Clinton Alexander (Anishinaabe, enrolled member of White Earth Band of Ojibwe) has worked in the public health field for over a decade addressing health inequities among American Indian communities in both rural and urban settings. With an emphasis on social justice, he has worked extensively with local, state, Federal and Tribal authorities to form a groundbreaking collaboration using a coalition-based approach focused on harm reduction and public health programming to prevent HIV, HCV, STIs, and overdose fatalities. He currently serves as the Harm Reduction Integration Program Manager for the White Earth Nation in Minnesota where he continues to work in the public health field addressing substance misuse and HIV/HCV/STI/OD prevention.

Nicole Novak, Ph.D., MSc, is an outreach team leader and joined IHRC’s board of directors in 2017. She is passionate about health equity in Iowa and believes in grassroots action to make it easier for Iowans to care for themselves, their families, and their communities. Prior to returning to her home state of Iowa she was a friend and ally to Camp Take Notice, a democratically self-governing community of people experiencing homelessness in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She was also a resident volunteer at Mercy House, a house of hospitality and intentional community affiliated with Camp Take Notice. She earned MSc degrees in Medical Anthropology and Global Health as a Rhodes Scholar at the University of Oxford, and a PhD in Epidemiology from the University of Michigan. Nicole conducts epidemiologic and community-engaged research on a number of topics related to health and social justice and currently works as a postdoctoral scholar in the University of Iowa College of Public Health. She lives in Iowa City with her husband, Ethan, and IHRC outreach sidekick, Ursa.

Kevin W. Techau is an attorney with the Scheldrup Blades Law Firm with offices in Cedar Rapids & Des Moines, Iowa and Omaha, Nebraska. He is chair of the firm’s Government Compliance, Internal Investigations/Municipal Defense practice. He previously served as the presidentially appointed United States Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa 2014-2017. As chief federal law enforcement official for the District, he organized and led the Eastern Iowa Opioid Initiative. Kevin’s 30-year public/private career includes service as Commissioner of the Iowa Department of Public Safety and Director of the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals in Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack’s cabinet and seven years as Associate General Counsel at American Equity Investment Life Insurance Company. He retired as a Colonel with 27 years of total military service including seven years on active duty with the United States Air Force as a Judge Advocate, and 20 years of service with the Iowa Air National Guard, upon retirement he was awarded the Legion of Merit Medal. A graduate of the University of Iowa College of Business and College of Law, Kevin’s community service currently incudes Boards of Keep Iowa Beautiful and America’s Job Honor Award. Past service includes Boards of the Des Moines Public Library (Past President), Keep Iowa Beautiful (Past President), Des Moines Area Religious Council, Iowa National Guard Credit Union and Iowa National Guard Officer’s
Association (Past President). He received the Iowa Public Health Heroes Award, University of Iowa, College of Public Health, 2016; Safe Kids Iowa Leadership Award, Blank Children’s Hospital, 2007; Government Leadership Award, Greater Des Moines Partnership, 2006.

Elected in 2014 to a four-year term in the Iowa Senate. I represent the people of Johnson, Keokuk and Washington counties.

I currently serve as the ranking member on the Agriculture committee; I also serve on the Ethics, Judiciary, and Natural Resources & Environment committees.

I was born and raised in Oxford, Iowa and have two grown children, Shaun and Megan, with my wife Debbie.

I have been farming for more than 30 years. My wife and I own and operate our family’s century farm, raising livestock and row crops.

I retired as a Lieutenant in the Investigations Division of the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office and served the community for 30 years in law enforcement. I am currently a reserve deputy for the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office. While in investigations I was assigned to the US Attorney’s office Ad Hoc task force on Heroin overdose deaths and was also in charge of the Johnson County Drug Task Force.

I have also served three terms on the Clear Creek Amana School Board.

In 2014 I received the American Legion’s Midwest Region Law Enforcement Officer of the Year and was the national runner-up for the American Legion National Law Officer of the Year. In 2012, I received the Law Enforcement Victim Service award, as well as the Continuous Service Award from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

I have also been involved as an active member of several community organizations, including the Farm Bureau, Knights of Columbus and the Johnson County Cattlemen’s Association. I also served on various law enforcement boards with the goal of increasing public safety in Iowa.

Jen Kositzky CADC, is the Executive Director of Cedar Valley Recovery Services, providing Medication Assisted Treatment to patients in Cedar Falls, Dubuque and Marion, Iowa. Jen graduated from Mount Mercy University in 2008 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. For the last 10 years, Jen has been dedicated to improving the lives of others in the mental health and substance abuse field. Jen’s experience as a group facilitator, case manager, drug counselor and supervisor have provided her with a strong empathic and holistic approach to treating those in crisis. Her drive is fueled by simply “being rational” and “meeting people where they are at.” At the end of a rewarding work day, Jen can be found embarking on an outdoor adventure with her husband, 2 year old son and their rescued collie/coyote pup.

Representative Shannon Lundgren has served one term in the Iowa House of Representatives serving district 57 (Peosta). Shannon was born and raised in Dubuque County. She works in her family owned Restaurant called Trackside Bar & Grill, with her husband Charlie and oldest daughter Alexis (who attended the University of Iowa). They have a second daughter who will graduate from UNI in December.

Lundgren is passionate about small business growth and development as well as Health and Human Services issues. Few people know that Lundgren has her own family experience with opioid addiction. Her husband was involved in a deadly car accident in 1998 when their daughters were just two and four years old. A year later, he was admitted into a 9-week program at the Mayo Clinic for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and opioid addiction. This experience has given her a valuable perspective which has allowed her to look at the Opioid Epidemic from a personal and professional vantage point, taking painstaking care that any passed legislation will help people in the best possible way.