10/16/2026
🎉 Happy Retirement, Julie Games! 🦚
For the past 16 years, Julie Games has been the smiling face, cheerful voice and steady presence so many have come to know and love when visiting or contacting the UIU Alumni Office. Serving as the Advancement Operations Manager, Julie has been a trusted colleague, a dedicated advocate for alumni and donors, a problem-solver, and quite simply, an incredible member of the Peacock family.
Throughout her career at Upper Iowa, Julie has worn countless hats and juggled hundreds of tasks and projects with remarkable care, precision, and pride. From the technical details of gift processing and reporting to safeguarding sensitive alumni and donor information, Julie has been the person you could count on to get it right.
She brought that same care to the people behind the data, too. Whether an alum was sharing a joyful milestone or navigating a difficult loss, Julie treated every story, every phone call, and every interaction with genuine compassion.
Julie’s fingerprints can also be found throughout the pages of The Bridge magazine. She prepared the Class Notes and In Memoriam sections with tremendous care, often following up with a handwritten note. Those thoughtful gestures may have seemed small to some, but they were a perfect reflection of Julie: she has always cared deeply about people.
And then there was Julie’s unmistakable ability to make the Alumni Office feel like home. Yes, she was the go-to person for ordering office supplies, keeping the necessities on hand, and organizing each shared space to perfection; but far beyond that, she took just as much pride in creating a warm, welcoming and cheerful environment. She decorated for every single season and UIU occasion with enthusiasm and creativity, and there was perhaps no greater thrill than finding the perfect décor item at the Fayette Thrift Store. After all, Julie loves a good deal!
You would be hard-pressed to find anyone with a stronger work ethic than Julie. She took tremendous pride in every task, no matter how big or small, and she was almost always the first person to ask, “Do you need a hand?” Nothing was beneath her. She is a true doer, someone who has always looked for ways to move the team forward, improve processes, and make things better.
Her years of experience, knowledge, and commitment made Julie’s perspective invaluable. She was never afraid to speak her mind, stand firm on a process, or offer an idea that could make something more efficient or effective. She cared enough to challenge things when needed, always with the goal of making the team and the University stronger.
And Julie’s commitment to Upper Iowa has always extended far beyond the walls of the Alumni Office. She and her husband, Marty, have demonstrated their deep belief in the University through their generosity, establishing an annual student scholarship and supporting countless projects, funds and initiatives over the years. Julie hasn’t simply worked for UIU; she has believed in it and invested in it.
That same generosity extended to her colleagues. Julie has always made the people around her feel special and appreciated. It wasn’t unusual for her to bake cookies or bars for a birthday, prepare a crockpot of Maid-Rites to share during a particularly busy time of year, or bring flowers and plants to brighten a colleague’s office. These thoughtful gestures were simply Julie being Julie, always thinking about others and finding ways to make someone’s day a little better.
When Julie’s colleagues were asked to describe her in just one word, the responses were telling:
Dedicated. Considerate. Honest. Confident. Integrity. Loyal. Thorough. Grounded. Genuine. Resourceful. Sincere. Selfless. Invested. Appreciated. Steadfast. Loved.
And yes, a few of us may have bent the rules and offered more than one word, but can you blame us?
Those words only begin to capture the impact Julie has had on the people fortunate enough to work alongside her. She is the kind of colleague who makes a team better simply by being part of it. The kind of person whose absence will be felt not only in an office, but in the little moments, traditions, and acts of kindness that make the workplace feel like family.
Julie, you have given Upper Iowa 16 years of hard work, heart, loyalty, laughter, and Peacock pride, and you have made an extraordinary difference in the lives of countless alumni, donors, students, and colleagues who surround you.
As you begin this next chapter, we hope retirement brings you all the things you deserve: plenty of relaxation, lots of fun, and time with the people you love the most. Don’t ever forget: Once a Peacock, Always a Peacock! 💙
💌 If you’d like to send Julie a card or note congratulating her on her retirement, you may email [email protected] or mail to:
UIU Alumni Office
Attn: Julie Games
P.O. Box 1857
Fayette, IA 52142
Julie has also shared that, in lieu of gifts, those wishing to honor her retirement may make a general donation to Upper Iowa University in her honor, directed to the UIU fund of their choice. To learn more, or make a gift, visit uiu.edu/Give.
