Barbara & Don Roeder

Barbara and Don Roeder want to make a difference for others and generously support scholarships to help students earn their degrees. After graduating from John Marshall High School in Rochester, MN, in 1965, Barbara attended Rochester Junior College, earning an AA degree in 1967. That fall, she enrolled at Mankato State University and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Work, Sociology and Psychology in 1969. Barbara began her career at the Rochester State Hospital, serving in various supervisory and director positions. When she learned of the pending closure of the Rochester State Hospital in 1981, she enrolled in the Rochester Community and Technical College to complete the required undergraduate coursework for admission into WSU’s Masters in Business Administration program. Barbara earned her MBA in 1984. While working on her MBA, she served as the director of a private non-profit organization. In 1991, she accepted a position as the Grants/Projects Manager at Hawkeye Community College in Iowa.

After Barbara moved to Iowa, she met and married Don Roeder, who worked for John Deere. Don graduated from Hazleton High School in Hazleton, Iowa and, after completing his Army training and while still in the Army National Guard, he went to work for John Deere. In 1995, he retired from John Deere after 36 years.

Barbara retired from Hawkeye Community College with 20 years of service.