For Immediate Release
Contact: Amy Day
Tel: 515.271.0344 (o)
515.612.0775 (c)
aday@desmoinesartcenter.org

DES MOINES, IOWA (January 2025) – The Des Moines Art Center is pleased to announce the addition of four distinguished members to the Board of Trustees who each began a three-year term in January of this year. The newest members of the board are Anne F. Harris, Jo Christine Miles, Chris Nelson, and Dr. Ian Roberts. In addition, the Art Center welcomed four other exceptional trustees between 2023 and 2024, including Eva Anderson, Laura Creighton, Tim Hickman, and Mike Simonson.

Eva Anderson and her family moved to Des Moines from Chicago where she was a fashion designer and boutique owner. An energetic ambassador of the Art Center, Anderson is a member of the Des Moines Art Center’s Development and Membership Committee and co-chaired the Art Center’s 2024 gala.

Laura Creighton is Vice President of Non-Insurance Operations at Berkshire Hathaway Energy. Previously, she was the Senior Director of Business Analysis at MidAmerican Energy. Creighton’s experience includes roles at CBS Corporation, where she served as the Director of Corporate Development and in Investor Relations.

Anne F. Harris is President of Grinnell College, in Grinnell, Iowa. A member of the NCAA Division III Chancellors/Presidents Advisory Group and the Midwest Conference Executive Committee, Harris also serves on the Board of Trustees for the College of the Holy Cross, the Public Relations and Policy Review Committee of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, and the Executive Committee of the Associated Colleges of the Midwest.

Principal at Substance Architecture, Tim Hickman has over 30 years of experience bringing a collaborative approach to architecture and design. Hickman has served as President of the Board for both the Greater Des Moines Public Art Foundation and the Des Moines Public Library Foundation, and is a mentor for LEAD DSM’s Community Connect program. He is currently chair of the Art Center’s Buildings and Grounds Committee.

Jo Christine Miles is the Director of Principal Community Relations® and the Principal Financial Group Foundation, Inc. In this role she oversees philanthropic investments and community initiatives to strengthen communities through grantmaking, employee and match giving, volunteerism, and sponsorships. Miles has over 20 years of experience in law practice, public policy, and non-profit philanthropy.

Chris Nelson, the General Counsel at Holmes Murphy, has more than 20 years of experience in corporate and business law. Nelson leads legal strategy and manages complex business transactions, ensuring compliance and effective risk management.

Des Moines Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Ian Roberts has over 20 years of experience as a teacher and school leader. Throughout his career, Dr. Roberts has held various leadership roles including Superintendent in Millcreek Township, PA. Notably, he competed in track and field at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney.

Mike Simonson is the founder and president of Simonson + Associates Architects, which operates in more than 20 states with a focus on affordable housing, mixed-use, retail, and office space. As a member of the Des Moines City Council, Simonson was appointed by Mayor Connie Boesen to serve as the City Trustee on the Art Center’s Board.

The Art Center thanks Darren Jirsa, DDS, for his dedicated service as a board member, which concluded at the end of 2024 after three consecutive three-year terms. Dr. Jirsa served as the Board’s Vice President from 2017 to 2019, President from 2020 to 2023, and as Chairperson and Ex-Officio in 2024.

The Art Center also extends sincere appreciation to Jeff Chungath, Dr. Richard Deming, Dan Keough, and Josh Mandelbaum for their contributions. Each completed a board term at the close of 2024.

For additional information, contact Senior Director of Communications and Marketing Amy Day at 515-271-0344 or aday@desmoinesartcenter.org.

About the Des Moines Art Center
The Des Moines Art Center is a vibrant, AAM-accredited (American Association of Museums) institution located in the capital city of Iowa that welcomes over 300,000 visitors annually from across the country and around the globe. Its historic campus consists of three buildings designed by major architects of the 20th century—Eliel Saarinen, I. M. Pei, and Richard Meier—incorporated into the natural landscape of Greenwood Park. The Art Center is home to one of the strongest collections of 20th and 21st century art in the region, and it hosts a series of ground-breaking exhibitions and lectures each year featuring artists known regionally, nationally, and internationally. The experimental art for which the Art Center cares is reflected in its creative offerings, including a celebrated education program that prioritizes access and collaboration, an art school with studio classes for all ages, and the John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park, situated on 4.4 acres in downtown Des Moines. The Art Center is committed to the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion, which are incorporated into every facet of its mission and identity.

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