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 currently not accepting applications at this time. The next application period will be in February 2026.
Current YAB members
Srilekhya Akkina (BBA20)
MarketSpark
Boulder, CO
srilekhyaakkina@gmail.com
LinkedIn
Ryan Atkinson (BBA21)
Spacebar Visuals
Austin, TX
ryansatkinson@gmail.com
LinkedIn
Nicholas Currant (BBA22)
Amazon
Seattle, WA
ndcurrant@gmail.com
LinkedIn
YAB Executive Chair
Karina Diekema (BBA20)
Nike, Inc.
Portland, OR
ktdiekema@gmail.com
LinkedIn
YAB Elections and Voting Co-Chair
Karter Donahue (BBA22)
Synopsys
Austin, TX
karterdonahue@gmail.com
LinkedIn
Tristan Garcia (BBA20)
Frito-Lay
Phoenix, AZ
tristan-garcia16@outlook.com
LinkedIn
YAB Student Engagement Co-Chair
Connor Gronski (BBA19)
JPMorgan Chase
Los Angeles, CA
cgronski10@gmail.com
LinkedIn
Rita Guzmán (BBA18)
Northwestern Medicine’s Canning Thoracic Institute
Chicago, IL
guzmanr09@gmail.com
LinkedIn
Allison Klage (BBA22)
Kohl's Department Stores
Milwaukee, WI
allison.klage@gmail.com
LinkedIn
YAB Executive Committee Secretary
JD Klopfenstein (BBA18)
Principal Financial Group
Iowa City, IA
klopfensteinjd24@gmail.com
LinkedIn
YAB Ad-Hoc Co-Chair
Katie LaCroix (BBA18)
Cirque du Soleil (Legends)
Chicago, IL
lacroix.katie.l@gmail.com
LinkedIn
Rachel Langholz (BBA17)
DaVita Kidney Care
Denver, CO
rachelrlangholz@gmail.com
LinkedIn
Kristin Mathis (BBA20)
Minnesota Vikings
Minneapolis, MN
kristinjayemathis@gmail.com
LinkedIn
Matt Moran (BBA18)
Morgan Stanley
Davenport, IA
mtmoran96@gmail.com
LinkedIn
YAB Finance and Development Co-Chair
Santino Morena (BBA17)
Morris Anderson & Associates
Chicago, IL
santinomorena01@gmail.com
LinkedIn
YAB Alumni Engagement Co-Chair
Jordyn Nelson (BBA18)
Shields Health Solutions
Tampa, FL
jordyn.nelson21@gmail.com
LinkedIn
Aaron Nibaur (BBA21)
Collins Aerospace
Cedar Rapids, IA
nibauraaron@gmail.com
LinkedIn
Jackson Nichols (BBA17)
AAVIN Equity Advisors
Iowa City, IA
jcnichols28@gmail.com
LinkedIn
YAB Immediate Past Chair
Anna Noll (BBA18)
T. Marzetti Company
Columbus, OH
noll.anna@outlook.com
LinkedIn
YAB Elections and Voting Co-Chair
Isaac Oberlin (BBA17)
Houlihan Lokey
Chicago, IL
isaacoberlin@gmail.com
LinkedIn
Brenden O'Brien (BBA20)
Election Systems and Software
Omaha, NE
brendenkobrien@gmail.com
LinkedIn
YAB Alumni Engagement Co-Chair
Jenna Pokorny (BBA19)
U.S. Senate
Washington, DC
jennapokorny@gmail.com
LinkedIn
Anne Riley (BBA19)
ICFNext
Arlington, VA
anne-riley@outlook.com
LinkedIn
YAB Ad Hoc (RISE) Co-Chair
Katherine Smith (BBA17)
BMO Financial Group
Okoboji, IA
boylekatherine94@gmail.com
LinkedIn
Neil Zhang (BBA16)
UBS Asset Management
Chicago, IL
neil-zhang@outlook.com
LinkedIn
YAB Finance and Development Co-Chair