Our Members

Chair

• Kyle J. Carlson, 27, is from Colfax, Iowa. He currently works at Planned Parenthood of Greater Iowa as a staff attorney and lobbyist. He attended Waverly- Shell Rock High School and earned a BA in Political Science and Philosophy from Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois. He attended Drake University Law School where he earned his Juris Doctorate and Masters of Public Administration.
  
  kyle-carlson@msn.com

Vice Chair

• Rachel Judisch, 29, lives in Lake View, Iowa and works as a speech-language pathologist at Sports Rehab & Professional Therapy Associates in Storm Lake. She graduated from Ar-We-Va High School in Westside. Rachel earned her BA in Communicative Disorders from UNI and her MA in Speech Pathology from the University of Iowa. Rachel and her husband advocate for young professionals to return to Iowa.
  
  judischrachel@hotmail.com

Commission Members

• Erin Cumings, 28, is from Prole, Iowa. She currently works as an agribusiness underwriter for Allied Insurance in Des Moines. She is also co-owner and bookkeeper of Cumings Family Farms and Cumings Repair in Prole. Erin graduated from Clarke Community High School. She attended Iowa State University where she majored in Agricultural Business, earning her BS in 2002.
  
  
• Karris Golden, 31, is from Waterloo, Iowa. She currently works as assistant director of communication and marketing for Wartburg College in Waverly and the editor of Wartburg Magazine. She graduated from Waterloo West High School and graduated with honors from Waldorf College in Forest City, Iowa with an Associate of Arts degree in electronic media and print journalism. Karris went on to earn her BA in journalism from Wartburg, and her Masters of Arts degree in English from UNI graduating with a 4.0 GPA.
  
  100 Wartburg Blvd.
  Waverly, IA 50677
  karris.golden@wartburg.edu
  
  
• Mitchell Gross, 32, lives in Coralville, Iowa. He currently teaches History, Government and Middle Eastern Affairs and is boy’s head tennis coach at Iowa City West High School. Mitchell graduated from Grinnell High School. He attended Ripon College in Ripon, Wisconsin where he was elected student body president and earned degrees in political science and economics. He is married and has two young daughters.
  
  
• Jodi Grover, 25, lives in Rowley, Iowa and is working toward a graduate degree at Upper Iowa University. She finished her BA degree at Upper Iowa University. She is continuing her post-graduate work in special education while serving as a clerk for State Senator Brian Schoenjahn. Jodi graduated from East Buchanan High School in Winthrop, Iowa and also earned an Associate of Arts degree from Hawkeye Community College in Waterloo before getting her BA from Upper Iowa. She also earned her Iowa Teaching License in 2007.
  
  
• Emiliano Lerda, 27, resides in Urbandale, Iowa and is currently studying law at Drake University in Des Moines. Originally from Argentina, Emiliano arrived in Iowa searching for the Bridges of Madison County. Emiliano came to Cedar Falls in 1999 to study English and he decided to stay. He married an Iowa native and is the current President and Chair of the Board of Directors of LUX Opportunities, Incorporated, a non-profit organization that funds scholarships for high school graduates from developing countries who have excelled in academics, but lack financial means to proceed with studies at colleges in their home countries.
  
  319.504.6729
  emiliano.lerda@gmail.com
  
  
• Emilia Martin, 27, lives in Davenport and works as a music therapist for the West Music Company. She graduated from Iowa City High School and earned her Bachelors of Music, graduating magna cum laude from Chapman University in Orange, California. She returned to Iowa from California in 2004.
  
  Music Therapy Services of West Music
  4305 44th Avenue
  Moline, IL 61265
  309.764.9300
  emartin@westmusic.com
  
  
• Isaiah McGee, 28, resides in Waukee and works as a teacher, consultant and trainer. Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, Isaiah received his BA degree in History and Political Science from Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa. He also earned his Masters degree in Education from Drake University. Isaiah currently serves on the city council in Waukee. In addition to teaching American Government and Economics in the Waukee School district, Isaiah established McGee Strategies LLC. McGee Strategies LLC is a consulting, training and coaching firm focused on seeking resources and solutions for individuals, organizations, and businesses that lead to growth, engagement, functionality and fulfillment.
  
  (h) 515.987.6695
  (w) 515.326.5869
  icmcgee@msn.com
  
  
• Jordan Oster, 21, lives in Clive and is a student at Drake University. He is a 2005 graduate of Valley High School in West Des Moines and is majoring in History and Politics at Drake. He works at West Grand Golf in West Des Moines.
  
  
• Michael Schneider, 26, lives in Grimes, Iowa and works for the State of Iowa as a Parole Board Liaison Officer. Born and raised in Iowa, Michael graduated from Hudson High School in 1999. He began his collegiate career at UNI, but transferred to Wichita State University in 2001. He worked full time and completed two internships while finishing his degree at WSU, and maintained a 3.2 GPA. He and his wife returned to Iowa in December of 2006. They are the parents of a one-year-old son.
  
  reneemikeschneider@mchsi.com
  
  
• Sophia Magill, 25, lives in Ames, Iowa where she works as Senior Admissions Counselor/Group Coordinator for Iowa State University. In 2005, she graduated with a B.A. in Political Science from Iowa State University, where she served as Student Body President her senior year. A life-long Iowan, she currently serves as Public Policy Chair for the Junior League of Des Moines and volunteers with 21st Century Forum and at the Churches United Homeless Shelter.
  
  515.294.6492
  
  
• Jesse Harris, 27, lives in Waukee, Iowa and works as the Field and Political Director for Citizens for Tom Harkin. In 2003, he graduated summa cum laude at Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa with a B.A. in History and Political Science. While at Simpson College, Jesse received multiple honors and served on the steering committee of the President’s Task Force on Civility and Civic Responsibility.
  
  
• Sara Morrow, 29, lives with her husband in Spencer, Iowa where she serves as the Physicals Director for the Spencer Family YMCA. She graduated from Wayne State College in 2001 with a B.S. in Exercise Science and earned her Master’s in Science and Education: Sports Management and Marketing there in 2003.
  
  
• Christian Fong, 30, lives in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and works as Head of Real Estate Capital Markets for AEGON USA Realty Advisors. After graduating valedictorian and as a National Merit Scholar from Underwood High School in 1993, Christian earned his B.S. in Statistics from Creighton University in 1996 and his MBA with high distinctions from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth in 2005.
  
  319.355.4984
  cfong@Aegonusa.com

Ex-Officio Members

• State Senator, Matt McCoy
• State Senator, Brad Zaun
• State Representative, Dave Deyoe
• State Representative, Elesha Gayman