Jo Lavera is a past president and member of the IWF Board of Directors. She is originally from Decatur, IL and holds a bachelor’s in Teaching Mathematics from the University of Illinois and an MBA in Administrative Science from the University of Iowa.

In 1985, she began working at the University of Iowa Museum as a Business Manager until she retired in 2007. Jo Lavera has lived, worked and served for many decades in Iowa City and presently serves on the Board of Directors of the Foundation of the Iowa City Community School District and volunteers with United Way of Johnson and Washington Counties.

While all barriers to self-sufficiency are important, Jo Lavera is most passionate about Education/Training and Mentorship. Her parents reiterated that education leads to opportunities, and she knows how crucial it is for women to learn from other women—especially in the professional realm.