Foundation announces new board leadership
Posted on August 18, 2026 in Foundation
JOHNSTON, IA (July 29, 2026) – Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation has announced the appointment of several new board leadership roles. Dr. Nafissa Cisse Egbuonye has been named Board Chair, Rowena “Ro” Crosbie is now Vice Chair, Dr. Clark Stanford was welcomed as a new board member, and Juliann Van Liew transitioned from an advisory member to a board seat.
The Foundation board oversees giving programs that strengthen the connections between oral and overall health, improve access to oral and vision health care, and integrate care across health systems for whole-person well-being. In 2025, Delta Dental of Iowa and the Foundation committed more than $3.6 million to 230 organizations to address oral and overall health needs across Iowa.
“On behalf of Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation, we’re pleased to welcome and congratulate our new board leadership and members. Each board member contributes a unique perspective and shares in our deep commitment to improving the health and smiles of all Iowans,” said Suzanne Heckenlaible, executive director of Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation. “I’m grateful for their willingness to serve and look forward to working together as we continue expanding the Foundation’s impact across the state.”
Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation Board updates:
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Board Chair
Dr. Nafissa Cisse Egbuonye – Associate Vice President of Growth and Community Engagement, Molina Healthcare of Iowa, Des Moines
Egbuonye has served on the Foundation Board since 2020. She holds a doctoral degree in public health education from Texas A&M University and a master’s degree in public health from San Diego State University. With more than 10 years of public health field practice experience, Egbuonye has worked with a variety of organizations to conduct disease prevention research, implement public health services and health promotion programs, and advocate for vulnerable populations.
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Vice Chair
Rowena Crosbie – Founder and President, Tero International, Des Moines
Crosbie first served on the Foundation Board from 2015-2021, before re-joining as an advisory member in 2025. She has also held past roles, including Board Chair, for Delta Dental of Iowa. Crosbie is the president of Tero International and the co-author of the book, Your Invisible Toolbox. She graduated from the University of Manitoba with a Certificate in Management.
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Board Member
Dr. Clark Stanford – Dean and Professor of Prosthodontics, University of Iowa College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics, Iowa City
Stanford is new to the Foundation Board. He is a nationally recognized leader in restorative dentistry and craniofacial research, with a career spanning academic leadership, clinical care, and extensive scholarly publication. A University of Iowa alumnus who later led the University of Illinois Chicago College of Dentistry, he returned to Iowa in 2022 to guide the college’s education, research, and patient care mission.
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Board Member
Juliann Van Liew – Director of the Polk County Health Department, Des Moines
Van Liew has served on the Foundation Board as an advisory member since 2025. She has spent the past decade in governmental public health and is currently the Director of the Polk County Health Department. Van Liew received her undergraduate degree from Drake University, her master’s in public health from the University of Minnesota and is currently pursuing her Doctor of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University.
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For a complete list of Delta Dental Foundation Board members, visit our website at https://www.deltadentalia.com/foundation/about/board/.