April 17 marked the one-year anniversary of the passing of Simpson College’s 25th president, Jay Byers. 

To honor the day and celebrate Byers’ legacy, Simpson held a moment of silence outside of Smith Chapel and Holy Grounds. All students and faculty were invited to reflect on Byers and the last year of shared grieving. 

Chaplin Mara Bailey spent this spring orchestrating the event and ensuring her former co-worker’s monumental impact on the community was celebrated and imprinted into the campus’s identity.

“Anytime someone dies, we lose their physical presence, we lose the day-to-day leadership, but the things that really matter to us can continue through us, and that’s what legacy is,” Bailey said. “Whatever you looked up to Jay for, whatever you feel his leadership brought, those things don’t have to end.”

At the gathering, Bailey reflected on the tragedy of Byers’ death, the last year without him and reminded all in attendance that there is no wrong way to process and express the grief of losing Byers. 

Bailey ended her speech by reminding each attendee that they are loved. 

Before being named president in 2023, Byers graduated from Simpson in 1993, served on the Simpson Board of Trustees since 2012 and taught on campus as an adjunct professor. 

In 2023, he was named one of Iowa’s most influential leaders for his work as Simpson’s president and, most notably, as CEO of the Greater Des Moines Partnership, which he served as for 18 years. 

Prior to the event on Friday, Simpson faculty members articulated their perspectives on what this past year without the late president has been like. 

Matt Hansen, vice president for Student Development, described Byers as an incredibly gifted person who knew how to make everyone feel important. He stated that Byers had infectious energy and inspired all to work hard. 

“His death was a profound loss to me, and to our entire community. This has been a year of grief that has transitioned throughout the months, making it an especially difficult year,” Hansen said. “I am proud, however, of how we came together to support our students and one another during a time of grief and hardship. By continuing to follow his example, we renewed our commitment to supporting the Simpson family and celebrating our students’ successes.”

For CoryAnne Harrigan, dean of academic affairs, Friday’s moment of silence was the opportunity needed to remember Byers for who he was at Simpson College.

“Friday’s moment of silence gives the Simpson community a chance to gather and reflect on all the good Jay did for his alma mater in his time as president,” Harrigan said. “We remember his energy, optimism and deep affection for the college and all its traditions.”

Back in July, current president Sue Stuebner stated in her formal campus introduction that her focus for her first year, and this first year without Byers, was to continue his legacy and handle the community’s vast emotions with delicacy. 

“I’m hardly an expert, yet in my experience, grief tends to be a highly personal experience,” Stuebner said. “Various moments, both expected and unexpected, can evoke memories and emotions. I encourage us to be patient with ourselves and with each other as we navigate this monsoon.”

At a vigil held last year, the vice president for marketing and strategic communication, Roger Degerman, spoke on Byers’ impact on Simpson’s campus during his short time in leadership, and why his death deeply affected many current and past Simpson students and faculty. 

“The Simpson community was flying high, one might say, on cloud nine with Jay’s arrival. You could see it, and you could feel it as you walked across campus,” Degerman said. “We all walked a little taller, of course, never as tall as Jay, but we definitely had an extra pep in our step.”

Many faculty members were seen embracing one another during the moment of silence and were brought to tears as they honored their beloved friend. 

To end the moment of silence, the chapel’s bell rang 25 times to honor the never forgotten 25th president of Simpson College. 

If you are in need of support, contact counseling services in Student Development. For immediate assistance, utilize the following resources: National Suicide Hotline 988, Central Iowa Crisis Line (855)-581-8111 and Central Iowa Mobile Crisis 844-258-8858.