Distinguished Alumni Award Winner Profile

As a leader in government relations and community organizations and an advocate of the University of Iowa, Andrea (Jansa) Woodard has been an influential community builder for the state of Iowa.

A former UI cheerleader, Woodard witnessed firsthand one of the most exciting plays in Iowa football history when the Hawkeyes won the 2005 Capital One Bowl on a thrilling last-second play that became known as “The Catch.”

Since earning UI degrees in communication studies and political science, Woodard has become a catalyst for Iowa’s economic growth. In the Iowa legislature, she advanced from campaign manager to research analyst to lobbyist, building strong relationships while gaining experience with policy and process.

In 2014, she joined the Greater Des Moines Partnership, where she directed public policy and lobbied for chamber members. She was promoted in 2019 to senior vice president of government relations and public policy. Woodard has worked to improve access to child care, apprenticeships, rural broadband, and other economic drivers.

In 2024, she was chosen to lead the Iowa State Association of Counties, where Woodard continues fostering collaboration and drawing on her in-depth knowledge of state and federal legislative policy.

Both the Des Moines Business Record and the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives have recognized Woodard as a Forty Under 40 honoree. Her volunteer work includes co-founding Relevé, a Des Moines women’s leadership group, and serving on the boards of Des Moines Parks and Recreation and the Orchard Place Foundation that provides mental health services for Iowa children. She is vice president of the On With Life Foundation, which supports brain injury rehabilitation services.

Dedicated to lifelong learning and her community, Woodard also serves the UI Department of Political Science as an adjunct assistant professor, alumni advisory board member, and mentor.