Class Notes

Jonathon Schroeder (‘10 criminal justice & pol sci) was one of four newly elected shareholders of Dentons Davis Brown. Schroeder helps individuals, businesses, lenders, and other clients with real estate transactions, construction matters, business, and non-profit formation, and zoning and development.

Edwin Burns (‘89 engineering operations) is the new senior manager of integration services for SRC, Inc., a not-for-profit research and development company that solves problems in the areas of defense, environment, and intelligence. Burns will be responsible for the business development of multiple government contract vehicles and lease courses that train military and civilian planners.

William T. (Bill) Mahan* (‘61 architecture) received the Utah Maria Riggs Presidents Award from the American Institute of Architects Santa Barbara (AIASB). This awards recognizes an AIASB member whose work, community service, and civic engagement has had a lasting influence on the Santa Barbara community.

Shawn Gould (‘98 biological and pre-med illustration) received a 2021 Victor Jacoby Award from the Humbolt Area Foundation for artistic vision and creativity. The grant is used to encourage excellence and support the exploration of new ideas, materials, techniques, mediums and images.

Nana Appiah (MCRP ‘07 community and regional planning) has been named the development services director for Mesa, Arizona. In this role, Appiah will oversee planing, construction permitting, building inspections, and historic preservations within the city.

Cathann Kress (’90 social work) was elected as the new board chair for the W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF). The WKKF supports children, families, and communities as they strengthen and create conditions that propel vulnerable children to achieve. Kress will serve a one-year term as chair.

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds* ('16 liberal studies) recently appointed Stan Thompson** (’82 pol sci) as executive director of the Iowa Civil Rights Commission (ICRC). The ICRC is a neutral, fact-finding law enforcement agency charged with effectively enforcing the Iowa Civil Rights Act. Thompson has over 35 years of litigation experience and has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America since 2008. He served six years on the Iowa State University Alumni Association Board as a board member and chair.

Todd Robinson** ('88 accounting) was named Deputy CFO & Treasurer of Renewable Energy Group based in Ames, Iowa, in April 2021.

Tim Boeck (’85 farm operation) was awarded the 2021 Excellence Award for FARM Evaluator by the National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM). For over 30 years, Boeck has worked with the Land O’ Lakes Cooperative. As a FARM Evaluation Specialist, he conducts evaluations and collaborates with famers across the Midwest.

“Meet the Pets: Presidential Animals from A to Z” by Catherine Collison* (’76 journalism), Janis Campbell, and Wendy Popko takes readers through the pets of White House. Exhibited at the ArtPrize 2021, Collison and her partners researched all the pets of the First Family and artfully organized this picture book.

Rick Fredrickson Jr.** (DVM ‘90) is the 2021 recipient of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Administrator’s Award by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Fredrickson is the director of the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at the University of Illinois’ College of Veterinary Medicine.

Carter Collins** (’15 journalism & pol sci) will be joining the University of Minnesota Alumni Association as the director of communications. VOX Global, former employer of 6 years, describes Collins as a jack of all trades and an essential part to multiple projects.

Jami Simon (’81 theatre and dance) plays Parfay in THE DREAM (Episode 103 “Economy”). The episode aired on Thursday, Dec 9 at 10 p.m. on FXX and is now available to stream on Hulu.

Lauren Hughes (DVM ’16) is the inaugural recipient of The Foundation for the Horse Research Fellowship. The scholarship award to Hughes for her investigation of the genetic fo pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) in horses.

Larry Celmer* (DVM ’61) and his wife, Martha, recently established an endowed business professorship at Mount Marty University in Yankton, South Dakota.

Paige (Mitchell) Brennan (BID ’13 industrial and product design) started her own yacht design firm called Fortis Yacht Design. As the chief designer, Brennan works with and designs for the top recreational boating companies in the country.

Kristine Stone* (’02 advertising), former Assistant City Attorney for the City of Ames, was recently recognized as a member of the 2021 Class of Fellows by the International Municipal Lawyers Association (IMLA). Stone works for Ahlers & Cooney, P.C.’s Government Law Practice Area in Des Moines, Iowa.

Kendyl (Landeck) Larson (MCRP ’19 community and regional planning), director of research and planning at the Polk County Housing Trust Fund, was invited to discuss the history of redlining on Iowa Public Radio’s Talk of Iowa program Iowa Monday. Redlining is a practice by banks and other financial institutes that discriminates against specific neighborhoods by refusing services.

Fei Huang (MFA ’09 graphic design) joined Meta, the parent organization of Facebook, as a product designer.

Kelly Devitt Steenhagen (’17 integrated studio arts), current lecturer in art and visual culture on campus, received a 2021 Personal Development Grant through the Surface Design Association (SDA). The grant will be used toward research in 3D printing of cellulose fiber on material that Steenhagen created out of glue and onion skin.

David Cordaro (’17 architecture) started a new position as the communications manager at the American Institute of Architects Chicago (AIA Chicago). AIA Chicago is one of the leading architecture companies in the U.S.

THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT A Novel by Rachel McKenny (MA ’12 english) is the 2022 All Iowa Reads selection by the Iowa Center for the Book. THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT is an unconventional tale of self-discovery, navigating relationships, and how sometimes it takes stepping outside of our comfort zone to find what we need the most.

Bryan Schabel (’95 architecture) has been named Co-Design Director of the Chicago studio of Perkins&Will, the second-largest design firm in the country. Over Schabel’s 25-year career with Perkins&Will, he has won multiple design awards for his work.

James “Jim” Kearns** (PhD ’74 chemical engineering) was awarded the 2021 George F. Lindsteadt Award for Excellence in Technology Transfer. As the technology transfer manager for the Air Force Research Laboratory’s 711th Human Performance Wing (711HPW), Kearns has help commercialized numerous life-saving technologies.

Charlie Brown* (PhD professional studies in education ’83) will be inducted to the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame on Nov. 14, 2021.