Swanson, of Galt, IA, is the current national president of Women Graduates-USA , an affiliate of the International Federation of University Women and the AAUW national Task Force of elections and president-elect of the Clarion, Iowa Branch of the AAUW. She is also a past AAUW national board member and the past third-Vice President of the Virginia Gildersleeve International Fund in New York City. Swanson has worked at the Iowa State University as the Executive Director of the Iowa 4-H Foundation for 19 years. She is currently employed as an interim coordinator of religious education at a local church and is the President of Swanson & Associates.