Warren and Beverly Madden

Order of the Knoll Faculty/Staff Award



Warren and Beverly Madden

BS '60, Home Economics Education (Beverly)
MS '70, Family Environment (Beverly)
BS '61, Industrial Engineering (Warren)
Ames, Iowa

Over the course of the last 40 years, the personal and working lives of Warren (’61 industrial engineering) and Beverly (’60 home economics education, M.S. ’70 family environment) Madden melded and Iowa State University has become their life.

These two individuals have served in virtually every professional and volunteer capacity that the university and surrounding community might offer. Since graduating from Iowa State, the Maddens have devoted their time, talent, and resources to the betterment of Iowa State. They are wonderful examples of active and contributing citizens of both the university and Ames communities. They can be seen at almost every Iowa State event, from arts to athletics and everything in between.

Warren Madden began his career at Iowa State in 1966 in the business office. By 1984 he had been named vice president for business and finance. In this capacity, he has been an invaluable resource and leader for six of Iowa State’s presidents. During his career on campus, enrollment doubled, the budget increased by more than $800 million, and the campus added more than 8 million square feet of space.

His reputation nationally is legendary. He is past president of the Central Association of College and University Business; he chaired the Business Affairs Council of the National Association of State University and Land Grant Colleges; he serves on the board of directors for the Council of Governmental Relations; and he is a founding member and past president of the University Risk Management and Insurance Association. In 1993, the National Association of College and University Business Officers bestowed upon Madden its coveted Distinguished Business Officer Award.

He is an ISU Foundation Governor and serves on the Foundation’s Board of Directors. He is also a member of the ISU Alumni Association’s Board of Directors and a past member of the Memorial Union Board.

Beverly Madden’s legacy at Iowa State is also diverse and extraordinary. She was one of Iowa State’s very first honors students. While working on her master’s degree, she taught the home management residence course.

A College of Family and Consumer Sciences faculty member, she taught in food science for 15 years prior to coordinating the college's career services office and spearheading the college's development efforts.

She also served as the director of Iowa State’s Career Services Office. During her tenure, Iowa State was recognized for providing one of the top 35 career services programs in the nation and recent graduates were featured at the university’s Iowa State Fair exhibit. She recently retired as the university’s director of the Career Planning and Placement Office. Her work in that office directly affected the lives of thousands of Iowa State students as they prepared to transition into the workforce.

She is an ISU Foundation Governor and has served on the Foundation’s Governance Committee and the Women and Philanthropy Board.

The Maddens have taken leadership roles in their philanthropy to Iowa State by supporting many projects on campus, most notably the Palmer Human Development and Family Studies Building; the Jischke Honors Building; the renovations of Beardshear Hall, Morrill Hall, and the construction of the gateway to campus, as well as University Museums and the Season at Stephens.

The Maddens are members of the Order of the Knoll W.M. Beardshear Society and Campanile Society and life members of the ISU Alumni Association. They reside in Ames and are the parents of two sons: Walter and William, both of whom are Iowa State engineering graduates.