Four Longtime Simpson Employees Announce Retirement

Simpson is preparing to say farewell to four distinguished faculty and staff members whose combined decades of service have helped shape the institution. Retiring this spring are Cyd Dyer, college librarian and archivist; Brian Steffen, professor of multimedia communication and media studies; David Olsgaard, professor of physics; and Mimi Bartley-Nancarrow, assistant vice president for human resources.

Cyd Dyer, the college’s longest-serving employee, leaves behind a legacy of scholarship, mentorship and community service. Dyer has overseen major projects during her tenure, including the recent remodel of Dunn Library, which reopened in January 2024, and the development of the physical and digital college archives. She shadowed May Term in the Yucatán, co-taught three times with Jackie Brittingham in Costa Rica and remains active in several Iowa library associations. Dyer also serves on the Indianola Public Library Board and volunteers with Open Table, a local weekly meal program. She holds an M.A. in library and information science and a B.A. in communication studies, both from the University of Iowa.

“My time at Simpson has been an adventure,” said Dyer. “Say yes to new opportunities. Learn from the past, look forward to your future, and live in the present.”

Brian Steffen retires after a distinguished career that began at Simpson in 1989. He served as chair of the Department of Media, Communication and Design from 2002 to 2022 and resumed the role in 2024. A former journalist with the Associated Press and Ames Daily Tribune, Steffen has received multiple teaching awards, including Simpson’s Distinguished Teaching Award and the national Small Program Teacher of the Year from the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication in 2009. He has led more than a dozen student travel courses, broadening perspectives on media across the globe. Steffen earned a Ph.D. in mass communication from the University of Iowa and both his B.S. and M.S. in journalism and mass communication from Iowa State University.

“Coming to teach at Simpson was a dream come true for me,” said Steffen. “I loved it from day one, and even though there were plenty of challenges for the College and the program along the way, I always looked forward to coming to campus every day to be with my colleagues and students.”

David Olsgaard has taught physics at Simpson for more than 25 years, specializing in experimental quantum optics and laser spectroscopy. A published researcher with articles in Physical Review Letters, Journal of Chemical Physics, and others, Olsgaard is also a competitive tennis player with a USTA 4.0 rating. He earned a Ph.D. from Old Dominion University and a B.S. from North Dakota State University. Another tidbit: there was no physics professor at Simpson College before he arrived—physics was taught by a chemist. Olsgaard started the current physics program.

Mimi Bartley-Nancarrow ’83 concludes her tenure as assistant vice president of human resources, where she played a vital role in supporting Simpson’s staff and faculty with care and professionalism. A proud Simpson alumna from the Class of 1983, Bartley-Nancarrow also holds an M.B.A. from Drake University. Over the years, she became known not just for her steady leadership, but for cultivating a sense of community—especially through her beloved lunchtime potlucks, where staff gathered to share food, stories and camaraderie. Her contributions to employee well-being and workplace culture leave a lasting legacy.

“I am thankful for the phone call from Chris Goodale ‘86 letting me know there was an HR position available at Simpson,” said Bartley-Nancarrow. “That led me to have the opportunity to work for the institution that has provided me with an internship that introduced me to the world of HR, lifelong friends, and my own version of a Simpson sweetheart. It has been a great ride – thank you.”