ʼ53 Carolyn (Cummings) Haurum, BA, Crystal Lake, IL, is 90 years old and started teaching in 1953. Her husband, Harlan Haurum ’52, was in the first masters class at UNI.

ʼ56 Robert Lang, BA, Canton, GA, is 90 years old and has moved to a retirement village. He received his masters from George Williams College in Chicago, taught for 22 years, worked in marketing for 18 years and plans to live until he’s 100!

ʼ60 Carole (Johnston) Gardner, BA, Concord, CA, is still singing with the Diablo Women’s Chorale in Walnut Creek, CA.

ʼ65 Larry Gabe, BA, Salem, SC, was named to the Marquis Who’s Who in America for 2024. He ran Sales Staff Surveys for 10 years and took it from a small independent company to a very profitable group. He published a book about baseball fundamentals titled “Little Things Win Big Games” and a book about the people of Powersville, Iowa, titled “Farm Life in Rural America Powersville, Iowa, 1940’s 1950’s.”

ʼ67 Joseph Robinson, BA, MA ʼ71, Castle Rock, CO, was inducted into the Oklahoma Career Tech Hall of Fame in Oct. 2024. This award honors outstanding Oklahomans for their exemplary achievement, leadership and service in the field of career and technology education. This is the highest honor bestowed by the Oklahoma Career and Technology Education system.

ʼ70 Charlie Lakin, BA, Minneapolis, MN, received the Outstanding Achievement Award from the University of Minnesota Board of Regents in June 2024. He earned his PhD from Minnesota in 1981 and his career focused primarily on disability research, policy and advocacy.

ʼ71 Steven Ainsworth, BA, MA ʼ75, Pensacola, FL, retired from teaching in Dec. 2023 after teaching music for 52.5 years. Most recently he was an adjunct teaching professor at Pensacola Christian College in Pensacola, where he taught music education classes and private conducting. In addition to his UNI degrees, he also earned an EdD in music education from Florida State University in 1989.

ʼ73 Craig Perman, BA, MA ʼ77, Denver, CO, was presented the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award for 2024. In addition to his success as a scientist in the environmental services industry, he authored 20 patents and 23 publications.

ʼ73 Laura (Noehl) Schmitz, BA, Ionia, received the 2023 Immaculate Conception Elementary School Hall of Fame Award. She taught 3rd grade for 44 years.

ʼ76 Rocky Agan, BA, Knoxville, was intrigued by Dr. Goodman’s courses related to transportation and became the distribution analyst at a 3M Company manufacturing facility where he was responsible for all facets of transportation of products and hazardous materials. He has returned to UNI to speak with the students about his career.

ʼ78 Pamela (Jenkins) Connell, BA, Peoria, IL, published a book titled “Portal or Hole: Meditations on Art, Religion, Race and the Pandemic.”

ʼ80 Randy Pilkington, BA, MA ʼ98, Waterloo, received the 2023 Cedar Valley Legacy Award from Grow Cedar Valley. He is the executive director of Business and Community Services at UNI.

ʼ81 Richard Dobson, BA, Cedar Falls, is a career financial services professional, an industry keynote speaker and authored the books “Make Simplicity Your Superpower” and “The Trusted Professional.”

ʼ83 David Schroeder, BM, New York, NY, has been the director of jazz studies at NYU for 16 years and chair of the department of music for three years. He has presents lectures/performances around the world to music students and jazz fans and has published two books of jazz artist interviews. He also hosts a popular jazz interview series on YouTube.

ʼ85 Russ Adams, BA, Orange City, was named director of the Master of Education program in educational administration and assistant director of the Center for Innovation & Leadership with Northwestern College.

ʼ85 Joel McCrea, BA, Des Moines, is the vice president for client strategy and service with Strategic America.

ʼ85 Susie (McIntee) Schwieger, MA, Waterloo, serves on the UNI Emeritus Association Advisory Council. She retired from UNI in 2021 after 32 years of service in Career Services and the Graduate College.

ʼ86 Julie Kraft, BA, Robins, was named to the Top 50 Women Leaders of Iowa for 2024 by Women We Admire. She is the chief strategy officer for Kraft Co.

ʼ86 Bobbie Williams, BA, Port Saint Lucie, FL, received the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award from the Treasure Coast Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America.

ʼ87 Jeff Lorber, BA, Springfield, IL, retired as vice chancellor for advancement at the University of Illinois Springfield and senior vice president for the University of Illinois Foundation.

ʼ87 Craig Miller, BA, Bernalillo, NM, leads worship for the recovery ministry at the Albuquerque West Campus of Sagebrush Church and leads worship at the Santa Fe campus. He has been a worship pastor for 23 years. He also has a music business where he performs 2-3 nights a week singing and playing acoustic guitar, classical guitar, ukulele, mandolin and cigar box slide guitar.

ʼ90 Scott Slechta, MA, Saint Simons Island, GA, received the honor of having the Fairfield High School Auditorium named after him on 5/5/2024. He taught English and led the drama department from 1984-2017.

ʼ91 Tracey (Ewing) Hulme, BA, Traer, received a 2024 Gold Star Outstanding Teacher award in Black Hawk County. She is a culinary arts teacher at the Waterloo Career Center.

ʼ91 Lisa Raine, BA, MA ʼ95, ASC ʼ97, Vancouver, WA, retired from the Washington Education Association after 30 years of service as the labor union director for educators.

ʼ91 Rodney Zehr, BA, MA ʼ02, Mason City, received the 2024 Outstanding Faculty Award from the Community Colleges for Iowa. He was nominated by North Iowa Area Community College in Mason City, Iowa.

ʼ93 Jennifer (Diller) Brown, BA, Ocala, FL, received the 2024 Golden Apple Teacher Award from Marion County Public Schools in Florida and is a finalist for their Teacher of the Year Award.

ʼ93 Dean Eyler, BA, Minneapolis, MN, was appointed by the Governor of Minnesota as district court judge in Minnesota’s Fourth Judicial District.

ʼ93 Aimee (Weld) Hospodarsky, BA, Monticello, is a K-5 school counselor consultant with Grant Wood AEA.

ʼ94 Denise (Steines) Forney, BA, West Des Moines, was named vice president of talent and organizational development with the Iowa Corn Growers Association. She heads up Leadership Enhancement and Development (I Lead) and the Collegiate Advisory Team (I CAT).

ʼ96 Tatum (Teut) Buse, BA, MBA ʼ01, Marion, was named to the Top 50 Women Leaders of Iowa for 2024 by Women We Admire. She is the chief financial officer at Collins Aerospace.

ʼ96 Matthew Kingsbury, BA, Vinton, was named the 2024 Iowa Secondary Principal of the Year by School Administrators of Iowa. He is the principal at Vinton Shellsburg High School.

ʼ97 Michael McTaggart, BA, Des Moines, was named police chief of Des Moines. He is a 25-year veteran of the department.

ʼ97 Jennifer (Cameron) Paulsen, MA, Cedar Falls, was named the 2023 Iowa History Teacher of the Year. She is a 30-year veteran social studies teacher at Holmes Junior High School.

ʼ98 Brad Beaman, BA, Ankeny, was elected shareholder at Ahlers & Cooney, P.C. He works with clients in both public and private law with a focus on litigation, construction law and procurement/contracting.

ʼ99 Keith Anson, BA, Lafayette, IN, retired in Apr. 2024 from the US Air Force after more than 23 years of service.

ʼ99 Tiffiany (Spates) Evans, BA, MA ʼ14, Waterloo, received a 2024 Gold Star Outstanding Teacher award in Black Hawk County. She is a librarian at Irving Elementary.

ʼ99 Suzanne Shontz, BS, Lawrence, KS, received the 2024 James Corones Award in Leadership, Community Building and Communication from the Krell Institute. The award recognizes mentoring and leadership on the campuses she’s served and in the broader research community. She is a professor and associate dean at the University of Kansas.

ʼ00 Blake Hammond, BA, Des Moines, was named the 2025 Heartland Regional Teacher of the Year. He is a science teacher at Merrill Middle School.

ʼ00 Mindy Kayser, MPP, Cedar Rapids, was named to the Top 50 Women Leaders of Iowa for 2024 by Women We Admire. She is the vice president for community/donor engagement with Mercy Foundation.

ʼ00 Susie Stark, BA, MA ʼ07, Marion, was named the 2025 Grant Wood Regional Teacher of the Year. She is a teacher at Viola Gibson Elementary School in Cedar Rapids.

ʼ00 Kelli (Sitzmann) Zimmerman, BA, Waterloo, received a 2024 Gold Star Outstanding Teacher award in Black Hawk County. She is an English language arts teacher at Immaculate Conception School in Gilbertville.

ʼ01 Raychelle Burks, BS, Washington, DC, received the Morton Bender Prize during the 2024 American University faulty award ceremony. She is an associate professor of chemistry.

ʼ01 Marc Dickinson, BA, MA ʼ03, Des Moines, published a book titled “Replacement Parts,” a collection of short stories following characters over three generations in small town Iowa. Much of the book began as a UNI student.

ʼ01 Andrea (Callies) Hottle, BA, Waterloo, received a 2024 Gold Star Outstanding Teacher award in Black Hawk County. She is a 2nd grade teacher at Hudson Elementary.

ʼ01 Nino Sanikidze, MM, Houston, TX, was a head coach for the Domingo Colburn Stein Young Artist Program with the Los Angeles Opera before moving to Houston to join the faculty at Shepherd School of Music at Rice University. She is also a faculty artist at the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara, CA.

ʼ03 Barbara Anderson, MBA, Waverly, was named to the Top 50 Women Leaders of Iowa for 2024 by Women We Admire. She is the chief financial officer with VGM Group, Inc.

ʼ03 Mark McConnell, BS, Pella, was called as pastor of discipleship and leadership development at Federated Fellowship Church.

ʼ03 Jennifer (Meyer) Schlader, BA, Cedar Falls, received a 2024 Gold Star Outstanding Teacher award in Black Hawk County. She is a preK teacher at Lowell Early Childhood Center in Waterloo.

ʼ04 Katy (Broshar) Susong, BA, Cedar Falls, was named president and CEO of Grow Cedar Valley.

ʼ06 Brenda Liddle, BM, Marshalltown, is the 6-12 grade band director at East Marshall Schools.

ʼ06 Kiersten (Crowell) Maertens, BA, Urbandale, was named one of the 40 under 40 by the Des Moines Business Record for 2024. She is managing director of account strategy for Flynn Wright.

ʼ07 Chad Van Cleve, ASC, Cedar Falls, received a 2024 Gold Star Outstanding Teacher award in Black Hawk County. He is a social studies teacher at Cedar Falls High School.

ʼ08 Dan Black, BM, MA ʼ17, ASC ʼ18, Council Bluffs, was named a finalist for the 2024 Iowa Teacher of the Year. He is a music teacher for Council Bluffs Community School District.

ʼ08 Rachael (Halse) Holland, BA, Cedar Rapids, was named one of the 40 Under 40 for 2024 by the Corridor Business Journal. She is vice president of growth and sales with AMPERAGE Marketing & Fundraising.

ʼ08 Mitch Leahy, BA, Cedar Rapids, was named to the 40 under 40 Class of 2024 by the Corridor Business Journal. He is a vice president and general manager with GreatAmerica Financial Services.

ʼ08 Robbie Schwenker, BA, North Liberty, was named to the 40 under 40 Class of 2024 by the Corridor Business Journal. He is a pharmacist with NuCara Pharmacy.

ʼ09 Melissa (Kilfoy) Anderson, BA, Naples, FL, started Coharbor Electric & Coharbor Plumbing with husband Jacob, serving the southwest Florida markets. They also partner with Russell Construction for nationwide commercial real estate development for the government.

ʼ09 Jed Batterson, MA, Cedar Falls, received a 2024 Gold Star Outstanding Teacher award in Black Hawk County. He is a 4th grade teacher at Aldrich Elementary.

ʼ09 Jonathon Hummel, BA, Grimes, was named one of the 40 under 40 by the Des Moines Business Record for 2024. He is vice president of commercial banking with West Bank.

ʼ09 Leann (Schroeder) Pederson, BA, Polk City, was named one of the 40 under 40 by the Des Moines Business Record for 2024. She is a senior partner with RDG Planning & Design.

ʼ09 Keith Worner, BA, Coal Valley, IL, was named one of the 40 Under 40 for 2024 by the Quad Cities Business Journal. He is the president of Fortress Bank

ʼ10 Liz Cooney, BA, Des Moines, was named one of the 40 under 40 by the Des Moines Business Record for 2024. She is a manager of performance and capability management with F&G.

ʼ11 Jamie (Pope) Cornish, BA, Waukee, was named chief audit executive with Federal Home Loan Bank. She was previously with EY from 2011-2024.

ʼ11 Charlie Cowell, BA, Des Moines, is an urban planner and partner at RDG Planning 
& Design.

ʼ11 Ashley (Hermansen) Johnson, BA, Cedar Falls, was named one of the Cedar Valley’s 20 under 40 by the Waterloo/Cedar Falls Courier for 2024. She is the executive director of the Cedar Valley Sports Commission.

ʼ11 Darrin Sersland, BA, Denver, CO, joined the Denver office of Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale & Dorr LLP as a senior litigation support coordinator.

ʼ12 Jordan Stokes, BS, Altoona, was named one of the 40 under 40 by the Des Moines Business Record for 2024. He is a self perform work leader with the Midwest region for Ryan Companies US, Inc.

ʼ13 Jessica (Morosky) Dunnick, BM, Hiawatha, received the Dr. Robert E. and Phyllis M. Yager Exemplary Teaching Recognition Award. The award aims to highlight UNI graduates who have gone on to excel as a K-12 educator. Dunnick was also accepted to present at the American Orff Schulwerk Association (AOSA) conference in Nov. 2024.

‘13 Faith Hall, BM, Baton Rouge, LA, was appointed assistant professor of music education at Louisiana State University.

ʼ13 Alicia Herzog, BA, Des Moines, is a master garden coordinator and received the staff 2024 Early Achievement Award from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Iowa State University.

ʼ13 Rachael (Swisher) Hoffman, BA, Waterloo, was named one of the Cedar Valley’s 20 under 40 by the Waterloo/Cedar Falls Courier for 2024. She is a private wealth advisor with U.S. Bank Private Wealth Management.

ʼ13 Timothy Hopper, BA, MA ʼ24, Waterloo, received a 2024 Gold Star Outstanding Teacher award in Black Hawk County. He is a social studies teacher at Central Middle School.

ʼ14 Nicole Schroeder, BA, West Des Moines, was named a finalist for the 2024 Iowa Teacher of the Year. She is an elementary teacher with Saydel Community School District.

ʼ15 Kevin Gartman, BA, MA ʼ20, ASC ʼ20, Montezuma, was named the 2025 Central Rivers Regional Teacher of the Year. He is a high school and junior high business teacher with the Montezuma Community School District.

ʼ15 Brianna (Aust) Slutts, BA, Davenport, was named one of the 40 Under 40 for 2024 by the Quad Cities Business Journal. She is the marketing director with the McCarthy Bush Corporation.

ʼ15 Megann (Savereide) Tresemer, MA, Cedar Falls, received a 2024 Gold Star Outstanding Teacher award in Black Hawk County. She is an English teacher at Holmes Jr. High School.

ʼ15 Hayley (White) Vanderpool, BA, Ankeny, published a book titled “Playing Santa” in 2023. The book began as an extra credit project for an early education class while at UNI.

ʼ15 Daniel Vorwerk, BA, MA ʼ17, North Liberty, was promoted to assistant director of events and stewardship with International Programs at the University of Iowa.

ʼ16 Stevan Krickovic, BA, Waterloo, was named one of the Cedar Valley’s 20 under 40 by the Waterloo/Cedar Falls Courier for 2024. He is the founder of enVision Soccer training.

ʼ16 Shanterra Martin, BA, Waterloo, was named one of the Cedar Valley’s 20 under 40 by the Waterloo/Cedar Falls Courier for 2024. She is a branch manager at Community Bank and Trust.

ʼ17 Austin Wright, BM, Hubert, NC, enlisted in the US Marine Corps as a musician in October 2019. He is stationed in North Carolina.

ʼ18 Christopher Tims, MA, Waterloo, received a 2024 Gold Star Outstanding Teacher award in Black Hawk County. He is a history teacher at Waterloo East High School.

ʼ18 Jacob Van Essen, BA, Denton, TX, is a flight instructor in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area.

ʼ19 Lexi Forstrom, BM, Yantai, China, has taught band at an international school in Yantai, China, for the past four years.

ʼ19 Shantavia Parker, MSW, Waterloo, was named one of the Cedar Valley’s 20 under 40 by the Waterloo/Cedar Falls Courier for 2023. She is a Leader Valley coach and facilitator.

ʼ19 Ashley (Richardson) Wright, BM, Hubert, NC, enlisted in the US Marine Corps as a musician in October 2022. She is stationed in North Carolina.

ʼ20 Julia Jorgensen, BA, Madison, WI, earned a Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy with a sex therapy focus from the University of Wisconsin-Stout in 2023 and is a couples and family therapist for Edges Wellness in Minneapolis, MN. Their work focuses on the intersections of disability/neurodivergence and sexuality and also work with gender expansive clients to counter sexual shame and navigate polyamory in relationships.

ʼ21 Brenda (Elvik) Kaufmann, MA, Traer, was named a finalist for the 2024 Iowa Teacher of the Year. She is an elementary teacher with North Tama County Community School District.

ʼ21 Carter Nordman, BA, Panora, was named the 2024 Legislator of the Year by the Iowa Hotel & Lodging Association.

ʼ23 Jacob Kuhn, BS, Hudson, is a full stack developer with TruStage.

ʼ23 David Phetmanysay, BM, Waterloo, presented at the Fall 2023 DePaul Musil Symposium discussing former Chicago Symphony Orchestra composer in residence John Corligiano’s Symphony No. 1 and the historical aspects of Chicago during the AIDS Crisis. He volunteers for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

ʼ11 Alissa (Riegler) Watkins, BA, and Tyler Watkins, Fayette, MO, daughter Vivian Watkins born 2/1/2024.

ʼ15 Curtis Marker, BS, and Brenna (Scott) Marker, BS ʼ15, Lakeville, MN, welcomed first child, Oliver, in May 2024.

ʼ18 Mitchell Mouw, BA, and Champagne (Hubert) Mouw, BA ʼ19, Bettendorf, child Benson Thomas Mouw born 7/11/2023.

ʼ15 Daniel Vorwerk, BA, MA ʼ17, married Hannah (May) Vorwerk, BA ʼ23, on 4/20/2024.

ʼ16 Laura Bohnker Voels, BA, married Ian Voels, BA ʼ18, on 6/29/2024.

ʼ17 Brett Morrison, BA, married Sarah (Shull) Morrison, BA ʼ20.

ʼ17 Derek Price, BA, married Kristina (Mooney) Price, BA ʼ17, on 11/04/2017.

ʼ19 Molly (Hawley) Gohman, BA, married Nate Gohman, BA ʼ21, 4/22/2023.

ʼ20 Justin Dahl, BA, married Stef (Graser) Dahl, BA ʼ20, on 9/23/2023.

ʼ48 Jean (Quinn) Martin, 2 yr Cert., died 8/17/2024 in Fayette.

ʼ51 Bob Beach, BA, died 11/4/2023 in Cedar Falls.

ʼ51 Ginny (Patterson) Wachenheim, 2 yr Cert., died 2/4/2024 in Belmond.

ʼ54 Jean (Robey) Larson, BA, died 11/10/2024 in Tucson, AZ.

ʼ59 Carolyn (Kemper) Kirby, BA, died 3/12/2024 in Sharon, PA.

ʼ62 Delores (Dewilde) Bina, BA, died 11/14/2023 in Bettendorf.

ʼ65 Sharon (Zieman) Forssman, BA, died 7/18/2024 in Ames.

ʼ66 Dan McCleary, BA, MA ʼ69, died 5/10/2024 in Houston, TX.

ʼ66 Mavis McVeety, BA, MA ʼ71, died 2/28/2024 in Des Moines.

ʼ78 Ronald Oppedahl, BM, died 7/19/2022 in San Pedro, CA.