Dr. Jill OlsenJill Olsen began her Rotary Career in 2001 when she was a public school administrator in Marion, Iowa.  She has served as President of her club along with District co-chair of GSE after leading a team to South Korea in 2007.  She has also served as District Trainer and participated in an NID trip to Uttar Pradesh India where she also helped build catch-dam.  She will be traveling to Nigeria in October as a participant on an NID and to study opportunities for Rotary projects.

She has been awarded the District Service Above Self Award and Outstanding Small Club Award in 2010.  She is a multiple Paul Harris Fellow.

In her “other life” Jill loves working with students which includes teaching graduate classes for Graceland University. Her degrees are from Rutgers University, Winthrop University and Drake University.   She was honored as Iowa Teacher of the Year, Christa McAuliffe Fellow for Iowa, Scottish Rite Doctoral Fellow,  Fulbright Memorial Scholar to Japan and an Excellence in Teaching Delegate to Russia and is a member of the Marion School Foundation Hall of Fame.  Her work in service learning has received national recognition and began the Silver Cords for Service, a recognition given to graduating seniors.  In Jill’s words, it’s not what you know, but what you do with what you know that is important. Jill believes in that we must serve to learn and learn to serve. 

Currently in addition to her work in District 5970, Jill was appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate to serve as Chair of the Iowa Commission on the Status of Women and was also appointed Chair to the Iowa Department of Human Rights Board where she was elected chair.  Jill is also an active volunteer for the Cedar Rapids Symphony, CSPS, and Theatre Cedar Rapids. She has a son and daughter, both married.  She likes to garden, help her son on the farm and is trying her hand at raising bees.