Kurt Tjaden

Kurt Tjaden, a long-time executive with numerous international corporate positions, brings more than 35 years of business experience to the Board of Regents.

Tjaden retired in 2022 from HNI Corporation after nearly 15 years with the company, concluding with  a five-year stint as President-International. Tjaden has been active with Iowa State University, serving on the Alumni Association Board of Directors and most recently as the Acting Alumni Association’s Lora and Russ Talbot President and CEO.  He currently serves on the ISU Foundation Board of Directors and the Ivy College of Business Deans Advisory Council.  He has previously taught in the Ivy College of Business as a professor of practice.

Originally from Charles City and more recently from Bettendorf, Tjaden graduated from Iowa State in 1985 with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Pepperdine University in 1990. He was appointed to the Board on March 12, 2025 by Governor Reynolds, with his term beginning May 1, 2025. His term expires April 30, 2031.

Appointed: 2025
Term Expires: 2031