Iowa Pride Network Staff
Ryan Roemerman, Director
Ryan co-founded the Iowa Pride Network 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 lesbian gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) student issues and leadership development, having published the widely regarded Iowa Pride Network “School Climate Survey” and “Straight Student Ally Report”. These reports assessed—for the first time ever—the level of homophobia, racism and gender-bias in Iowa schools. These reports have helped to educate the public about the need for safe schools, and have been a crucial resource for the fight for safe school policies.

In addition, Ryan has conducted dozens of on-site high school and college support visits, more than doubled the number of Gay-Straight Alliances in the state, and has instituted leadership development programs to empower students to initiate long-term societal change in Iowa. These programs include regional GSA Coalitions, a statewide College Coalition and numerous conferences, leadership institutes and organizing projects.

Recently, Ryan’s efforts as an undergrad to create an LGBT Center at the University of Iowa paid off; the center opened its doors in fall 2006. Currently, Ryan is the Director of the Iowa Pride Network and serves as a Board Member for the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa.

Rachel C. Johnson, Outreach Coordinator
Rachel received her B.A. in Electronic Media in 2007 from University of Northern Iowa, where she also served as President of the university’s Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) for over three years. As an undergrad, Johnson presented at a number of state and regional conferences on topics ranging from organizing for social change to sustaining GSAs on high school and college campuses.

As Outreach Coordinator. Rachel is responsible for enhancing Iowa Pride Network’s LGBT youth leadership and organizing projects and broadening the network’s outreach, with an emphasis on Western Iowa. As an active student member of the Network since it’s inception in 2003, Rachel is an excellent example of the incredible impact the organization has had on LGBT youth and the opportunities it provides.

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.

Volunteers
Student and community volunteers have also donated time helping with programming and fundraising events. In addition, a professor of psychology and students at Central College helped compile data from our 2004-2005 School Climate Survey.

Board of Directors

Maura Strassberg, Chair
Maura is a Professor of Law at Drake University Law School, specializing in contracts, ethics, sexuality law, jurisprudence and health law.

Andrea Fehring, Vice Chair
Andrea is the Research, Evaluation, and Social Reporting Director at United Way of Central Iowa. Formerly, Andrea has worked as the Associate Director of the National Consumer Protection Technical Resource Center where she served as a TA provider to 57 national projects in volunteer development, consumer protection, and cultural competency.

Rich Eychaner, Treasurer
Rich is a Des Moines business and community leader. He has founded and operated a variety of businesses in Iowa since 1975. Rich’s private foundation underwrites the Matthew Shepard Scholarships

Mike Simonson, Fundraising Chair
Mike is an Architect and Des Moines community leader who serves on a variety of boards while managing his own firm, Simonson and Associates.

Brad Clark, Secretary
Brad serves as Executive Director for the GLBT Youth in Iowa Schools Task Force, which is a coalition of educators, civil rights and GLBT advocates, in partnership with the Iowa Civil Rights Commission.

Diane Finnerty
Diane is Director of Training at the National Resource Center for Family Centered Practice. In this position, Diane develops and coordinates educational programs for non-profit, business, and social service organizations throughout the United States. Since 1981 she has consulted with organizations on issues of cultural competence and organizational development.

Joe Freund
Joe is a Des Moines family practice physician, with special interests in wellness, preventative medicine and LGBT healthcare. Dr. Freund is also working on a project with the Planned Parenthood of Greater Iowa on LGBT patient care.

Dennis Groenenboom
Dennis is the Executive Director of Iowa Legal Aid, a nonprofit organization that provides critical assistance to low-income Iowans. His organization along with volunteer attorneys helped over 48,000 Iowans last year.

Linda Bendorf
Linda is part-time faculty for the University of Iowa Summer Writing Festival where she has taught for over 14 years. Linda has also served as Development Director for the Hospice of Iowa City and, most notably she was Co-Chair of the Preucil School Capital Campaign raising over 2.7 million dollars. Her daughter was a 2004 Matthew Shepard Scholar. She and her husband, Carl, recently moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Rudy Simms
For many years Rudy served as the NCCJ (National Conference for Community and Justice) Executive Director in Iowa. Rudy now serves as a diversity consultant and is active in a variety of community projects.

Matt O’Neal
Matt is an Assistant Professor of Entomology at Iowa State University. Matt is also the foster parent of a 2005 Honorary Matthew Shepard Scholar.

Mark Daley
Mark is the former communications director for the Iowa Democratic Party. He now operates his own political consulting firm, Daley Solutions.