DCA announces new deputy director

For Immediate Release March 14, 2007

(DES MOINES, Iowa) – Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs Director Cyndi Pederson today announced Mary Jane Olney has been named deputy director.

Olney joins DCA after 18 years at the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, where she was director of the market development and administrative services division and oversaw a variety of areas ranging from human resources to the Iowa Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program.

“We are delighted to have Mary Jane joining us as deputy director,” Pederson said. “Her extensive experience and knowledge of state government will be an asset to the department in fulfilling its dual mission of education and promotion of cultural arts and history in Iowa.”

A Des Moines native, Olney earned a Bachelor of Science from Drake University and was an elementary school teacher in Des Moines before returning to Drake and receiving a master’s degree in personnel and administration.

“I am looking forward to working with Cyndi Pederson and the experienced and dedicated staff at DCA,” Olney said. “Iowans can be very proud of the role DCA plays in promoting and encouraging excellence in the arts and preserving Iowa’s history.”

Today’s announcement comes about three weeks after Gov. Chet Culver appointed Pederson to head DCA.

“I am honored to receive this appointment as director of DCA in the Culver/Judge administration,” Pederson said. “We are all aware how important arts, culture and history are in developing a creative economy in Iowa that is vital to the growth and prosperity of our state.”

In 1998, Pederson served as a member of former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack’s transition team and was named Chief of Staff to former First Lady Christie Vilsack.

In 2005, she joined DCA as coordinator for Iowa Great Places, an initiative developed by Vilsack and Lt. Gov. Sally Pederson (no relation) that combines state resources with local assets to make Iowa communities great places to live, work and play. In July 2006, Pederson was named interim deputy director, and was named interim director in January by Gov. Culver.

Pederson also worked with the Secretary of State’s office to develop “Capitol Project,” which brought Iowa high school students to Des Moines to learn about government first hand.

A Des Moines native, Pederson earned an associate’s degree at North Iowa Area Community College and a Bachelor of Arts in art education from Iowa State University.

The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs is responsible for developing the state’s interest in the areas of the arts, history and other cultural matters with the advice and assistance from its two divisions, the State Historical Society of Iowa and the Iowa Arts Council. The DCA preserves, researches, interprets and promotes an awareness and understanding of local, state and regional history and stimulates and encourages the study and presentation of the performing and fine arts and public interest and participation in them. It implements tourism-related art and history projects as directed by the general assembly and designs a comprehensive, statewide, long-range plan with the assistance of the Iowa Arts Council to develop the arts in Iowa. More information about DCA is available at www.culturalaffairs.org.