College News

CELEBRATING GRADUATING STUDENTS

Group of graduating students and two CALS deans standing in front of a stage in Hilton Coliseum
Jacob Friedrich speaking at a podium at CALS Convocation inside Hilton Coliseum
Steve Dinsmore shaking the hand of a graduating student as she crosses the stage inside Hilton Coliseum.

Fall 2023 CALS graduating students were celebrated the morning of Dec. 15 at CALS Convocation in Hilton Coliseum (view the livestream). A total of 246 undergraduate students graduated this semester. The 48 CALS students earning master's or doctoral degrees were recognized at the Graduate College Commencement ceremony the evening of Dec. 15, also in Hilton. View photos from CALS Convocation.

During CALS Convocation, the following CALS Council senior awardees were recognized:

  • Nicole Gudenkauf, dairy science - Leadership and Innovation Award
  • Erik Gerdts, agronomy - Academic Achievement Award
  • Grace Spindler, biology - Distinguished Service Award
  • Colton Holdgrafer, animal science - Outstanding Ambassador of Agriculture and Life Sciences Award
  • Grace Reiss, nutritional science and global resource systems - Inclusive Excellence Award
  • Megan Decker, agricultural and rural policy studies and international agriculture - Outstanding Senior Award

GRADUATING STUDENT INSPIRED BY LATE WIFE TO PURSUE DEGREE

Mark Coverdale

Mark Coverdale and his wife, Josie ('00 MS animal nutrition, '03 PhD), had always talked about Mark pursuing his own degree at Iowa State. He's now made that dream come true, inspired by Josie's memory and her former students. More

AWARD-WINNING INNOVATION IN GROWING MUSHROOMS

Five students standing in a line in front of an artfully painted wall.

An idea to grow mushrooms in portable, highly controlled environments, such as container farms, won a student club $5,000 and an honorable mention in a national competition. More

ISU EXTENSION AND OUTREACH RESOURCES, EVENTS
 

Alumni News

FATHER/SON ALUMNI PEN BOOK ABOUT IOWA WILDLIFE

Jim and Steve Dinsmore standing outside on a deck, overlooking a landscape of trees and grassland under a cloudy sky.

Jim Dinsmore ('64 fisheries and wildlife biology) and Steve Dinsmore's ('90 fisheries and wildlife biology) recently released book, "Iowa's Changing Wildlife: Three Decades of Gain and Loss," reflects on a life of collaboration between the father/son duo. More

BAILEY NAMED TO TOP 100 LIST IN MINNESOTA

Patrice Bailey

Patrice Bailey ('01 MS ag education and studies) was named to the Twin Cities Business 100 for 2024 list. As assistant commissioner for the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Bailey has been working to diversify Minnesota's ag industry, which has very few Black farmers. More
 

Young Alum of the Month
Chase Olsen

Chase Olsen ('22 animal ecology) is giving back to the department that gave so much to him during his time as an Iowa State student. As a student services specialist in Iowa State's Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, Olsen said it's an "immense privilege" to be a part of students' academic journeys and help them grow into natural resource professionals. More
 
 

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