The University of Iowa Libraries Advancement Council (LAC) actively champions the Libraries and provides guidance and feedback to help the UI Center for Advancement’s effort to increase support through fundraising, advocacy, and engagement.

The LAC formed in 2020. Members bring a variety of backgrounds and experiences that enrich and broaden the Libraries’ efforts in supporting student success, high-impact research, and creative work.

Current LAC Members

 

Virginia Eichacker
Las Vegas, Nevada

Virginia currently serves as the assistant public defender at Clark County (Nevada) Public Defender’s Office. She has deep Iowa ties, earning a Bachelor of Science in 1987 and a Juris Doctor in 1992. Her mother, Lois, father, George, as well as brother and sister also earned degrees from the university and her aunt, Virginia Harper, was one of the first five Black women to integrate Currier Hall in 1946. Her mother’s papers can be found in the Iowa Women’s Archives.

 

Christie Krugler – Chair
Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin

Christie graduated from Iowa with a Bachelor of Arts in 1979. She’s one of many Hawkeyes in her family, joining her mother, father, sister, and two of her three sons (her third son followed his father’s footsteps to Wisconsin). Christie served as senior buyer for Gimbels department stores (retired), and she spent 20+ years as a fitness instructor. Christie was a member of the Delta Delta Delta sorority and maintains many close relationships with her sisters. She and her husband, Bill, work closely with several philanthropic organizations in the Milwaukee community including PEARLS for Teen Girls and Job Work MKE. Christie is also a board member of Radio Milwaukee.

 

LeAnn Lemberger
Ottumwa, Iowa

LeAnn, who writes under the name Leigh Michaels, is the author of more than 90 Regency and contemporary romance novels, which have been translated by their publishers into many languages. She is also a writing coach, editor, and mentor and has written several area history books focused on Ottumwa, Iowa. LeAnn currently serves as secretary of the Ottumwa Public Library’s Board of Trustees and served as the inaugural chair of the LAC from 2021 to 2022.

Both LeAnn and her late husband, Michael, have papers and photos in Special Collections and Archives.

 

Barbara McFadden
Iowa City, Iowa

Barbara is the retired executive director of the Big Ten Academic Alliance (the academic analog to the Big Ten Athletic Conference). She is a community leader and volunteer and serves on the boards of the Iowa City Public Library Friends Foundation and The Housing Fellowship, as well as on the advisory committee for the UI Graduate College. Barb also serves on the Grievance Commission of the Supreme Court of Iowa and is a docent for the UI Stanley Museum of Art. She is married to Tom Rocklin.

 

Linda “Lin” Phillips – Vice chair
Norwalk, Iowa

Lin is a retired counseling professional who worked in the Main Library Periodicals Room as an undergraduate. She is a strong champion for libraries and deeply grateful for the impact of her time as a student library employee on her life and career. Lin is also a passionate Iowa fan and is working hard to convince her grandson who lives in Wisconsin to join the Hawkeye ranks! Her granddaughter is already excited to potentially be a member of the class of 2032.

 

Tom Rocklin
Iowa City, Iowa

Tom retired in 2017 after 31 years at Iowa, first as a faculty member in the College of Education, then as an administrator, including time as the university’s vice provost and finally, for nine years, as vice president for student life. He currently serves as president of the Iowa City Public Library Board of Trustees and vice chair of the UI Senior College Committee, as well as volunteering for Table to Table and Iowa City Hospice. Tom is married to Barb McFadden.

 

Jane Roth
Leesburg, Virginia

Jane is the retired senior director of global real estate at Ellucian. Both of Jane’s parents are graduates of Iowa. Her mother, Bernice “Bunny” Havlicek, earned her degree from the College of Nursing and her father, Frank Havlicek, earned a Bachelor of Science in physical education. Frank also served as the as the business manager in Athletics and held a contest for a new university mascot in 1948. Jane and her mother donated the Dick Spencer III Collection of Herky Pen and Ink Drawings to the University Archives in memory of her father. Jane also serves on the College of Nursing Campaign Advisory Board and served as chair of the LAC from 2023 to 2024.

 

Aaron Schaefer
Amana, Iowa

Aaron received a Bachelor of Business Administration in 2002 and Master of Business Administration from Iowa in 2004. He currently serves as the senior vice president, investment officer lead, trust and wealth management at Hills Bank and Trust Company in North Liberty, Iowa. Aaron’s mother, father, and wife, Shana, also earned their degrees from Iowa. His family has deep ties to the Amana, Iowa, area dating back to the late 1800s, and he, Shana, and their two boys, August and Orson, renovated and live in his grandparents’ home in the town. Aaron served as chair of the LAC from 2022 to 2023.

Beth Stence
Iowa City, Iowa

Beth graduated from Iowa with a Bachelor of Arts in English in 1977. She briefly taught high school English before spending the rest of her career with AT&T and Wells Fargo. She retired from her project management position with Wells Fargo in 2014. Beth currently volunteers at the Iowa City Animal Shelter, Iowa City Public Library, and Trinity Episcopal Church and serves on the board of Mediation Services of Eastern Iowa. She is married to Dan Stence, who also graduated from Iowa. You can often find them at Hawkeye athletics events, a production at Hancher Auditorium, or even perusing one of the campus museums.

 

Amy Sullivan
Denver, Colorado

Amy worked as an undergraduate student employee in the Libraries before going on to a career in petroleum geology. She earned three degrees from Iowa: a Bachelor of Arts in anthropology and a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in geology. She also serves on the advisory board of the UI College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Advisory Council and has previously served on and chaired the alumni advisory board for the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences. Amy’s husband Joe earned a Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts from Iowa and is also a former Libraries employee.

Sharon Tinker
Ankeny, Iowa

Sharon graduated from Iowa with a Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering in 1980. She worked for Exxon Chemical Company (later ExxonMobil) in technical and management positions in chemical plants and refineries in Texas, California, Louisiana, and Singapore until her retirement. She serves on the College of Engineering Advisory Board and is a strong supporter of the Libraries and the Iowa Women’s Archives. She also volunteers with the Friends of Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance. Sharon loves Hawkeye athletics and can often be seen cheering from the sidelines at football and basketball games.

 

Emeritus members

      • Susan Annett, Los Angeles, California
        • Term: 2020‐2023
      • Timothy Benson, Los Angeles, California
        • Term: 2020‐2023
      • Sandra Reuben, Thousand Oaks, California
        • Term: 2020‐2023
      • Griffin Sweeney, Chicago, Illinois
        • Term: 2020‐2023