Involvement in University of Iowa Student Government is a high-impact practice, with significant responsibility, interaction with regents and university executives, and decisions that impact the current and future student experience. 

To ensure the lessons of past student leaders flow to the current generation, Student Life began hosting visits of returning student government leaders several years ago, and the practice is now a highly anticipated tradition.

In March 2026, University of Iowa student government representatives and other student leaders connected with alumni whose experiences demonstrated the long-term impact of campus leadership. The panel included Lindsay Crittendon, a former UI Student Government president and now Chief Revenue Officer at Tailorbird, whose Iowa experience helped launch a career in consulting, technology, and AI-enabled business growth. Lyndsay Harshman, a former Graduate and Professional Student Government president, shared a path rooted in student leadership, medicine, and research; she now serves as an associate professor of pediatrics and medical director of the Pediatric Kidney Transplant Program at UI Health Care.

Students also heard from Connor Gronski, a Tippie graduate and commercial banker at J.P. Morgan, who continues to support students through alumni mentorship and fundraising for UISG Affinity Groups. Kotheid Nicoue, who served as Undergraduate Student Government executive officer and first diversity liaison, spoke from his experience in global social impact work and leadership development as a director at Rippleworks. Peter McElligott, a former University of Iowa Student Government president, brought perspective from his role as General Counsel at Stagwell Inc., where he oversees legal matters for a global organization.

The experience enables current student leaders to see the broader value of the work they are doing now. Student government and campus leadership often involve complex issues, competing priorities, and decisions that require collaboration, judgment, and persistence. Hearing from alumni who once held similar roles helped students understand that these experiences can become the foundation for professional confidence, civic responsibility, and long-term leadership. Students could also schedule individual time with former student leaders while they were on campus to discuss their own leadership journeys, ask questions, and receive advice.

The group also presented to the Student Success Team, which brings together faculty and staff from across campus. The presentation gave attendees an opportunity to hear alumni reflections on the high-impact experiences and relationships that made a difference during their time at Iowa. A welcome dinner included deans and faculty who were pivotal influences for the returning alumni, demonstrating the web of significant relationships supporting a student during their time at Iowa.

The events strengthen a sense of continuity within student leadership at Iowa. Current student leaders are reminded that they are part of a larger Hawkeye tradition shaped by service, advocacy, and commitment to community. By connecting past and present leaders, the experience helped students see how the relationships, challenges, and responsibilities they take on today can continue to influence their lives well beyond graduation.

Finally, this event reflected the broader purpose of the newly created University of Iowa Student Government Alumni Board, which works to connect alumni with current student leaders through mentorship, expertise, networking, and support for student-led initiatives. Through these ongoing relationships, alumni help strengthen the legacy of student government while investing in the students who continue to shape campus life at Iowa.