College News

 

WINTERSTEEN NAMED IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT

The Board of Regents, State of Iowa, named Wendy Wintersteen (’88 PhD entomology) the 16th president of Iowa State University on Monday, October 23.

 

“Thank you to everyone who encouraged and supported me during the search process. Your kind words and best wishes were meaningful in more ways than I can express. I officially begin my new duties on November 20. As I make this transition, I want to assure you that the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences remains in good hands,” wrote Wintersteen in a letter to alumni, partners, stakeholders and friends.

 

Wintersteen, endowed dean of Iowa State’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and director of the Iowa Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Station, will succeed Benjamin Allen, who has served as interim president since May 8. Steven Leath, Iowa State’s 15th president, assumed the presidency at Auburn University last spring. Wintersteen, has led the college since 2006. “I will work with the Senior Vice President and Provost on the process to name an interim dean of CALS. The university has several high-level positions to fill, and another high priority will be to form a search committee to select the 11th dean to lead our world-renowned and respected College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. More

 

PRAIRIES PROVE POSITIVE FOR EROSION CONTROL, WILDLIFE

The prairie STRIPS research team has found the strategic use of native prairie plants among agricultural fields yields a wide range of environmental benefits, including erosion and runoff reduction and increased wildlife habitat. The findings, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, draw on 10 years of data and cover dozens of environmental metrics. Lisa Schulte Moore, natural resource ecology and management, is lead author of the paper. More 

 

The STRIPS team also found prairies, known for an abundance of deep roots, don’t interfere with tile systems buried underground. Matt Helmers, agricultural and biosystems engineering and a member of the STRIPS team, explains why in this video. More

 

Excess nitrogen can change the composition of tallgrass prairies, granting an advantage to plants that flower earlier in the growing season, according to new research by Lori Biederman, ecology, evolution and organismal biology. The findings have implications for wildlife and pollinating insects that use prairie plants for habitat. More

 

CALS CAREER DAY BY THE NUMBERS

Last week after the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Career Day, employers conducted more than 1,000 interviews with students on campus. The job fair attracted 265 organizations, making it the third largest in college history. Of the more than 2,500 students attending, 106 were visitors from 16 institutions outside of Iowa State University.

 

EXPANDING GRAPE AND HOP PRODUCTION IN IOWA


Learn more about grape and hop production in Iowa in this recent video from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach featuring Diana Cochran (above), assistant professor of horticulture, and Mike White ('78 forest management, MS '89 agronomy), viticulture specialist. These two specialty crops represent growing industries in the state. The wine industry makes a $420 million impact on the Iowa economy, and there are 60 acres of hops in production in the state. More

 

FATS, OILS HELP UNLOCK NUTRITIONAL BENEFITS OF VEGGIES

Some dressing with your greens may help you absorb more nutrients, according to a study by Wendy White, food science and human nutrition. The research found enhanced absorption of multiple fat-soluble vitamins in addition to beta-carotene and three other carotenoids. More 

 

WOTEKI INDUCTED INTO NIFA HALL OF FAME
Catherine Woteki, professor of food science and human nutrition, is a 2017 inductee to the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s Hall of Fame. She served six years as undersecretary for research, education and economics and chief scientist for USDA and served as dean of the Iowa State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and director of the Agriculture Experiment Station from 2002 to 2005. Woteki, a member of the National Academy of Medicine, returned to ISU in July as a faculty member. More

 

GROWING PRODUCE BY THE BOOK IN HIGH TUNNELS


ISU Extension and Outreach has released a manual to help producers understand how to use a high tunnel. “Iowa High Tunnel Fruit and Vegetable Production Manual” contains 17 chapters and discusses in-depth which crops should be grown in a high tunnel and what levels of production are needed for the crop to be profitable. More

 

NEW HIRE TO ADDRESS GROWTH IN AG COMMUNICATIONS
Shuyang Qu has joined the department of agricultural education and studies as an assistant professor. She will teach agricultural communication courses and conduct research on media literacy and public opinions in agricultural communications. Mike Retallick, chair of the agricultural education and studies department, said the addition of Qu is part of a move to increase the commitment and expertise in the area of agricultural communication and addresses the industry’s increased demand for agricultural communication graduates. More

 

HELP BUG GUIDE, AG COMM GROW

Two Go Fund Me opportunities are currently underway in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

  • The BugGuide is an online community of naturalists who enjoy learning about and sharing observations of insects and related creatures. The Department of Entomology is raising funds for a new mobile-friendly website, identification recommendations based on artificial intelligence and integration with projects with similar goals. More
  • Enrollment in the agricultural communications program in the Department of Agricultural Education and Studies has increased 43 percent over the past five years. College alumni are raising support to provide undergraduates in this major with professional development opportunities such as Ag Media Summit, industry tours, meetings and conferences. More

MORE COLLEGE NEWS

 

Alumni News

 

CALS ALUMNI HONORED BY IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY

The Iowa State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) and the Iowa State Alumni Association will honor several college alumni at the annual Honors and Awards Ceremony this Friday, Oct. 27. CALS awardees include (from left to right, top to bottom): Todd Hall (’82 animal science), Floyd Andre Award; Catherine Woteki, Henry A. Wallace Award; Gerald Klonglan (’58 rural sociology, MS ’62, PhD ’63), George Washington Carver Distinguished Service Award; and Dawn Refsell (’01 agronomy, MS ’03 crop production and physiology), Outstanding Young Professional Award. ISU Alumni Association awardees include (center bottom, right bottom): Kyle Flander (’03 industrial technology) and Claire Masker (’05 ag education and studies, MS ‘08) who will each be receiving the James A. Hopson Alumni Volunteer Award.

 

BAAS, RASMUSSEN RECEIVE NATIONAL HONORS

Tom Baas (’72 animal science, ’89 MS, ’90 PhD), professor of animal science, was inducted in to the National Barrow Show Hall of Fame and Stan Rasmussen (’68 animal science), of Austin, Minnesota, received the National Barrow Show’s 2017 Distinguished Service Award. Baas also was recently honored with the Iowa State University Regents Award for Faculty Excellence.

 

BEAR HONORED WITH GOVERNOR’S VOLUNTEER AWARD

Doug Bear (’07 animal science, ’11 MS), director of industry relations for the Iowa Beef Industry Council, received the Iowa Governor’s Volunteer Award presented by Governor Kim Reynolds and Lt. Governor Adam Gregg. Bear was nominated by the Ronald McDonald House of Des Moines for his work through the council’s Governor's Charity Steer Show. More

 

GREIMANS NAMED CY’S FAVORITE ALUM

Don Greiman (’52 animal science) and his wife Yvonne of Garner, Iowa, have been honored with the 2017 Cy’s Favorite Alum Award by Iowa State Athletics. For more than 60 years, the Greimans have taken their place in the stands in Iowa State's athletics venues. Whether it was Clyde Williams Field or Jack Trice Stadium, the couple has only vacated their seats for 15 home football games. In recognition of the couple's loyalty and accomplishments, the Iowa State Athletics Department honored the Greimans on October 14. Don has been a leader in the beef industry, Iowa State Fair Board and the Iowa State University Alumni Association. More

 

Young Alum of the Month

Lauren Grant

Title: Assistant Editor for Cuisine at Home Magazine at Active Interest Media

Hometown: Ames, Iowa

Degree: '15 culinary science

Major responsibilities: Write and edit for the magazine and research, develop and test recipes.

 

Events

 

Oct. 26, 28 – Iowa State University Homecoming, “Sound the CYren.” College-specific events available on the alumni events webpage.

 

Oct. 28 – Animal Science Chuckwagon Breakfast, Hansen Ag Student Learning Center, 8:30 - 10:30 a.m.

 

Oct. 28 – Ag Business Tailgate, Tent #30, Jack Trice Stadium, 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., registration required.

 

Oct. 28 – Food Science and Human Nutrition Tailgate, Tent #12, Jack Trice Stadium, 10:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., registration required.

 

Oct. 28 – Sigma Alpha Tailgate, Tent #31, Jack Trice Stadium, 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., registration required.

 

 

 

Social Media Spotlight

 

Follow ISU Extension and Outreach Women in Agriculture on Facebook for updates on educational opportunities, networking and interaction with Iowa women in agriculture such as their upcoming Women in Agriculture Leadership conference November 27.

 

 

Class Notes

 

Did you land a new job? Receive an honor or award? Reach a milestone? We’d like to know! Submit your class note via e-mail to stories@iastate.edu.

 

2010s

Celina Young (’17 ag business, public service and administration in ag) has been hired as a marketing communications specialist for Scoular.  

 

Celize Christy (’16 global resource systems, animal science), graduate student at Penn State University, was featured online by the university.

 

Adam Fichter (’15 ag business, international ag), has accepted a new position as a financial officer with Farm Credit Services of America.

 

Amanda Outhouse (’15 animal science), has been hired as a product development scientist with Hormel Foods in Austin, Minnesota.

 

Bryce Irlbeck (’14 ag business, agronomy), a farmer near Manning, was featured in Wallaces Farmer.

 

Jacob Hunter (’11 ag and life sciences education), ag educator at North Scott Community Schools was featured in the Quad City Times.

 

Elizabeth Juchems (’11 ag business, economics), ag and biosystems engineering program specialist for ISU Extension and Outreach, received the ISU Professional and Scientific Oustanding New Professional Award.

 

2000s

Katie Stutsman (’09 ag business) has been hired as an Iowa district manager for Dow Chemical Company.

 

Corey Wagner (’05 animal science, ’07 MS meat science) has been named director of technical services at Premium Iowa Pork, LLC.

 

Steve Rachut, a farmer near Osage, was featured in the “Cab Cam” video feature by 98.7 Kiss Country radio in Mason City.

 

Lesa Vold (’00 animal science), communications specialist for the Egg Industry Center, received the ISU Professional and Scientific Outstanding New Professional Award.

 

1990s

Jessica Bell (’97 animal ecology), post-award coordinator for the ISU Grants Hub and president of the ISU Professional and Scientific Council, was featured in Inside Iowa State.

 

Byron Sleugh (’97 MS crop production and physiology, ’99 PhD), has been hired as a technical portfolio strategy leader for the pasture and land management agriculture division for Dow DuPont.

 

Nupur Ghoshal (’95 genetics), neurologist and assistant professor in the department of neurology at Washington University School of Medicine, has been recognized by Continental Who’s Who among Pinnacle Professionals in the field of medicine.

 

Ryan Schon (’95 agronomy), has accepted a position as a senior manager of corporate development for Granular.

 

Brian Weber (’94 ag business), a farmer near Dysart, was featured in Iowa Farmer Today.

 

Craig Morris (’92 animal science) has been named vice president of international marketing for the National Pork Board.

 

1980s

Sergio Lence (’88 MS economics, ’91 PhD), professor and Marlin Cole Chair of International Agriculture Economics, received the ISU James Huntington Ellis Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Introductory Teaching.

 

Jim Carlson (’87 ag business), a farmer near Gowrie, and his family, were featured in a Landus Cooperative video.

 

Steve Kerns (’81 animal science), a farmer near Clearfield, was featured by the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation.

 

1970s

Russell Euken (’79 animal science, ’88 MS professional ag), beef and swine field specialist for ISU Extension and Outreach, received the ISU R.K. Bliss Extension Award.

 

Jim Gulliford (’73 forestry, ’75 MS), has been appointed Region 7 administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

 

John Weber, Jr. (’71 animal science), a farmer near Dysart, was featured in Iowa Farmer Today.

 

1960s

Robert Hibbs (’67 forestry), owner of Hibbs Forestry, LLC, in Marshalltown, was featured in the Marshalltown Times Republican.

 

In Memoriam

View alumni memoriams

 

 

 

About STORIES Online
STORIES Online is a supplement to STORIES magazine. The e-newsletter delivers college and alumni news, class notes and relevant links each month. If you have news or story suggestions or would like to subscribe please contact editor Melea Reicks Licht at mreicks@iastate.edu.

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Iowa State University 

303 Curtiss Hall

Ames, Iowa 50011

(515) 294-5616

stories@iastate.edu

http://www.cals.iastate.edu