paris II, recognized as the most prestigious law school in France. And that’s not all. While she’s there, Magoffie will also be working for NASA — taking on a groundbreaking internship role she created. “I’ll be doing international relations and science policy work directly under NASA’s European point of contact, located in the U.S. Embassy. NASA has never had an intern in their Paris office, but when I showed them my experience, they asked Headquarters to make an exception.”
Promising post-law school path After graduating from UVA Law in Spring 2023, Magoffie plans on working for Akin Gump Stauss Hauer & Feld, a large international law firm (once again, a self-created opportunity). After spending time in Akin's Washington, D.C., office learning from the firm's environmental law group, Magoffie will transfer to Akin's Houston office to start an environmental practice group for the firm in Texas. Magoffie is clearly in the driver’s seat for enjoying a fruitful law career. She’s simply grateful that Simpson helped put her on the right track. “Simpson can take you wherever you want to go, as long as you put the pedal to the metal and you’re the one to push.”
MEANS
BUSINESS
TRANSFORMING LIVES
Nicole Molt Crain ’05 loves going to bat for
businesses. As executive vice president for the Iowa Association of Business and Industry (ABI), she serves as a champion advocate for 1,500 companies representing 330,000 employees. Crain’s rapid ascent during 15 years of service at ABI reveals the breadth and depth of her leadership acumen. She’s been a go-getter from the get-go. Five days after graduating with a major in political science and minor in management, Crain began her position with an agricultural business lobbying firm in Washington, D.C. A year and a half later — at age 23 — she became director of government affairs for the Associated Builders and Contractors of Iowa. “I was pretty young to be doing that role,” says Crain. “You don’t know what you don’t know. I just thought, ‘Oh I’m not afraid of conquering the world.’”
"That’s the beauty of a liberal arts education…I wasn’t afraid to get out of my comfort zone." Exploring courses beyond her majors, working in the advancement office and serving as president of both the Campus Activities Board and Kappa Kappa Gamma at Simpson thoroughly prepared Crain to thrive in any circumstance.
Nothing beyond her reach “That’s the beauty of a liberal arts education. I learned I could do all these different things, so I wasn’t afraid to get outside of my comfort zone.” After just a year at Associated Builders and Contractors, Crain advanced to ABI in 2007 — serving as director of government relations for four years. She left ABI for a one-year assignment as president of the Iowa Taxpayers Association. Crain then returned to ABI in 2012 to assume dual senior leadership roles in public policy and government relations. “I love to tell the story of Iowa businesses and the people they employ,” says Crain, a member of Simpson’s Board of Trustees. “A lot of the businesses we represent started in a garage and now they employ 600 workers in a town of 2,000.” Crain concedes that her many days and nights spent lobbying at the State Capitol eventually began to take their toll, especially once she and her husband became foster parents. She shared those concerns with ABI’s president, which led to her current appointment in 2019. The move positions her to potentially succeed ABI's president, once he retires. “I really like what I’m doing,” says Crain. Most of all, she treasures her daily interactions with ABI members. “Whatever problem they’re having, they feel like they can trust me. And I think that’s where Simpson really helped me.” S P R I N G 2 022 | 1 7
FACULTY PURSUITS
MATH IS MY SUPERPOWER!
D
r. Heidi Berger didn’t always believe she had superpowers. In fact, she admits to struggling with imposter syndrome. The birth of her second son, Isaac, seven years ago led Berger to leverage her love of math to become a powerful advocate for him — and others like him.
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FACULTY PURSUITS
In her article published in the Journal of Humanistic Mathematics, “The Upside of Down Syndrome: Math is My Superpower,” Berger shared a deeply personal account of Isaac’s challenging journey as a child with Down syndrome. She details how it inspired research intended to help many families facing similar challenges. “The experience of being his mother has had a profound effect on me as a mathematician,” she wrote in her July 2018 article. “Having been with him through 11 surgeries and 16 hospitalizations, I wanted to learn about his medical complexities and, more generally, about coordinated health care for those with chronic illness.”
Looking for answers Berger’s dive into researching Down syndrome care concerns began in spring 2016, when she teamed with Sara Reed ’16 for her senior capstone project examining coordinated care models. Their research endeavor got a major boost by partnering with world-renowned Down syndrome expert Dr. Brian Skotko through his connection with Berger’s Simpson faculty colleague, Dr. Amy Doling, professor and co-department chair of biology. Skotko and his group at Massachusetts General were crucial in providing a foundational understanding of specialty clinics and general models for coordinated care. Guided by their insights, Reed presented research at the Midwestern Undergraduate Mathematics Symposium (MUMS), which served as a springboard for several subsequent studies, including the latest slated for this summer. Berger has mentored more than a dozen Simpson students while building a research program focused on questions of access to medical care for Down syndrome. Together, their collaborative work with medical anthropologist Anne Kohler has led to two articles co-authored by Simpson students in The Journal of Pediatrics and the American Journal of Medical Genetics, Part A.
Discovering her superpower Throughout the course of the various studies she has led, Berger has met several other mothers who have children with Down syndrome. She says they have coped with the stress by developing a range of “superpowers” — some leaving the workforce to care full-time for their child and others changing their careers to focus on medicine or special education.
“Math is more than getting an answer…it’s about embracing the problem-solving process.” “I have learned that math is my superpower,” Berger wrote in her article. “I have used my experiences of being Isaac’s mother to inform my teaching and research. Through teaching, I have learned to become a better advocate for Isaac, and through research, I am learning how to better impact the broader Down syndrome community.”
Success beyond the numbers Berger was honored this spring with Simpson’s Distinguished Research Award. She is greatly admired by all of the student researchers she has mentored over the years.
Distinguished Teaching Award recipient Dr. Heidi Berger has mentored many student researchers during her 14 years at Simpson.
SUM OF STUDENT RESEARCHERS = 13 “Students are marvelous collaborators. They’re better at taking risks than I am.” - Dr. Heidi Berger Sara Reed ’16
Emily King '22
Emma Christensen '17
Noeline Boardman '21
Nick Joslyn '18
Scott Oderio '21
Maddy Kersten '18
Allison Young ’24
Graham Brooks, '20
Tanith Norris ’25
Levi Lefebure '20
Katelyn Smith ’25
Mason Remington '21
“Doing research with Heidi is very rewarding because she truly treats her students as equals,” said Emily King '22, who is set to begin her role as client systems administrator for Epic in Wisconsin. “She values our input and is willing to make adjustments throughout the program based on our ideas and feedback.” “Professor Berger showed me what it means to do your work with passion,” said Reed, now an assistant professor of business analytics at the University of Kansas. “She pushes students to be better individuals. Now that I am a professor, I hope I display the same kind of passion in my own teaching and research.” Berger says the exponential value of math research goes well beyond the discipline itself. “Research is effective at shedding light on the beauty of math. It can demonstrate the utility of mathematics as a tool and mindset to help us understand the world. Math is more than getting an answer — like solving for x — it’s about embracing the problem-solving process.”
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OPEN THE WAY TO LIFE-CHANGING
TRANSFORMATION Join alumni, parents and friends of Simpson in making recurring or one-time contributions to The Simpson Fund.
Scan the QR code or visit Simpson.edu/GIVE
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CHAPLAIN'S MESSAGE
WHAT WILL WE OFFER? Another commencement weekend is in the books and with it all of the activities to celebrate the Class of 2022. Our graduates experienced all the “lasts” and “finals” of their college careers — the senior medallion hunt; award dinners; Honors Convocation; Research & Creativity Symposium; Baccalaureate; and, of course, walking through the red brick gates of College Hall. This is a pertinent time to focus on the theme of the College’s strategic plan, “Transform Lives to Transform the World.” After all — we trust our graduates are thoroughly prepared for all the world has to offer them. In turn, most importantly, we expect our graduates to consider what they have to offer the world. The work of transformation must start with the self. This can happen through vocational concepts, like considering one’s gifts and passions or the things they couldn’t live without. It also happens through experiences, and Simpson is a place where I often witness personal transformation through exposure and experience. Through traveling with students, as I am now in Italy and Spain, I regularly encounter two things. First, many students haven’t had the opportunity or resources to travel prior to college. Simpson’s off-campus travel programs and financial support make that possible. Second, our students’ worldviews are broadened through their travel adventures. They come to better understand their own selves, what they value and what they can put to use for the betterment of the world.
Pursuing community healing and restoration Stories of transformation appear throughout the Bible. Reflecting on the life transformation that occurs as Jesus heals many people reminds me of the ways that transformed people transform the world. Oftentimes the purpose of healing was not just for the benefit of physical health, but also to allow the person to re-engage with their communities. Stigma and misunderstanding about the sources of illness or physical maladies meant that many folks (including the lepers who were healed by Jesus, as recounted in Matthew 8) were not allowed to participate in community life. Therefore, Jesus did not just restore their health; he restored their ability to once again access all that the community could give them. Jesus worked to transform people through healing so that they might once again have access to community. We equip students through their education and experience to create better access in communities throughout the world. Transformed by their Simpson experience, our alumni are prepared to lead lives of meaning and purpose in the world with great potential to make change where it is needed most. Join me not just in celebrating Class of 2022 graduates, but also in encouraging them (and all of us) to use our transformed lives to transform the world.
Mara Lehew Bailey '06, Simpson College Chaplain
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ATHLETICS
CHARGING AHEAD WITH A
STRIKING NEW LOOK Storms of change
Several varsity programs have been added, facility upgrades are in motion and a total brand makeover is now in play for Simpson athletics. The comprehensive rebrand for athletics incorporates a lightning graphic — creating a clear connection with its “Storm” nickname. Most importantly, the word marks now prominently include “Simpson” to ensure a wellrecognized relationship between the College and athletics.
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“We wanted to create something that honors our rich tradition while also signaling the arrival of a bold new era in Simpson Athletics — and I think we’ve done that,” says Marty Bell, director of athletics. “This dynamic look exudes the competitive fire we seek to have across all of our programs, as we continue to grow.” In addition to the new “Simpson Storm” word mark and the redesigned “SC” logo, the updated graphic identity program also includes a fierce depiction of Thunder — the elephant mascot adopted by the Storm last fall.
Athletics’ new brand identity was revealed during a campus launch party at the Black Box Theatre in April.
ATHLETICS
McBride Field (above left) and the Simpson Softball Complex (above right) will soon sport sections of artificial turf.
Facility upgrades cover many bases Athletics is also engaged in making improvements to address a range of indoor and outdoor venue needs. The projects will focus on Cowles Fieldhouse, Hopper Gymnasium, Buxton Stadium, McBride Baseball Field and the Simpson Softball Complex. “These strategic initiatives will be game-changers for Simpson College Athletics, especially our student-athletes,” says Bell. “We are extremely grateful for the generosity of our loyal supporters and benefactors who continue to rally us forward.” Cowles Fieldhouse will soon feature a new HVAC system, allowing for a 12-month, climate-controlled environment essential to long-term facility sustainability and safety. This upgrade paves the way for future enhancements in Cowles. Moreover, the HVAC system will create greater
New programs ready to roll The addition of women’s and men’s gymnastics, men’s volleyball and women’s wrestling are also providing a jolt of energy for Simpson Athletics. Simpson will be the only NCAA institution in Iowa to sponsor men’s gymnastics and just the third NCAA Division III college in the nation to offer the sport at the varsity level. Women’s gymnastics will be the only NCAA III program in Iowa — and just the third in the state.
Buxton Stadium (above) will feature new, safety-enhanced turf and the track will be resurfaced.
flexibility and usage opportunities for the whole campus, as well as the Indianola and surrounding community. Meanwhile, Simpson’s Hopper Gymnasium will soon be home to the Luther Hill Wrestling Center. Relocating the wrestling center offers the abundance of space necessary to effectively manage the Simpson women’s and men’s varsity wrestling programs. Buxton Stadium will receive new sports turf with improved safety features for concussion prevention. Additionally, the entire Buxton Stadium track will be resurfaced. Sport turf will also be installed on the infields of both the baseball and softball facilities to enhance the experience for student-athletes and to greatly reduce weather impacts. The projects are slated to begin in May 2022 and be completed by July 2022.
“This timely addition of high-impact athletic programs is indicative of the fresh energy and momentum we are establishing all across the College in our academic, athletic and co-curricular endeavors,” says President Marsha Kelliher. “It reflects the forward-looking focus we need to have in creating a distinctive, difference-making educational experience for all of our students.”
Emily Barrett-Payne and Colin Payne will serve as head coaches for women’s and men’s gymnastics, respectively. Emily spent four years coaching at Thrive Gymnastics, while Colin served four years as an assistant for the U.S. Naval Academy, an NCAA Division I program. Men’s volleyball will be one of nine programs in Iowa, across NCAA Division III and NAIA levels. Women’s volleyball Coach Kekailoa Palea will also lead the men’s program. Women’s wrestling, recognized as an emerging sport in 2020 by the NCAA across all divisions, brings the number of varsity athletics programs to 23. Jeff McGinness, who currently serves as assistant coach and director of recruiting and technical development for the men’s team will be the inaugural head coach for the women’s team — one of two Iowa NCAA Division III programs.
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ATHLETICS
W
hat women’s basketball accomplished the past two seasons is nothing short of sensational. The Storm breezed through the American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) with a perfect 12-0 mark in a COVID-shortened 2020-21 season and followed that up with a sizzling 26-2 campaign. Lopsided victories were the norm en route to regular- and postseason conference crowns and a trip to the NCAA DIII tournament. The Storm hosted both the conference playoffs and the opening round of the NCAA tourney with frenzied fans creating an electric home court advantage. “That was incredible,” says Jenna Taylor ’21. “I remember coming back on the court after warmups and [Cowles Fieldhouse] just exploded. I was tearing up seeing the student section covering the entire side.” The Storm held off Gustavus Adolphus to win its NCAA opener, 73-67, before falling to Wisconsin-Oshkosh the next night, 64-56, to end the season and a remarkable two-year run. The heart-breaking finale does nothing to diminish the satisfaction and pride that comes with 38 wins and the abundance of accolades achieved.
Accolades all around This past season, the Storm led the nation in eight statistical categories with six players receiving All-Conference honors. Taylor, who became just the second player in school history to surpass 1,600 points and 700 rebounds, was named league MVP for the second straight year — including national recognition on a pair of “All-America” teams and the 2022 WBCA Women’s Collegiate All-Star Team.
A breakneck brand of basketball and unselfish play made the Storm virtually unstoppable on most nights. “We had a lot of good players and normally a coach would worry about egos and sharing the basketball,” says Head Coach Brian Niemuth. “But that was not a concern for me. They understood that everybody had to make sacrifices in their game to make it work together.” Naturally, the players are quick to give credit to Coach Niemuth and assistants Moran Lonning, Claire Johnson ’20 and Phil Wirtz. “Their confidence in us just allowed us to play the game,” says Cameron Kincaid ’22, who received Simpson College’s Barborka Award for her outstanding play, as well as accomplishments in scholarship and character. “We didn’t have to worry about missing shots or getting pulled for making a mistake.”
Among the best of the best Niemuth earned A-R-C Coach-of-the-Year honors for the ninth time while making his way to 649 career wins. He's enjoyed many magical season in 35 years at Simpson, including 13 conference titles, 12 NCAA tourney appearances and 3 trips to the Sweet 16. “This is right up there at the top,” says Niemuth. “The camaraderie of this group — how they got along and the family atmosphere they created — was something special.” For Kincaid and Taylor, along with senior teammates Kia Rasmussen ’22, Anna Wanek ’22, Hattie Rhodes ’22 and Essance Porter ’22, saying goodbye to each other and Simpson basketball will undoubtedly be tough, especially when next season rolls around. “I don’t think it’s set in that I’m not going to put on the Simpson jersey again,” says Taylor. “There’s definitely going to be some tough emotions. Hopefully, next year’s team can continue the tradition and build on what we’ve had the last couple of years.”
Women’s basketball posted a 38-2 record over the last two seasons, and this year hosted the opening round of the NCAA DIII tournament. 24 |
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ATHLETICS
REMARKABLE
RUN
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ATHLETICS NEWS
SHARP SHOOTERS — SIMPSON CLAIMS NATIONAL TITLE The Simpson College shooting sports club captured the Division 3 Classic All-American National Championship in San Antonio this spring. Two student-athletes also earned individual titles at the ACUI Clay Target Collegiate Championships in April. Breydon Paxson ’24 and Kylie Tierney ’23 swept the individual titles in Classic All-American, which includes American Skeet, American Trap and Sporting Clays. Paxson scored 279 out of 300 in the three disciplines to win the men's side, while Tierney posted a score of 256 to pace all women in the event. Simpson shot a team score of 1327 to win the overall Classic All-American title. The Storm scored 477 in skeet, 476 in trap and 374 in sporting clays. Paxson led the team in skeet (98) and sporting clays (88), while Carson Cummings ’25 posted a near-perfect score of 99 in trap.
Front Row L to R: Matt Wilkinson, Lance Wallis, Carson Cummings, Wyatt Heisterkamp, Victoria Barksdale
THE LEGACY HE LEFT:
DUDLEY, MOON RUN TO NATIONALS
Jim Williams passed away on Dec. 29, 2021, at the age of 91. With a 106-48-1 record during his coaching tenure from 1987-2001, Williams established himself as the winningest coach in Simpson College football history.
Harry Dudley ’22 and Spencer Moon ’24 both ran career-best performances at the Midwest Cross Country Regionals to qualify for the NCAA DIII Championships in Louisville, Ky. It was the first time since 1986 the Simpson men’s cross country team sent multiple runners to the championships.
COACH JIM WILLIAMS 1930-2021
But Williams’ legacy isn’t just numbers in the win and loss columns. Williams took time to treat student-athletes as individuals and intrinsically taught the importance of relationships, leadership and motivation — leaving a bigger mark than any record could. Simpson Head Football Coach Matt Jeter ’98 recalls the importance of a letter sent to him after he committed to the University of South Dakota, penned by Coach Williams. “I have the letter in my office, and I refer to it a lot. He told me I was always welcome to come to Simpson if things changed for me, and when they did, Coach Williams’ offer stood. That letter meant a lot to me then and a great deal to me now. He took the time to let me know that I was valued as an individual. The small gesture of writing a letter, stating he believed in me, forever changed my life.” “We didn’t know it at the time, but we were essentially in a graduate level class on how to lead and motivate,” recalled Guy Leman ’99, Simpson Hall of Fame tailback. “Everything Coach did had a purpose. It was a masterful lesson in how to get a team to pull simultaneously in the same direction toward a common goal.” Leman says Williams routinely accentuated his lessons with powerful illustrations and stories. Stories that Leman still carries with him and has passed onto his own children. “What is the secret to a meaningful life? Have a positive impact on people and they will tell your stories for generations to come. And man, are the Coach Williams stories good!”
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Back Row L to R: Breydon Paxson, Amelia Bothwell, Kylie Tierney, Head Coach Dan Martin, Anna Lopez, Riley Ericson
S I M P S O N : T H E M AG A Z I N E
Making his second straight appearance at a national meet after qualifying for the 2021 Outdoor Track and Field Championships, Moon posted the program’s highest finish at the Spencer Moon & Harry Dudley cross country championships in over 30 years. He continued to set new standards for Storm runners in the 2021-22 track and field season, breaking multiple school records and clocking a top-10 finish in the 3K at the NCAA DIII Indoor Track and Field Championships. Dudley capped off his five-year cross country career at the national meet. A break-through runner over the last two seasons, Dudley erased 30 seconds off his personal-best 8K to place 10th and finish first on the team at the regional meet. He later ran to all-conference honors in the 3K during his final indoor track and field season.
NEWS
GAME ON! Simpson esports makes national impact in its first year
Foxx Harrington '22 used to take part in traditional organized sports. Growing up in Boise, Idaho, Harrington played football, basketball and participated in wrestling. He enjoyed the competition and camaraderie. But eventually, those sports felt like a chore. When Harrington discovered the world of competitive esports, he uncovered similar benefits to traditional team sports. He experienced the thrill of victory, the disappointment of defeat and the camaraderie of being part of a team. But there was a notable difference. Playing esports never felt like a chore. “Everybody is here because they want to compete against the best,” said the recent political science graduate. “It’s one of the fairest places to find that [competitive] environment. Besides that, it’s fun.”
Making a name on the national scene
misrepresented as an individual sport, in reality, that is rarely the case. Most of the titles Simpson plays are team games, where three or five players work together to achieve a goal. “You learn teamwork because you have to,” said Seth Larson '22, an interactive media major who specialized in team games like League of Legends and Starcraft. “If you have any hope of winning, you have to communicate. If you’re silent, it won’t work out for you.” Even players like Harrington, whose expertise lies in individual gameplay, feel the support of their team members. When Harrington took part in the qualifying rounds prior to the national tournament, He said his teammates “came out in droves” to support him. “Our student-athletes are very supportive of each other,” Wahn Tong said. “It’s much easier to improve when everyone is willing to buy into a teamfirst mentality.”
Harrington was one of 35 students who compete for the Simpson College varsity esports program. Formed in the fall of 2021, the varsity program competes in five of the most popular titles as a member of the National Association of Collegiate Esports, the largest conference in the college esports system.
Creating the varsity program
Under the leadership of Director of Esports Hubert Whan Tong, the new program has already made a name for itself on the national scene.
“Esports is like my baby,” Larson said. “I’ve been following esports for as long as I can remember. It’s always been at the forefront of my thoughts. Being able to help build this program has been a dream come true for me.”
In fall of 2021, Simpson took third place at the NACE postseason tournament in Valorant, a tactical shooting game involving two teams of five players. That winter, Harrington represented Simpson at the national tournament in Super Smash Bros., an individual crossover fighting game. As a national qualifier, Harrington was among the top 32 players in North America.
More than an individual sport Whan Tong — who competed collegiately at DeSales University before a carpal tunnel injury nudged him toward coaching — credits a strong team culture for the program’s success. While the gaming industry is often
Larson is a founding member of the esports club, which formed in 2018. When he found out there was momentum behind starting a varsity program, Larson immediately volunteered his time and expertise.
Larson was also instrumental in the search committee tasked with hiring a director for the program. On paper, Whan Tong’s experience as a coach and competitor stood out to the committee. In the esports arena, Whan Tong’s passion has put Simpson esports on an upward trajectory. “We couldn’t have hired a better director,” Larson said. “Hubert is the facilitator of a team environment that’s welcoming, inclusive and caring. It’s what sets us apart from anything else and it’s what will keep the program moving forward.”
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NEWS
TAKING COLLABORATIVE LEARNING BY STORM SIMPSON UPDATES SPACES TO ENHANCE LEARNING
Alvin L. Jordan Lecture Hall — Ready for Fall '22 Alvin L. Jordan Lecture Hall is being redesigned as an accessible, synergetic learning space. The classroom will feature mobile and modular workspaces designed for students to work collaboratively. These workspaces will be positioned in a teared-seating format to enhance peer-faculty interactions and increase accessibility for users. To accompany the increased in-person participation opportunity, the renovation will also improve students' abilities to connect virtually. With all-new, fully integrated technology, students will be able to better access the learning material and one another.
"Our investment in enhancing academic programs and facilities is just beginning."
Renderings of Alvin L. Jordan Lecture Hall (above)
Dunn Library — Beginning Summer '22 Starting this summer, Dunn Library will be renovated to feature a new curriculum lab, classrooms, shared workspaces, meeting rooms and more. This new space will provide top-grade facilities for the teacher education program, creating spaces for innovative lesson development and methods classrooms simulating today’s best K-12 teaching. Simpson’s learning resources will now have room to breathe with dedicated space for prized physical collections and expanded access to e-books and digital databases. There will also be space for all scopes of collaborative work, from single groups to extensive group work. “Our investment in enhancing academic programs and facilities is just beginning,” says President Marsha Kelliher. “We are fully committed to pursuing collaborative and innovative excellence across the board to best serve our students.”
Renderings of Dunn Library (above and left) 28 |
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NEWS
Photo (left to right): Simpson Senior Vice President and Academic Dean Dr. John Woell, Simpson President Marsha Kelliher, MCHS President Thomas Leahy and MCHS Provost Dr. Nancy Kertz held a joint news conference on March 1 to announce a 3+1 nursing partnership set to debut in Fall 2022.
SIMPSON AND MERCY COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES ANNOUNCE 3+1 NURSING PROGRAM PARTNERSHIP A new affiliation between Simpson College and Mercy College of Health Sciences will allow students to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Health & Exercise Science or Biology from Simpson and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from Mercy College in approximately the amount of time it would normally take to earn a degree from one institution. How it works Students interested in the 3+1 program will typically attend Simpson for six semesters majoring in biology or health & exercise science. After completing their requirements at Simpson, students who meet admission requirements will begin nursing coursework at Mercy College of Health Sciences in Des Moines. Upon successful completion of the nursing program, students are eligible to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEXRN® exam). Mercy College’s BSN offers three start dates per year, enabling a convenient transition for students to maximize their Simpson experience. In total, the time for program completion could be as short as four years.
More healthcare professionals in less time “This partnership is timely,” said Dr. John Woell, senior vice president and academic dean at Simpson College. “The need for nursing professionals is growing rapidly, and student demand for nursing programs is high. This 3+1 program with Mercy allows us to build upon our historic strengths while providing a new opportunity for students interested in health care.” “Our partnership with Mercy College offers students a powerful dose of combined educational excellence,” said Simpson College President Marsha Kelliher. “Providing students with this unique opportunity to obtain two degrees in four years will give them distinct advantages in their career pursuits.” The 3+1 nursing partnership with Mercy is the latest example of Simpson’s longstanding and rapidly growing distinction in the sciences. “I’m grateful for the work done by my colleagues in Health and Exercise Science and Biology here at Simpson College and by their counterparts at Mercy College of Health Sciences,” said Woell. “Our institutional missions align, and it’s been a great team effort. I am excited to see what comes next.”
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NEWS
LANE ASSUMES NEW ROLE; CONVERSE RETIRES Bob Lane ’81, longtime Simpson vice president for advancement and former interim president, has decided to take on a new role at the College. Lane will soon transition into a position similar to one held by Campaign Gifts Officer Ken Converse, who is set to retire in May. “In the next couple of years, the College will likely be launching its next major, multi-year fundraising campaign,” says Lane. “Recognizing that my retirement timing will not position me to complete that campaign, I believe it is vital to establish new advancement leadership that will be here to drive it to its full fruition.”
Bob Lane and Ken Converse
Accordingly, the national search for Lane’s replacement is underway with an expected appointment this summer.
Converse caps impressive career
“As Bob completes his remarkable service as vice president, we are fortunate that he will remain here to play an integral role in ensuring a successful onboarding experience for his successor,” says President Marsha Kelliher. “Once we secure a new vice president, Bob will assume the role of Major Gifts Officer until his retirement at a date to be determined.”
Converse is retiring after three and a half years of service at Simpson, where he played an integral role on the Advancement staff. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Legacy Challenge, stewarded some of the college’s most major donors and he also stepped forward to lead the office as interim vice president for college advancement while Lane served as interim president.
Lane has given more than 20 years of service to the College during three stints of duty dating back to 1982. As an advancement leader in a variety of positions from 1985 to 1993 and 2007 to present, Bob has championed many goal-exceeding campaigns, including transformative capital projects such as the Blank Performing Arts Center addition, Kent Campus Center, Johnson Fitness Center and the Pedestrian Plaza to name a few. He also stepped up to serve as interim vice president for five months at the onset of the pandemic.
He spent most of his distinguished career at Buena Vista University, serving as institutional vice president of advancement for 17 of his 23 years there. Previously, he also held leadership roles at Missouri A&T and Rockhurst University. Converse is completing his Simpson service by chairing the search for the College’s next vice president of advancement.
1970s THEATRE ALUMNI ESTABLISH ENDOWED CORNERSTONE AWARD
“This award gives me confidence that what I am doing matters,” says Livingston. I have found a place that can truly accept who I am as a person in theatre. I have learned so many techniques and design aspects that will allow me to work in the teaching environment I desire. After learning about all that goes into a production, from being a stage manager to an actor, it fuels my drive to help teach younger generations of theatre students.”
Simpson theatre alumni from the 1970s staged a spirited campus reunion this spring. The chance to renew connections and share memories made for an unforgettable weekend celebrating their love of the arts.
As the Cornerstone Award endowment fund grows, the theatre department will consult with committee members to explore potential for increasing the award amount or creating additional awards for deserving students.
While planning the reunion, members of the host committee say they felt a calling to support the Theatre Arts Department. From that sense of calling came a newly endowed award to honor 1970s theatre majors, faculty members and others who together played such an integral part in strengthening and distinguishing the program. The award will be presented annually to a top theatre student in perpetuity, ensuring the legacy of those involved with theatre in the 1970s will live on forever at Simpson. “The theatre of the 70s was really the cornerstone of what the department is today,” says Jennifer Ross Nostrala ’85, chair of the theatre department. Thus, the endowment, funded with support from 1970s theatre alumni, is aptly named The Cornerstone Award. Russ Vanderhoef Jr. ’79 presented the inaugural Cornerstone Award to Garrett Livingston ’23. Livingston is an English and theatre arts double major pursuing a minor in secondary education.
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Garrett Livingston and Russ Vanderhoef Jr.
NEWS
SPEECH & DEBATE TEAM CLAIMS TWO NATIONAL TITLES The Simpson College Speech & Debate Team captured its first Overall Team Championship while earning its fifth National Debate Team Championship in the last six years at the Pi Kappa Delta National Tournament in March.
Several team members also earned individual national titles with many others receiving high honors. The country’s largest speech and debate competition featured 70 colleges and universities of all sizes. “I am so impressed with how hard all 36 members of our nationals team worked,” said Spencer Waugh, director of Simpson’s
speech and debate program. “Our team really wanted to make it five out of six in terms of a team championship in debate. The overall team championship was a bit of a surprise — something we had hoped to accomplish in the next five years — but it is a testament to how well our speech team has done this year.” Simpson College tallied 222 points in winning the overall national title — besting second place Boise State by 24 points. Simpson and Boise State also finished first and second in debate team points.
Kylie Doupnik, Shelby McCasland, Danielle Blake, Elise Sturgeon, Spencer Waugh, Kyle Werner, Abby Fry, Mo Marks, Jenna Pfeiffer, Alyssa Beckwith, Ari Ziegler Ryan Corcoran, Teagan Townsend, Ryan Magalhaes, Ethan Humble, Marisa Mayo, Eduardo Magalhaes III
STUDENT MEDIA WINS 19 IOWA COLLEGE MEDIA ASSOCIATION AWARDS Simpson Student Media participants captured 19 awards, including three first-place honors, at the 2022 annual Iowa College Media Association Awards Ceremony (ICMA).
Amelia Schafer, Liv Allen, Mark Siebert, Jake Brend, Caleb Geer
Simpson students took home first place honors in the multimedia, video and audio categories. The Simpsonian staff took first place for best use of social media; Jake Brend ’23 earned the top honor for best video news, public affairs or sports package; and Caleb Geer ’24 won first place for best audio feature package. “It’s nice to have our students recognized for all the hard work they do every day for Simpson Student Media,” said Mark Siebert, associate
professor of multimedia communications and director of Simpson Student Media. “I’m especially proud they were recognized for work in so many different areas — writing, photography, design, audio, video and social media.” In addition to the student awards, Siebert won the John Eighmey Service Award, the ICMA’s most distinguished honor given annually to recognize an individual whose efforts have been instrumental in advancing the quality of media education in Iowa. Siebert is the second Simpson professor to win the award. Brian Steffen, chair of the department of multimedia communications, won in 2009.
THREE ALUMNI NAMED TO FORTY UNDER 40 LIST Simpson College alumni Brandon Bingham ’06, Eden Pearson ’08 and Billy “B.Well” Weathers ’13 have been named to the 2022 Forty Under 40 Class, as announced by the Business Record, which serves Central Iowa.
Weathers earned his Simpson degree with a focus on integrated marketing communication. Business Record launched Forty Under 40 to recognize and amplify young business
leaders. Past award winners choose honorees under the age of 40 who have demonstrated impressive career achievements and unparalleled community involvement.
Brandon Bingham is president and CEO of Bing Bang, a marketing agency in Waukee. Bingham holds a degree in journalism and mass communications. Eden Pearson is senior director of state government relations for Nationwide Insurance. Pearson holds a degree in criminal justice and political science with a minor in social work at Simpson. Billy Weathers is an artist, curator, activist and founder of the B.Well Foundation, which supports students in the Des Moines community.
Brandon Bingham
Eden Pearson
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TOURING THE YEARS
In an effort to be better stewards of our resources, the Class Notes portion of Touring the Years is published electronically. 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 Jeffrey Cook ’80 and Susan Penn Ronning were married Aug. 19, 2021, in Boonville, Mo. Julie LaFollette Heidemann ’92 and Sandy Heidemann married Dec. 30, 2021. The couple resides in Clive, Iowa. Jennifer Hirschman Boehmer ’05 and Brian Boehmer were married April 3, 2021. The couple resides in Polk City, Iowa.
Haley Blum Meints ’17 and Braden Meints ’18 married June 19, 2021. The couple met at Simpson during the spring semester of 2016.
Tyler Godfrey ’18 and Megan Hatfield Godfrey ’19 married June 26, 2021. The couple resides in Norwalk, Iowa.
Megan Buitendorp Bunting ’18 and Trey Bunting ’19 wed June 19, 2021 at the Celebration Farm new Iowa City, Iowa. They met at Simpson during their sophomore and freshman year respectively.
Dustin Teays ’19 and Taylor Bates Teays ’19 married Sept. 18, 2021. The couple first met in communications classes at Simpson.
Lauren Anderson White ’15 and Anthony White married Oct. 9, 2021, Spirit Lake, Iowa. Nicole Stuhldryer Terrell ’16 and Ethan Terrell wed Aug. 7, 2021, Nevada, Iowa.
Nathan Wanken ’16 and Kinsey Van Houten Wanken ’16 were married in 2020. They reside in Ames, Iowa.
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TOURING THE YEARS
Births/Adoptions
Emma Saettele, July 2, 2021, to Angela Ryan Saettele ’04 and Kevin Saettele, Saint Louis, Missouri. Emma joins her five older siblings, William, Alexander, Isabelle, Madeline, and Michael.
Ruby Singh, May 22, 2020, to Sandeep Singh ’05 and Rati Kasajoo Singh, Urbandale, Iowa.
Malachi Ignacio Schelling, May 15, 2021, to Dustin Schelling ’07 and Dana Schelling, Holmen, Wisconsin.
Benjamin Everett Lindberg, Oct. 28, 2021, to Sarah Burton Lindberg ’08 and Nick Lindberg, Roseville, Minnesota.
Bruce Michael Burmeister, April 27, 2021, to Laura Montague Burmeister ’09 and Eric Burmeister ’10, Kansas City, Missouri. Bruce joins his older sisters Brynn and Brooke.
Leone Row Veldhuizen, Aug. 15, 2021, to Tessa Leone Veldhuizen ’12 and Nathan Veldhuizen, Des Moines, Iowa.
Hannah Elizabeth Whitney, Feb. 3, 2022, to Allison Lane Whitney ’10 and Joe Whitney, Ankeny, Iowa. S P R I N G 2 022 | 3 3
TOURING THE YEARS
Births/Adoptions
Emersyn and Eliana Dahlin, Nov. 1, 2021, to Stacie Kjellsen Dahlin ’15 and Matt Dahlin, Altoona, IA.
Easton Robert Lancaster, Nov. 1, 2021, to Michelle Sluiter Lancaster ’12 and Zach Lancaster ’13, Le Mars, IA.
To submit accomplishments and updates to be included in future editions, visit simpson.edu/ alumni/update.
Blakely Wanken, July 2021, to Kinsey van Houten Wanken ’16 and Nathan Wanken ’16, Ames, IA. 34 |
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TOURING THE YEARS
In Memoriam Rilma Rogers Driskill ’39, Dec. 1, 2020, Leon, Iowa.
Eleanor Miller Salisbury ’55, Nov. 27, 2021, Northfield, Minnesota.
Douglas Sharples-Schmidt ’65, Sept. 24, 2021, Wakonda, South Dakota.
Opal Liggett Longley ’41, Jan. 7, 2022, Chariton, Iowa.
Dennis Crabtree ’56, Jan. 21, 2022, Altoona, Iowa.
Charlotte Clark ’66, Oct. 2, 2021, Jamaica, New York
Erwin Frerichs ’56, Nov. 29, 2021, Pella, Iowa.
Margaret Corkery ’66, Aug. 17, 2017, Des Moines, Iowa.
Florence Casson Eyerly ’43, Nov. 28, 2021, Oakland, Iowa. Phyllis Stone Core ’44, March 31, 2022, Carlisle, Iowa. Viola Turner Graf ’44, Sept. 17, 2021, Solon, Iowa. Virginia Lewis Cooper ’46, Jan. 18, 2022, Frederick, Maryland. Flora Best Marsh ’48, Feb. 20, 2022, Shelton, Nebraska. Marjorie McCormick Nolin ’48, Dec. 11, 2021, Monroe, Iowa. Richard Frank ’49, Nov. 21, 2021, Shenandoah, Iowa. Beverly Kabrick Horn ’49, Sept. 9, 2021, Columbia, Missouri. James Hoyman ’49, Nov. 20, 2021, Indianola, Iowa.
Edward Patterson ’56, Feb. 26, 2021, Santa Teresa, New Mexico. Gerald Randleman ’58, Jan. 13, 2022, Carlisle, Iowa.
Constance Kanatzar Buhrmann ’69, Oct. 25, 2021, Albertville, Minnesota. Paul Hand ’69, Feb. 12, 2022, Madison, Wisconsin.
Vern Ball ’59, June 22, 2012, Columbus Junction, Iowa.
Murray Lounsberry ’69, April 16, 2022, Greeley, Colorado.
Virginia Melsha Cronbaugh ’59, Dec. 1, 2021, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Ray Sorensen ’69, Dec. 12, 2021, Maryville, Missouri.
Richard Dick ’59, May 23, 2021, Council Bluffs, Iowa.
Timothy Irving ’73, Oct. 21, 2021, Mt. Ayr, Iowa.
George Gibson ’59, April 20, 2022, Indianola, Iowa. Larry Hart ’59, Nov. 9, 2021, Des Moines, Iowa.
Charles Ginter ’77, Nov. 2, 2021, Indianola, Iowa. Wayne Reddrick ’79, May 21, 2013, Chicago, Illinois.
Dewey McKee ’59, Dec. 25, 2021, Norwalk, Iowa.
Debe Soule ’79, April 24, 2021, Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota.
Charles Morgan ’59, Nov. 18, 2021, Osceola, Iowa.
Kirk Stump ’80, Nov. 14, 2021, Des Moines, Iowa.
Wesley Tish ’59, Sept. 15, 2021, Winterset, Iowa.
David Young ’83, Sept. 29, 2021, Williamsburg, Iowa.
Larry Love ’49, Nov. 27, 2021, Dallas, Texas.
Merwyn Dyer ’60, Dec. 16, 2021, Indianola, Iowa.
Patricia Ashing Mulford ’49, Nov. 16, 2021, North Mankato, Minnesota.
Karen Morris Mark ’60, Oct. 2, 2021, Des Moines, Iowa.
Mary Barton Wintermantel ’49, April 6, 2021, Indianola, Iowa.
Karen Gardner Munch ’60, Oct. 27, 2021, Ankeny, Iowa.
James “Mike” Kellar ’91, Oct. 19, 2021, Waukee, Iowa.
Robert Burns ’50, Nov. 22, 2021, Anderson, South Carolina.
Harlene Hatch Swanson ’60, Oct. 2, 2021, Carmel, Indiana.
Reneé Borger Murphy ’92, Oct. 21, 2021, Polk City, Iowa.
Evelyn Marckmann Rechtenbach ’50, June 6, 2021, Atlantic, Iowa.
Edward Sorenson ’61, Jan. 7, 2022, Ames, Iowa.
Douglas Ruby ’92, Feb. 12, 2022, Indianola, Iowa.
Susan Strong ’61, Dec. 26, 2021, Sterling, Illinois.
Robert Andersen Jr. ’03, March 29, 2018, Des Moines, Iowa.
Julia Heywood Booth ’52, March, 23, 2022, Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Carolyn Johnson Erickson ’52, Jan. 7, 2022, Boone, Iowa. Marilyn Peterson Limke ’52, Dec. 13, 2021, Des Moines, Iowa. Eric Thorson ’52, Dec. 24, 2021, Irvine, California. Ivan Davis ’54, Jan. 17, 2022, Fort Myers, Florida. Keith Wisgerhof ’54, Dec. 3, 2021, Glendale, Arizona. Larry Cregor ’55, June 29, 2021, Ottumwa, Iowa.
H. Allan Dahl ’62, Feb. 28, 2021, East Lansing, Michigan. Deanna Wiemer Ashby ’63, Dec. 18, 2021, Huntington Beach, California.
Thomas Kruse ’84, Nov. 24, 2018, Iowa Falls, Iowa. Nickolas Brown ’89, Oct. 20, 2021, Clive, Iowa.
Brandon Ruopp ’05, Feb. 3, 2022, Marshalltown, Iowa. Matthew Ernst ’06, Dec. 17, 2021, Urbandale, Iowa.
Jayne McMurtrey Conrad ’64, Feb. 3, 2022, Chariton, Iowa.
Jenna McDonald ’07, Dec. 25, 2021, Des Moines, Iowa.
Wanda Goodhue Hunter ’64, Oct. 8, 2021, Carlisle, Iowa.
Timothy Riley ’11, Aug. 2, 2020, Grimes, Iowa.
Larry Nielsen ’64, Dec. 3, 2021, Carroll, Iowa. Paul Sherwood ’64, Nov. 11, 2017, La Vista, Nebraska. David Mason ’65, Jan. 2, 2020, Wadsworth, Ohio.
Joel Sutton ’16, May 24, 2021, Manning, Iowa.
Faculty & Staff
Jim Williams, Dec. 29, 2021, Des Moines, Iowa. S P R I N G 2 022 | 3 5
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