State Historical Society of Iowa Press Release

DCA announces Sarabeth Anderson as new State Historical Society of Iowa Administrator

DES MOINES –The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs today announced Sarabeth Anderson has been named Administrator of the State Historical Society of Iowa, a division of the department.

“We are very pleased to have Sarabeth joining us in this leadership position,” DCA Director Mary Cownie said. “Her extensive background and experience will be strong assets as we continue working to preserve our state’s history and educate Iowans about the past.”

In her new role, Anderson will oversee SHSI’s State Historic Preservation Office, State Historical Library and Archives, the State Records Center and Historic Sites across the state.

Anderson is a 1994 graduate of the University of Iowa College of Liberal Arts and a 1998 graduate of the University of Iowa College of Law. More recently, she completed a Masters of Art in Political Science at Iowa State University.

Following a brief stint at Wichita Legal Services, Anderson became Managing Director of Planned Giving and Major Gifts for the United Way of the Plains. Later, she founded Dress for Success Wichita, where she was Executive Director.

Upon returning to Iowa, she became CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Iowa, followed by a role as Managing Attorney for the Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence’s (ICADV) MUNA Legal Clinic. She later became Director of Development and Communication for ICADV.

Anderson resides in Des Moines with her husband, Will, and two sons.

 

###

The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs is responsible for developing the state’s interest in the areas of the arts, history and other cultural matters with the advice and assistance from its two divisions: the State Historical Society of Iowa and the Iowa Arts Council. DCA preserves, researches, interprets and promotes an awareness and understanding of local, state and regional history and stimulates and encourages the study and presentation of the performing and fine arts and public interest and participation in them. It implements tourism-related art and history projects as directed by the General Assembly and designs a comprehensive, statewide, long-range plan with the assistance of the Iowa Arts Council to develop the arts in Iowa. More information about DCA is available at www.culturalaffairs.org.