The mission of the Des Moines Public Library Foundation is to raise funds and advocate for the Des Moines Public Library system.

Staff & Board

  • Oma Blaise Ford

    Interim Executive Director

  • Jennifer Warne

    Assistant Director

  • Makenna Hovey

    Communications Intern

    Drake University Student

  • Christine Riccelli

    Board President

  • Cathy Besh

    Board Vice President

  • Chris Nelson

    Board Treasurer

  • Dan Chibnall

    Board Secretary

  • Chris Nebons

    Board Past President

  • Lauren Burt

    Board Member

  • Kelly Edmister

    Board Member

  • Andrea Elliott

    Board Member

  • Keren Fiorenza

    Board Member

  • Tara Hall

    Board Member

  • Kate Hightshoe Lambert

    Board Member

  • Tar Macias

    Board Member

  • John Maly

    Board Member

  • Quinlan Riser

    Board Member

  • Brianne Sanchez

    Board Member

  • Abena Sankofa Imhotep

    Board Member

  • Melissa McCollum

    Board Member

    DMPL Director

  • Tim Hickman

    Board Member

    DMPL Trustee

Past Board Members

Thank you to the following individuals who gave of their time, talent, and resources in service to the Des Moines Public Library Foundation Board of Directors. Their service enriched the Des Moines Public Library and enhanced the quality of life in our community.

  • Belinda Alexander
  • Saul Amdursky
  • Ann Anderson
  • Julie Anderson
  • Ray Bening
  • Connie Boesen
  • Sue Rutledge Brenton
  • Shelley Brody
  • David L. Brown
  • Gayle Butler
  • Lynda Butler
  • Wendy Carlson
  • George Carpenter
  • Angie Chatman
  • Laura Castro de Cortes
  • Christine Carroll Cownie
  • Gil Cranberg
  • Judy McCoy Davis
  • Stephanie DeVolder
  • Douglas Dorner, M.D.
  • Tom E. Drake
  • Tom R. Drake
  • Alex Duong
  • Jacqueline Easley
  • Rich Eychaner
  • Deidre Fudge
  • Barbara Gartner
  • Susan Genalo
  • Travis Gjoraas
  • Wes Graham
  • Ralph Gross
  • Michele Guinn
  • Kent Herink
  • Tim Hickman
  • Mark L. Hill
  • Denise Holck
  • Ellen Hubbell
  • Cara Carter Hulick
  • Beth Hummels
  • Laura Isenstein
  • Fritz James
  • Karla Jeffries
  • Teree Caldwell Johnson
  • Joseph Jones
  • Jan Kaiser
  • Sasha Kamper
  • Norbert Kaut
  • Emy Kelly
  • Mary Kelly
  • Joe LeValley
  • Arnold E. Levine
  • Tracy Lewis
  • Ellen Look
  • Richard Lozier
  • Cyril Mandelbaum
  • Cory McAnelly
  • Elvin McDonald
  • Catherine McGarvey
  • Susan J. McGinness
  • Tom McKlveen
  • Trever Meers
  • Paul Melde
  • Stephen M. Morain
  • Christina Fernandez Morrow
  • Justine M. Morton
  • Elizabeth Nelson
  • Gerry Neugent
  • Tam Nguyen
  • Cynthia O’Brien
  • Craig Olson
  • Eliza Ovrom
  • Laura Palmer
  • Alfredo Parrish
  • Susan Patterson Plank
  • Brandon Paulsen
  • Sally Pederson
  • Peter Percival
  • Rita Perea
  • Franci Phelan
  • Amy Randeris-Schultz
  • Michael Reagen
  • Kay Riley
  • Alison Ruan
  • Kay K. Runge
  • Patrick Sabine
  • Peter Sand
  • Mark Siebert
  • Craig Sieverding
  • Thomas Shippee
  • William Scales
  • Tom Swartwood
  • Rachel Stauffer
  • Martha Stephenson
  • Dawn Taylor
  • Kevin Techau
  • Deborah Tharnish
  • Jule Thorsen
  • Wicker Van Orsdel
  • Susan Voss
  • Kim Walker
  • Dave Watson
  • Fritz Weitz
  • Scott Wilgenbusch
  • James H. Windsor IV
  • Brian Wirt
  • Ellen Yee
  • Tara Higgins