Engineering alumna Kimberly K. Beardsley (BSE 1990 industrial engineering), Vice President, Worldwide Parts Services for Deere & Company, has been appointed to the UI College of Engineering Advisory Board.  She will begin serving her four-year term at the next board meeting April 13, 2018.

Beardsley also is the new Deere & Company corporate executive for the University of Iowa.

At Deere, Beardsley is responsible for managing worldwide parts distribution, materials and supply management, dealer services for parts, and parts pricing and parts systems in support of the company's equipment divisions.

Beardsley joined Deere & Company in 1990 as part of a student training program at John Deere Des Moines Works. After graduation, she held positions of increasing responsibility in manufacturing and production engineering at Des Moines Works and the Seeding Group in Moline, Illinois. Beardsley later worked in human resources before moving back into operations with assignments at John Deere Waterloo Works. Beardsley also served as the Manufacturing Manager at Des Moines Works; Operations Manager at John Deere Commercial Products; Global Director, Hydraulic Cylinders; and Director, Global Strategic Quality for the Ag & Turf Division. In 2011, she became the Global HR Director for the Ag & Turf Division before moving into her current role in 2013.

A native of Des Moines, Iowa, Beardsley also holds an MBA from Duke University.  She is an active member of the Society of Women Engineers. She is also the founder of the company's Women in Operations group.

Including Beardsley, the 25-member advisory board assists the College in developing and achieving its strategic plan/vision.  The board provides advice by drawing upon perspectives, knowledge, and experiences from global trends.  Meanwhile, the college provides awareness and knowledge of new technologies and educational trends, and informs the board of its progress in achieving the strategic plan.