AMES CITY MANAGER: Indefinite term

Steve is the City Manager for the City of Ames and has been on CyRide's board since its inception. Steve is responsible to the Ames City Council for the proper administration of all city business (18 departments and divisions) and for the annual budget.  Since CyRide is an agency of the City, CyRide's operating and capital budget is part of the overall City of Ames budget; therefore all finances are approved by the Ames City Council in addition to CyRide's board.  Steve comments, "I'm proud of CyRide's customer driven focus where over 6 million passengers are safely transported each year throughout the Ames community." 

IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY'S GENERAL COUNSEL, CHIEF RISK OFFICER AND SENIOR ADVISOR FOR COLLEGIATE ATHLETICS:  Indefinite term

Michael Norton began serving on CyRide's Board of Trustee's in September 2022.  Mike serves as General Counsel and Chief Risk Officer for Iowa State University. In that role, Mike is part of the University’s executive leadership team and provides strategic legal advice and counsel to the President, University administrators, faculty, and staff. Mike’s practice areas include University and Strategic Leadership, First Amendment & Free Speech, Intercollegiate Athletics, Risk and Compliance, Threat Management, Public Records, Data Security, Trademarks and Licensing, as well as overseeing the provision of all legal services provided to the University. Mike leads a team of attorneys who provide legal counsel and representation on a wide range of matters affecting the university.  Additionally, Mike is responsible for the management of Environmental Health and Safety and the Department of Public Safety, which includes the ISU Police, Parking and Risk Management units.

Before joining the University in 2016, Mike was a partner in the Kansas City law firm Husch Blackwell where he served for 12 years as a leader in the firm’s higher education practice group. Before joining Husch Blackwell, he served six years as a senior associate with Jones Day, Dallas. Mike has more than twenty-five-years of experience representing clients regarding complex legal issues including labor and employment, risk management, litigation, regulatory compliance, and governance and has had a dedicated focus on advising and representing institutions of higher education.

Mike is an active member of the National Association of College and University Attorneys and is a frequent speaker at regional and national higher education and employment conferences. He has also served on the boards of various nonprofit organizations and is a certified volunteer advocate of the Iowa Court Appointed Special Advocate Program.

Mike received a bachelor's degree in political science (1992) from the University of Utah, Salt Lake City; and Doctor of Law degree (1995) from Drake University, Des Moines. He is admitted to practice law in Iowa, Missouri, Kansas and Texas and is also admitted to practice before various federal courts in those jurisdictions.

AMES CITY COUNCIL APPOINTEE: Term expires 12/31/2026

MAYORAL APPOINTEE:  Term expires 5/14/2027

Deb joined CyRide's Board in May 2023 and is originally from Corvallis, Oregon. She earned a B.S. in Agriculture from Oregon State University and M.S. and Ph.D. in Plant Breeding and Genetics from the University of Minnesota. She has been employed in data management at Pioneer Hi-Bred (now Corteva), as coordinator of the Ames Community Conversations on Diversity program, and as an instructor in the Iowa State University online Masters in Agronomy program. She has served in several volunteer roles, including Meeker Elementary School PTO President, City of Ames Planning and Zoning and Campus and Community Commission member, League of Women Voters board member, and as a neighborhood coordinator and advocate.

Deb feels fortunate to live in a neighborhood with great access to CyRide. She uses CyRide for most of her transportation needs, including to the I S U campus and Campustown, medical appointments in central, west, and north Ames, and to North Grand Mall. Deb values the peacefulness of watching the view from the bus, sharing the day with other community members, and the freedom from having to search for a parking space. She also appreciated the opportunity to serve as a community representative on the CyRide 2.0 committee. Deb enjoys using public transportation in other communities and observing aspects that might have potential applications in Ames.

Deb believes CyRide is an important community asset and is interested in encouraging efforts to continue providing quality public transportation options to area residents.

I S U STUDENT GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE APPOINTMENT: Term expires 5/14/2026. 

CYRIDE PRESIDENT
AMES AREA METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION REP.

Emily has been serving on the CyRide Transit Board of Trustees since May 2024, bringing a deep commitment to student advocacy and sustainable transit. Beyond her role on the board, Emily serves as the Ex Officio Representative to the Ames City Council for ISU Student Government, where she works to amplify student voices in local decision-making. As a Political Science major with a focus on Public Policy, her academic background directly informs their approach to transit governance, helping bridge policy theory with practical service improvements.

Originally from Minnesota, Emily graduated from The Academy of Holy Angels in 2022. She grew up with a strong appreciation for public service and community engagement and is excited to apply those values to CyRide’s mission. She also shares a deep personal connection with CyRide’s service, riding routes such as the #3 Blue, #23 Orange, #2 Green, and Moonlight Express for her transportation while attending Iowa State.

During her time on the Transit Board, Emily hopes to increase student ridership and strengthen community engagement to ensure CyRide remains a reliable resource for the campus community. Emily sees CyRide as a vital community asset that connects thousands of students, faculty, staff, and residents to education and other important opportunities. Emily wants to contribute to the Ames sustainability efforts by working to reduce CyRide's overall carbon footprint by exploring environmental friendly transit solutions. She also hopes to bring more students to the table for important transit decision-making to ensure that CyRide is meeting the needs of its riders and broader Ames community.

Emily is honored to serve in this role and looks forward to working alongside stakeholders to advance CyRide’s mission, making it an even stronger force for accessibility, sustainability, and community connections in Ames.

I S U STUDENT GOVERNMENT SENATOR: Term expires 5/14/2026
CYRIDE VICE PRESIDENT

Lauren joined CyRide's Transit Board of Trustees in May 2025.  She is currently a Junior at Iowa State studying Community and Regional Planning and Environmental Science. Since April 2024, she began working as an undergraduate research assistance for the ISU Geographic Information Systems Research Lab. Lauren serves as the College of Design Senator on ISU's Student Government.

This biography is currently in development.