North Iowans join NIACC Foundation Board of Directors

MASON CITY – The North Iowa Area Community College (NIACC) Foundation is proud to announce the addition of three new members to its Board of Directors:

Sherry Becker of Mason City is the Executive Director of 43 North Iowa (formerly NIVC Services & North Iowa Transition Center). She earned a bachelor’s degree in Social Work from the University of Iowa and a Master of Science degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from Drake University. Becker is a CARF Accreditation Surveyor and a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor. She serves on the Mercy One Board of Directors, Iowa Community Providers Association Board of Directors, Iowa Workforce Regional Board, and as the Chair of the Lutheran Services in Iowa Board. She is an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church and PEO Chapter OT. Becker and her husband Tim have three children and two granddaughters.

Dennis Busta of Forest City is the President and CEO of MBT Bank. Busta earned a bachelor’s degree in Financial Management from the University of Northern Iowa and attended the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin. Busta serves on several boards including the Forest City Education Foundation Board, Forest City Economic Development Board, Hancock County Economic Development Board, and City of Forest City Housing Commission. He is a former member of the Iowa Bankers Association Board of Directors. Busta and his wife Rosie have four children.

Jean Torgeson of Manly is a Registered Nurse, Certified Plastic and Reconstructive Nurse, Certified Registered First Nurse Assistant, and Certified Legal Nurse Consultant. Torgeson is a 1976 graduate of NIACC and completed the Registered Nurse First Assistant Program at Hawkeye Community College. She then attended the Vickie Milazzo Institute and received Legal Nurse Consultant Certification. Torgeson has been serving on the NIACC Board of Trustees since 2001. This is Torgeson’s second stint on the Foundation Board of Directors. She is a scholarship donor, member of the Iowa Association of Community College Trustees, and vice-chairperson of the Bethel United Methodist Church Memorial Committee. She was formerly involved with the American Nurses Association. Torgeson and her husband Mark have four daughters who all graduated from NIACC.

The Foundation Board of Directors also recognized Gene Christianson for his nine years of service on the Board. Christianson’s term ended in December 2019.

Officers for 2020 were elected at the Foundation Board meeting held in December 2019. Larry Pump will serve as President with Pat Sackville serving as Vice President. Noele Beaver will serve as Secretary/Treasurer.

Other members of the NIACC Foundation Board of Directors are Nancy Barnes, Jean Brumm, Leon Christianson, Lindsey Falk, John Heilskov, Kim Pang, Kirk Paulson, Bill Paulus, Shanan Redinger, Lewis Schaal, Chuck Schafer, Rod Schlader, Emily Schmitt, Laurie Shultz, David Steffens, and David Zrostlik.

Created in 1968 as a separate 501(c)(3) organization, the NIACC Foundation strives to keep higher education accessible to North Iowa residents through student scholarships and to enhance the programs and activities of the College.

The NIACC Foundation’s mission is to support the College through scholarships, fundraising for special projects, grants for instructor education or other areas of need to help the College work toward its mission.