John and Mary Pappajohn

John and Mary Pappajohn

John: 1928-2023 Mary: 1933-2022
  • John Pappajohn graduated with a BSC degree in business from the University of Iowa in 1952
  • He established an insurance agency after graduation from college and subsequently organized and became Chairman of the Board of Guardsman Insurance Investors
  • In 1969, Mr. Pappajohn organized Equity Dynamics, Inc., a financial consulting entity and Pappajohn Capital Resources, a venture capital firm in Des Moines, Iowa
  • Since this time, Mr. Pappajohn has been involved in over 100 start ups, over 50 IPOs and has served as a Director in over 40 public companies
  • He and Mary Pappajohn— who received her bachelor’s degree in related art from the University of Minnesota and serves as a trustee of both the Des Moines Art Center and the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis—are among the University of Iowa’s most generous supporters
  • Mr. Pappajohn and his wife, Mary, have gifted more than $100 million to various philanthropic causes including the John Pappajohn Business Building at the University of Iowa Business School, the Pappajohn Pavilion at the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics, the John and Mary Pappajohn Clinical Cancer Center and the Pappajohn Biomedical Discovery Building at the University of Iowa.
  • He and Mary contributed to the state of Iowa through entrepreneurship, philanthropy, art, and education.
  • Gifts and support to the UI

Building Information

Street Address
1200 Grand Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa
Year built
2004

The John and Mary Pappajohn Education Center was acquired by The University of Iowa in August 2008. The building and programming at the Pappajohn Education Center are directed by the Division of Continuing Education. Prior to this, the building was the Des Moines Higher Education Collaborative (DMHEC). The vision for the center began in 1998 when a task force identified a need for continuing education geared toward the Des Moines business community and John and Mary Pappajohn helped to realize this educational goal for the greater Des Moines area.