The Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council

In July of 2011, Governor Terry Branstad signed Executive Order 74 creating the Iowa Governor’s Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Advisory Council and Executive Order 81 to strengthen and expand the STEM Council. The STEM Council is Iowa's edu-nomic development initiative to invigorate the PreK-12 talent pipeline toward STEM careers.

Governor Kim Reynolds and Foundation Analytical Laboratory Director Diane Young lead the STEM Council and is made up of leaders in higher education, business, Pre-K through 12 educators, as well as state and local government officials. A total of 58 members comprise the STEM Council from across the state of Iowa, including 11 Executive Committee members, collaborating to boost STEM education and innovation. The STEM Council conceives of STEM-specific programs, STEM events, and STEM resources to Iowans.

Greatness STEMs from the Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council

“These professionals come from a broad spectrum of the state’s education, business and civic sectors and will work together to lead the way toward a strong future for our state in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. This group was created to advise our office on ways to improve STEM education and innovation, and economic development.”
- Governor Reynolds

Co-chair – Governor Kim Reynolds, State of Iowa, Des Moines, IA
Co-chair – Diane Young, Director of Technical Services, Foundation Analytical Laboratory, Cherokee, IA
 

STEM Council Executive Committee

  • Ms. McKenzie Snow, Director, Iowa Department of Education, Des Moines, IA
  • Ms. Kacia Cain, Science Educator, Winterset, IA
  • Dr. Robert Denson, President, Des Moines Area Community College, Ankeny, IA
  • Ms. Deborah Durham, Director, Iowa Economic Development Authority and Iowa Finance Authority, Des Moines, IA
  • Ms. Kathryn Kunert, Vice President for Business and Community Development, MidAmerican Energy, Des Moines, IA
  • Brigadier General Mark Muckey, Deputy Adjutant General, Iowa Air National Guard, Johnston, IA
  • Dr. Mark Nook, President, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA
  • Ms. Beth Townsend, Director, Iowa Workforce Development, Des Moines, IA
  • Dr. Barbara Wilson, President, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
  • Dr. Wendy Wintersteen, President, Iowa State University, Ames, IA

STEM Council Members

  • Ms. Emily Abbas, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Bankers Trust, Des Moines, IA
  • Mr. Patrick Barnes, Senior Global Program Officer, Education and Equity, John Deere, Moline, IL
  • Ms. Wendy Batchelder, Senior Vice President of Global Data Governance, Salesforce, Cumming, IA
  • Dr. Donna Bishop, Superintendent of Diocese of Des Moines Catholic Schools, Des Moines, IA
  • Dr. Calvin Carter, Assistant Professor, Department of Neuroscience-Pharmacology and Biomedical Engineering, University of Iowa and President/CEO, Geminii, Inc., Iowa City, IA
  • Senator Chris Cournoyer, State of Iowa Senate, LeClaire, IA
  • Mr. Robert J. Cramer, President and Chief Administrative Officer, Cramer and Associates, Inc., Grimes, IA
  • Ms. Denise Crawford, Associate Professor and Director of the Center for Technology Learning and Teaching, Iowa State University School of Education, Gilbert, IA
  • Mr. Thomas Dodds, Site Manager, BASF, Malcom, IA
  • Mr. Gabe Glynn, CEO and Co-Founder, MakuSafe, Ankeny, IA
  • Mr. Dan Greteman, Vice President and Chief Information Officer, Ruan Transportation Management Systems, West Des Moines, IA
  • Mr. Dan Harbeke, Head of Public Policy and External Affairs, Google, Council Bluffs, IA
  • Ms. Michelle Hill, Director of Waukee Aspiring Professional Experience (APEX), Waukee, IA
  • Ms. Jessica Hyland, Executive Director, Iowa Biotechnology Association, Des Moines, IA
  • Ms. Kathleen Kay, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Office, Principal Financial Group, Des Moines, IA
  • Mr. Don Kearney, Associate Director and Systems Architect, Collins Aerospace, Marion, IA
  • Ms. Stephanie Laird, Learning Supports Coordinator, Southeast Polk Community School District, Altoona, IA
  • Ms. Sara Lang, Senior Director of Engineering, Collins Aerospace, Cedar Rapids, IA
  • Ms. Rebecca Lucas, Director of Research & Development for Human Nutrition and Health, Kemin Industries, Des Moines, IA
  • Mr. Louis Moreno, Student, Drake University, Des Moines, IA
  • Ms. Kim Perez, President and CEO, Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, Des Moines, IA
  • Ms. Laurie Phelan, President and CEO, Iowa Jobs for America's Graduates, Des Moines, IA
  • Ms. Leah Rodenberg, Senior Community Affairs Program Manager, Alliant Energy, Cedar Rapids, IA
  • Ms. Sharon Rosenboom, Director of The Academic Enrichment Center, Dordt College, Orange City, IA
  • Dr. Somchai Rice, Co-Founder and Chief Science Officer of MedBlox, Coralville, IA
  • Ms. Barb Schwamman, Superintendent, Osage and Riceville Schools, Osage, IA
  • Mr. Curt Simmons, President and CEO, Science Center of Iowa, Des Moines, IA
  • Mrs. Tamara Trinder, Nurse Practitioner, Mercy Clinics, Des Moines, IA
  • Ms. Teri Vos, Director, Work-Based Learning Program, Pella, IA
  • Mr. Brian Waller, President, Technology Association of Iowa, Des Moines, IA
  • Dr. Marjorie McGuire-Welch, President, Southwestern Community College, Creston, IA
  • Dr. Jonathan Wickert, Senior Vice President and Provost, Iowa State University, Ames, IA
  • Ms. Emily Wilkerson, Student, Iowa State University, Ames, IA
  • Dr. Ryan Wise, Dean, Drake University School of Education

To apply to serve on the STEM Council, please visit https://talentbank.iowa.gov/.

To Top