The Civic Scholars Program consists of people from local businesses, non-profit agencies, and other individuals who would like to share their experiences in their work and lives with the Wartburg community. Civic Scholars exists as a resource for Wartburg faculty, staff, and student groups to bring in speakers to talk to their classes and groups and learn from community members.

To contact one of these civic scholars to speak to your class or group, please contact the cce at cce@wartburg.edu or 319-352-8701.

If you are a community member and would be interested in becoming a part of the Civic Scholar’s program, please call the CCE at 319-352-8701 or e-mail your name, contact information, work information, topic you would like to speak about, and a short biography to cce@wartburg.edu, subject line “Civic Scholars.”

Below is a list of topics and speakers that are currently available through the Civic Scholars program.

Mentoring
Melinda Pitt (Big Brothers Big Sisters) Melinda Pitt has a BA in Child & Family Development with a minor in psychology. She has been employed with Big Brothers Big Sisters since August 2004.

Diane Larson (Bremwood). Diane Larson has a BA in social work from the University of Iowa. She currently works as spiritual life assistant and volunteer coordinator at Bremwood. She has numerous other social work experiences, specifically regarding working with children.

Volunteer Services
Gerald Wolf (Habitat for Humanity) Gerlad Wolf has a BA from Central College in Mathematics + 36 graduate hours in Mathematics. He has teaching experience in Math, Chemistry, Physics, and Computer Programming and worked in the Customers Service Department (23 years) for Xerox Corp.

Laurie Everhardt (Waverly Health Center) Laurie Everhardt graduated in 1992 with a BA in secondary education from Wartburg. She has worked in the non-profit arena for 11 years in program and volunteer management and fitness at both the YMCA and Waverly Health Center.

Kris Marmie (Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare) Kris Marmie has a BA in interpersonal communication from UNI and was a certified administrator of volunteer services. She has been a Wheaton Associate for 8+ years.

Early Education Programs
LuAnn Scallon (Waverly Child Care and Preschool) LuAnn Scallon has a BA degree in Elementary Education/ Early Childhood from UNI as well as graduate work in both. She has 20 years experience in field of early childhood education. Currently, she is the director of Waverly Child Care and Preschool.

Heather Erickson (Grout Museum) Heather Erickson has taught dance, DARE, and elementary education in a classroom environment and in a museum environment. She has a dance minor from UNI and served on many leadership committees during college.

Hunger
Stephanie Fowler (NEIFB) Stephanie Fowler is a 1995 graduate of Wartburg College where she obtained her Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education with endorsements in Reading and Early Childhood. Stephanie taught 1st and 2nd grade for eight years in a suburb of Houston, Texas and 5th grade for one year in Cedar Falls, Iowa before making the transition to the Northeast Iowa Food Bank. Stephanie has been with the Food Bank for two years as of June and is also in charge of food drives and the volunteer program.

Merry Frederick (Self-Help International) Merry Frederick has a bachelor's degree in Cultural Anthropology and did graduate work in gerontology.

Mission Work
Kelly Dotson/Laura Nielsen/Jesse Henkle/Steph Fisk (Lateria) Kelly, Laura, Jesse, and Steph work with Lateria to organize various mission and volunteer work around the United States.

Development Strategies
Merry Frederick (Self Help International) Merry Frederick has a bachelor's degree in Cultural Anthropology and did graduate work in gerontology.

Dance
Heather Erickson (Grout Museum) Heather Erickson has taught dance, DARE, and elementary education in a classroom environment and in a museum environment. She has a dance minor from UNI and served on many leadership committees during college.

Multiple Sclerosis
Diane Holmes (Multiple Sclerosis Service League) Diane Holmes has been the Director of Multiple Sclerosis League for 12 years and is currently working on her MSW at UNI.

FMC Community Empowerment
Laune Kristiansen (FMC Community Empowerment) Laune Krisitansen has a BA from Wartburg in 1979 in Communications/Journalism/Broadcasting. She also has experience in corporate communications, marketing, domestic/international advertising, and holds certificate in non-profit management (ISU/UNI, 2005).

Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault
Jean Wright, Rose Torgerson, Cherri Einsweiler (Cedar Valley Friends of the Family) Cedar Valley Friends of the Family is a domestic violence, sexual assault, and homelessness prevention agency. The staff listed above have varying levels of credentials. Jeanie and Rose have advanced certification with the state of Iowa as Certified Domestic Abuse Advocates, Level III. Rose is a Certified Sexual Abuse Advocate according to the Iowa Coalition against Sexual Assault and has trained in volunteer recruitment. Cherri Einsweiler has her MA and Jeanie has a BA. Cherri has 10 years of successful grant writing experience and was the primary agency educator for all school based prevention programs.

Living with a Disability
Diane Holmes (Multiple Sclerosis Service League) Diane Holmes has been the Director of Multiple Sclerosis League for 12 years and is currently working on her MSW at UNI.

Foster/Adoptive Parenting
Diane Larson (Bremwood). Diane Larson has a BA in social work from the University of Iowa. She currently works as spiritual life assistant and volunteer coordinator at Bremwood. She has numerous other social work experiences, specifically regarding working with children.

Fair Trade
Doris Mauer (World’s Window) Doris Mauer is a retried school teacher with a BA from Morningside College and an MA from Clarke College. She is currently a member of board of directors at World’s Window.

Human Services
Clark Wilharm (Larrabee) Clark Wilharm is currently the director of the Larrabee Center which provides services to people with disabilities. The staff at Larrabee would be able to talk about human services in general or working with people with disabilities specifically.

Job Interview/Application/Resume Tips
Kris Marmie (Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare) Kris Marmie has a BA in interpersonal communication from UNI and was a certified administrator of volunteer services. She has been a Wheaton Associate for 8+ years.

Environment
Merry Rankin (Iowa Department of Natural Resources) Merry Rankin has a, general business degree and a Master of Science from ISU and did post-grad field research at the University of Capetown, South Africa. She has done other international research in India, Costa Rica, and Australia all focusing on indigenous perceptions and attitudes. Merry has worked with the DNR since 2000 and works in recycling and volunteer management.

Inclusion
3-5 person panel of Inclusion Connection board members and participants. People involved with Inclusion Connection are available to talk about why community inclusion (inviting persons with disabilities to actively participate in all aspects of community life) benefits both persons with disabilities and our communities.

Bremwood
Diane Larson (Bremwood). Diane Larson has a BA in social work from the University of Iowa. She currently works as spiritual life assistant and volunteer coordinator at Bremwood. She has numerous other social work experiences, specifically regarding working with children.