about the network > staff

iowapridenetwork staff

Ryan Roemerman, Executive Director
Ryan co-founded the IPN and previously served as Director of Development from 2003-2005, while in college. Ryan graduated from the University of Iowa in 2005 with a BA in Communication Studies. Ryan has developed expertise in LGBT student issues and leadership development, having published the widely regarded 2005 and 2007 Iowa Pride Network School Climate Surveys which have been a crucial resource for the fight for safe school policies.  In addition, Ryan has instituted leadership development programs to empower students to initiate long-term societal change in Iowa. Ryan has presented at a number of state and national conferences on a range of topics including developing a state network, fundraising and developing LGBT youth leadership programs.

Rachel C. Johnson, Outreach Coordinator
Rachel received her B.A. in Electronic Media in 2007 from University of Northern Iowa. As Outreach Coordinator, Rachel has enhanced IPN’s LGBT youth leadership and organizing projects with the development of IPN’s Youth Council and Leadership Team and new organizing events.  Rachel has also broadened the network’s outreach—with an emphasis on Western Iowa—through the creation of three new Western GSA Coalitions and a planned Western Iowa Organizing Summit for rural LGBT youth Activists. Additionally, Rachel assisted in the creation of over 30 new GSAs last year alone. Rachel has presented at a number of state and national conferences on topics ranging from organizing for social change in rural communities to sustaining GSAs on high school and college campuses.

iowapridenetworkvolunteer support staff

Chris Knudson, Web Manager
Chris is the Web manager for the Iowa Pride Network. He is also the Web developer/manager at Wartburg College in Waverly. In addition to his design and technical responsibilities at the college, he also serves as the advisor to the Wartburg Alliance (gay-straight alliance), leads the Project RESPECT (Safe Zone) Committee, led the effort to create an LGBTA alumni affinity group for the college, and teaches as an adjunct in the art, communications and business departments on occasion. He also runs his own public relations, marketing, Web development and design consulting practice with clients throughout the U.S. He received his B.A. in Art and Communication at Wartburg College and his M.A. in public relations from the University of Northern Iowa.

Cyndi Wiley, Graphic Design and Web Support
Cyndi recently relocated from St. Louis to Des Moines with her partner, Jennifer, two boxer dogs and two house cats. After being fired from her job at a design firm in 1999 for being lesbian, she decided it was time to work from a grassroots level to educate the general public about LGBT issues. She volunteered for Pride St. Louis and Metropolitan Community Church, both organizations geared toward the LGBT community, fought through her own homophobia and marched in her first gay pride parade in 2002. A multi-tasker by default, she owns her design studio and also volunteers for Capital City Pride Des Moines performing a range of tasks including graphic design, branding, social media and web.

Dr. Peggy Fitch, Professor of Psychology, Central College
Dr. Fitch and her graduate assistants have assisted IPN for the past four years by providing technical assistance in compiling and data collection for the 2005 and 2007 IPN School Climate Surveys.
           
Leah Gjertson, Drake University Law School, Intern Summer 2006
Lauren Malone, Central College, Intern Summer 2007
Greg Gross, University of Iowa, Intern Summer 2008
Cristie Cole, Grandview College, Intern Fall 2008

iowapridenetwork board of directors

IPN’s Board of Directors is comprised of individuals whose backgrounds include working with diversity and LGBT issues.  IPN board, staff and volunteers are made up of both youth and adults who have experience in working with students and LGBT groups, developing leadership skills and creating comprehensive materials and programs that address student concerns and needs.

Andrea Fehring, IPN Board President
Associate Director for FutureNet, the Iowa Network for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention, Parenting and Sexual Health. 

Mikel Johnson, Vice-President
Vice President, Simple Solutions in a Complex World

Maura Strassberg, At-Large Member
Professor of Law at Drake University Law School, specializing in contracts, ethics, sexuality law, jurisprudence and health law.

Adam Helgeson
Student and GSA President at Johnston High School

Sara Puffer
Student and GSA President at Cedar Rapids Linn-Mar High School

Mark Daley
Political Consultant and owner of his own firm, Daley Solutions.

Lori Hodges
Producer, Open Road Films

Dennis Groenenboom
Community Leader

Rudy Simms
Executive Director of the Des Moines Human Rights Commission