Current position: Senior Developer, American Express
Past leadership positions: KRUI General Manager
Class: 1994 B.A. Communication Studies

What lessons from your UI leadership position were most relevant to your career life after college?

I got a lot out of student organizations- as much as I did academics at the U of Iowa. Between KRUI, Hawkeye Marching Band, and the now defunct Hawkeye Yearbook- it was a great experience to apply myself to those groups.

When you are thrust into a leadership situation, by circumstance or sheer drive, make the most of it by having good solutions to solve problems and move things forward. If you make a mistake, own up to it and figure out how not to do it again. And always surround yourself with good people so the team can grow and work towards success.

I learned to expect the unexpected. What started as a simple mission to maintain good standing for our group with the University ended with rebuilding the station in another location and entering the digital age.

How did your student leadership position influence your career path?

It really taught me to push myself in what I was able to accomplish and learn. Had I run a radio station before, much less rebuilt one? No, I had not. I was really inspired by those who came before me and built on what I had learned from them.

Through KRUI I visited New York City a couple times for the College Music Journal Convention and realized that was where I wanted to go after Iowa.

If you could give current UI student leaders one piece of advice, what would it be?

Surround yourself with the best people you can and put them in a position to succeed. Listen to what the people in your organization have to say. Create a transparent environment that is accountable to University Administration. Get people talking about your organization. You are there for a brief period of time- make a positive change and have fun. When you have Dr. David Grady repeat the lyrics of Rapper’s Delight by the Sugarhill Gang to you- then you know you’re doing something right.