Staff

Deann Cook

Deann joins IWF after ten years as the president and CEO of United Ways of Iowa. During that time she worked to advocate for policies in education, financial stability and health while also strengthening local United Ways through training and networking. She managed statewide projects, including the ALICE report and Iowa Reading Corps.

Deann is responsible for leading operations, managing the team, and working with the IWF board of directors to drive IWF forward in its mission to improve the lives of Iowa’s women and girls.

Ann Parker

Ann was first introduced to Iowa Women’s Foundation over a decade ago after being invited to join the marketing committee. Her dedication to its mission has only grown, and today she proudly works to serve the needs of Iowa’s women and girls through her role as Program Manager. Ann attended Augustana College in Sioux Falls and earned a BA in Business at Iowa State University. After a short stint in Minneapolis, she returned to Iowa City for a 24-year career in the promotional products industry before officially joining the staff at IWF. She has been actively involved with a number of local organizations, serving on boards and volunteering her time while raising two boys with her husband.

Sheri Penney

Sheri is a native Iowan raised in Williamsburg and now lives in Osage. She has a BA in Elementary Education from the University of Iowa. Recently, Sheri was the Economic Development Director for Mitchell County.  She has experience working with businesses of all sizes and recently formed a team to look at ways to increase the availability of quality affordable child care in the county. Sheri has also been a child care provider and brings early care experience and knowledge to the position. She has extensive experience working with boards, committees and volunteers. She is described as a collaborator, connector and  visionary who is an excellent communicator, well received, and doesn’t shy away from a challenge.

Sheri is active in her community as president-elect of the Osage Rotary. She is a member of PDI and attended the Heartland Economic Development Course. She also teaches fitness classes in her community. Sheri is married to Chris and mother of three young children.

Hannah Rickert

Hannah is a recent graduate of the University of Iowa with a BA in Psychology, a Concentration in Gender, Women’s & Sexuality Studies, and a Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership & Philanthropy. She is originally from Waukee, Iowa.

Hannah interned with the Iowa Women’s Foundation to learn more about opportunities to advocate and support her interest in furthering women’s rights and fight gender inequities before joining the staff. As an undergrad, she was a WRACtivist volunteer with the University of Iowa Women’s Resource and Action Center. She also enjoyed volunteering at the Iowa City Animal Care and Adoption Center.

Hannah is most passionate about child care. As she notes, ‘it’s incredibly disheartening to see parents struggle to choose between employment and child care … my time with IWF has opened my eyes to so many creative solutions, further sparking my passion’.