Avis Van Zomeren, a 2019 graduate of Bethany Lutheran College, majored in Psychology and now serves as a Marketing Strategist at Principal Financial Group in Des Moines, Iowa. In this role, she brings creativity, communication, and critical thinking together to craft strategic messaging that connects clients to financial services in meaningful ways.
While her professional path led her into marketing, Avis continues to draw from the breadth of her Bethany experience—where she was encouraged not only to focus on her career goals, but also to nurture her many other passions.
“Having the opportunity to go to a small Christian school where one could be involved in multiple different activities was wonderful,” she says. “I learned the importance of choosing a career path while nurturing other passions at the same time.”
During her time at Bethany, Avis fully embraced the opportunities available in a close-knit, faith-centered environment. She was involved in choir, string band, theater, student senate, and also served as a resident assistant (RA) in Anderson Hall for two years. These experiences helped shape her leadership style and sharpen her problem-solving and interpersonal skills—tools she continues to use in her professional life today.
“I so enjoyed being a part of the choir, string band, theater, senate, etc., and continue to be involved with music to this day,” she shares.
Avis credits professors like Dean Shoop and Sarah Harstad not only for their academic mentorship, but for their influence as life coaches and lasting role models. “They were simply fantastic… and have been huge influences in my life,” she reflects. That continued connection—between student and faculty—is one of the things Avis cherishes most about her Bethany years.
“I remember the familial atmosphere and the close-knit Christian community. It is truly unique to have professors who treat you like real people rather than numbers, and who maintain relationships with you after graduation.”
Today, whether she’s planning a campaign or participating in music outside of work, Avis embodies the Bethany spirit: grounded in faith, character, and service, and always growing in both vocation and creativity.