Jeff Johnson

Ames, Iowa

For six years, Jeff Johnson has been proud to confer the Impact Award upon outstanding leaders who have shaped the campus and community  at Iowa State University.

But in 2008, there are few individuals more deserving of this honor than the man who helped create it. When Johnson became president of the ISU Alumni Association in 1999, he heard a message loud and clear: the Association needed to build. It needed a home for the alumni family to call its own. It needed vision and strength to make this dream a reality.

It wasn't easy, but less than a decade later Johnson's persistence, vision, and leadership have helped turn this dream into a reality. The ISU Alumni Center opened its doors in July to rave reviews. The facility has space for alumni gatherings, for showcasing traditions, and for celebrating the university that has meant so much to hundreds of thousands of alumni and friends.

Johnson worked tirelessly to secure funding for the center. He worked side-by-side with the architects, contractors, and university staff to manage the details of the project. He worked long hours and faced daunting challenges, but all the while he kept foremost in mind the purpose of the ISU Alumni Center: to create a permanent home on campus for alumni, students, and friends -- the people who make Iowa State great, the people he serves.