Thank you for an evening of inspiration and celebration!

Connie Boesen

Mayor, City of Des Moines, IA

 Connie is a proud graduate of East High School, and she attended both Des Moines Area Community College and Grand View University. She then had a successful career as a buyer for Younkers department store. Today, in addition to her service to the people of Des Moines, she continues to own and operate the Applishus and Salad Bowl concessions businesses which are favorites at the Iowa State Fair. Connie continues to call the east side of Des Moines home, where she lives with her husband, Ted.

Connie served on the Des Moines School Board from 2003 – 2017.

In 2017 Connie was elected as one of Des Moines at-large City Council members.

Dau D. Jok, Ph.D.

Captain, United States Army (USAR)

Dr. Dau Jok is an optimistic results-oriented leader with proven experience in non-profit, military, coaching, and education. A former Division I basketball captain, Dr. Jok is a 2021-2 SEL Fellow for the CASEL Fellows Academy, non-profit director, Captain in the United States Army Reserve, and a national speaker. His quest to create inclusive communities of human excellence by humanizing knowledge, leadership, and work is informed by his indigenous Dinka (South Sudan) roots. Dr. Jok currently serves as the Executive Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for West Des Moines Community Schools in West Des Moines, Iowa. 

Dr. Jok holds a BA in Philosophy from the University of Pennsylvania, a MSc in Global Leadership from Goldsmiths, University of London, and a Ph.D. in Education from Drake University. His research and praxis focus on Indigenous Knowledge Systems—Indigenous Education and Leadership—leadership, diversity, equity, and inclusion, and social and emotional learning/emotional intelligence. 

Social Media

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/daudutjok/

Twitter: @DauDutJok