Phi Delta Theta - Iowa State University

DAN NIELSEN 1417 What made you decide to join Phi Delta Theta? I am from Dubuque and I had Dubuque friends in the chapter. Freshman year, I lived in the Towers Residence Hall and those friends invited me over in the spring for a number of events. I really enjoyed meeting guys from a cross-section of locations and interests, and I was particularly excited about how active the chapter was at the time. What degree did you earn from Iowa State? I earned a bachelor's degree in business administration, marketing. Where do you work now and what do you do specifically? I am an attorney by profession, since 1992. I currently work at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Civil Rights. I am senior advisor to the OCR Director on civil rights issues. What are the highlights of your professional career? Practicing law in Chicago for three different firms for over 11 years. Joining federal government in Chicago in 2003 as a civil rights investigator for U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Moving to Washington, D.C., in 2013 to take on a leadership role within HHS and then, just last year, taking on a leadership role at EPA OCR. What advice would you give to undergraduates or younger alumni who are early in their careers? Have a plan with specific goals early on. However, be prepared to entertain other options as far as career opportunities and locations. There are a number of "fork in the road" situations in your adult life. Do I turn left or right? Just be prepared to consider something that you hadn't envisioned. Evaluate and consider. It may be the unexpected option that leads to your successful future. How did your experience with Phi Delt make you into the person you are today? It brought me out of my shell. I was very quiet and an introvert. The experience really socialized me and started to give me confidence. The FDQ experience also gave me my first real sense of achievement and accomplishment. Hey, I was a Veishea float co-chairman! I had never done anything like that before, nor had I thought about doing it until I took a leap of faith and did it. It was a valuable and rewarding experience. What is your vision for the future of Phi Delta Theta at Iowa State? I believe that the chapter will continue to succeed because FDQ has shown that it can evolve with the times and make critical strategic choices. If FDQ continues to be forward-thinking, it will thrive. Do you keep in touch with your Iowa Gamma brothers? Yes. Most often with social media, but I have taken part in some reunion trips back to Ames, Iowa, to see and catch up with my brothers. Kurt and his wife, Dr. Cynthia Reynolds-Temple, a fellow Iowa State alumnus and member of Alpha Gamma Delta, live in Silver Spring, Maryland, and have two sons, Sam and Ryan. Kurt is a lover of music and attends live music events at clubs and other venues, maybe 15-20 per year. He also bicycle commutes most days, completing a 22-mile round trip from Silver Spring to EPA headquarters in Washington, D.C. Kurt is also an avid Tottenham Hotspur soccer supporter. Last year, he and his wife attended one of the club's home games in North London. You can contact Kurt at kurtis5343@gmail.com. PHI DELTA THETA FRATERNITY 3 What made you decide to join Phi Delta Theta? I was introduced to Phi Delt by my future brother- in-law, Joel Magruder 1341. I really liked the balance of a focus on academics and enjoying a healthy social calendar. What degree did you earn from Iowa State? I earned a degree in exercise science. Where do you work now and what do you do specifically? I work for Cisco Systems. I am a public sector account manager covering the State of Iowa government and the state universities, including Iowa State University. What are the highlights of your professional career? Finding success in sales through growing strong relationships with my customers and co-workers. What advice would you give to undergraduates or younger alumni who are early in their careers? Work to build and maintain a network of professional contacts to use for collaboration, Catching Up with Iowa Gamma Alumni coaching, and assistance. Also, work to build your personal brand so when someone hears your name they will think of someone they can trust and who brings them value. How did your experience with Phi Delt make you into the person you are today? My Phi Delt experience helped me to grow in many ways to prepare me for my professional and personal life. The leadership and social activities provided in the house helped prepare me for life KURT TEMPLE 1339 after college. My first sales job was recruitment chairman, which was great training for what I do today, and the first sales job I received after college was through a contact with another Iowa Gamma Phi, Mike McGowan 1303. What is your vision for the future of Phi Delta Theta at Iowa State? I hope the chapter continues to thrive at Iowa State with the focus on a great balance of academic success, philanthropy, and fun! I feel very good about the chapter today as my nephew, Mason Magruder 1885, is an active member. Do you keep in touch with your Iowa Gamma brothers? Yes, I keep in touch with many of my Iowa Gamma brothers! Dan and his wife, Jenny, a Kappa Delta from ISU, live in Clive, Iowa, and have four children: Gabbi, Sophie, John, and Danny. In his spare time, Dan stays active with his church and coaching youth sports. You can contact Dan at danniels@cisco.com.

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