A Bit About Monica

Monica Challenger represents Region 6 of the Morehouse College Parents Council, serving families across Iowa and surrounding areas. A longtime advocate for education, civic engagement, and equity in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), Challenger brings both vision and voice to her work, especially when it comes to championing public institutions that serve the community.

Challenger is currently serving her second term as President of the Board of Trustees for the Cedar Rapids Public Library, where she is the first African American to lead the board in its 128-year history. She was recently elected Vice President of Humanities Iowa, the state’s affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. She also serves on the board of the Cedar Rapids Public Library Foundation and holds an advisory role for Iowa’s Sixth Judicial District Department of Corrections and is serving in her second term as a Senator for the Society of Women Engineers.

Challenger is an electrical engineer with a background in aerospace and a deep commitment to public service. Her career spans private industry, nonprofit leadership, and civic engagement. She is passionate about public libraries, literacy, and removing systemic barriers to access, especially for students historically underrepresented in STEM fields. Her work has been recognized with the 2021 Black Engineer of the Year Modern-Day Technology Leader Award and the 2017 Woman of the Year award from the Women’s Equality Coalition of Linn County.

Challenger earned Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Massachusetts–Lowell and holds a Technical Leadership Certificate from Washington University in St. Louis. She and her husband raised their four children in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The youngest, twins Jefferson, Jr. and Ava, attend Morehouse College and Spelman Monica Challenger - Region 6 Representative, Morehouse College Parents Council (2025) College, proudly continuing the family’s tradition of academic excellence and service as did their two older sisters.

In her free time, Challenger is an avid reader and enjoys crocheting. And, on a daily basis, she connects with her children over FaceTime to solve the several online puzzles including New York Times Connections, New York Times Connections: Sports Edition, Word Grid, Angle, Crosstune, and STATEL. She believes the most meaningful technological innovations are those that strengthen human connection and improve everyday life.