The University of Iowa Eight Over 80 Award

Gregs Thomopulos has stood for integrity and service throughout his career and in retirement. In an ongoing mission to make the world a better place, the chair emeritus of Stanley Consultants volunteers diligently for nonprofits, including on the University of Iowa campus.

Thomopulos has lived in Iowa City for decades, cheering on the Hawkeyes whenever possible. He had a 51-year career at Stanley Consultants, a respected global consulting engineering firm headquartered in Muscatine, Iowa, and was its president and CEO for 20 years. Stanley Consultants has provided major infrastructure design services in over 90 countries worldwide, focused on developing and war-torn nations. One of his proudest moments was spending Christmas in Baghdad, Iraq, with Stanley’s employees who were deployed there but unable to celebrate the holidays with their families during the reconstruction of Iraq after the second Gulf War.

Since 1993, Thomopulos has been a valued advisor and supporter of the UI Center for Advancement, as well as engineering programs and its students. He currently serves on the Institute for International Business and the Stanley-UI Foundation Support Organization Board. He and his wife established scholarships for Iowa’s engineering students and recently joined in fundraising for the Stanley Museum of Art’s African art collection.

Thomopulos also volunteered on the Goodwill of the Heartland Board of Directors for 34 years. He established scholarships at the University of Kansas and advises their endowment association.

Thomopulos received prolific honors for his achievements, including a 2010 Honorary Doctor of Science from Iowa. In recognition of his inspired service to the nation in advancing sustainable infrastructure, higher education, and support for individuals with disabilities, he received the prestigious Ellis Island Medal of Honor in 2022.