Class Notes

Something to share? Submit your class note.

Robert Jinkins
- Class of 2018
- Integrated Visual Arts
- Design
Robert Jinkins

Posted on March 24, 2022 in Alumni Mentions

Robert Jinkins (MFA ‘18 integrated visual arts) is a featured artist in the March/April issue of Fine Art Connoisseur. His profile is accompanied by an image of his award-winning emo portrait "Scarecrow in the Garden" (acrylic and mixed media on panel, triptych, 2019). Please be aware that the content of the painting may be triggering should you choose to view a copy of the publication.
Jennifer Haywood and her baby boy
- Class of 2010
- Journalism and Mass Communication
- Liberal Arts & Sciences
Jennifer Haywood

Posted on March 24, 2022 in Births and Adoptions

Jennifer Haywood (‘10 journalism and mass communication, MA ‘14 interior design) expanded her family with the addition of a baby boy, Francis Rogelio, born in September 2021.
Kristen Greteman
- Class of 2011
- Architecture-Professional Degree
- Design
Kristen Greteman

Posted on March 24, 2022 in Honors and Awards

Kristen Greteman (MS ‘16 architecture, MCRP ’16, MA ’20 history) has been awarded a 2022-23 Brown Graduate Fellowship to support dissertation research on Iowa’s lost agricultural landscapes and her interdisciplinary reconstruction of Iowa’s prairie pothole ecosystem. Greteman is a doctoral student in the Rural, Agricultural, Technological, and Environmental (RATE) history program at Iowa State.
Meghan Flynn
- Class of 2011
- Integrated Studio Arts
- Design
Meghan Flynn

Posted on March 24, 2022 in Careers

Meghan Flynn (‘11 integrated studio arts) will begin a full-time, tenure-track position as an assistant professor of art at Northwestern College in Orange City in the fall of 2022.
Parker Peterson
- Class of 2012
- Graphic Design
- Design
Parker Peterson

Posted on March 24, 2022 in Careers

Parker Peterson (‘12 graphic design) was recently promoted to creative director of Jam3, a global design and experience agency.
Jocelyn Kovarik
- Class of 2009
- Finance
- Business
Jocelyn Kovarik

Posted on March 9, 2022 in Careers

Jocelyn Kovarik ('09 finance) has been named head coach of the women's basketball team at Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC). Kovarik has served as a DMACC assistant women’s basketball coach for 12 years.
Cover of "Barriers to Thought"
- Class of 1963
- Forestry
- Agriculture and Life Sciences
Dale Netherton

Posted on March 3, 2022 in Alumni Bookshelf

Dale Netherton* (‘63 forestry) has published his 13th book titled, “Barriers to Thought.” Netherton’s books can be found online on Amazon and Apple Books. Signed copies can be obtained at dnetherton@me.com.
Dustin Oedekoven
- Class of 2002
- Veterinary Medicine
- Veterinary Medicine
Dustin Oedekoven

Posted on March 3, 2022 in Careers

Dustin Oedekoven (DVM ‘02) will serve as the new chief veterinarian for the National Pork Board. Oedekoven formerly served as South Dakota’s state veterinarian and executive secretary for the South Dakota Animal Industry Board.
Ahmed Salem
- Class of 1999
- Electrical Engineering
- Engineering
Ahmed Salem

Posted on February 22, 2022 in Careers

Ahmed Salem ('99 electrical engineering) has been named vice president and general manager of Analog Signal Chain for Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI).
Abigail Luchsinger
- Class of 2019
- Interdisciplinary Design
- Design
Abigail Luchsinger

Posted on February 22, 2022 in Careers

Abigail Luchsinger (‘19 interdisciplinary design, MID ‘21 industrial design) has joined Co-Active Training Institute as a customer experience advisor.
Danielle Hermann
- Class of 2001
- Architecture-Professional Degree
- Design
Danielle Hermann (Hemesath)

Posted on February 22, 2022 in Careers

Danielle Hermann (MS ‘08 architecture) has been promoted to principal at OPN Architects.
Justin Bishop
- Class of 2004
- Architecture-Professional Degree
- Design
Justin Bishop

Posted on February 22, 2022 in Careers

Justin Bishop (‘04 architecture) has been promoted to principal at OPN Architects.
Cover of Landscape Journal
- Class of 2005
- Landscape Architecture
- Design
Hans Klein-Hewett

Posted on February 22, 2022 in Alumni Mentions

“The Savana Studio Travel Experience: From My Backyard to Braoder Benefits,” an article co-authored by Hans Klein-Hewett (’05 landscape architecture) and Ann Gansemer-Topf (PhD ’92 education), has been published in Landscape Journal 2021 40:37-52. Klein-Hewett is an assistant professor of landscape architecture in the College of Design.
Cover of Landscape Journal
- Class of 1992
- Professional Studies in Education
- Education
Ann Gansemer-Topf (Gansemer)

Posted on February 22, 2022 in Alumni Mentions

“The Savana Studio Travel Experience: From My Backyard to Braoder Benefits,” an article co-authored by Hans Klein-Hewett (’05 landscape architecture) and Ann Gansemer-Topf (PhD ’92 education) has been published in Landscape Journal 2021 40:37-52. Gansemer-Topf is an associate professor in the School of Education.
Panel piece by Peter Kapser
- Class of 2012
- Integrated Studio Arts
- Design
Peter Kasper

Posted on February 21, 2022 in Miscellaneous

Peter Kasper (‘12 integrated studio arts) designed and created a cherry wood panel for the Ivy College of Business to recognize their corporate partners. Kasper is the owner of Phoenix Cabinetry in Des Moines.
Cameron Gray
- Class of 2020
- Integrated Visual Arts
- Design
Cameron Gray

Posted on February 21, 2022 in Miscellaneous

“Catching My Breath,” an exhibition Cameron Gray (MFA ’20 integrated studio arts), was chosen to be on display at the Octagon Center for the Arts Community Gallery in Ames.
Trevor Kliever
- Class of 2019
- Interior Design
- Design
Trevor Kliever

Posted on February 21, 2022 in Honors and Awards

Trevor Kliever (‘19 interior design) a graduate teaching assistant in interior design, is the recipient of the 2021 Graduate Assistant Award for Extraordinary Performance. This award recognizes strengths in areas such as instruction, advising, assisting, research, outreach, and more.
Nick Senske
- Class of 2003
- Architecture-Professional Degree
- Design
Nicholas Senske

Posted on February 21, 2022 in Honors and Awards

Nick Senske (‘03 architecture) assistant professor of architecture, is the recipient of the 2021 Polster Family Teaching Award. This award recognizes the significance of teaching in the College of Design and acknowledges exceptional teaching performance of a faculty member early in their professional career.
Ben Thacker
- Class of 1983
- Civil Engineering
- Engineering
Ben Thacker

Posted on February 21, 2022 in Careers

Ben Thacker** (‘83 civil engineering) was named vice president of the mechanical engineering division at Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio. Thacker has been with Southwest Research since 1988.
Brian Funk
- Class of 2001
- Transportation and Logistics
- Business
Brian Funk

Posted on February 21, 2022 in Careers

Brian Funk (‘01 transportation and logistics) will serve as the new deputy general manager and chief operating officer for Metro Transit in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Funk began his transit career as a CyRide dispatcher when he was a student. He is celebrating 20 years with Metro Transit in 2022.
Mike Duffy
- Class of 1987
- Agricultural Business
- Agriculture and Life Sciences
Michael Duffy

Posted on February 21, 2022 in Careers

Mike Duffy (‘87 agriculture) was selected by the Farm Credit Administration (FCA) to serve as the new chief examiner and director of the Office of Examination (OE).
Cover of “Evolution Point" by Austin Eppert
- Class of 2011
- Kinesiology and Health
- Human Sciences
Austin Eppert

Posted on February 21, 2022 in Alumni Bookshelf

Austin Eppert (‘11 kinesiology) released his first published book titled “Evolution Point.” Readers join this futuristic story about the survival of the human race after a hurricane strikes America. Eppert’s book is available online at Barnes & Noble.
Kristen Greteman
- Class of 2011
- Architecture-Professional Degree
- Design
Kristen Greteman

Posted on February 1, 2022 in Honors and Awards

Kristen Greteman (’11 arch, MS ’16 arch, MCRP ’16 community & regional planning, MA ’20 history) was awarded the 2021 Iowa History Center’s annual Master’s Thesis Award in Iowa History. Greteman will be invited to share her research and writing experience at Simpson College to students in a spring 2022 historical methods class.
John Blichmann
- Class of 1988
- Mechanical Engineering
- Engineering
John Blichmann

Posted on February 1, 2022 in Honors and Awards

John Blichman (’88 mechanical engineering), founder of Blichmann Engineering, is celebrating 20 years of global business success. From expertise learned as a Cyclone and inspired by the need for quality home brewing equipment, Blichmann has contributed more than 70 innovative home and nano brewing products to the brewing industry. Today, Blichmann Engineering has sold over 1.5 million products in the U.S. and 40 other countries.
Armitra Jackson-Davis
- Class of 2006
- Meat Science/Food Science And Technology
- Agriculture and Life Sciences
Armitra Jackson-Davis (Jackson)

Posted on January 27, 2022 in Honors and Awards

Armitra Jackson-Davis (PhD ’10 meat science/food science and technology) was the recipient of the James M. Diversity in Food Safety Award at the 2021 International Association for Food Protection annual meeting. Jackson-Davis is an associate professor of food nutrition at Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University.