Member Bios
Dr. Michael Richards of West Des Moines brings a broad knowledge of business management and medical integration to the Board of Regents. Until his retirement in 2017, he was managing partner of Quatro Composites, a company specializing in manufacturing carbon composite equipment for the aerospace and medical industries. He also...
Regent Patty Cownie of Des Moines has been an active public servant in a large variety of central Iowa community initiatives for many years. She has served on the Board of Directors for a number of community organizations including the Des Moines Opera, St. Augustin Foundation, Mercy Hospital Foundation, Des...
David Barker is a partner in Barker Companies, which owns, manages and develops apartments and other real estate. He also has been an adjunct professor at the University of Iowa and the University of Chicago, teaching real estate investment, urban economics and corporate finance. Barker has published articles in academic...
Regent Sherry Bates of Scranton spent her career as a social worker in Greene County. This included more than 20 years with the Greene County Medical Center in Jefferson and several years with the Iowa Department of Human Services. Regent Bates is actively involved in her community through her service...
Nancy Boettger, a retired farmer and educator, has had a long and distinguished career in service to education. In addition to her five years as a teacher, she served as director of education and resource development at Myrtue Memorial Hospital in Harlan, Iowa, for 12 years. Additionally, Boettger served for...
Milt Dakovich of Waterloo is president of Aspro, Inc., an asphalt paving company based in Waterloo. With his professional and educational experience, he brings to the Board of Regents a strong background in construction. After growing up in Des Moines, he earned his B.S. from Iowa State University in both...
Former state legislator Nancy Dunkel spent a long and distinguished career in banking before retiring. Dunkel is currently the Executive Director of the Dyersville Area Community Foundation. She served in the Iowa House of Representatives from 2013-2016. Dunkel has received numerous professional accolades, including receiving the James A. Leach Leadership...
Zack Leist, a student at Iowa State University, was appointed to the Board of Regents, State of Iowa by Governor Kim Reynolds on June 3, 2019. Leist is majoring in agricultural business, international agriculture and economics, with a minor in agronomy. He is involved in a wide-variety of activities at...
Dr. Jim Lindenmayer of Ottumwa has spent nearly 40 years as a higher education professional, culminating in him serving 12 years as president of Indian Hills Community College. During his career, he worked in the areas of admissions, financial aid, community education, and human resources. IHCC experienced impressive growth while...