As told to Macey Shofroth | Photo by Duane Tinkey Sylvia Nemmers was born totally blind. At age 4, she had an experimental surgery at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics to give her a little bit of vision. Shortly after, she began attending the Iowa Braille and Sight Saving Read more…
Angela Franklin believes in remaining open to unexpected opportunities. It’s been a staple of her career. She planned to become a clinical psychologist and haveher own mental health practice. After completing her undergraduate degree from Furman University and her doctorate in clinical psychology at Emory University, she took a position Read more…
Like many young adults at that time, the events of Sept.11, 2001, deeply impacted how Dr. Maija Cheung saw the world. After living in Ames from kindergarten through sixth grade and then completing the rest of her schooling in Kansas, she was attending college in the Northeast at the time Read more…
On Oct. 23, the Business Record will celebrate five years of Fearless, an initiative to empower Iowa women to succeed in work and life. Fearless Forward event attendees will be active participants in fulfilling our mission: Together we will rise above current challenges by leaning into important conversations where everyone Read more…
Back in July, my friend Brianne Sanchez reached out to me with an opportunity. She had planned to take part in a Habitat for Humanity Build in September, but work obligations meant she could no longer participate. She wondered if I’d like to take her place within the all-women team. Read more…
Patricia Barbee has worked with children her entire career, but she noticed a dearth of services for middle school-aged kids when she began substitute teaching for Des Moines Public Schools. “Elementary school programs get funding, high school programs get funding. Middle school is like the land of the lost. Who cares Read more…
The Business Record has named Des Moines University President Angela Franklin the 2025 Women of Influence Alum of the Year. The annual award was launched last year to celebrate one of the past Women of Influence who has continued making an impact since being honored by the Business Record. Franklin Read more…
As I walked up to The Monroe a couple of weeks ago, a line of women spilled out of the door. We had all arrived for the “Taking up Space” event, and the sold-out room was a perfect metaphor for the event’s intent — unapologetically taking up the space we Read more…
By Dr. Rachel Preisser, guest columnist As our state leads the nation in cancer rates, consistently ranking second-highest in overall cancer rate, navigating the financial landscape to access lifesaving breast cancer screening and diagnostic evaluation has become increasingly murky for both patients and physicians alike. When the Affordable Care Act Read more…