Meet Tippie's Young Alumni Board

The Young Alumni Board (YAB) is a diverse group of young professionals whose mission is to support the Tippie College of Business and its undergraduate business program. The YAB creates strong connections between the college and its alumni, and supports current students during their college years as they transition into alumni.

Primary activities of the board include bi-annual meetings (hosted in fall on campus and spring off campus); panel discussions about different career paths; feedback on curriculum changes; involvement in the annual “One Day for Iowa” online fundraising campaign; and managing mentor programs for current students

Apply for the Young Alumni Board

Applicants have to be within five years of graduation and must hold a BBA from the Tippie College of Business. Please review the bylaws in full prior to applying to ensure you’re able to fulfill the attendance and financial commitment requirements of the board.

We are accepting applications at this time. The deadline is February 28, 2025. To apply, click here

Current YAB members

Srilekhya Akkina

Srilekhya Akkina (BBA20)

Customer Success Manager

MarketSpark
Boulder, CO
srilekhyaakkina@gmail.com
LinkedIn

Ryan option 2

Ryan Atkinson (BBA21)

Chief Executive Officer

Spacebar Visuals
Austin, TX  
ryansatkinson@gmail.com
LinkedIn

 

Jiyun Chong

Jiyun Chong (BBA19/MAc20)

Senior Tax Consultant

PwC
Chicago, IL
j.chong1097@gmail.com
LinkedIn
 

Nicholas Currant

Nicholas Currant (BBA22)

Senior Customer Success Manager

Amazon
Seattle, WA
ndcurrant@gmail.com
LinkedIn

YAB Executive Chair 

Headshot of Karina Diekema

Karina Diekema (BBA20)

Senior Insights and Analytics Manager

Nike, Inc.
Portland, OR
ktdiekema@gmail.com
LinkedIn

YAB Elections and Voting Co-Chair 

Karter Donahue

Karter Donahue (BBA22)

People Analytics Product Manager

Synopsys
Austin, TX
karterdonahue@gmail.com
LinkedIn
 

Headshot of Tristan Garcia

Tristan Garcia (BBA20)

District Sales Leader

Frito-Lay 
Phoenix, AZ 
tristan-garcia16@outlook.com
LinkedIn

YAB Student Engagement Co-Chair

Connor Gronski

Connor Gronski (BBA19)

Commercial Banking Associate

JPMorgan Chase
Los Angeles, CA
cgronski10@gmail.com
LinkedIn
 

Headshot of Rita Guzmán

Rita Guzmán (BBA18)

Education Coordinator

Northwestern Medicine’s Canning Thoracic Institute
Chicago, IL
guzmanr09@gmail.com
LinkedIn
 

Allison Klage

Allison Klage (BBA22)

Associate Buyer for Girl’s 7-16 National Branded Apparel

Kohl's Department Stores
Milwaukee, WI
allison.klage@gmail.com
LinkedIn 

YAB Executive Committee Secretary

Headshot of JD Klopfenstein

JD Klopfenstein (BBA18)

Financial Advisor

Principal Financial Group
Iowa City, IA
klopfensteinjd24@gmail.com
LinkedIn

YAB Ad-Hoc Co-Chair

Anna Kroeger

Anna Kroeger (BBA20)

Senior Consultant

Deloitte
New York, NY
kroegeranna@gmail.com
LinkedIn

Katie LaCroix

Katie LaCroix (BBA18)

Senior Manager, Global Partnership Sales

Cirque du Soleil (Legends)
Chicago, IL
lacroix.katie.l@gmail.com
LinkedIn

Rachel Langholz

Rachel Langholz (BBA17)

Director of Growth Strategy

DaVita Kidney Care 
Denver, CO
rachelrlangholz@gmail.com
LinkedIn

Anibal Mares

Anibal Mares Marquez (BBA20)

Senior Associate

PwC
Dallas, TX
anibal.mares.301@gmail.com
LinkedIn

Kristin Mathis

Kristin Mathis (BBA20)

Partnership Strategy and Activation Coordinator

Minnesota Vikings
Minneapolis, MN
kristinjayemathis@gmail.com
LinkedIn

Matt Moran

Matt Moran (BBA18)

Financial Advisor

Morgan Stanley
Davenport, IA
mtmoran96@gmail.com
LinkedIn

YAB Finance and Development Co-Chair

Santino Morena

Santino Morena (BBA17)

Associate Director

Morris Anderson & Associates 
Chicago, IL
santinomorena01@gmail.com
LinkedIn

YAB Alumni Engagement Co-Chair
 

Jordyn Steinkritz

Jordyn Nelson (BBA18)

Director of Strategy

Shields Health Solutions
Tampa, FL
jordyn.nelson21@gmail.com
LinkedIn

Aaron Nibaur

Aaron Nibaur (BBA21)

Corporate Development

Collins Aerospace
Cedar Rapids, IA
nibauraaron@gmail.com
LinkedIn

Jackson Nichols

Jackson Nichols (BBA17)

Senior Analyst

AAVIN Equity Advisors
Iowa City, IA
jcnichols28@gmail.com
LinkedIn

YAB Immediate Past Chair

Anna Noll

Anna Noll (BBA18)

Assistant Brand Manager

T. Marzetti Company
Columbus, OH
noll.anna@outlook.com
LinkedIn

YAB Elections and Voting Co-Chair 

Isaac Oberlin

Isaac Oberlin (BBA17)

Financial Sponsors Group

Houlihan Lokey
Chicago, IL
isaacoberlin@gmail.com
LinkedIn

Brenden O'Brien

Brenden O'Brien (BBA20)

Product Manager

Election Systems and Software
Omaha, NE
brendenkobrien@gmail.com
LinkedIn 

YAB Alumni Engagement Co-Chair

Headshot of Katie Phillips

Katie Phillips (BBA19)

Associate

Baker McKenzie
Chicago, IL
katie.phillips@bakermckenzie.com
LinkedIn

Jenna Pokorny

Jenna Pokorny (BBA19)

Legislative Correspondent

U.S. Senate
Washington, DC
jennapokorny@gmail.com
LinkedIn

Anne Riley

Anne Riley (BBA19)

Senior Project Coordinator

ICFNext
Arlington, VA
anne-riley@outlook.com
LinkedIn

YAB Ad Hoc (RISE) Co-Chair

Amy Schembari

Amy Schembari (BBA18)

Global Program Manager

Google
New York, NY
amy.schembari@gmail.com
LinkedIn
 

Katherine Smith

Katherine Smith (BBA17)

Manager, Channel Strategy

BMO Financial Group
Okoboji, IA
boylekatherine94@gmail.com
LinkedIn

Neil Zhang

Neil Zhang (BBA16)

Associate Director - Multi-Managers Real Estate

UBS Asset Management
Chicago, IL
neil-zhang@outlook.com
LinkedIn

YAB Finance and Development Co-Chair