Welcome to 2026!

I hope everyone had an enjoyable and relaxing holiday break and is ready for the new year! 2026 will start off fast and furious with the start of the legislative session and with the Wilson College Dean Search well underway.

Please mark your calendar for an all-BCS staff meeting on Monday, February 23, at 10 a.m. During the meeting, each BCS program will provide a brief update and introduce any “newer” team members they have, plus some BCS and Colleges updates will be shared.

Stay warm, and thank you for all you do to help Building a Better Iowa!

Drew Conrad
Executive Director, BCS

• January 6 — BCS Marketing Meeting
• January 9 — Grow Cedar Valley Legislative Forum
• January 12 — BCS Directors Meeting
• January 12 — AI Literacy Workshop
• January 13 — Little Debbie’s Brittany McKee East to speak on virtual panel about her journey in the family business (FBC)
• January 19 — MLK Day & Pack the Dome Event (Paid Holiday)
• January 22 — Grow Cedar Valley’s Population Study
• February 2 — You Can't Pour From an Empty Cup: Self-Care 101
• February 23, 10 a.m. — BCS All-Staff Meeting (BCS 30)

🔎 Discover insights about the Cedar Valley population

On January 22, Grow Cedar Valley is hosting the Count Me In Population Study Reveal at the Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center. You'll hear what the study uncovered, what it means for the Cedar Valley and how you can help write the Cedar Valley's next chapter.

You’ll hear from regional leaders during short, engaging panel conversations focused on real topics like career paths, workforce needs, housing, and how our communities can move forward together. This is a chance to understand where the Cedar Valley stands today and be part of shaping where it’s headed.

BCS is a member, so your staff will be able to register for the event and breakfast at zero cost.

Register here >> 

Dean's Search Update

In late February or early March, we hope to have candidates for the position of Wilson College Dean on campus for interviews. As part of this process, candidates will come to BCS to learn about our work. This is also an opportunity for all BCS staff to ask questions; please participate if you can. See the full search details here.

Timeline

• Full Consideration Deadline: January 28, 2026
• Candidate Review & Semi-Finalist Interviews: Early February – Mid February 2026
• ‌Campus Visits for Finalists: Late February – March 2026

• Kiptia Akhter Lima, who was named a First Year Student Advocate at UNI through the Fall 2025 Connection Survey
• Norah Lipovac, IDM's Student Project Assistant, received the JPEC Student Success Scholarship from the UNI John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center

• January 3 — Randy Pilkington, BCS
• January 3 — Leslie Wilson, Wilson College of Business

• 2001 — Chris Lampe, Iowa Waste Reduction Center
• 2009 — Jennifer Wittenburg, Iowa Waste Reduction Center
• 2022 — Annette Stevenson, Advance Iowa
• 2022 — Shelly Wessels, John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center
• 2024 — Liesl Seabert, Institute for Decision Making

Submit an item for the next monthly BCS Brief newsletter by emailing katie.kreis@uni.edu.