The Women Who Inspire Us
At BVU, we observe the incredible contributions women have made–and continue to make–to affect the progress of our University. Use the hashtag #BVUwomen to recognize the women who made an impact on you!
The United States observes March as Women’s History Month. It has since 1987, the result of resolutions passed by Congress.
At BVU, we take the time to observe the incredible contributions women have made–and continue to make–to affect the progress of an educational institution founded in Storm Lake in 1891. Three of the original nine faculty members serving Buena Vista were women, as was the first BVU graduate, Jennie Gordon Hutchison, who earned her bachelor’s degree in 1893, some 127 years ago!
We’re interested in learning more about the women who inspired you at BVU. If you can, please take a few minutes to share your thoughts about a woman on social media, be it a BVU faculty member, staff member, or a coach, who had a significant impact on you as an undergraduate or graduate student. Use the hashtag #BVUwomen throughout the month of March.
And, enjoy the following from BVU graduates who share their thoughts on BVU women who inspired them.
Dr. Ashley Farmer-Hanson ’07, BVU assistant vice president of Student Success and director of Community Engagement: “The individual who influenced me most was Nichol (Hargrave) Kleespies ’96, director of Community Service. Nichol served as my advisor to Student MOVE, encouraged me to become an AmeriCorps member, and a part of the AWOL program. She pushed me to be a better leader, provided support I needed as a first-generation college student, and was one of the first people in my life who encouraged me to pursue a graduate program. I am incredibly grateful for her investment in me, and it was an honor to follow in her footsteps as director of Community Engagement. Today, Nichol is still a mentor to me, and I work very closely with her in her role at Iowa State University Extension.”
Dr. Marge (Bisenius) Clark ’96, family practice physician, Omaha: “Coach Janet Berry was a great example (and still is) of a woman that knew her job and knew it well, worked hard, and was dedicated and strong as she had to sort of trailblaze a path as, at the time, coaching was still kind of dominated by men.”
Amy (Best) Zeigler ’07, digital marketing manager, Iowa Economic Development Authority: “The two biggest influences on my time at BVU were Jamii Claiborne ’96 and Dr. Beth (Rygh) Lamoureux ’83. Not only were they both brilliant, inspiring professors, they challenged me to think beyond the status quo and think about how women have been perceived in media and in the workplace (really, most of my professors did, but these two walked the walk). They also gave me the confidence to push my own boundaries of what I wanted from my life after college.
“Beyond the classroom, they showed me that having a successful career and a family weren’t mutually exclusive. From Beth welcoming students into her home for ‘family dinners’ to watching Jamii’s girls crawl around the floor of Lage, they showed me that blending work and family could be achieved.”
Diane (Schmeling) Beisner, ’81, proposal consultant at ADP, LLC, in West Des Moines: “Two women come to mind: Diane (Gildemeister) Dykema ’74 and Dr. Sandra Madsen. During my tenure at Buena Vista College, I stayed in Storm Lake during the summers to work. I became involved in community theater and bowled in a women’s league with Dr. Sandra Madsen, whom I knew from the mass communications class I took as a freshman. She was demanding, but fun and fair to all. I was a bit intimidated the first few nights, but over time, I developed a great friendship with her. She taught me it’s important to take time for yourself and spend time with people who lift you up, great insight for my walk into adulthood and the working world.
“Diane Dykema worked in Career Planning & Placement. I remember many conversations with her regarding my search for a teaching job. She was always so positive and encouraging. I’ll never forget the phone call she made to me nearly a year after I graduated. She asked how things were going and if there was anything I encountered that BV had not prepared me for. Wow! That simple question has stayed with me for more than 35 years.”
Shelly (Barr) TerHark ’86, athletic director and hall of fame volleyball coach, Algona Community School District: “Coach Marge Willadsen was always about the team. She wasn’t bigger than the team. I might have been a little naïve, but I felt Marge was always learning, and she learned a lot from her players. Marge had a team philosophy, but she always listened to her captains and the top players on the team to keep the team improving and moving in the right direction. She helped inspire me to become what I am today, as a coach, an athletic director, and as a whole person.”
Katie (Watson) Schwint ’98, Executive Director of Community Development, Buena Vista Regional Medical Center: “Dr. Beth (Rygh) Lamoureux ’83 was my professor for Interviewing class. While she had high expectations, she was always willing to help you out in and out of class. I still use my notes for that class before I go into a major interview. I also remember during my time she had two small children and she was a great example for me on how to handle a career and being a mom.”
“Dr. Mary Gill, professor of communication studies, program director for organizational leadership, was my advisor during my junior and senior years. I was uncertain what I wanted to do after graduation, but she helped me focus on areas I really enjoyed, which has helped me in my career to find meaningful work I enjoy. What I really appreciate about Mary is that she will never tell you what to do, but will ask you the questions that help you find the answers you seek.”
Hannah Appleseth ’18, student, University of Minnesota-Duluth Psychological Science Master’s program: “Dr. Wind Goodfriend ’98, BVU professor of psychology and division chair of social sciences, has a way of teaching that captivates everyone in the room and makes it easy to retain information. With her qualifications, she could teach at any university she wanted to. The fact that she chooses to stay at BVU displays how much she cares about connecting with the students and making a meaningful impact on their lives. Wind does important research that emphasizes equality and social justice, and is an inspiration to all, especially young feminists. As a female pursuing a graduate degree in the psychology field, I feel very fortunate to have a mentor like Dr. Goodfriend to help me clarify my path and display all the things female professionals can accomplish in our field.”