Rebecca Goldsmith

Program planner, Iowa Department of Health and Human Services

Age: 38

Husband: Rajee Harris 

Children: One son, Lawson

Reasons she is a Forty: She was Miss Iowa USA in 2011 and dedicated the year to volunteerism throughout Iowa. She is an advocate for resilience and overcoming childhood adversity and provides community training on adverse childhood experiences (ACEs).

She serves as a board member of MS Moments. She is the head coach of track and field and cross country for middle school girls in the Roosevelt school system.

What are your goals in your role at your company? I work on a federal COVID-19 health disparities grant at DHHS through the CDC. We aim to reduce the impact of COVID-19 throughout Iowa, with a special focus on rural areas as well as populations that are often underserved.

What are your goals for your community involvement? In my role as a board member with the MS Moments nonprofit, I work on finding grant opportunities to assist with keeping the program sustainable. We help lighten the financial burden for Iowans diagnosed with multiple sclerosis by partnering with local resources to provide services such as housekeeping, massage, acupuncture and gym memberships. 

What's your biggest passion, and why? My passion is mentoring young women, specifically regarding gender equality in sports. As a coach for DMPS, and former college coach, I empower women to achieve athletic success. I hope to see women's sports grow in popularity, the gender wage gap decrease and ultimately for women to be seen as equal to men in athletics.

What is it that drives you? I grew up in Chariton, Iowa, where my parents have always been dedicated professionals and very involved in the community by sitting on boards and councils, planning local events, coaching and volunteering. They set a great example for me to pursue similar opportunities as an adult in my own community.

What are your future aspirations? I plan to continue to pursue passions in public health and coaching. I also have an entrepreneurial mindset and hope to marry that with my work in public health, coaching running, or something creative at some point.

Three hobbies: Running, hiking and biking; old homes; and I love fashion and consider myself a professional shopper.

Fun fact: I've lived all over the world in places such as New York, San Francisco Bay, Aspen, Chicago and London – but there is no place like home. 

One word to describe you: Multidimensional.

What is your wish for the Central Iowa business community? My wish is funding for Merrill Middle School to have a track constructed for their students. My second wish would be for Lolo Jones to come speak to my track and cross country teams on resilience and overcoming adversity.

What's one piece of advice that you would give to a young professional? As an alum of the Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute, which is now Lead DSM, ('19 – best class ever) and a current member of Leadership Iowa (also best class ever), I highly recommend each of these programs. They opened my eyes to important issues in our community and state and helped me become connected to other leaders.

What is one issue you would like to see Central Iowa leaders address? I recently became acquainted with an individual facing homelessness. In trying to help them, I realized how difficult it is to be homeless with a pet in Central Iowa. As a pet owner myself, I can't imagine the state of my mental health if facing homelessness in addition to being separated from my cats. We really need more shelters in our area that allow pets, especially since mental health and homelessness often go hand in hand.

Anything else you haven't addressed that people must know about you? I have previously owned and co-owned two local businesses – Dough Moines, an edible cookie dough business formerly sold at the Des Moines Downtown Farmers' Market, and the Book of Dates, a calendar that promoted local art and events. I'm all for locally owned, small businesses!