Meet the Alumni Association Board of Directors

UIU Class of 1975
Business Administration/Sociology  / Fayette Campus
Storm Lake, Iowa

Jeff was active on UIU’s campus as a resident hall advisor, Acacia Fraternity officer, Judicial Dorm Council member and Class President. After graduation, Jeff worked in the UIU Admissions office for several years and went on to earn a Master’s degree in Education from the University of Northern Iowa.

Jeff is now semi-retired after 30 years as a Senior Energy Advisor with PQL. He and his wife, Janis, (E74) split their time between Storm Lake, IA and Greeley, CO. Jeff is the current president of UIU Alumni Association Board.

Send him an email: [email protected] 

UIU Class of 1977
Business Administration  / Fayette Campus
Johnston, Iowa

Bob held a variety of offices as a member of Acacia Fraternity. He was also a Residence Hall Advisor and Head Resident. After graduation, he worked as an Admissions representative for UIU. He went on to earn his MBA from Northern Illinois University and spent 38 years in the Human Resources field. He is now retired, living in Johnston, Iowa.

Send him an email: [email protected] 

UIU Class of 2003
Athletic Training  / Fayette Campus
Miami, Florida

Daniel is a former Peacock wrestler, member of Sigma Alpha Tau and the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, and was honored as UIU Homecoming king during his senior year. Currently, he works at Baptist Health Hospital as an orthopedic outreach/certified athletic trainer in Miami, Florida.

Send him an email: [email protected] 

UIU Class of 1977
Biology  / Fayette Campus
Scottsdale, Arizona

Jeanne is a Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) graduate of Upper Iowa University and Allen Memorial Hospital School of Medical Technology with a Bachelor of Science in Biology, Chemistry, and Medical Technology. She holds a Master of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College (2000), and PhD in Public Administration from North Central University (2008). During her 30 years of service as a Medical Service Corps and multifunctional logisitician, COL Blaes served overseas, as well as stateside. From 1991 to 2007, she held positions of increasing responsibility in both medical and logistics units and Commands, which culminated in her being assigned as the first female Chief of Staff for the AZ Army National Guard. Her last medical assignment was as the Commander for the AZ Medical Command. Following military retirement in 2007, COL Blaes was employed as a State of Arizona employee, holding the position of Deputy Construction and Facilities Management Officer for the AZ Army National Guard. She retired from this position in 2015.

Dr. Blaes has been the President of the AZ Territorial Chapter of the Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA) since 2013 and is a long-time member of AUSA’s National Reserve Component Advisory Committee; now sitting as a senior advisor to the RCAC. She is, also, a member of the ASU ROTC Advisory Council, is the Commander for the Phoenix Chapter of the Military Officers of the World Wars (MOWW), and Chief Financial Officer for the Arizona Youth Leadership, Inc – a non-profit that supports the MOWW annual AZ Youth Leadership Conference (AZYLC). Dr. Blaes is a Class of 2016 inductee into the AZ Veterans Hall of Fame (AVHOF) and is a member of the Unified AZ Veterans (UAV). Her other VSO memberships include: MOAA (life member), NAGUS (life member), EANGUS, WACVA-Chapter 68, and AAAA. She has been a Board member and Council Secretary for the Scottsdale United Methodist Church since 2019 and their Foundation Treasurer since 2021.

Jeanne lives in Scottsdale, AZ and cherishes time with her family of two sons, daughter-in-law and two grandchildren. In her free time, she loves to paint, hike, and rockhound.

Send her an email: [email protected] 

UIU Classes of 2016 & 2018
Business Management & Master of  Business Administration / UIU-Cedar Rapids
Iowa City, Iowa

Danny is a two time graduate of Upper Iowa University: 2016 with a BS in Business Management and in 2018 with an MBA in Business Administration. Since graduating, Danny has started a new business with two other partners called AJA Estate Services, LLC in Iowa City, Iowa. The business is just starting into its 5th year. Danny also served on the UIU Alumni Association Board of Directors for 5 years and was the past Alumni President.

Send him an email: [email protected] 

UIU Class of 1969
Art / Fayette Campus
Elkader, Iowa

Tom is a proud member of the Alumni Association board and past vice president. This accomplished Iowa artist has 45 years of teaching experience. While a student, he was awarded the Thomas Baldwin Art Award. He has since recruited many students to Upper Iowa and works closely with UIU student teachers. His wife, Mary, is also a UIU grad – class of 1970.

Send him an email: [email protected] 

UIU Class of 2015 & 2018
English and Master of Higher Education Administration / Fayette Campus
Hurricane, Utah

An Iowan and double graduate from UIU, Tiffany now lives in Southern Utah, serving as a Director of Development for the Zion Forever Project – the non-profit partner for Zion National Park and other regional public lands.

Send her an email: [email protected] 

UIU Class of 1978
Biology  / Fayette Campus
Saint Paul, Minnesota

When I’m not hanging out with my Peacock friends, I enjoy art shows, live music and hiking. I am a huge Upper Iowa sports fan, especially wrestling but also football and basketball and can often be found yelling at my computer screen while live streaming athletic events. It has been my pleasure to serve on the Alumni Association Board for over 10 years.

Send her an email: [email protected] 

UIU Class of 1975
History & Political Science / Fayette Campus
Solon, Iowa

I never took one business class while at UIU and I have spent the last 47 years in the Financial Services and Insurance field learning the business world. I have been involved very heavily in a number of associations in my field which have given me the opportunity to hold numerous local, state and National leadership positions.  My family is always number one but I also enjoy the outdoors, especially hunting and fishing.

Send him an email: [email protected] 

UIU Class of 1974
Elementary Education / Fayette Campus
Cedar Falls, Iowa

I graduated from Upper Iowa in December, 1973, officially a graduate of 1974. I began teaching at Fayette Elementary in November, 1973, with a temporary certificate. From there, my wife Mary and I moved back to New Hampton where I taught 5th grade for 3 years. In May of 1977, I began working at Peoples Mutual Savings and Loan. I worked there until September, 1990, when I began my official banking career at First National Bank. I spent 15 years there when we made the move to Cedar Falls. I worked in the Cedar Valley for the remainder of my employment, concluding it at State Bank in Waverly from 2012 – 2018, when I officially retired.

I officiated high school wrestling for 38 years and college for 31 years. I have been inducted into numerous Halls of Fame including New Hampton High School, Upper Iowa University, the IHSAA, and a lifetime service award to wrestling from the National Wrestling Hall of Fame In Stillwater, OK. I stay busy in retirement with wrestling activities and golf. Mary and I are proud parents of two beautiful daughters, Nicole [Bryce] Heth and Emily Roths. We are also lucky enough to have 2 grandsons, Jaxon and Aiden Heth, who love to beat me in golf, which has become very regularly.

Send him an email: [email protected] 

UIU Classes of 2014 & 2016
BA of Human Services & Master of Public Administration / UIU-Waterloo and Online
Waterloo, Iowa

I returned to school at age 40 and am a proud UIU two-time graduate. I also received my Master of Psychology from GCU in 2018. I’m a member of Phi Theta Kappa Iowa Region Alumni Association, was a member of the All-Iowa Academic Team, and received the Pearson Prize National Fellowship. Since graduating I’ve been an Adjunct Instructor for both UIU and GCU. I’ve worked for the State of Iowa for 16 years and am currently a Public Service Supervisor with the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services. I served on the Alumni Board at the Waterloo Center, served as a member of the Alumni Association Board for 5 years, and is a member of the UIU Heritage Society.

Send her an email: [email protected] 

UIU Class of 2002
Elementary Education  / Fayette Campus
Ankeny, Iowa

I earned my elementary education degree in 2002. While on Fayette Campus, I played softball and volleyball, ran women’s track, and was a member of EYE Sorority. I am currently a peak performer for Optavise, representing Washington National. My husband, Ben Buchan ’99, and I have four children and reside in Ankeny, Iowa. My best ability is to build relationships. Without a doubt, this is a skill that everyone notices about me. I always meet people on their level and always make time for people. Being involved in countless academic activities and playing on the UIU volleyball and softball teams enabled me to build a huge Peacock network that spans the world.

Send her an email: [email protected] 

UIU Class of 1977
Business Administration, Mathematics, Speech / Fayette Campus
Clive, Iowa

I enjoyed a 34 year career with John Deere. In retirement, I enjoy my family, especially my grandchildren, as well as traveling, fishing, and hunting. I attend and support as many UIU events and activities as I can.

Send him an email: [email protected]