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The NIACC Foundation recently elected four North Iowans to its Board of Directors.  Philip Garland of Garner, LeAnn Hewitt of Ventura, Denise Kuhn of Charles City and Jack Nielsen of Mason City officially joined the NIACC Foundation Board at the December 2009 meeting.

Phillip Garland

Philip Garland of Garner has been an attorney for over 36 years.  The Creighton University graduate has been involved with the Garner-Hayfield Education Foundation, Hancock County Foundation and Garner Chamber of Commerce.  He has served as a Youth Investing Energy for Leadership Development (YIELD) mentor, religious education instructor, city attorney and attorney for several non-profit organizations.  Garland and his wife, Jody, have a daughter and three sons, including a NIACC graduate.

LeAnn Hewitt

LeAnn Hewitt of Ventura serves as a seventh grade and confirmation religious education instructor, a Clear Lake schools classroom volunteer, CARES post-prom chair and a Clear Lake High School dance team parent representative.  She is a graduate of the University of Iowa and has worked as a college assistant director of admission, a non-traditional student recruiter, a marketing and sales representative and a remedial reading and substitute teacher.  Hewitt and her husband, Mark, have three daughters.

Denise Kuhn

Denise Kuhn of Charles City is an orthodontic assistant for Dr. Robert Spencer and Dr. Chris Holahan and has managed and worked on a family farm since 1973.  The former House clerk at the Iowa State Capitol currently volunteers for the Democratic Party and has served in the Just Friends (Big Brother/Big Sister) program for five years, as a 4-H leader for 12 years, as a member of the Methodist Church circle and a mentor for confirmation students.  She and her husband, Mark, have two sons and four grandsons.

Jack Nielsen

Jack Nielsen of Mason City is retired from serving as a bank president and a realtor.  The University of Iowa graduate has also pursued graduate studies at the University of Wisconsin and the University of Oklahoma.  He’s a member of the Delta Sigma Pi, the University of Iowa legislative contact committee, the Rotary Club, the YMCA, First United Methodist Church, Mason City Community Theatre, Mason City Country Club and the North Iowa Community Auditorium.  Previously, Nielsen has participated in the Big Blue and NIACC auditorium campaigns through the NIACC Foundation and served as an officer or board member of the Mason City Development Association, the Mason City Chamber of Commerce, Easter Seal Society, North Iowa United Way, North Iowa Medical Center, Mercy Medical Center, Mason City Board of Appeals, Mason City Downtown Redevelopment Association, Cerro Gordo County Cancer Society, University of Iowa Alumni Association, Mohawk Booster Club and Mason City Youth Hockey Association.  Nielsen and his wife, Joyce, have two sons.

Other NIACC Foundation Board of Directors include Kristy Arzberger, Bill Cooney, Brad Davis, Pat Galasso, Barb Heilskov, Rosie Hussey, Bill Johnson, Karen Knudtson, Kevin Kolbet, Dan Latham, David Moore, Jim Niemants, Bob Olson, Ken Peterson, Cathy Rottinghaus and Dawn Southwick (president of the NIACC Alumni Association and ex-officio member of the Foundation Board).

Created in 1968 as a separate 501(c) 3 organization, the NIACC Foundation strives to keep higher education accessible to North Iowa residents through student scholarships and to enhance the programs and activities of the College.

The NIACC Foundation's mission is to support the College through scholarships, fundraising for special projects, grants for instructor education or other areas of need to help the College work toward its mission. If you have an interest in learning more about the NIACC Foundation or would like to see how you can help secure the future of the College and its excellence through a gift to the NIACC Foundation, please contact us at (641) 422-4386.

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