Nathan Willems is a Democrat representing the 29th District in the Iowa House of Representatives since 2009. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service from Georgetown University's Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service (2001) and a Juris Doctor from the University of Iowa College of Law (2007). As of September 2011, Willems serves on Iowa House committees for Education (ranking member), Labor, and Ways and Means. He also sits on the Education Appropriations Subcommittee. He was elected in 2008, defeating Republican opponent Emma Nemencek and was .