SPRING 2026
Alumni are making a big-league impact in sports
NCAA honors Nick Ackerman ’01 on 25th anniversary of his national title
Adams ’13 “He Fits the Bill(s)"
Simpson celebrated 231 graduates during Commencement festivities May 2.
From the moment I arrived at Simpson last summer, it was clear this is a very special place. My first year as president has been filled with memorable highlights showcasing the welcoming spirit and diversely rich gifts of our extraordinary community. You have made me feel right at home.
On campus, we are still basking in the glow of our Commencement ceremony celebration honoring the Class of 2026. During my remarks to our graduates, I sought to remind them of the many enduring benefits of their Simpson experience.
First and foremost, I can already confidently declare that Simpson students receive an excellent education. As president, I am fortunate to meet with many alumni and friends of the college, who all have wonderful Simpson stories to share. Alumni consistently express to me their gratitude for being uniquely prepared for their first step after graduation — ready to excel in careers and graduate coursework in ways some of their peers could not.
I have also quickly come to understand that the word “transformation” is not marketing jargon here, but rather an apt description of what Simpson students truly experience. Many alumni tell me that our faculty saw something in them that they did not yet see in themselves. Today’s students say the same thing about our incredible faculty.
The most important thing I have learned about Simpson is the power of relationships, support, and community. My career has introduced me to many colleges like Simpson. None of them have the special fabric that this institution enjoys. Relationships built here are genuine, enduring and deeply fulfilling.
The lessons noted above permeate in the stories included in this issue of Simpson: The Magazine. You’ll see how students are thriving in Simpson’s sport administration major under the tutelage of Professor Matt Garrett, while program alumni are scoring great opportunities with major college and professional sports organizations across the country.
Additionally, you will read about former national champion wrestler Nick Ackerman ’01, who received the NCAA Silver Anniversary Award in January. I was thrilled to meet Nick at the event, where he told me, “Simpson took a chance on me and changed my life forever.”
I look forward to hearing more about the life-changing impact of Simpson as I hit the road for the Presidential Rollout Tour this summer. Meeting alumni and friends of the College is a source of inspiration for me. Thanks to you, Simpson will achieve the second highest total in current giving this year. Please know that gifts of every size enhance our students’ experiences. Your generosity continues to change the lives of the next generation of Simpson students. What a privilege it is to serve as your president.
Warm regards,
President
Summer brings a season full of opportunities for Simpson alumni and friends to reconnect, celebrate traditions, and make new memories together.
May 7 Activities got off to a ruff start with Paws & Pints & the President — a relaxed, family- and dog-friendly gathering at Paws & Pints in Des Moines, where President Sue Stuebner had a chance to meet alumni and friends. The president’s pup, Flint, made some new friends, too.
June 5 June begins with the Simpson Cup Golf Tournament at the Deer Run Golf Club.
June 6 Alumni Relations presents “Simpson Socials: Pedal In!” at SingleSpeed Brewing Co., in downtown Des Moines. The outdoor event offers a fun and casual way to connect, whether attendees arrive by bike or simply come to enjoy the atmosphere.
June 18 Simpson alumni, faculty, and staff are invited to join us for Simpson Night at the Iowa Cubs, featuring a pregame tailgate and the special opportunity to watch President Stuebner throw out the game’s first pitch. Alumni, current faculty and staff can sign up for a free ticket. Additional tickets in our reserved block will be available to purchase for family and friends.
July 31 - Aug. 8 The ever-popular National Balloon Classic will once again feature a special Simpson night, when alumni and their families are invited to join faculty and staff for an unforgettable evening of entertainment and balloon gazing. More details and registration information will be shared in the monthly Alumni & Friends E-News emails or by contacting the Alumni Office at alumnioffice@simpson.edu.
Simpson awarded honorary degrees to Robert (Bob) Downing ’63 and Ardene Kildal Downing ’62 , along with Terry Handley ’09 during Commencement. Bob is a longtime member and former chair of the Simpson College Board of Trustees, as well as a member of ATO. Ardene remains deeply involved in Pi Beta Phi and is also active with Des Moines Metro Opera. Bob and Ardene have faithfully supported Simpson for more than 60 years.
Handley earned his bachelor’s degree from Simpson in 2009 as a non-traditional student. He joined Simpson’s Board of Trustees in 2015 and has served as chair since 2021. Last spring, Handley provided invaluable leadership as acting president, following the sudden passing of President Jay Byers.
President Stuebner will hit the highways and skyways to connect with alumni and friends across the country through the Presidential Connections Series, beginning this summer. This is a new opportunity for members of the Simpson community to gather, reconnect, meet the president, and learn about the exciting things happening on campus.
2026
June 25: Denver
July 9: Chicago
July 14: Minneapolis
September 8: Washington, D.C.
September 15: Kansas City
2027
January 28: Phoenix
February 23: Dallas
February 25: Houston
The Presidential Connections Series reflects the College's commitment to strengthening alumni relationships and sharing the momentum happening on campus with members of the Simpson family near and far. Alumni in each area will receive direct communication with additional details and registration information.
Simpson’s latest Alumni & Friends Travel Experience featured 29 people traveling from Budapest, Hungary to Bucharest, Romania on an 8-day cruise along the Danube River. The trip offered Simpson community members the chance to explore new cultures, create lasting memories, and deepen connections through shared travel and discovery.
Your chance to travel the globe with Simpson alumni and friends is coming soon. Details are coming together for spring 2028.
Be watching for the destination and all the details to come.
Homecoming 2026 weekend will kick-off with President Stuebner’s inauguration as Simpson’s 26th president on Friday, Oct. 16.
We hope you will be here for the historic celebration and stay to enjoy an action-packed weekend of Homecoming events and activities. You name it, it’s happening — alumni awards, tailgating, live entertainment, sporting events and so much more.
What a weekend it will be for our Red & Gold community.
More details and registration information will be shared in the coming months.
Industry experts served as featured panelists for Simpson’s 3rd Annual Sport Administration Symposium this spring.
The booming popularity of sport administration at Simpson is perhaps best illustrated by the stunning success of Simpson’s 3rd Annual Sport Administration Symposium held in April. The symposium attracted 166 attendees, featuring students from five high schools and six colleges, as well as industry professionals representing 23 sports organizations. Most impressively, 40 Simpson students designed, organized and executed the event.
“Our symposium is the largest student-run event in the state,” said Matt Garrett, professor of sport administration. “Our students are completely running it, giving them a tremendous sense of pride and accomplishment.”
The symposium provides unique access to career-shaping insights and invaluable networking opportunities.
"It [The symposium] brings in big names in the world of sports,” said Taylor Carlson ’27, who will serve as chair of next year’s event. “We have a chance for one-on-one interactions, which is really special. You don’t get to meet people in your field like that every day."
In addition to creating opportunities for engagement with top industry leaders at the symposium and in his classroom, Garrett offers students a variety of field trips to visit major sports franchises across Des Moines and throughout the upper Midwest.
Complementing those experiences, says Garrett, is the great diversity of game-changing internships available to students — thanks to Simpson’s ideal Indianola location.
“We’re just 20 to 25 minutes away from Des Moines, where we have Triple A baseball (Iowa Cubs), the equivalent of Triple A basketball (Iowa Wolves) and hockey (Iowa Wild) and arena football (Iowa Barnstormers). We are also close to two major racetracks and both of Iowa’s high school athletic associations. They have all been great partners — and that’s a huge plus for our students.”
Sport admin majors like Kacie Eisentrager ’26 benefit greatly from multiple internships.
Carlson can vouch for that assertion, based on her current internship role with Southeast Polk High School Athletics.
“I love it,” said Carlson. “I get to help with game day logistics and put together some social media. Everything from event set up to take down, including operating the scoreboard — I’m doing it. They just kind of throw me into whatever and I run with it.”
Kacie Eisentrager ’26 has been more than willing to go the distance for outstanding internship opportunities. She started with the Indianola Chamber of Commerce helping to host RAGBRAI riders before moving onto a marketing role with the Iowa Sports Foundation and, most recently, completing an event management internship with the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union. She also served as a social media intern for the American Rivers Conference and worked four years for Simpson Athletics.
Eisentrager is just getting started. The Simpson track and field distance runner is about to kick it into an even higher gear as she pursues dual master’s degrees in business administration and sports administration from Ohio University.
“They have the top sports administration program in the country,” said Eisentrager. “They literally have connections everywhere you want to go. I just want to keep learning while trying to grow and do new things — so I’m very excited for that.
Garrett says Eisentrager and Carlson reflect the kind of drive and determination demonstrated by students across the program. Enthusiasm for sport administration is reaching new highs, as evidenced by robust participation in the student club organization and a recent top 12 finish in a national sports sales competition.
“We are looking to build a national profile,” said Garrett. “Our students have a passion for what they’re doing and I think they’re competitive. Top to bottom, I’ll put our students against anyone in the country.”
The Simpson alumni you will meet in the following pages are at the top of their games. From the Cucamonga Quakes in California to the Buffalo Bills in New York and many other top organizations across the country, they continue to distinguish themselves as leaders in a wide variety of sport administration fields.
The thrilling success they are experiencing is the result of an unmatched competitive drive and a relentless work ethic. Read on and rally around their winning spirit.
Joey Colby-Begovich '02 stars in many leading roles with the Chicago Fire Major League Soccer Club. This is his third season with the Fire as vice president of Matchday Operations and Guest Experience. His path to the Windy City was anything but conventional.
Shortly after graduating from Simpson with a degree in communications and theatre arts, Colby-Begovich set sail for what he assumed would be a short-lived gig with the entertainment staff of Carnival Cruise Lines. Instead, it turned into a 14-year journey spanning six continents, which included taking time to earn his master’s degree in hospitality administration from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV).
“I fell in love with hospitality and service,” said Colby-Begovich. “[At Carnival,] I went from entertainer to cruise director to director of guest experience, which basically involved running programming across the fleet of 26 ships around the world.”
In 2017, Colby-Begovich docked his Carnival career to join a start-up luxury hospitality company called Inspirato, based in Denver. There, as senior vice president of Member Experience, his innovative initiatives included developing premium sports entertainment experiences.
“We created these experiences around the world’s most exclusive sporting events,” said Colby-Begovich. “Offerings included Millionaire’s Row at the Kentucky Derby and the Paddock Experience for Formula One, as well as VIP hospitality access for events such as the Olympics, Wimbledon and The Master’s.”
Then, in 2021, his career shifted to a breakthrough opportunity in the NFL. Colby-Begovich became the Washington Commanders’ vice president of Guest Experience.
“It was the wildest experience of my career,” he said. “I got to build my own team and bring in a lot of principles from hospitality and entertainment. I participated in some amazing things, like a full company re-brand (from Washington “Football Team” to “Commanders”). When in your life does that happen? That’s like a one in a million.”
The transformational impact Colby-Begovich made in Washington opened the door to his current role leading another franchise refresh. He serves as the “cross-functional glue” for all business aspects of the club, from marketing, ticket sales and sponsorships to every aspect of match day operations and the fan experience.
His willingness to be thrown into any fire and solve problems is what keeps Colby-Begovich in hot demand throughout the sports industry. While his career satisfaction is sky high, he says nothing gives him more pride and joy than life with his husband of 10 years and their two daughters.
Colby-Begovich says he owes a lot of his professional and personal success to Simpson, where he gained a healthy belief in himself. “My whole Simpson experience was about developing confidence to be who I am and to express myself. Those were the greatest four years of my life and the catalyst for everything that I am and have in my life.”
Joey Colby-Begovich ’02 never imagined his career path would take him from cruise ship entertainer (far left photo) to high-level executive positions in pro sports. He’s played a leading role in rebranding efforts with the Washington Commanders (middle photo) and the Chicago Fire (far right photo), where he’s helping to oversee the team’s transition to a new stadium.
Drew Bentley ’14 remains on the fast track to prominence in professional sports leadership. Today, he serves as senior vice president, Business Operations & Strategy for the storied MLS franchise, D.C. United and their owned venue, Audi Field. He’s seemingly everywhere doing everything.
“I operate as second in command to our club president, in terms of the business operation.” said Bentley. “I oversee our strategy and analytics functions, ticket operations, performance marketing (which includes paid advertising, mobile app, website, email marketing and automation, and SMS), as well as overseeing project management and Food and Beverage at Audi Field.”
Bentley’s highlights include attracting the largest crowd (72,026) in D.C. United regular season history for a match against megastar Lionel Messi’s Miami team this season at M&T Bank Stadium, home of the Baltimore Ravens. He’s also been a featured speaker at various conferences around the world on the rise of D.C. United, most notably in Budapast, Hungary last fall. Additionally, he helped lead a bold initiative in 2022 to bring in Bayern Munich from the German Bundesliga to play a “friendly” (exhibition match) — the highest revenue-generating event ever at Audi Field (to that date).
His meteoric career rise began at Simpson, where his internship led to a first job in ticket sales and operations at NASCAR’s Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa. Just two years down the road, he landed a ticket operations & analytics management position with the Orange Bowl Committee in Miami.
“That was a big inflection point for me because I had lived my entire life in Iowa and knew it would be a massive jump,” said Bentley. “But I also realized if I didn’t do it then, I might never do it. So, I interviewed, got the job and bet on myself to succeed, which was obviously a big catalyst for the rest of my career.”
After just two years with the Orange Bowl Committee, Bentley got the call from D.C. United, where his career has ascended rapidly. He’s elevated to his sixth role in just seven years — and he loves it.
“I’ve been surrounded by terrific people who have poured into me, and I think what I’ve done well is just keeping an open mind, being willing to learn and making small improvements each day. I’ve tried to put myself into a position where I provide value to the business and treat people well as I’m going through it.”
David Adams ’13 is willing to go most anywhere for a great opportunity. The Palm Springs, Calif., native embraced the thrill of a snowy football recruiting visit to enroll at Simpson. Since then, his adventures in sport administration have taken him from Iowa to New Orleans, Kansas City and now Buffalo, where he serves as vice president for corporate partnerships with the Bills.
“The experiences I’ve had have helped shape me as a person,” said Adams. “Getting to understand different regions and cultures while making friends all across the country has been a real blessing.”
Along the way, Adams has made smooth career transitions from working in minor league hockey to stints in NFL football, NBA basketball, MLB baseball and MLS soccer.
“What you do from a corporate partnership perspective, those skills translate well from league to league,” said Adams. “The biggest difference is learning the market, learning the team and understanding your value proposition.”
Adams has tremendous value to offer potential corporate sponsors of the Bills, as the team prepares to open a “state-of-the-art” new stadium this fall.
“Being part of that experience has been incredible,” said Adams. “We are in a new era of Bills football with [star quarterback] Josh Allen and a top 10 international fan base. The new stadium has given us an opportunity to reset our value proposition — to reset who we are, what we represent and the partners we want to bring on board.”
Through all the excitement of his career, Adams is grateful for the value he received from Simpson.
“I loved my experience at Simpson. Playing football there taught me a lot about leadership and teamwork. And my professors in political science, marketing, communications and sport admin helped me grow so much. So, whenever a Simpson student reaches out to me, I want to be intentional in giving back to the college that gave so much to me.”
As a running back for the Storm, Matt Claassen ’11 understood all the
traditional football statistics.
Fifteen years later, as manager of data operations for Teamworks — formerly Pro Football Focus (PFF) — he has helped create a seemingly infinite new world of analytics to transform football evaluations at the college and pro level.
When Claassen was promoted to full-time data analyst in 2014, he became just the 10th full-time employee at PFF. During Claassen’s career at PFF, the analytics force grew to 170 full-time and 700 part-time employees before its acquisition by Teamworks this spring. He well remembers his early days spending countless hours breaking down game film/video for college and NFL teams.
“Back then, putting in 70 to 80 hours a week was normal,” said Claassen. “At my peak, I had six monitors in my office for collecting game films. And our small staff had to chart about 50-60 college games per week, which added up to more than 800 games by our deadline of the Super Bowl. The weekly amount has increased over the years with the biggest weeks exceeding 130 games to analyze.”
Initially, Claassen’s play charting simply focused on the basics of the passing game — who was on the field, where they lined up, routes ran against what type of defensive coverage, etc. From there, he quickly moved into player grading and later even managed that process. In recent years, he has transitioned to leading special projects and helping to build new data processes.
“We now have about 400 data points on every play we collect — broken down into a bunch of different processes,” said Claassen. “The data depth we provide teams, as well as the tools we give coaches to filter specific plays, which are then linked to video for immediate viewing, is all really quite extraordinary.”
Claassen says Simpson played a big role in where he is today. His college internships with the Des Moines Menace soccer club and the Iowa Energy basketball team were among the most pivotal experiences.
“Those internships set me up pretty well, as did my classes. My computer information systems class, for example, was a good foray into visualizing and working with data. And, of course, my Simpson football background definitely helped open the door at PFF.”
Vikings and Gophers and Guardians! Oh my! Karlie Hill ’24 is landing some exciting opportunities with famed franchises in big-time sports. The former Storm softball slugger and All-America Scholar Athlete is all about swinging for the fences and cashing in on career-shaping connections with Simpson faculty and alumni mentors.
After earning her Simpson degree, Hill first secured a post-grad internship opportunity at the University of Minnesota, where she served as a stadium operations coordinator under the mentorship of her supervisor, Brady Buresh ’08
When her year-long appointment with the Gophers ended, Hill landed a team operations associate role with the Minnesota Vikings working for another Simpson alumnus, Chuck Petersen ’06 — the Vikings senior manager of team operations.
Hill’s roles with the Gophers and Vikings gave her a rare insider’s look and hands-on experience concerning the complex innerworkings of stadium and team operations. She says the sum of both experiences was invaluable, especially having the chance to learn from accomplished Simpson alumni like Buresh and Petersen.
“I talked to them every day and both were extremely supportive and welcoming,” said Hill. “They created an environment where I could go to their offices and have a conversation about anything and everything. And I wouldn’t have gotten to the next places in my career without them.”
This summer, Hill is enjoying a season-long fellowship in Player Engagement and Family Relations with Major League Baseball’s Cleveland Guardians. She isn’t sure what will happen after the baseball season, but you can bet Hill will be ready for her next move. She says Simpson College gave her the confidence to excel anywhere.
“I’m incredibly grateful for my time at Simpson. The chance to play softball, my academics and professors like Nicci [Whalen] made a huge impact. All those things helped make me who I am today.”
Brady Buresh ’08 has never been afraid of hard work. From setting up athletic events as a Simpson student to interning with the Waterloo Bucks and now leading facilities and event operations for the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers, he has always chosen to lead by example.
“I always tell the students who work for us that I’m never going to ask them to do anything I haven’t done 100 times,” said Buresh. “There’s a lot of unsexy work that must be done and you just have to embrace it and have fun with it.”
The demands can be daunting for Buresh, who oversees operations for the women’s and men’s basketball facilities, as well as Huntington Bank Stadium — home of Gophers football. He says Simpson prepared him well to handle it all.
“Simpson taught me the leadership, organizational and time management skills that I use every day in my work. Overseeing operations is about so much more than preparing for and executing game day. At the Gophers football stadium, for example, we do 150-200 events a year, which requires constant flipping of spaces to get them ready. I’ve learned how to effectively balance and delegate tasks, and to be ready for anything.”
Every step of his journey has provided invaluable lessons. His interest in facilities and operations grew quickly during career stops at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C., and the University of North Carolina-Asheville. Since arriving at the University of Minnesota in 2014, he has flourished in a variety of leadership positions.
Buresh may live in the often unseen and underappreciated background of big-time athletics, but he truly relishes the lifelong relationships he has made and the chance to always be near the action.
“I’m just a small-town kid with a passion for athletics, who fell in love with operations and slowly moved my way up. Working for a(n) (NCAA) Power Four school or professional sports franchise is attainable for any Simpson graduate. You just have to work your tail off, make the right connections and stay the course — then good things will happen.”
Brady Buresh ’08 Sr. Director of Facilities & Event Operations University of Minnesota
They come from different Simpson eras, but Tom Keating ’77 and Elise Boulton ’24 share a love for helping student-athletes thrive. Keating is completing his seventh year as executive director of the Iowa High School Athletic Association (IHSAA), while Boulton is wrapping up her rookie year as internal operations coordinator for the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union (IGHSAU).
The two organizations work closely together as partners in ensuring optimal and equitable opportunities for players, coaches and teams statewide. The collaboration has afforded Keating and Boulton the chance to celebrate their shared Simpson roots.
“I have enjoyed getting to work with Tom,” said Boulton. “He has that 30,000 foot view and sees the bigger picture. Just having that connection is special. It’s really cool to see what Simpson has done for him and what it is doing for me.”
For his part, Keating sees Boulton as a rising star.
“The beauty here is I’ve watched Elise grow in the short time she’s been there [IGHSAU],” said Keating. “Her knowledge and confidence are trending up. I like what I see — she’s solid.”
While Boulton is just beginning her career, Keating has built an impressive 46-year portfolio in Iowa that includes stints as a teacher, coach, athletic director and principal in Dubuque and Cedar Rapids, before moving to Boone for his current role.
The Philly native remains ever enthusiastic, recognizing that he and his team are uniquely positioned to make a profound difference in so many lives.
“My joy comes from seeing students in action,” said Keating. “We get to impact more than 80,000 young people and what they do every day. Fewer than 500 students are going to win a state title. So, for me, it’s about their experience and the relationships they make with their teammates and coaches.”
Of course, there are plenty of challenges that come with leading an organization as large as IHSAA. Keating says his focal priority has been transparent communication with constituents to provide clarity and context for the association’s decision-making process and actions. And sometimes that work involves the courage to pursue change.
“If we remain stagnant, we will become irrelevant,” said Keating. “We must honor tradition, but we also can’t be afraid of going where others haven’t. And that takes some risk. At the end of the day, we have to do what’s best for the kids — that’s a responsibility we can’t take lightly.”
Boulton says she certainly shares such a commitment in the IGHSAU’s quest to “create the best experience for the Iowa girl.” To that end, she gained some invaluable lessons in her first year overseeing tennis competition in the state.
“I had to figure out which voices to listen to,” said Boulton. “In the beginning — having never played tennis — I was probably too easily persuaded into decisions by a coach or an athletic director. I just had to do my own research and learn the sport from the ground up. That helped me gain confidence and make informed decisions on what’s best for the sport and the student athletes.”
Boulton and Keating also share hearts for supporting Simpson. Boulton has quickly become a go-to alumni mentor for Simpson students, while Keating is a faithfully active member of the College’s board of trustees.
“Simpson did a lot for me and I want to help keep the ball rolling there,” said Keating. “I’m very excited about President Stuebner and what she’s doing. I’m just so proud to be an alum and would do anything for the place.”
Account Executive, Membership Sales Iowa Wild
“I just want to give a shout out to Simpson College for getting me ready to thrive and succeed. Kelsey Bolton and her team in career development did a great job preparing me for my first internship with the Wild. And the sport administration program has just exploded under Dr. (Matt) Garrett. His connections have provided major steppingstones to get where I am today.
“I’m building strong relationships with the Wild and I enjoy seeing my sales come to fruition through the fan experience on game day. Sales can be a grind, but everything I do is definitely worth it.”
Arena Manager, SJB Pavilion University of Mississippi
“I oversee our basketball arena facility and I’m the event manager for men’s and women’s basketball, as well as external events. I also do parking for football, which brings 100,000 people to Oxford (Miss.) on game days. It’s nuts, but it’s a lot of fun.
“I honestly don’t think I would be here without Simpson. Getting a business major to go with my sport admin major helped a ton. During my time at Simpson I tried to get as much experience as possible in different areas. I learned a lot managing concessions as an undergraduate assistant for athletics and through my operations internship at Iowa Events Center. And working in football operations as a graduate assistant at Illinois State also made a big difference. I know that not everyone gets to do what I do — I’m very lucky.”
Manager, Group Ticket Sales and Hospitality Rancho Cucamonga Quakes Baseball
“Every day is different. Wherever I’m able to help out, that’s what I do. That means doing my prospect calls, making sure the groups coming in have everything they need, getting ready for pregame promotions, you name it.
“It’s all about organization, communication and just having that ‘I’ll get it done’ attitude. You have to be that reliable person who is eager to put on different hats, be flexible and pay your dues.”
Facilities Scheduler
Indianola Community School District
“As the first hire for my position, my main job is to schedule all facilities throughout the district. I didn’t really know what I was getting myself into, but I’ve grown so much already, and I love working with the people here. My internship experiences at Simpson with Catch Des Moines, where I was involved in planning and organizing the AAU Junior Olympic Games, and with Fitness Sports doing social media really helped prepare me.
“Being a distance runner has also strengthened my mindset. Learning to be on my own and uncomfortable in some workouts made me more mentally tough. And that translates well to a new position like mine, because there’s a lot of times that I might be uncomfortable not knowing what to do and I’m just open to asking questions so I can figure it out.”
President Sue Stuebner has named CoryAnne Harrigan, Ph.D., to serve as the College’s senior vice president for Academic Affairs and academic dean, effective June 1, 2026. Harrigan has served in an interim leadership role with Simpson since August 2024.
Harrigan’s appointment follows a highly affirming 360-review of her interim performance by constituencies College-wide.
“Every constituency involved voiced strong support of Cory's performance as interim and her readiness to step into the official role,” said President Stuebner. “There is strong agreement about her collaborative leadership skills, as well as her proven ability to make difficult decisions and act promptly in advancing key initiatives.”
For Harrigan, who joined Simpson as an English faculty member in 2001, the opportunity to continue serving the College is a treasured privilege.
“I've been fortunate to call Simpson my professional home for 25 years, and I look forward to serving in this new capacity,” said Harrigan. “I'm humbled to be in a position to promote Simpson's educational excellence on campus and beyond.”
Simpson College Professor of Philosophy John Pauley has earned a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program award for teaching/research/public philosophy at the University of Galway in the 2026-27 academic year. Presented by the U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board, the prestigious honor provides Pauley with the opportunity to teach undergraduate and graduate level seminars in philosophy, participate in the University of Galway public philosophy projects, and do environmental research.
“I am grateful to the Irish Fulbright Commission, the faculty in philosophy at the University of Galway, Dean [CoryAnne] Harrigan, Mark Green (Simpson Fulbright liaison), colleagues Aswati Subramanian, Jeremy Griffin, Jed Forman, Bradi Darrah and Spencer Waugh. We don’t receive this sort of honor and opportunity without great colleagues. I am also grateful to many outstanding students that I have had the privilege to teach over these many years.”
Recognition as a Fulbright U.S. Scholar places Pauley in an elite group of accomplished faculty, researchers, administrators and professionals who teach or conduct research in partnership with institutions around the world. Through these affiliations, they expand their networks and often seed future research, innovation and institutional partnerships.
The Fulbright Program was established in 1946 as an investment in global peace and American prosperity through educational and cultural exchange. Fulbright provides opportunities for exceptional Americans and participants from 160 countries to study, teach and conduct research abroad. Fulbright recipients have included 46 heads of state or government, 63 Nobel Laureates, 93 Pulitzer Prize winners, 83 MacArthur Fellows and countless leaders in all sectors and industries worldwide.
Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Nikole Hannah-Jones (pictured above, far left) received the George Washington Carver Medal during her special appearance at Simpson College in January, as part of an annual weekend celebration honoring the legendary namesake of the award. Hannah-Jones served as a featured panelist for a discussion on racial justice.
Highly regarded for her work covering racial injustice for the New York Times, Hannah-Jones earned an Emmy Award in 2024 for “The 1619 Project”— a Hulu original docuseries examining the impacts of slavery in the United States. She is also founder of the 1619 Freedom School in her hometown of Waterloo, Iowa.
Campus Day once again made a major impact on campus and throughout the greater community. More than 730 student, faculty, staff and alumni volunteers participated in 56 projects, including 16 projects completed in collaboration with community partners.
512 DONORS $116,949
THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY
The Simpson College Speech & Debate team earned national runner-up status in a trio of categories at the Pi Kappa Delta National Tournament held March 19-22 in Springfield, Mo. Simpson claimed second place in Debate Sweepstakes, Individual Events Sweepstakes and Overall Sweepstakes. In each instance, Simpson finished just 10 or fewer points behind the national champion.
“I am incredibly proud of this group and their willingness to pursue excellence in their events,” said Tiana Brownen, director of speech, debate and mock trial at Simpson. “Our second-place finish is a testament to our students’ skill and dedication to the activity, as well as the countless hours of preparation and discipline they demonstrated throughout the entire season.”
The tournament featured 58 colleges and universities with 438 students competing in more than 2,200 individual events.
Simpson claimed 15 honors, including three first-place awards at the Iowa College Media Association Conference in Des Moines in February. Students and recent alumni were recognized for their excellence in writing, design, photography, audio and video. Competition included schools from the American Rivers Conference, Grinnell, Grand View, Drake and the University of Northern Iowa.
Simpson’s first-place honorees included Abby Hintz ’25 for “Best Feature Photo,” Clare Veren ’25 for “Best Sports Reporting” and the staff award for “Best Media Website.”
In April, Simpson’s annual Research & Creativity Symposium provided an opportunity for students to present their individual and collaborative research involving a wide range of disciplinary and inter-disciplinary studies.
Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences has donated four professional-grade body donor tables to Simpson College. Designed specifically for anatomical study and dissection, the tables will be used extensively by students preparing for careers in nursing, physical therapy, and allied health fields.
The gift was coordinated with support from Donald Matz, Ph.D., longtime professor and chair of DMU’s anatomy program, and Edward Christopherson, body donation coordinator at DMU.
“We are so grateful to our partners at DMU,” said Dr. Lauren Points, assistant professor of biological and environmental science at Simpson. “The tables are already enhancing the functionality of our lab, allowing students to focus more fully on learning and hands-on instruction.”
Simpson softball used a dramatic seventh inning comeback to claim an opening round regional championship on its home field and earn a berth in the NCAA Division III Super Regionals. The Storm needed a two-out, two-run rally to steal a 3-2 victory over St. Ben’s (Minn.) in the winner-take-all game — a day after the Storm exploded for 11 seventh inning runs to beat the Bennies 12-6 to reach championship Saturday.
The Storm were set to visit St. Mary’s (Minn.) in a best-of-three series when this edition of Simpson: The Magazine went to press. The winner of that showdown advanced to the NCAA Division III World Series in Salem, Va.
Simpson put together a pair of stunning seventh inning rallies to win its opening round regional tournament and advance to the NCAA III Super Regionals in May.
Simpson also won the A-R-C postseason tournament for the first time in program history. A-R-C Player of the Year Ashlyn Steen ’26 powered another Storm surge, leading the league in seven categories including batting average (.516), slugging percentage (.869) and stolen bases (40).
Steen was one of eight players earning A-R-C All-Conference recognition. First-Team selections included Steen, 2025 conference player of the year Megan Heidelbauer ’26, Brielyn Ginnaty ’27 and Emma LaFave ’26.
Simpson officially welcomed Jason Mulligan as director of Athletics during a May 14 news conference. Mulligan brings more than 20 years of NCAA Division III experience as an administrator and coach.
“I’m incredibly honored to join Simpson College and build on the strong foundation already in place,” said Mulligan. “What really stands out here are the people — especially their commitment to students, pride in the institution and belief in what athletics can mean to a campus and a community.”
Mulligan recently completed an eight-year stint as director of athletics at Rockford University in Rockford, Ill. Previously, he held dual roles as director of athletic facilities and head men’s basketball coach at the University of New England in Biddeford, Maine. His resume also includes a stop at Wabash College, where he served as assistant director of athletics and assistant basketball coach.
Steve and Susie Fiterman cut the ribbon to officially open the Fiterman Training Center as the new home for women’s and men’s gymnastics. President Stuebner, Simpson trustees and other members of the College community were on hand to honor the Fitermans and join in the celebration.
Simpson held a dedication celebration for its $3.1 million Fiterman Training Center in May. The impressive facility is named in honor of Steve Fiterman ’68 and Susie Galenbeck Fiterman ’68, who provided a $1 million gift vaulting the project to completion.
“Susie and I are just paying Simpson back for the great education we got there and for helping us to find each other,” said Steve Fiterman, a longtime member of Simpson’s Board of Trustees. “The new facility is such a positive story for everyone involved. Competing at a high level nationally is a big deal for our student-athletes — and Simpson College.”
Men’s and women’s gymnastics boasted a combined 12 NCAA national qualifiers this season. On the men’s side, Brian Rollison ’27 and Paul Tiedemann ’27 finished in the top 20 at the national meet. Rollison claimed 14th on still rings, while Tiedemann tied for 19th on the high bar.
Kaelyn Tally ’26 became the first NCGA All-American in program history, as one of four women’s qualifiers across five events at nationals. Tally was also named NCGA Most Outstanding Senior Gymnast.
Photo by Allix Nicholson
Annelise Obermark ’28 and Keeley Kehrli ’27 closed out the inaugural NCAA Women's Wrestling National Championships with fifth- and seventh-place finishes, respectively, securing the first AllAmerica honors in Simpson women's wrestling history.
As a team, the Storm finished 17th out of 53 teams competing in the first NCAA-sponsored national championship for women's wrestling.
Nathan Roling capped his 10th season at Simpson by receiving A-R-C Coach of the Year honors — leading the Storm to its highest conference finish (3rd place) since 2008. Team highlights included Drew Carlson ’27, Tijmen Nagel ’27 and Charlie Thomas ’27 earning A-R-C First Team honors, while Trenten Kingrey ’27 was named to the second team and Jacob Roberts ’28 received honorable mention recognition.
Tanner Philpott’s sophomore season at Simpson made him an Associate Press (AP) Third Team All-American. Moreover, Philpott’s punting prowess earned him an offer to play for the Iowa Hawkeyes next season, which he accepted.
Philpott turned in one of the most efficient punting seasons in NCAA Division III in 2025, totaling 1,757 yards on 40 punts to average 43.9 yards per kick, the third-best mark in the nation.
Women’s basketball head coach Brian Niemuth notched career win #700 as the Storm posted a 13-13 record in 2025-26. Niemuth will enter his 40th season at Simpson in 2026-27, having led the Storm to 14 conference titles and 12 NCAA tournament appearances — reaching the Sweet 16 three times. Niemuth is also a nine-time A-R-C Coach of the Year honoree.
James Johnson ’28 capped off his impressive indoor season with second team All-American honors, finishing 13th overall in the mile at the NCAA Indoor Championships. Johnson finished with a time of 4:14.22.
Initially, Deborah “Deb” John ’74 did not have her sights set on Simpson. She started her college career at Drake but transferred to Simpson after just one semester to be closer to her boyfriend. Deb’s mom, the late Donnabelle Skinner John ’41, may not have liked her daughter’s motives, but Donnabelle blessed the move because of her love for her alma mater. And so began Deb’s memorable Simpson journey from standout student to faithfully supportive and generous alumna.
Deb’s time at Simpson opened her eyes to a whole new world and life-shaping growth opportunities.
“Simpson’s classes and instructors and new friends challenged me to step out of my little bubble of predictable academic achievement,” she said. “I was successful in high school speech competitions, but at that time Simpson only offered a speech/theater combination as a major. Dramatic performance terrified me, and I usually worked behind the scenes with minimal on-stage presence. However, others believed that I could meet an acting challenge. My final semester I played the female lead role in “Unfinished Sympathy,” written by then department chair Joe Graber.”
After graduation, Deb was offered the opportunity to teach English in Woodbine, Iowa. The position, however, required a major in English. Fortunately, Simpson English Professor Dr. Donald Koch worked with her to complete the necessary requirements during the summer following her graduation. She went on to teach in Woodbine for two years before relocating to Colorado, where she earned her Master of Science from the University of Northern Colorado and enjoyed a distinguished career of more than 35 years teaching in the Thompson School District in Loveland, Colo. She taught English and speech at both the high school and college levels, while also serving as an instructional coach the last 10 years of her career.
Since her retirement, Deb has continued to find creative and highly impactful ways to support Simpson. Following her mother’s passing in 2021, Deb honored her mother’s legacy by establishing the Donnabelle and Deborah John Endowed Scholarship. Funded through Deb’s estate that includes three annuities naming Simpson College as beneficiary, the scholarship will provide financial assistance to students majoring in English, education, or theatre arts who demonstrate financial need.
Eager to make an immediate impact as well, Deb established the Deborah John Endowed International Experience Fund with a cash gift in 2022. Fondly recalling her international travel experiences to the Mideast, Italy, Greece and the UK during her Simpson days, Deb created the fund that will support students with financial need who participate in international experiences during May Term.
Deb’s generosity extends even further. In addition to her longstanding support of the Simpson Fund, she is working with the Simpson Advancement Office to arrange for her home to be transferred to Dechomai Asset Trust upon her death. Net proceeds from the sale of her home will be directed into a donor-advised fund that will provide support to the endowed resources Deb has established at Simpson College, ensuring a lasting impact on Simpson students for generations to come.
“Supporting Simpson College financially is an investment in individual students and their liberal arts education to help them become well rounded, confident, authentic people,” said Deb. “I choose to do so because I value education not indoctrination, because I believe in developing rational discourse, because I support the personal and academic growth of each and every student, and because I view these financial contributions as investments in our shared humanity.”
Discover how to support Simpson through your estate, by creating an endowed scholarship or fund, or through annual giving.
Contact Andy English '05 Executive Director of Advancement andy.english@simpson.edu or 515-961-1543
Remembering Charles “Chuck” Rohm
November 16, 2025, Scottsdale, Arizona
Chuck Rohm served on the Simpson College Board of Trustees from May 1986 to August 2005. The 20 years of Board service included six years of being Board Chair. He earned an Honorary Degree from Simpson in 1999. Chuck was a graduate of Wabash College in Indiana, so he understood the high value of a small liberal arts education. Prior to his retirement he was Executive Vice President at The Principal Financial Group. Chuck’s commitment to Simpson was unwavering. Over his lifetime, he financially supported Simpson for 41 years, giving nearly $1.8 million to the College in his lifetime. He and wife Joy are listed as Honored Benefactors on the Names That Live at Simpson Honor Wall. He gave to numerous building projects across campus, and annually supported The Simpson Fund at a leadership level. Chuck established the Rohm Endowed Scholarship, which illustrates his benevolent nature as the student recipient needs only to be a student who illustrates financial need. His Des Moines Register obituary describes Chuck best, saying he was, “gracious, humble, and a man of faith—intellectual, kind, funny, competitive and deeply committed to giving his best to every part of his life.”
Michael Roets ‘20 and Kylie Doupnik ‘22 were married on September 20, 2025. The couple resides in Atlantic, Iowa.
Madeline Schulenberg ‘20 and Adam Reiter ‘20 were married March 16, 2024 in West Des Moines, Iowa. They reside in Ankeny, Iowa.
June Gale, born October 12, 2025 to Rachel Freland Gale ‘19 and Joey Gale ’19 of Adel, Iowa.
Frances Lea Nicholson born September 25,2024 to Jean Mullen-Nicholsen ‘13 and Derek Nicholson of Polk City, Iowa.
Julie Poulsen ’77 and Monte Asbury were married November 29, 2025 in Des Moines, Iowa where they reside.
Chaeli Moir ‘23 and Brennen Lemke ‘23 were married on October 11, 2025. The couple resides in De Soto, Iowa.
Sally Sonneburg ‘02 and Bill Whiteley were married on July 5, 2025. The couple resides in Urbandale, Iowa.
Juliana Bourne ‘22 and Daniel Ordaz ‘23 were married December 13, 2025. The couple resides in Des Moines, Iowa.
To submit accomplishments and updates to be included in future editions, visit: simpson.edu/alumni/update
Robbie Spence, born June 16, 2025 to Autumn Spence ‘22 and Wayne Spence of Jacksonville, Arkansas.
Julian Locker, born spring 2026 to Nella Thomas-Locker ‘13 and William Locker of Des Moines, Iowa.
Vivian Burrell, born November 15, 2025 to Matt Burrell ‘17 and Casey Reisen Burrell ‘18 of Ankeny, Iowa.
Hayden Loperfido, born March 9, 2026 to Kim Lamon-Loperfido ‘04 and JV Loperfido of Durham, North Carolina.
Beckett Thompson, born December 27, 2025 to Natalie Tryon Thompson ‘21 and Trey Thompson ’19 of Waukee, Iowa.
We’re bringing back the baby tees!
Have you recently welcomed a new child into your family? Let us know – we’d love to send a Simpson shirt to celebrate your newest addition. It’s never too early to start their Simpson story!
Email alumnioffice@simpson.edu.
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 alumnioffice@simpson.edu.
Virginia Wayt Frank ‘46
February 24, 2026, Shenandoah, Iowa
John Cooper ’48
October 16, 2025, Frederick, Maryland
Shirley Payne Schambach ‘50
January 20, 2026, Manson, North Carolina
Dolores Dain DeLew ’51
October 26, 2025, Glen Ellyn, Illinois
Dr. Shirley “Sue” Stow ‘51
November 28, 2025, Ames, Iowa
John Rasmussen ‘51
January 5, 2026, Temecula, California
Norma Irelan Lock ‘51
April 9, 2026, Des Moines, Iowa
Marilyn Mahoney Zeller ‘52
December 29, 2025, Des Moines, Iowa
Barbara Fritz Cook ‘52
February 19, 2026, Ottumwa, Iowa
Joyce Ryerson Crosby ‘53
November 6, 2023, Citra, Florida
Anna Jane Channel ‘53
January 8, 2026, Ottumwa, Iowa
Marvin Zaiger ‘53
March 9, 2026, West Branch, Iowa
Betty Richey Waters ’54
October 31, 2025, Highlands Ranch, Colorado
Anita Lyon Gorden ‘54
March 20, 2026, Nevada, Iowa
Lorna Miller LeRoy ‘54
March 25, 2026, Midland, Texas
Rosemary Newman Hennessy ‘55
April 17, 2026, Story City, Iowa
Berniece Ruby Swanson ‘56
April 6, 2026, Atlantic, Iowa
Donna Thompson ’57
October 26, 2025, St. Louis, Missouri
Twila Brammeier Wilkinson ’57
October 31, 2025, Indianola, Iowa
Marilyn Dale Boswell ‘57
January 3, 2026, Davenport, Iowa
Paul Gregory ‘59
September 29, 2025, Altoona, Iowa
Wanda Casteel Canny ‘59
December 5, 2025, Columbus Junction, Iowa
Lloyd Parker ‘60
October 24, 2026, Estes Park, Colorado
James “Mitch” Mitchell ‘60
November 26, 2025, Montgomery, Texas
Jerry Mahoney ‘60
March 3, 2026, Osceola, Iowa
Lynn Sorensen ‘60
March 20, 2026, West Des Moines, Iowa
Bruce Hann ‘61
February 16, 2026, Denver, Colorado
Eugene “Gene” Welch ‘61
April 10, 2026, Waseca, Minnesota
Beverly Oxley White ‘62
January 22, 2026, Mt. Ayr, Iowa
Graham “GB” Every ‘62
April 19, 2026, Wyckoff, New Jersey
Bill Miller ‘62
May 1, 2026, Ankeny, Iowa
Roger Case ‘63
November 15, 2025, Des Moines, Iowa
Patricia Toland Svec ‘63
December 27, 2025, Kellogg, Iowa
Sherman Wathen ‘64
December 12, 2025, Mt Prospect, Illinois
Susan Klepp ‘65
January 24, 2026, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Kathi Edwards Sherwood ’66
November 3, 2025, La Vista, Nebraska
Jack Sherman ‘66
January 24, 2026, Grinnell, Iowa
Joni Johnson Siglin ‘66
February 27, 2026, Des Moines, Iowa
John Thomas “Tom” Schmidt ‘67
December 1, 2025, San Antonio, Texas
Stephen Howell ‘68
December 15, 2025, Midland, Michigan
Edward Engbrecht ‘69
July 28, 2024, South Elgin, Illinois
Michael “Mike” Donaldson ‘70
April 17, 2026, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Ann Moore Johnson ‘71
March 23, 2026, Des Moines, Iowa
David Dircks ’74
November 5, 2025, Fargo, North Dakota
Jerry Keisel ‘74
December 12, 2025, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Lisa Dunsmoor Wagler ‘74
December 18, 2025, Des Moines, Iowa
Joan Sivers ‘76
February 2, 2026, Lincoln, Nebraska
Rich Anderson ‘76
March 7, 2026, Des Moines, Iowa
Sally Job ‘77
January 10, 2026, Knoxville, Iowa
Steve Plate ‘78
January 13, 2026, Grinnell, Iowa
Cynthia “Cindy” Hicks Viera ‘80
December 29, 2025, Des Moines, Iowa
Thomas Loucks ‘82
November 29, 2025, Victor, Iowa
Darl McKimpson ‘86
March 26, 2026, West Des Moines, Iowa
Dana Quick-Naig ‘86
April 12, 2026, Des Moines, Iowa
Dennis Houck ’87
October 28, 2025, Corydon, Iowa
Brenda Jensen Heston ‘90
June 29, 2025, Ankeny, Iowa
Kevin Dixon ‘90
December 3, 2025, Hampton, Virginia
Paul Winship ‘90
December 7, 2025, Osceola, Iowa
James “Jim” Van Dorn ‘91
January 9, 2026, Stuart, Iowa
Connie Easley Johnston ‘93
January 13, 2026, Des Moines, Iowa
Sean Keller ‘97
November 21, 2025, Denver, Colorado
Shelly Stork ‘99
December 30, 2025, Des Moines, Iowa
Scott Damstetter ‘02
May 1, 2025, Ankeny, Iowa
Jack Sawyers ‘07
April 1, 2026, Des Moines, Iowa
Megan Dunlavy Fouch ‘12
March 18, 2026, Thompson, Missouri
Twenty-five years ago, Nick Ackerman ’01 shocked the college wrestling world by winning the NCAA Division III national title at 174 lbs. The NCAA celebrated his amazing accomplishment by presenting him with its 2026 Silver Anniversary Award in January during a special ceremony in Washington, D.C.
Ackerman shared the spotlight with three other NCAA legends earning the honor: former Super Bowl MVP Drew Brees, Purdue University; five-time WNBA Defensive Player of the Year Tamika Catchings, University of Tennessee; and tennis great Dr. Lauren Witmer, Millersville University (Pa.). Ackerman says the experience was delightfully surreal.
“Sharing the same award with those greats was almost laughable,” said Ackerman. “I’m so far removed from my time competing that you kind of forget that it was kind of a big deal, so it was really cool to be reminded of and reflect back on those times.”
Ackerman’s remarkable rise to national championship glory has been chronicled many times, highlighting his inspirational journey in overcoming the loss of both legs at 18 months old due to bacterial meningitis. His road to greatness featured no shortcuts.
“The culture of our wrestling room was tough, man,” said Ackerman. “When I was a freshman, guys like [national champion] Cory Christensen ’98, Tim Norton ’98 and Ben Kalainoff ’99 just beat on me. There were no excuses — we held each other accountable.”
Grueling practice battles helped a lot, but getting better wasn’t just about the physical aspect of the sport.
“Wrestling is 80 percent mental,” said Ackerman. “Coach [Ron] Peterson could get into my head and make me think about things. He knew how to motivate each of his athletes, recognizing that we all tick differently.”
As things began to click and Ackerman started piling up wins, his confidence began to soar. “I had a belief in myself that was a bit irrational,” he admits.
Long before his championship showdown against unbeaten and defending national champion Nick Slack, Ackerman vividly envisioned his coming glory.
“Even though I had never qualified for the [national] tournament, I convinced myself that I was going to win it. I repeated that belief aloud in front of my mirror hundreds of times for a year and a half. So, by the time I got to the title match, I was like, ‘Here we come, I’m going to win this thing.’”
Bold positive thinking has carried Ackerman to fulfilling success in his professional life as well, serving others who have suffered limb loss as a certified prosthetist for the past 20+ years across Iowa. He and his wife, Rachel, have three sons who are all — not surprisingly — multi-sport athletes.
Ackerman’s message to his family, his patients and all of us is to believe in yourself and to keep pushing forward, regardless of circumstances and outcomes.
“There’s something to be said about the power of the mind. Sometimes you’re going to struggle, but you’ve got to grind through it and stay determined to make things good. That’s what living is all about.”
Ackerman’s run to a national title stands as one of the greatest moments in NCAA Division III wrestling history.
