Philanthropy Talks Video Archive


Each spring and fall, an Iowa alum or friend returns to the University of Iowa to share their story about how they give back and empower others. These programs inspire students and the broader campus community to incorporate philanthropy into their lives. Learn about other student philanthropy opportunities available on campus.

Hawkeyes Give Back: Children's Medicine Champion Featuring Jerre Stead

Jerre Stead (65BBA, 11LHD) is a visionary business leader whose transformational support helped build University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital. Learn about how he and his family are connected to the Hawkeye Wave and give back through philanthropy, volunteering, and leadership.

Hawkeyes Give Back: Combating Climate Change

Through research, education, and advocacy, Hawkeyes are responding to a growing environmental crisis. Watch the video of this previously recorded virtual event to hear how University of Iowa professors Gregory Carmichael and Jerald Schnoor are giving back to combat climate change.

Hawkeyes Give Back: Philanthropy for Social Change

Hear how community engagement manager Brett Burk (14BA), social impact executive Jonathan Chaparro (08BA), underserved populations program supervisor RaQuishia Harrington (05BS), and political activist and writer Stacey Walker (10BA) are using philanthropy for social change.

Fran and Margaret McCaffery

Iowa men’s basketball coach Fran McCaffery and his wife, Margaret, want to help find a cure for cancer. Learn more about their work with the American Cancer Society and Coaches vs. Cancer—and their role in creating a new cancer center for adolescents and young adults at Iowa. Watch their fall 2019 lecture.

Dave Dierks

Dave Dierks (70BA) is one of the most influential members of Iowa’s philanthropy community. Dierks began his career at the University of Iowa Foundation (now the University of Iowa Center for Advancement), where he has worked to garner support for Iowa for more than 45 years. Watch his spring 2019 lecture.

Kathy Dore

Media industry innovator Kathy Dore (72BA, 84MBA) is the senior advisor of vision and strategy for consulting firm Proteus Inc. Dore previously served as president of broadcasting at Canwest Media and president of entertainment networks for Rainbow Media, overseeing cable networks AMC, IFC, WE, and Bravo. She is vice chair for University of Iowa Center for Advancement Board of Directors and has given back to the University of Iowa’s Department of Communication Studies and the Henry B. Tippie College of Business. Watch her fall 2018 lecture.

Mark Kaufman

Entrepreneur and philanthropist Mark Kaufman (86BS) is the founder and president/CEO of Athletico, one of the largest physical therapy franchises in the nation. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Athletic Training and Physical Education from the University of Iowa in 1986. After earning secondary degrees from the University of Arizona and Northwestern University, Mark opened the first Athletico clinic in August 1991. Watch his spring 2018 lecture.

Andy Code

Entrepreneur Andy Code (80BBA, 81MBA) is the founder and chairman of Promus Capital and Promus Equity Partners, a multifamily office created in 2008, with a concentration in alternative assets such as private equity, impact investing, hedge funds, managed futures, and real estate. He also established CHS Capital—a $2.9 billion private equity fund—in 1988 and was a partner there for 24 years. Watch his fall 2017 lecture.

Sheri Salata

Media powerhouse Sheri Salata (80BBA) is the former executive producer of The Oprah Winfrey Show and the former president of Harpo Studios and the Oprah Winfrey Network. Salata’s latest professional venture is the launching of STORY, a media company that produces print, television, film, and digital content. Watch her spring 2017 lecture.

Ted Waitt

Sioux City native Ted Waitt (17LHD) is the founder and chairman of the Waitt Foundation. At 22, he co-founded Gateway 2000 Inc., where he helped revolutionize the direct marketing of personal computers, and he became a Fortune 500 CEO and member of the Forbes 400 by the time he was 30. Since his retirement from Gateway in 2004, he has gone on to form multiple business and philanthropic enterprises. Watch his talk from fall 2016.

P. Sue Beckwith, M.D.

Renowned physician and philanthropist P. Sue Beckwith (80BS, 84MD, 15MBA) shared her personal and professional journey and spoke about why she is deeply committed to supporting the University of Iowa. Watch her talk from spring 2016.

John Pappajohn

John Pappajohn (52BSC, 10LHD) is a leading philanthropist and nationally celebrated entrepreneur and business leader. He and his wife, Mary, have contributed millions of dollars to state, educational, and fine-arts endeavors in Iowa and beyond. Among the Pappajohns’ many significant Iowa contributions include naming gifts for the Pappajohn Business Building, the Pappajohn Pavilion at University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics, the John and Mary Pappajohn Clinical Cancer Center, the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center, and the Pappajohn Biomedical Institute in the John and Mary Pappajohn Biomedical Discovery Building. Watch his fall 2015 talk.

Jerre Stead

Jerre Stead (65BBA) is a visionary business leader who has enjoyed a long and illustrious career leading high-tech and information companies. A native of Maquoketa, Iowa, he started out in the business world with the Honeywell Corporation and, during his 21 years with the company, rose from production control planner to head of the firm’s Homes and Buildings Worldwide group. In 1987, Stead left Honeywell for the Square D Company, where he ultimately became chairman, president, and CEO. Watch his spring 2015 lecture.

Henry B. Tippie

Henry B. Tippie (49BSC, 09LHD) is one of the University of Iowa’s most accomplished and generous alumni. Throughout the years, he and his wife, Patricia, have supported important university programs and made a tremendous impact on the university, its students, and faculty. In 1999, in recognition of the Tippies’ visionary giving, Iowa renamed its business college the Henry B. Tippie College of Business. Watch his spring 2014 lecture.

Janice Ellig

Janice Ellig (68BBA) is the co-CEO of Chadick Ellig Executive Search Advisors in New York City and co-author of two books. She also serves as chair of the University of Iowa Center for Advancement Board of Directors. Watch her spring 2013 talk.

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Five months into a global pandemic, Michelle Niermann, president and CEO of UnityPoint Health in Cedar Rapids, was hit with a second obstacle: a derecho. Niermann discusses how she helped navigate UnityPoint through a unique year. Michelle Niermann It was a challenging 2020 for Michelle Niermann (94MA), president and CEO of UnityPoint Health in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Not only did Niermann lead her organization through the COVID-19 pandemic, but she and her team had to navigate a natural disaster that hit Iowa, and Cedar Rapids, especially hard. We caught up with Niermann to discuss the past year, her time at Iowa, and the future of health care administration. What has been the greatest challenge you and your organization have faced during the COVID-19 pandemic? Niermann: In the beginning, the greatest challenge was working through uncertainty and fear. ? We've been through some natural disasters and went through another mid-pandemic with the derecho that devastated Cedar Rapids and many other Iowa communities in August. There is something of a course to those. You may or may not know it's coming, but you know the weather event itself will be time limited. You know that facilities will be damaged, and utilities and communication systems may be unreliable. You've likely planned for some or all of those things. None of us have ever experienced a yearlong global pandemic. Not only was it difficult to try and prepare, but we also saw something in our team members we'd almost never seen before: fear. They were afraid about how we would be able to care for all those we might need to care for, but they were also afraid for themselves and those they love. It took constant learning, constant adjustment, and constant communication to ensure we were doing everything we needed to do to keep our team members and our patients safe. Over time, the greatest challenge became supporting the wellbeing of our team members as they became increasingly fatigued and increasingly disappointed by the losses we experienced. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed everyone's lives. What is a lesson you have learned during the past year? Niermann: I knew it already, but the year most definitely reminded me that health care team members are amazing. Where would we be as communities and as a society if not for people who give of themselves to serve others? I could not be prouder of how our team cared for our patients and our community?and one another?throughout the pandemic, as well the derecho and its aftermath. I was also reminded of how important it is to always cultivate a good workplace environment. Starting with a basis of trust makes communication during difficult times much easier and more effective. Starting with a shared commitment to a deeply held mission and values keeps you focused on the right things and on caring for one another even when circumstances make it tough to be at your best. What drew you to the Master of Health Administration program at Iowa? Niermann: In the latter part of my undergraduate career, I realized the fields of study I had chosen weren't going to lead me to a fulfilling career. Without a clear aim, I started looking at graduate degree options, and when I discovered there was such a thing as a master in health care administration degree, I knew immediately that I had found my match. I was thrilled by the prospect of developing business and, more importantly, leadership skills that I could put to good use in a mission-driven field. I looked at several excellent graduate programs and found Iowa to be the best fit and the best value. It was without question the best decision and best investment in my career I could have possibly made. What would you want a student considering a future career in health care administration to know about the field today and where it is headed in the future? Niermann: It's hard to know where health care is headed in the future. The pandemic has made still more evident the systemic issues which underlie health care disparity. Hopefully what we've witnessed will be a catalyst for significant change. As far as health care accessibility and affordability go, though, it's very difficult to see through to comprehensive reform. That being said, it's an incredible field. It's a team sport?it takes every player, every day. It's full of opportunities to improve and to grow how we serve our patients and our communities. And it has meaning. Our teams serve people in their most vulnerable, their most joyous, and their most difficult moments. It's an honor and a privilege to do so.

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