Today on Legacy Leavers, I’m honored to sit down with a leader whose career has been defined by service, advocacy and a deep commitment to expanding opportunity for others - Sally Pederson.

Sally served as Iowa’s 44th Lieutenant Governor from 1999 to 2007, alongside Governor Tom Vilsack, helping lead our state during a time of significant focus on education, economic development, equity and access in healthcare and quality of life.

Before her time in public office, Sally built a successful career in the private sector as an editor and executive with Meredith Corporation, bringing a strong foundation in communication and leadership to her public service.

But what makes Sally’s story especially powerful is how personal experience shaped her public impact. As the parent of a child with autism, she became a tireless, and effective, advocate for individuals with disabilities - work that ultimately led her to help create one of the most innovative programs in the country. Sally initiated the vision for what would become the REACH program at the University of Iowa, a program designed to provide a true college experience for young adults with intellectual and learning disabilities and to prepare them for independent, meaningful lives.

Today, hundreds of students have graduated from the REACH program and are living, working and contributing in communities across the country - a lasting testament to Sally’s vision and legacy.

Sally’s life reminds us that some of the most meaningful legacies come from seeing a gap and choosing to fill it.

Links from the episode

Sally Pederson’s bio

Better Homes and Gardens

The Homestead

UI REACH