BIOGRAPHY
Born and raised in Des Moines, IA, Libby grew up in a world of fine art, politics, and real estate. Following her love of art and storytelling, Libby earned a B.A. in Fine Art and Design with an emphasis in Advertising from Iowa State University, an Art Therapy Certificate from Grand View University, and studied Art Direction at Brainco Minneapolis School of Advertising.
After working on private development projects in Santa Fe, NM, and Minneapolis, MN Libby returned to Des Moines, as many young professionals do, realizing the quality of life is high and the cost of living is low. Since returning to Iowa, Libby has served as a Legislative assistant in the Iowa legislature, Midwest Field Director for Bono’s ONE Campaign, and Director of Global Programs and Partnerships at the World Food Prize.
Through her wide-ranging career, Libby has always sought to improve lives, build community, and be a catalyst for change, uniting people under a grand vision. As Vice President of Atlas, Libby has relished the opportunity to do all these things: bringing passionate people together through grassroots community development, creating plans for rural communities to grow and thrive.
Named a 2018 Forty Under 40 by the Des Moines Business Record, Libby has also received the Governors Volunteer award and is a Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute graduate. She actively supports many local organizations, leads a series of events focused on making Des Moines a better place, and is currently a Foundation Board member at On With Life, a world-class brain injury rehabilitation center in Ankeny.
Libby enjoyed a short career as a professional athlete as a wide receiver for the New Mexico Burn, a women’s professional football team. She is a trained artist who loves painting custom murals and mixed media pieces in her “free time” and occasionally shoots with her husband, Joe Crimmings, a professional photographer and creative director. Joe and Libby have three children, two dogs, and love traveling, camping, creating, sports, music, cheese, and all things Midwest.
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Fine Arts
Art & Design, minor in Advertising
Iowa State University
Art Therapy Certificate
Grand View University
Art Direction
Brainco School of Design and Advertising
AWARDS & HONORS
Des Moines’ Business Record 40 Under 40, 2018
Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute, Class of 2017
NAAE – Education Cooperation Award
Iowa Academy of Science – Friend of Education Award
Iowa Governor’s Volunteer Award
EXPERIENCE
Community Organizing
Strategic Planning
Event Management
Outreach and Development
Educational Programming
Policy and Advocacy
Programs and Partnerships