BVU Alumnae Laud Faculty While Sharing Career, Life Advice
Gender and Women’s Studies Program Hosts Panel as Part of Women’s History Month
Buena Vista University’s Gender and Women’s Studies Program capped off a busy Women’s History Month with a “BVU Alumnae Making History” panel discussion featuring the following graduates:
- Sarah Mackey, a 2018 graduate who works as a Solidity Engineer with Element Finance. Mackey represented the School of Science.
- Lindsay (Zieg) Knoop, a 2006 graduate who serves as Senior Vice President, Administration, with Hy-Vee, Inc. Knoop represented the Siebens School of Business.
- Makensie (Brown) López, a 2014 graduate who works as Digital Media Specialist for Wildlands Network. Brown represented the School of Liberal Arts.
- Lia (Schulte) Hearte, a 2014 graduate who serves as a Consultant Content Specialist at Orion Advisor Technology. Hearte represents the School of Education.
The panel was moderated by Dr. Wind Goodfriend ’98, BVU Professor of Psychology and Director of the Gender & Women’s Studies program at BVU. The event was made possible by BVU graduates Laura (Grandstaff) Horn ’73, a former BVU Trustee, and her husband Hasty Horn ’71.
Graduates started the program by answering this question provided by students in a crowd of more than 100: “Is this the job you’ve always imagined for yourself?”
“This isn’t where I pictured myself,” said Knoop, who has worked for Hy-Vee, Inc., since before her graduation from BVU. “I majored in accounting and management at BVU and worked in accounting for years. The CEO approached me to take on this role in administration, which doesn’t have a lot to do with accounting right now.”
Knoop went on to say that even though she doubted her ability to meet the challenges of a Senior Vice President role, her coworkers and managers within the corporation never doubted her. “The only underestimating has been on my part,” she said. “My leaders at Hy-Vee, and many of them are males, have never told me I’m not capable.”
Hearte emerged from BVU as a teacher and thought that would be her career through retirement. Following teaching stints at Storm Lake High School and in Beijing, China, Hearte embarked on a teaching role in a refugee camp, a route that was sidetracked shortly before she was to begin.
“The universe threw me for a loop and left me without a teaching job in the fall,” she said. “So, I worked as a nanny for a bit and then networked to find my current role, which has very much helped me identify and strengthen talents I had, but I didn’t know I could make into a career. It showed me that your major might not be where you end up in for a career.”
López had never considered working for a nonprofit. However, she moved to Guatemala following graduation and served as a Communications Specialist for Habitat for Humanity. She has remained in the nonprofit world, and currently works in the conservation arena.
“Listen to what the universe tells you,” López said. “I had two majors at BVU, but so many other experiences I gained have allowed me to wear many hats. I don’t see myself leaving the nonprofit world.”
Mackey laughed and shared how she didn’t want to study technology. Following the cool internship experiences she had at BVU—and the fact she added a computer science major to her math major—Mackey now finds herself working as a Solidity Engineer. Mackey mentioned Ben Donath (then Dean of the School of Science and Associate Professor of Mathematics) as the person who changed her life in ways she couldn’t have imagined.
“Ben Donath seriously opened doors for me,” said Mackey, who, in her career has often been the only woman and the only person of color in a room of engineers working to solve complex problems. “I came to learn at BVU that if you can teach a girl to look in the mirror and she’s really excited about who she is, she can do it for a lifetime.”
Knoop lauded the work of former Professors Dr. Margaret Redenbaugh (Associate Professor Emeritus of Accounting) and Dr. Wayne Higley (Professor Emeritus of Accounting) for challenging her with difficult tasks in her classes. “I was also incredibly involved in co-curricular activities, which is how you get connected and learn to work with people who might not be just like you,” she said.
Hearte cited current BVU faculty and staff members in Goodfriend; Dr. Annamaria Formichella, Professor of English; Dr. Callè Friesen, Associate Professor of Education, Literacy and Early Childhood Education; and Donna (Salton) Musel ’88, Director of the Center for Academic Excellence, as well as others who played important roles for her. She praised Dr. Hollace Drake, who served as Professor of English at the time, as well.
“It was cool for me to see what women could be and accomplish when they are unapologetically, authentically themselves, and to be supported by all these women,” Hearte said. “I can’t say enough good things about my time here.”
“I studied abroad in Spain and went to Nepal on a fellowship,” Lopez said. “I wouldn’t have been able to have those experiences without Jamii Claiborne and Dr. Steven Mills (Associate Professor of Spanish), who pushed us as students and made us speak Spanish even though it was uncomfortable. I also need to mention all the wonderful staff at BVU, too.”
The four graduates also advised students to connect with others, to travel, to take on tasks outside one’s comfort zone.
“Find a mentor who loves you, someone who will be your biggest cheerleader,” Hearte said.
“Keep in mind the power of positivity,” Knoop concluded. “See what people’s strengths are, as opposed to their weaknesses.”
“Strive to have an equal and inclusive place,” said López. “And learn more about yourself.”
Mackey smiled and offered this tip: “One of my New Year’s resolutions a few years ago was to wink more often. Try to give at least one wink per day. Everyone, wink more often!”