Senior Leadership Team
As the AVP for Finance, Heather provides strategic leadership for the Finance Delivery teams as well as the Central Finance operations (Procurement, Controller's Department, Payroll and Fringe Benefits Accounting & Compliance) to provide synergies and coordination for the financial functions within the University. She is responsible for the consistency and effectiveness of the Finance service delivery teams, training and development plans, performance, employee engagement and customer service. Heather co-leads the ISD Advisory Committee along with Dwaine Heppler, AVP for HR Service and Strategy. Heather has more than 20 years of senior executive leadership experience in health care, having served as a rural hospital CEO and CFO before coming to Iowa State and serving as the Business Manager in the Recreation Services Department. Heather earned her bachelors of business administration (BBA) degree in Accounting from the University of Iowa and her Masters in Healthcare Administration from Des Moines University. She and her husband Greg have four children; Alexa, Mackenzie, Emily and Jay along with a Labradoodle named Bob and a Labrador named Otis. She enjoys spending time with family on their acreage near Boone and antiquing in her free time.
Assistant: Schyler Polaski, spolaski@iastate.edu
As the Finance Manager for Finance Service Delivery, Karen provides leadership support to a group of supervisors who are each responsible for a team of specialists serving dedicated areas of the university. Karen collaborates with the senior leadership team regarding high-level strategies, goals, and operating plans. Karen has more than 20 years of experience in accounting and auditing, having worked for a local CPA firm and a bank before coming to Iowa State. At Iowa State, Karen spent many years leading the Office of Internal Audit and then served as a Business Manager for the unit now known as Specialty Business Services and Cultural Arts. Karen earned her bachelors of business administration in accounting from Iowa State and is a Certified Public Accountant, Certified Internal Auditor, and a Certified Fraud Examiner. Outside of work, Karen enjoys spending time with her family and dogs. She also loves cooking, baking, and developing recipes.
As the Operations Manager for Finance Service Delivery, Rachael provides strategic leadership for the finance operations team by providing guidance relating to central finance, procurement, and grant policies and procedures. Rachael works directly with business analysts and central finance to recommend and support improvements to current business processes. She is responsible for collaboration with senior leadership and central finance offices to identify training needs and operational priorities in order to ensure consistency throughout the finance service teams. Additionally she provides input to leadership on changes proposed by other units that could impact finance service delivery. Rachael has worked with Iowa State University since 2013, having served as a fiscal officer and internal auditor before joining Finance Service Delivery as an Assistant Manager of finance. Rachael holds a bachelors degree in Finance and a masters degree in Accounting, both attained at Iowa State University. When Rachael is not working, she enjoys spending time with her husband and their three children Kessler, Isley and Charlie. She uses excel for everything and loves to golf!
As the Finance Manager for Finance Service Delivery, Jenni provides leadership support to a group of supervisors who are each responsible for a team of specialists serving dedicated areas of the university. Jenni collaborate with the senior leadership team regarding high-level strategies, goals, and operating plans. Jenni has been with Iowa State University since September of 2018, having served as a fiscal coordinator for the Materials Science and Engineering department before joining Finance Service Delivery. Prior to Iowa State, Jenni began her career in healthcare in Gillette, Wyoming, before transitioning into higher education. She served as the business manager for two years for Gillette College and athletic director for both Gillette College and Sheridan College for three years prior to relocating to Iowa. Jenni holds a bachelors degree in Information Services and a masters degree in Strategic Leadership. She enjoys spending time with her family and cheering on the Cyclones!
