Class Notes

Travis Ziemke ('12) has been promoted to chief marketing officer at Trilix. An agency veteran and former media director, Ziemke will oversee marketing strategy, platforms, and tactics while continuing to lead the media department. 

Under Ziemke’s leadership, the media department has grown in both size and capabilities, expanding its service offerings and overall media volume. He and his team work with clients across industries, including agriculture, healthcare, and financial services. They provide strategic consultation and guidance through every stage of a campaign, from initial strategy and planning to media buying.

https://trilix.com/blog/travis-ziemke-named-trilix-chief-marketing-officer/ 

Kristin (Schlautman) Saxena ('03), a pediatrician, mother of four, and Omaha resident, is the author of "The Happier Meal: How to Enjoy Your Food and Your Kid," releasing November 17, 2026.

Drawing on her experiences as both a pediatrician and parent, Saxena explores how families can move beyond the pressure surrounding nutrition and feeding to help children develop healthy relationships with food and rediscover the joy of eating together. The book offers practical, evidence-informed guidance for creating more positive, connected family meals.

Learn more at happiermealbook.com.

James D. Evans ('74) recently published "Statistics With AI for Psychology," which is an introduction to behavioral science statistics for undergraduates. It uses realistic data sets and research problems to teach essential concepts and procedures. In addition, it systematically incorporates the most revolutionary development in data analysis in the 21st century. Throughout the book, the following theme is communicated to the student: AI works best when it has a smart boss.

Gal Chivvis ('11 DVM) is an emergency veterinarian, award-winning author, and founder of Critter Care Collective, LLC. She has authored a growing collection of pet-health and veterinary-themed children’s books that combine her veterinary expertise with accessible education for pet owners and young readers. Her work includes "The Dog Owner’s Guide to Health Emergencies," "The Cat Owner’s Guide to Health Emergencies," and "The Critter Care Crew" children’s series. Her books have received multiple honors, including awards from the Readers’ Favorite International Book Awards and Literary Titan.

Roger J. Huston ('11) has been appointed president of Williamson University, effective July 1, 2026. In stepping into the presidency, Huston brings a career shaped by mission‑aligned stewardship across higher education, nonprofit management, economic development, and organizational transformation. His previous roles include assistant vice president for strategic relations and rural advancement at Campbellsville University, Dean of Business and Leadership at Kentucky Christian University, and founder of Faith Works Consulting. He has led institutions through enrollment growth, retention gains, academic innovation, and strategic program development, and has also helped to advance the public good by serving on multiple statewide and national committees and nonprofit boards focused on human services, poverty alleviation, healthcare, and workforce readiness.

I graduated in 1994 with a journalism degree and spent a decade as an award-winning TV news photographer before running my global freelance production company. That career abruptly ended in July 2019 when I suffered a sudden cardiac arrest at home.

My wife, former news anchor Kris Patrow, and I published a memoir, "DEADLINE: A Reporter's True Story of Cardiac Arrest and the Race to Survive." With no warning, Kris performed CPR for nearly 10 minutes until help arrived. That began a 65-day battle involving seven defibrillator shocks, a coma, anoxic brain injury, and years of recovery.

Turning tragedy into a mission, we launched First Link community events. At our book launch, 20 people signed up for hands-only CPR training, with more events planned for Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month in October.

Tom Poupard was honored by having a new affordable housing building named after him - Poupard Place - in recognition of his 30 years as a planner for the Village of Northbrook, Illinois.  Tom served as director of development and planning services for the suburban Chicago community. He retired in 2021 and was a strong advocate for inclusionary housing. Northbrook adopted an affordable housing ordinance in 2020. Poupard Place is the first new affordable housing development in Northbrook since the ordinance was adopted. It includes 48 units and serves those with disabilities and low to moderate incomes.  

https://www.citybiz.co/article/872183/ribbon-cutting-ceremony-celebrates-grand-opening-of-poupard-p…

Former Iowa State Daily reporter Luke Stoffel published an op-ed in Fortune this week on AI and publishing. He won a 2026 IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award for his debut memoir, "How to Win One Million Dollars and $#!T Glitter," which he openly wrote with AI.

https://fortune.com/2026/07/22/award-winning-memoir-author-ai-detector-publishing-hypocrisy/

Jami (Paper) Lercher (’02) is the director of choral activities at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota. She and her husband, Ryan Lercher (’02), are happy to be closer to the Cyclone Nation and look forward to more opportunities to visit campus and connect with family and friends.

Rebecca Janni (BA English and French, '94) is releasing a new children's book with Eerdmans Books for Young Readers on September 22, 2026. Branch: A Resurrection Story is Rebecca's poetic retelling of the Bible story from Genesis to Revelation and is one of Englewood Review of Book's Most Anticipated Books for Fall.

AIAA Associate Fellow Award 
https://aiaa.org/2024/09/23/aiaa-announces-its-class-of-2025-associate-fellows/

The Nebraska State Board of Education has appointed Dr. Ryan Foor as a Deputy Commissioner at the Nebraska Department of Education (NDE). In this role, Foor provides leadership and guidance for day-to-day operations and agency-wide administrative support to the Commissioner. 

Foor has served at the NDE since 2015 in various roles working with the State Board of Education, most recently as Assistant Commissioner and Chief of Staff. Prior to serving at the NDE, he was a high school agriculture teacher and FFA advisor, university teacher educator, and university program assessment coordinator. 

Dr. Foor grew up in Wapello (Louisa County) and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Education from Iowa State University where he was a Hixson Opportunity Award scholar. He earned graduate degrees from Ohio State. Foor began his duties as Deputy Commissioner on April 20, 2026.

Josh Kassing, managing principal of Mary Cook Associates, and Mary Cook, founder and CEO.

Dr. Cristina M. Dube has co-developed Math Castle, a research-based math-fact fluency app, with young software developers Christopher and Zachary Turner, ages 12 and 9. Drawing upon 40 years of experience in mathematics education, Dube designed the app’s content and 93 carefully sequenced developmental levels. Math Castle helps students see, hear, and handwrite addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division facts. The app launched in July 2026 and is available at MathCastle.app.

Benjamin Zelle has been promoted to the position of Tactical Marketing Manager for Planting and Seeding equipment at John Deere.

ISU alumni/sisters Robbie & Judy Roozen pursued careers that have encompassed a desire to make connections through creativity.

Three Books titled “All That Knitting”, “Sylvia the Garden Snake”, and “Sounds My Ears Don’t Like to Hear” by Minnesota and North Carolina sisters Robbie Roozen and Judy Roozen have been named finalists in the 2026 Next Generation Indie Book Awards (world's largest international awards program for independent publishers and self-published authors) recognizing them among the year's outstanding independently published books.

Finally retired at the end of 2025 after 47 years in the field of agricultural journalism, sticking with the major for which Iowa State prepared me so well. It was a great run, mainly with two companies (Knight-Ridder Financial, which no longer exists, and Sosland Publishing Co.), all in the Kansas City area. Added an MBA from a local K.C. university along the way to improve my marketing and analytical skills. My wife (Kay) of nearly 49 years and I already have increased our travel, spent more time with the grandkids, and worked more in our church and the local community. I'm doing a little consulting and mentoring this year and next, but then fully pulling the plug. Thanks, Iowa State! Go Cyclones!! 

I have been a Professor of Ecology and Alberta Conservation Association Chair in Fisheries and Wildlife at the University of Alberta since 1999. Last week, I was awarded the University Cup, the highest award for teaching, research and service at the University of Alberta. Target date for retirement: 2029.