Staff & Board - Iowa Pride Network

iowapridenetwork staff

Ryan Roemerman, Executive Director

Ryan Roemerman graduated from the University of Iowa in 2005 with a BA in Communication Studies. While in college, Ryan co-founded Iowa Pride Network (IPN) and lead the effort to establish an LGBT Center on campus. Upon graduating from the UI, Ryan took the helm of IPN building it into a nationally recognized state organization.

Under Ryan’s leadership, IPN was instrumental in the passage of Iowa’s Safe School and amended Civil Rights laws, increasing the number of students protected from harassment and discrimination based on sexual orientation and/or gender identity; and has grown the number of GSA’s from under 20 in 2003 to over 100 today. IPN leadership development programs have gained national attention and serve to create the most politically astute, culturally competent LGBTA youth activists in the nation.

In addition to creating highly successful student programs, Ryan has authored the Iowa School and College Climate Surveys and newly developed “Safe School Certification Program”—a program that seeks to strengthen implementation of Iowa’s Safe Schools Law. The program, supported by the Iowa Department of Education and numerous state and non-profit agencies, is providing the standard framework for similar efforts nationwide.

Ryan was named Champion for Children in 2007 for his advocacy on behalf of Iowa’s children and youth, was named as The Advocate’s “Person to Know” and was recently featured in the University of Iowa’s “Be Remarkable” campaign that seeks to share the achievements of the people who shaped the University’s history.

http://www.uiowa.edu/be-remarkable/portfolio/people/roemerman-r.html

Dana Stuehling, Outreach Coordinator
Dana Stuehling is a 2011 graduate of Smith College in Northampton, MA where she studied Sociology focusing on race, gender and sexuality. During her tenure at Smith, she worked with Students for Social Justice and Institutional Change and co-chaired the working group, Queers and Allies; both groups focused on working for LGBT rights within the college community and at a national level.

Volunteering locally, Dana worked with Gay Straight Alliances (GSA) at several high schools and focused on empowering LGBT youth and collaborating with them to improve their learning environments; and at Safe Passage, a domestic violence shelter in Northampton. After working in both the shelter and office, she has become invested in anti-violence and anti-sexism work. She served on the Board of the Community Service Office at Smith, where she collaborated with many local agencies and planned and participated in a wide variety of projects and fundraisers -- including a barn raising! Since 2007, Dana has also worked with cultural bridges to justice™, a national consortium of anti-oppression trainers.

Through these connections she witnessed the impact that volunteering has on a community and strengthened her passion for social justice work. Personally, she has been examining her own biracial identity and recognizing the value and challenge of living in a culture that sees race as solely “black” and “white.” Dana is passionate about empowering youth and students in the fight for equality and she is thrilled to be serving as Outreach Coordinator.

iowapridenetwork volunteer support staff

Chris Knudson, Web Manager
Chris is the Web manager for the Iowa Pride Network. He is also the Director of Creative Strategy and lecturer at Wartburg College in Waverly. In addition to his design and technical responsibilities at the college, he also serves as a co-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.

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.

Dr. Lisa Gardner, Principal at Gardner Statistical Consulting and Associate Professor of Statistics and Undergraduate Assessment Coordinator for CBPA at Drake University

Interns

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
Briana McGeough, Brown University, Summer 2009
Tom Vance, Iowa State University, Fall 2009
Kylie Kinsey, Johnston Senior High School, Fall 2009/Spring 2010
Tierney Israel, Simpson College, Summer 2009

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, President
Director of Development and Communication, Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Mikel Johnson, Vice-President
Vice President, Simple Solutions in a Complex World
John Schmacker, Treasurer
Chief Financial Officer, Red Cross of Central Iowa
Maryfrances Evans, Secretary
Executive Director, The Iowa Radio Reading Information Service for the Blind and Print Handicapped, Inc.
Maura Strassberg, At-Large Member
Professor of Law at Drake University Law School, specializing in contracts, ethics, sexuality law, jurisprudence and health law.
Sarah Mowitz
Student and GSA President at Roosevelt High School/Central Academy
Sara Puffer
Student and GSA President at Cedar Rapids Linn-Mar High School
Allen Vander Linden
Community Leader
Thao Pham
Student and Executive Committee member for LGBTA Alliance at Iowa State University
Stephen Boatwright
Student at Des Moines Area Community College
Dennis Groenenboom
Community Leader
Rudy Simms
Executive Director of the Des Moines Human Rights Commission