Four new trustees join the Board, three members retire
Drake University is pleased to announce the next class of Board of Trustee members. The four new members include Esfand Dinshaw, Jeff Russell, Nikki Syverson, and Tiffany Tauscheck. The incoming trustees were approved by the Board earlier this year and began their initial three-year term of service on July 1, 2024. Additionally, Larry Zimpleman, Cathy Lacy, and Martha Capps have retired from the Board after completing their terms.
“We’re thrilled to welcome these outstanding individuals to our Board of Trustees,” said Drake University President Marty Martin. “Their diverse expertise and passion for education will be invaluable as we shape the future of Drake University. I’m confident our new trustees will play a crucial role in fostering the innovation and excellence required to achieve our inspiration of transforming lives and strengthening communities. I also want to express my deepest gratitude to our retiring board members. Their dedication and wisdom have been instrumental in guiding our institution, and their impact will be felt for years to come.”
Esfand Dinshaw, BN’82
Esfand Dinshaw is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Sammons Financial Group and serves as President of its Dallas-based parent company Sammons Enterprises, Inc. In addition, Esfand serves on the Board of Directors of the American Council of Life Insurers and is the past Chairman of the Board of Directors of LL Global. He is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries and a member of the American Academy of Actuaries. Esfand graduated from Drake’s Zimpleman College of Business in 1982, and in 2022 received the Stuart Klugman Distinguished Alumni Award from the School of Actuarial Science and Risk Management.
Jeff Russell, JO’94
Jeff Russell is the President and CEO of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska. Previously, Jeff served as President and CEO of Delta Dental of Iowa, the state’s largest dental insurance company. Prior to Delta Dental, Jeff was President and CEO of TMG Financial Services and held various executive positions for The Members Group, a financial technology and payments company. Jeff served as founding chair of the Global Insurance Accelerator and is a past board president of the Federation of Iowa Insurers and the Iowa Healthiest State Initiative. He earned a bachelor’s in journalism from Drake University.
Nikki Syverson, JO’03
Nikki Syverson has nearly 20 years of experience in nonprofit management, fundraising, and strategic planning serving in leadership roles at Capital Crossroads, the Des Moines Community Playhouse, the Wine Festival Foundation of Des Moines, and the Des Moines Symphony Orchestra. She has a proven track record of improving the financial position and strategic direction of nonprofits in the community and has dedicated her time on several boards and committees. Nikki is a proud alum of Drake University’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication (2003) and presently serves as Chair of the Drake University National Alumni Board. In 2012, Nikki was a Juice YP of the Year finalist and one of the Des Moines Business Record’s Forty Under 40.
Tiffany Tauscheck, JO’01
Tiffany Tauscheck is the President and CEO of the Greater Des Moines Partnership. Tiffany began as The Partnership’s Chief Communications Officer in 2015 and later served as the organization’s Chief Strategy Officer before being promoted to Chief Operations Officer and President of Downtown DSM, Inc. in January 2021. Prior to her work at The Partnership, Tiffany served as Vice President of Marketing and Development at the Greater Des Moines Convention and Visitors Bureau and Des Moines Area Sports Commission (now collectively known as Catch Des Moines). Before that, she had successful careers in radio marketing/promotion and television news. As a volunteer leader, Tiffany has served on numerous national and regional boards. Tiffany earned a bachelor’s in journalism from Drake University in 2001 and received Drake University’s Young Alumni Achievement Award in 2018.
Retiring Members
Larry Zimpleman, BN’73, GR’79, received a degree in actuarial science in 1973 and later earned his MBA in 1979, both from Drake University’s College of Business. From 1976 to 2016, Larry held various senior management, leadership, and board positions at Principal Financial Group® including Chief Executive Officer and Chairman. Larry served on the Drake University Board of Trustees for 17 years, four of which as Board Chair. In February 2023, Larry and his wife Kathi made a major financial gift that resulted in naming the College of Business and Public Administration the Larry and Kathleen Zimpleman College of Business.
Cathy Lacy, GR’86, is an accomplished philanthropic leader with a passion for education and serving her community. She earned a degree in dietetics and institutional management in 1979 from Kansas State University and then a Master of Public Administration in 1986 from Drake University. She served on the Drake University Board of Trustees for 14 years. During her tenure, she chaired multiple committees, hosted many events, and she and her husband, Steve, made multiple, transformational investments benefiting Drake’s students, student-athletes, and facilities. Specifically, in The Ones campaign, Cathy and Steve have made leadership investments in The Knapp Center, Men’s Basketball, general Athletics, the revitalization of Meredith Hall, and the Johansen Student Center.
Martha Capps, JO’78, founder of Capps Marketing based in Eden Prairie, Minn., is a well-known marketing consultant with a proven ability to lead both in her industry and community. Martha is a graduate of Drake’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication, and her continued service to Drake honors a deep family legacy of Bulldog pride. In total, her family holds 13 degrees from Drake. During her time on Drake’s Board of Trustees, Martha has provided strategic support to the University’s Communication and Marketing team, attended and hosted several events, and made a generous leadership commitment to The Ones. In addition to her role as a trustee, she has served on the Drake Parent Board, led the Minneapolis/St. Paul Regional Alumni Board, and served as president of the National Alumni Board.