Class Notes

David Drendel (A)(’15 agronomy, ag business) is the new sales agronomist for Van Diest Supply Company in Boone, Iowa.

Morgan Shrader (’15 agronomy & ag business) is the new director of development for the National Swine Registry in West Lafayette, Ind.

Tory Mogler (’14 ag business & econ) has been promoted to ethanol trader at Cargill.

Todd Ramaeker (’13 ag studies & ag and life sciences ed) has been promoted to customer support planner by John Deere.

Kaitlyn Oberembt (’11 biology, animal science, ’15 DVM) has joined the staff at the Akron Veterinary Clinic in Akron, Iowa.

Jennie Savits (’09 food science, MS ’14) is the new enology field specialist for the Iowa State Midwest Grape and Wine Industry Institute.

Mary Fuller (A)(’08 ag and life sciences ed) is the new STEM program manager for Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri.

Mitchell Vorthmann (’04 animal science, MBA ’06) is the new supply chain planning manager at Atkins Nutritionals in Denver, Colo.

Mary Holz-Clause (L)(’76 ag business, PhD ’09 ag and life sciences ed) has been named chancellor of the University of Minnesota-Crookston.

Anand Rao (L)(’90 PhD food science and human nutrition) has accepted a position as vice president of research and development for Agropur, an international dairy cooperative.

Luke Hawkins (’11 agronomy) is the new Black Hawk County executive director for the USDA Farm Service Agency.

Pfc. Valeria Escamilla (’16 genetics), Iowa Army National Guard, has been promoted to health care specialist with Company C, 334th Brigade Support Battalion out of Johnston.

Mariah Schmitt (’17 dairy science/ag & society) is the new Iowa Dairy Center coordinator for the Northeast Iowa Dairy Foundation.

Trey Forsyth (L)(’17 ag business) is a new sustainability associate at Land O’ Lakes Inc.

Sandra Nelson (’75 biochemistry) has been named vice president of Bexion Pharmaceuticals in Covington, Ky.

Jeff Mayes (’02 animal science, ’06 MS ag and life sciences education) has accepted a position as real estate agent for Henry Mayes Company in Austin, Texas.

Bret Spurgin (’11 ag and life sciences education) has accepted a position as an ag educator and FFA adviser at Charles City High School.

Bailey Morrell (’14 ag studies) is a new marketing specialist for Certified Angus Beef in Wooster, Ohio.

Brett Cranston (’15 ag and life sciences education, agronomy) is a new sales manager for Kemin Crop Technologies.

Kyven Gadson ('14 human sciences) finished runner-up at 97kg at the 2017 World Team Trials and has earned a spot on the U.S. National Wrestling Team.

Richard D. Allen ('63 ag business), a retired statistician from Fairfax, Va., has been inducted into the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service Hall of Fame.

Nathan Unsworth ('07 animal ecol), administrative parks superintendent for the City of Newton, Iowa, was awarded the Amy Jennings Young Professional Impact Award by the Des Moines Young Professionals Connection and Juice.

Crystal Matelski ('13 el ed) is one of two professionals who have been selected to receive the 2017 Early Achievement Award from Des Moines Area Community College.

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has announced Danielle Hermann ('01 architecture, MA '08), an associate principal with OPN Architects in Des Moines, Iowa, as a recipient of the 2017 AIA Young Architects Award. This national award recognizes individuals who have shown exceptional leadership and made significant contributions to the professional early in their architectural careers.

Allie Lansman ('16 dietetics) was named the 2017 Outstanding Young Alum by the Iowa 4-H Foundation at its 2017 Legacy Awards Gala in Des Moines. Lansman is one of the youngest individuals ever to receive the distinguished honor.

Gateway Market sommelier Kelsey Seay ('11 integrated studio arts) of Des Moines was crowned champion of Winefest's third annual Iron Somm -- becoming the first woman to win the competition, a five-course culinary challenge held annually to raise money for the Des Moines Wine Festival Foundation.

Sandra Larson ('75 biology, '88 civil, construction, and environmental engr) is the 2017 recipient of the Roy W. Crum Distinguished Service Award from the Transportation Research Board. She has been the director of the Iowa Department of Transportation's Systems Operations Bureau for nearly 30 years.

Kyle Oppenhuizen (A)('09 journalism & mass comm), communications manager for the Greater Des Moines Partnership, was named the 2016 Young Professional of the Year by the Des Moines Young Professionals Connection and Juice.

Christina Moffatt ('02 liberal studies) is one of six professionals who have been selected to receive the 2017 Outstanding Alumni Award from Des Moines Area Community College.

Steven W. Churchill ('85 pol sci) has been elected international president for the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity. SAE has a presence on 234 campuses in the U.S. and Canada and more than 200,000 living alumni. A resident of Washington, D.C., Churchill is president and CEO of the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy.

Shirley Stakey (L)('57 home ec ed) of Story City, Iowa was one of four recipients of the 2017 Iowa 4-H Legacy Award. Stakey received the award in the category of "individual supporter." She is a former state 4-H staffer and has continued her involvement as a volunteer.

Higher Education magazine has named Susana Munoz (L)(’95 pol sci & intl. studies, PhD ’08 education) among the “Top 25 Women in Higher Education and Beyond by Diverse Issues” for the research she’s doing as an assistant professor in the Colorado State University School of Education on the topics of college access, identity, and persistence of underrepresented student populations.

Rich Degner (L)(’72 ag and life science education, ’77 MS) was recently honored by the National Pork Producers Council and the National Pork Board with the inaugural Paulson-Whitmore State Executive Award at the annual National Pork Industry Forum. Degner worked for the Iowa Pork Producers Association for 35 years, serving as CEO for 17 years before his retirement in 2015.

Stephanie Hansen (’02 animal science), associate professor of animal science at Iowa State University, received the Outstanding Young Researcher Award from the American Society of Animal Science.

Peter Gottschalk (PhD ’83 organic chem) was honored by CommScope during the company’s first Innovators in Action Conference Feb. 15-17 in Frisco, Texas. Gottschalk, a senior engineer, was one of 80 global employees recognized for their creative work and ideas that bring innovation to the wired and wireless industries the company serves.

Richard Allen (’63 ag business), a retired statistician from Fairfax, Va., has been inducted into the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service Hall of Fame. Allen was honored for his service to National Agricultural Statistics Service and U.S. agriculture, including his efforts as historian and mentor.

Doug Matthies (’70 animal science), business improvement manager in the Midwest region for Smithfield Hog Production, has been honored with the 2016 Master Pork Partner Award by the Iowa Pork Producers Association and ISU Extension and Outreach.

The ISU Agricultural Business Club selected Sarah Fiedler Thorn (L)(’81 ag business) to receive its Outstanding Alumni Award at the club’s annual award banquet on March 4.

Tim Westrum (’99 ag studies, ag & life sci ed) and his family have been recognized as the 2017 Freeborn County (Minn.) Farm Family of the Year.

Sterling “Stu” Ainsworth (’55 hort) has been named the Illinois Council of Orchestras’ 2017 Volunteer of the Year.

Jack McGuire (A)(’63 civil engr) has been inducted into the ISU Department of Aerospace Engineering’s Hall of Distinguished Alumni. McGuire retired from Boeing in 2006 after 43 years with the company.

Amrut Sadachar (A)(’14 apparel, merchandising, and design), an assistant professor in the University of Auburn’s Department of Consumer and Design Sciences, received the Student Government Association’s Outstanding Faculty Member of the Year Award for the College of Human Sciences and the Student Supervisor of the Year Award.

Documentary filmmaker Vanessa McNeal (’15 child, adult and family services) received the Young Woman of Tomorrow Award at the 2017 Cedar Valley Women of Persimmon ceremony April 25. The recognition is given by the YWCA of Black Hawk County.

Raymond “Paul” Giroux (’79 con engr) of Kiewit Infrastructure has been awarded the Roebling Award from the American Society of Civil Engineers.

Todd Sevig (’84 psych & sociology, PhD ’93 psych), director of the University of Michigan’s student counseling center, recently received a lifetime achievement award from the Association of University and College Counseling Center Directors.

Mike Hunter (’78 ag business) and his brother, Nick Hunter (L)(’83 ag business), farmers near Chariton, Iowa, have been awarded the Gary Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. The Hunters raise grain, finish cattle, run a cow/calf operation, and manage a Christmas tree farm. The family’s conservation practices also have earned them the Rathbun Lake Protector Award and recognition from the Natural Heritage Foundation.

Gamma Sigma Delta, the Iowa Chapter of the Honor Society of Agriculture, recently presented two ISU alumni with awards. John Hallberg (L)(’76 animal science, MS ’78 DVM ’82), director of regulatory affairs with Zoetis in Kalamazoo, Mich., received the Alumni Award of Merit and Tom Baas (L)(’72 animal science, MS ’89 MS, PhD ’90), ISU professor emeritus in animal science, received the International Mission Award.

Gamma Sigma Delta, the Iowa Chapter of the Honor Society of Agriculture, recently presented two ISU alumni with awards. John Hallberg (L)(’76 animal science, MS ’78 DVM ’82), director of regulatory affairs with Zoetis in Kalamazoo, Mich., received the Alumni Award of Merit and Tom Baas (L)(’72 animal science, MS ’89 MS, PhD ’90), ISU professor emeritus in animal science, received the International Mission Award.

Mark Kuhlmann (’75 farm operation) has been named 2017 Citizen of the Year with his wife, Kelley, by the Charter Oak (Iowa) Community Club.

Ignacio (Colo.) teacher Lynn R. Blakesley (L)(’95 home ec ed) has been named the Colorado Family & Consumer Sciences Teacher of the Year for 2016-2017.

Dennis Casey (’64 ag business, MS ’68 poultry breeding, ’70 PhD poultry breeding and genetics) was named the Egg Person of the Year at the Urner Barry Executive Conference and Marketing Seminar in Las Vegas, Nevada held April 30 – May 2. Casey worked with Hy-Line International for more than 30 years serving in the research department, as manager of the company's West Coast distribution organization and as president from 1974 until his retirement in 2006. Casey is the current chairman of the Egg Industry Center Advisory Board.

Seth Smith (’02 ag systems technology), a farmer near Nemaha, and his family received the 2017 Iowa Cattlemen’s Association’s Environmental Stewardship Award. Smith’s operation includes rotational grazing, an extended grazing season and infrastructure improvements to promote healthy land and water. Their operation provides beef to the Smokin’ Hereford BBQ restaurant in Storm Lake, which won the 2017 Iowa Cattlemen’s Best burger competition.

Stuart O. Nelson (A)(PhD '72 ag engr) was honored with the prestigious Career Excellence Award at the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) International Instrumentation and Measurement Technology Conference in Torino, Italy, May 22-25.

William Quick (L)('93 civil engr) received the 2017 Outstanding Service Award by the Kansas Bar Association June 8 in Manhattan. Kan. The award is given to attorneys or judges for their service to the legal profession. Quick is a shareholder at Kansas City Polsinelli.

Poet Gary J. Whitehead’s (MA ’96 English) “Wild Columbine” is featured in the spring 2017 issue of the Ploughshares Literary Journal.

Derek S. Oden (PhD ’06 ag history and rural studies) has published “Harvest of Hazards: Family Farming, Accidents, and Expertise in the Corn Belt, 1940-1975” (University of Iowa Press).

Andrew Lauver (L)(’12 ag studies) has been accepted into the Drake Law School, beginning fall semester. He plans to specialize in Drake’s agricultural and legislative certificate programs.

Michael McDowell (’13 ag studies) has joined Brock Grain Systems as a district manager for the West Region of the U.S.

Nathan Unsworth (’07 animal ecology) has been hired as director of Lee County (Iowa) Conservation.

Nathan Unsworth (’07 animal ecology) has been hired as director of Lee County (Iowa) Conservation.

Jacob Bolson (A)(’07 ag engr) is a new aftermarket manager for the John Deere Tractor Platform in Waterloo, Iowa.

Jacob Bolson (A)(’07 ag engr) is a new aftermarket manager for the John Deere Tractor Platform in Waterloo, Iowa.

Lisa Tronchetti (L)(’11 ag business and intl ag) was promoted to senior dairy products merchandiser at Gavilon Group, LLC.

Joshua Manternach (’11 ag studies) was hired as a business banker for Great Western Bank in Osceola.

Joshua Manternach (’11 ag studies) was hired as a business banker for Great Western Bank in Osceola.

Joni Erwin (A)(’17 ag business) has accepted a position as marketing coordinator for Latham Hi-Tech Seeds.

Alex Ramirez (L)('89 animal sci, DVM ’93, PhD ’10 vet microbiology), associate professor of veterinary diagnostic and production animal medicine at ISU, has been named interim associate dean of academic and student affairs for the ISU College of Veterinary Medicine.

Jeff Swearngin (’84 fisheries and wildlife biology) has been appointed chief of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Bureau (Iowa DNR). Swearngin has served as deputy chief of the Bureau since 2015. He previously served as an Iowa DNR conservation officer and Polk County Conservation Board park ranger.

Renelle White Buffalo (’11 integrated studio arts) is one of seven emerging artists currently exhibiting at a New York City art show called “Humanness,” which opened July 13 and closes Aug. 12. The show is being held in New York’s Lyons Wier Gallery.

Kristine Stone (’02 advertising) has joined Ahlers & Cooney, P.C.’s Government Law Practice Area in Des Moines, Iowa. Her practice focuses on representing cities, counties, utilities, and other public entities in the exercise of their powers and in litigation.

Civil engineer Scott Smith, P.E. (’12 civil engr) recently joined Hanson Professional Services Inc.’s Chicago regional office. He will assist with planning, design and construction services for aviation projects.

Larry Genalo (MS ’74 math, PhD ’77) retired Aug. 2 after 46 years of service to the Iowa State University faculty. He retired as university professor and associate chair of undergraduate education in materials science and engineering.

David Freeman (’08 food sci) has accepted a position as a technical specialist and product manager for Global Filter, LLC in Cedar Rapids.

Jessica Denner (’08 food sci) is a new senior quality assurance specialist for the human nutrition and health division at Kemin.

Jessica Denner (’08 food sci) is a new senior quality assurance specialist for the human nutrition and health division at Kemin.

Corey Wagner (’05 animal sci, MS ’07 meat sci) has accepted a position as FSQA manager for Seaboard Triumph Foods in Sioux City.

Angela Anderson (A)(’05 public service & admin in ag) has started a new position as director of customer outreach at the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy.

Zach Boss (’13 ag business) has been promoted to assistant vice president for Security State Bank in Independence, Iowa.

Dominic Snyder (’17 ag business) is a new ag specialist at the ISU Muscatine Island Research Farm.

Dominic Snyder (’17 ag business) is a new ag specialist at the ISU Muscatine Island Research Farm.

The Reverend Lisa Meshke (’04 finance, MBA ’06) was ordained into the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America on May 20, 2017. She is currently serving as pastor of First English Lutheran Church in Tyler, Minn.

The Reverend Lisa Meshke (’04 finance, MBA ’06) was ordained into the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America on May 20, 2017. She is currently serving as pastor of First English Lutheran Church in Tyler, Minn.

Amber Hammes (’17 ag and society) has been hired as a project coordinator for Dow AgroSciences.

Donovan D. McCargo (M.Ed ’05) has been named assistant vice president and dean of students at Kutztown University in Kutztown, Pa. He previously served as dean of students at the Community College of Philadelphia since 2014.

Jim Gulliford (L)(’73 forestry, MS ’75), long-time executive director of the Soil and Water Conservation Society, has stepped down from his role. He will continue his involvement in agriculture and conservation work as a project and policy consultant.

Leslie Baker (L)(’86 ag journalism) has been hired as the executive director of the Reining Horse Foundation.

Jon Thompson (’92 ag and life sci ed) is a new strategic account manager with Ceva Animal Health’s swine division.

Jose Rojas (MS ’93 an sci) has been named director of breeder/hatchery at Jennie-O Turkey Store.

Jose Rojas (MS ’93 an sci) has been named director of breeder/hatchery at Jennie-O Turkey Store.

Jane Kersch (A)(’16 pol sci & global resource systems) has accepted a position with the Americorps Emergency Response Team in St. Louis, Mo.

Joseph Alan Smith (’16 performing arts) has created a web TV series called “Outed,” which was filmed in Iowa with support from the Iowa Arts Council. It will be released this fall.

Emily Pontius (A)(’98 journalism) has been elected shareholder of Fredrikson & Byron in Des Moines.

Mike Telford (L)(’76 an sci) has been named executive director of Iowa Farm Animal Care.

Mark Smith (’80 an sci) has been elected president and CEO of First National Bank in Fairfield, Iowa.

Stephen S. Mosher, J.D. (L)(’70 elec engr) has been appointed to the Board of Visitors of Brite Divinity School in Fort Worth, Texas for the 2017-2020 term. He also serves on the dean’s advisory council of Texas A&M University School of Law in Fort Worth. He holds a law degree from Texas Wesleyan.

Aaron Grell (’00 indus tech) has been hired as a national product manager for LNS Group’s air filtration produce line.

Mike Finch (’11 an sci) has joined the swine production sales and services team for Deluxe Feeds, Inc., a division of Kent Nutrition Group in Sheldon, Iowa.

Michael Dosmann (MS ’98 hort) has been promoted to keeper of the living collection for Harvard University’s Arnold Arboretum.

Lindsay Calvert (’13 journalism, MS ’16 ag & life sci ed) has been promoted to director of learning and development at the American Farm Bureau Federation.

Sophia Borts (’15 ag and life sci ed) has been promoted to administrative specialist at the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.