J. Scott Raecker
Executive Director
Scott Raecker serves as Executive Director of The Robert D. and Billie Ray Center at Drake University – a position he has held since the work of the center was founded by former Governor Robert D. Ray as a lasting legacy to the Iowa Sesquicentennial in 1997. In addition to his leadership of The Ray Center, Scott also serves as co-Executive Director of the Ron and Jane Olson Institute for Public Democracy at Drake.
Scott’s commitment to positively impact the lives of others was also reflected in his 14 years of public service as a member of the Iowa House of Representatives from 1999 through 2012. In the legislature, Scott served in numerous leadership roles including chair of the House Appropriations Committee, chair of the Ethics Committee, and chair of the Midwest Council of Government’s Legislative Leadership Institute. Scott’s public service experience and professional passion for civility has led to his work with The Ray Center impacting state legislative leaders and staff in all 50 states and U.S. territories as well as leaders in Canada and Mexico.
Scott is involved in numerous civic volunteer efforts. Scott serves as a board member and current chair of the Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation, Drake University School of Education International Advisory Board, Board Member Emeritus of the Smithsonian Institution Center for Folk Life and Cultural Studies, Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation Advisory Board, Rotary Club of Des Moines AM Board, and the Shining City Foundation. He is a member of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church and Urbandale Chamber of Commerce.
Scott has received numerous recognitions and honors throughout his career including the prestigious Sanford N. McDonnell Award for Lifetime Achievement in Character Education in 2018.
Scott is a graduate of Grinnell College where he received his B.A. in Political Science and Religious Studies. Scott is also certified as a character development specialist and corporate ethics trainer through the Josephson Institute of Ethics.
Scott and his wife, Martha, live in Urbandale. Their children include Emily who is married to Adam, and Max.
Emily Brown
Director, Events
Emily joined The Robert D. and Billie Ray Center in December 2024. She graduated from Iowa State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Hospitality Management and later earned a Master of Science in Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies, focusing on educational leadership and public relations. Emily has over a decade of experience in event management, including leading large-scale donor engagement events and creating mission-driven experiences that drive impactful outcomes.
Emily and her husband, Eric, live in Ankeny and have two children, Ava and Jack.
Tabitha Choquette
Director, Programs
Tabitha graduated from the University of Kentucky in Lexington, KY with a B.A. in Education with a Major in Social Studies Secondary Education. She moved to Iowa in 2010. For twelve years she worked in the early childhood field, serving as a teacher and then administrator. She managed a site to national accreditation and implemented new programing that focused on social and emotional development. Her passion is helping young children gain skills to become better adults full of civility, resiliency and kindness.
Tabitha and her family live in Des Moines and enjoy taking advantage of all the parks, events, and community engagement opportunities it has to offer.
Ryan Harris
Associate Director, CHARACTER COUNTS! Business Development
Ryan Harris joined The Robert D. and Billie Ray Center in January 2020. Prior to joining The Ray Center, Ryan worked for Drake University Athletics. His career has focused on marketing, revenue generation, and customer service in professional and collegiate athletics.
A native of Marshalltown, Iowa, he earned a Bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of Northern Iowa and Master’s degree in Sport Management from Northern Illinois University. Ryan and his wife, Liz, have two daughters, Nora and Eloise, and live in Huxley.
Jason Lamping
Director, CHARACTER COUNTS! Business Development
Jason came to Drake with 20 years of experience in business development and has held leadership roles in directing sales and marketing strategy. Jason is passionate about personnel development, ethical leadership, and creating a positive culture in the workplace. Jason was with Aureon for the past 15 years and ultimately focused on helping businesses better leverage technology to advance their mission and purpose. Jason has also spent several years as an adjunct professor at Grand View University. He has taught classes in Business Ethics and Strategic Marketing and has created and delivered courses in all formats, including online learning. Jason is a graduate of the University of Iowa with a BBA in Marketing (1995) and an MBA from Drake University (2004).
Jason and his wife Lori have two daughters, Jayna and Cara and live in Johnston. In his free time he enjoys spending time with family, coaching youth sports, church activities, running, and golfing.
Gwen Martin
Merchandising and Licensing Coordinator
Gwendolyn Martin has been with The Robert D. and Billie Ray Center since October 2019. She has her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a Minor in Educational Studies from Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa. She also earned her Master of Business Administration from Drake University in 2022. Gwen worked as an associate in a central Iowa school district prior to her work with CHARACTER COUNTS!
Gwendolyn lives in Granger with her husband, Kyle, and their two children, Nolan and Elzada.
Cheri McDaniel
Executive Assistant and Project Specialist
Cheri joined the team in December 2005. Prior to joining our team, she spent ten years in different positions with a school district. Cheri attended business school in Spencer, Iowa, and has spent her career taking care of others.
Cheri married her best friend Howard in November 1985. Since then they have lived in the Storm Lake area and then the Des Moines metro. They have two adult children and two grandchildren.
Megan Shrum
Assistant Director, Programs
Megan joined The Robert D. and Billie Ray Center in September 2023. Her background is in education, having taught fifth grade for four years prior to joining the team. She is originally from the Des Moines area and is a graduate of Butler University with a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. Megan is passionate about equipping young learners with life skills and creating positive learning environments.
Megan lives in Des Moines with her family. In her free time, she enjoys running, reading, spending time with family, and watching sports.
Amy Smit
Director, Communications and Administration
Amy Smit joined The Ray Center team in 2004.
Amy earned a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Minnesota, a Master’s degree in Communications Leadership from Drake University, and is a certified character development specialist through the Josephson Institute of Ethics. Amy gained professional experience in both the political and non-profit fields before joining the team.
She lives in Urbandale with her husband, Chad, and their children, Noah and Avery.
Deb Taylor
Administrative and Program Specialist
Debra Taylor joined The Robert D. and Billie Ray Center team in March of 2016. Her prior experience includes administrative assistant for the Marketing & Institutional Advancement director and Education Foundation Office at Southwestern Community College and serving as an assistant to the bureau chief at the Iowa Department of Education within The Division of Community Colleges.
Debra and her husband reside in Urbandale and still own their acreage home in Creston, Iowa. She is the mother of three grown children Cayla, Cyle, and Casey. She loves children and enjoys spending time with her grandchildren: Althea, Cordelia, Calvin, and Claire.
Jim Dugan
Director of Josephson Exemplary Policing Initiative
Policing Consultant and Trainer
Jim has a professional career path that is both accomplished and diverse. During his 13-year law enforcement career, Jim worked primarily in the areas of narcotic enforcement and police training. During that time, he received numerous awards and accommodations for his work in those areas and was a speaker at several state-wide law enforcement conferences throughout the northeast. He achieved the rank of Captain of Detectives at the age of 32 when he was promoted to Director of a New Jersey State Certified Police Training Academy.
Jim’s highly decorated police career ended abruptly in 1997 because of an ethical tragedy caused by “one bad decision” that took him outside the lines of what was right. In this course, Jim takes you through the painful journey, both professionally and personally, that resulted from his unethical conduct.
Allie Gardner
Educational Consultant and Trainer
Allie Gardner is known for her faith-filled leadership and a deep passion for imparting knowledge and love through education. She is an educator, mentor, and facilitator with an extensive leadership, education, and emotional intelligence background. Allie’s educational journey includes a Master of Education in Leadership from Dordt College, a Master of Arts in Teaching from Morningside College, and a Bachelor of Science in Education from Peru State College. She is pursuing her Doctorate in Organizational Leadership at California Coast University.
Allie’s professional journey spans over two decades, where she has served as an Education and Leadership Consultant crafting personalized educational and motivational curricula. With her diverse skill set, which includes leadership development, program administration, special education, and classroom teaching, Allie has positively impacted the education landscape.
Michael Josephson
Founder, CHARACTER COUNTS!
As the founder of CHARACTER COUNTS!, Michael Josephson is an influential and internationally renowned champion of character education for ethical conduct in business, government, policing, and law. Employing his groundbreaking insights and strategies, Mr. Josephson has assisted law enforcement agencies to strengthen individual and institutional decision-making and create sustainable ethical cultures.
He is the author of over a dozen books and major studies including the Exemplary Peace Officer series for police officers. Michael has received many honors for his work, including America’s Award for Integrity, presented by former President Ronald Reagan.
Carrie Davis Marchant
Educational Consultant and Trainer
Growing up in a spiritually and culturally rich Appalachian community in southwest Virginia helped shape Carrie’s values of integrity, honesty, caring, and especially her ability to never give up and look at adversity as an opportunity.
She received her Master’s Degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice from East Tennessee State University. She has also served as an adjunct faculty for the Criminal Justice / Criminology Department at Northeast State Community College in Blountville, TN, and has previously served as an adjunct professor at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, TN. Carrie is the President of Foundations for Life Principles (FLP), a mental health organization, incorporating all her vast experience, education, and drive into a multifaceted ethics-based organization with an array of services offered. Carrie has practiced what she preached about being a life-long learner, by obtaining another Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy with an emphasis in Licensed Professional Clinical Counseling.
Will Pulgarin, Ed.D.
Educational Consultant and Trainer
Dr. Will Pulgarin brings over two decades of experience in education, having served in diverse educational settings, including public, private, and charter schools. His teaching career spans multiple grade levels, with a strong focus on middle and high school education. He earned his doctorate from St. Thomas University in Florida, where his dissertation examined the efficacy of character education programs.
Gary Smit, Ed.D.
Educational Consultant and Trainer
Gary Smit was a superintendent for 25 years in Illinois and Wisconsin and has also been a school principal and classroom teacher.
Taking the perspective that the goal of education is not only to have students do their best academic work but to be their best self, Gary provides educators with useful and relevant strategies to use in building classrooms and schools of character. An attention-grabbing and practical presenter, Gary gives keynote addresses for schools and districts that speak not only to the head but the heart.
2702 Forest Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50311
515-271-1910
RayCenter@Drake.edu
© 2025 The Robert D. and Billie Ray Center at Drake University.