Meet Chiquita Loveless

Chiquita Loveless (she/her) is formerly from Chicago, IL. She holds a BA in Business Administration from Georgia Gwinnett College and a Master’s in Business Administration from St. Leo University. Chiquita served as Director for Diversity, Inclusion, and Social Justice at the University of Northern Iowa until her position ended abruptly due to legislative initiatives to rid the State of Iowa DEI work. Chiquita currently serves as the Assistant Dean of Students for Family and Military Programming. 

Her initial assignment at the University of Northern Iowa was serving as Associate Director for Military and Veteran Students Services which led the institution to become the number one Small Public Institution in the Nation Gold Status in the nation for Military Friendly.  There she ensured student veterans were provided with the much-needed support and resources to succeed and achieve their pursued degrees. 

Chiquita served 23 years in the U.S. Navy retiring as a Communication Officer/Chief Warrant Officer 2. Her tours of duty included Commander Naval Special Warfare Command where she deployed as the Communications Chief for Seal Teams One, Three, Five, and the Special boat units.  She also served on an Amphibious Ship (USS BOXER) which carried Marines platoons, and two Aircraft Carriers USS Dwight D. Eisenhower where she served as Communications Officer, and USS NIMITZ where she volunteered to deploy in support of  Operation Iraqi Freedom. She is a former Director for VETCONNEXX, an all-veteran call center located in Atlanta, GA,

Chiquita is very active in our community serving as Chair for One Cedar Valley which helps remove barriers for the underserved and underprivileged population, and  "Sisters who Served" women's veteran organizations. She is a board member for the Black Hawk County Gaming Association, Elevate Mental Health Mobile Crisis Team, Festival of Trees, Experience Waterloo, the VFW, and the American Legion.  In 2021 Chiquita was the recipient of the Cedar Valley MercyOne Heroes Among Us “Military” award, and in 2022 Chiquita received the  UNI-7 Legacy Award.  Last year, Cedar Falls Human Rights Commission honored Chiquita Loveless as a "Woman of the Year" for her work with Diversity, Inclusion, and Social Justice.  Chiquita is married to Yolando Loveless, a 30-year retired Navy Chief Warrant Officer 4, who serves as the Executive Director for Black Hawk County Veterans Affairs. They have a daughter Jazmen, a son-in-law Damian, and two grandchildren Amir and Amiya.