Class Notes

Joel Rochleau, Senior Vice President and Branch Manager of Security State Bank, Springville, Iowa, was honored by the Northwestern Financial Review Magazine as one of the Rising Stars in Banking for 2016.

Lauro Fred Cavazos received an honorary doctorate degree from Texas Tech University. Cavazos was president of Texas Tech from 1980 to 1988.

Tom Loynachan, an ISU professor of agronomy, received the Distinguished Achievement in Agriculture Award from Gamma Sigma Delta, the Iowa Chapter of the Honor Society of Agriculture.

Tom Polito, former director of ISU College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Student Services, received the Thomas B. Thielen Award, the highest honor given by the ISU Division of Student Affairs, on April 26,2016. The award, named after Iowa State’s vice president of student affairs from 1977 to 1997, recognizes individuals who strongly support student success. A retirement reception for Polito was held May 3.

Rich Degner, retired CEO of the Iowa Pork Producers Association, has been named a 2016 Pork Master by National Hog Farmer.

Vicky Hinsenbrock, loan manager with Farm Service Agency in Winneshiek, Fayette and Allamakee counties, was honored by the Decorah Area Chamber of Commerce Agriculture Committee with the 2016 Friend of Agriculture Award.

Gary Wright has joined Iowa State Extension and Outreach as a farm management specialist in northwest Iowa.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey received the Distinguished Achievement in Agriculture Award from Gamma Sigma Delta, the Iowa Chapter of the Honor Society of Agriculture.

Fred Iutzi has been named president of The Land Institute, a nonprofit agriculture research organization based in Salina, Kan., working to advance perennial grain crops and polyculture farming. He presently serves as manager of agriculture, energy, and cooperative development programs for the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs at Western Illinois University. He will succeed Wes Jackson, who co-founded the institute 40 years ago. Iutzi will take the helm Oct. 1.

Steve Larsen, vice president of science and technology at the National Pork Board, received the Distinguished Achievement Award from the American Meat Science Association. Larsen previously worked as a food technologist at Tyson Foods, Inc. before joining the National Pork Board as a director of pork safety. He was recently promoted to Vice President of Science and Technology at National Pork Board.

Tong Wang, an ISU professor of food science and human nutrition, has been named a fellow by the American Oil Chemists Society.

ISU professor of economics Chad Hart has received the Exemplary Faculty Mentor Award from the office of Iowa State's senior vice president and provost.

Michael Witt is the new field agronomist for the Iowa State Extension and Outreach crops team. Witt will serve Audubon, Crawford, Guthrie, Harrison, and Shelby counties.

Bradley Petersen has joined the Kent Corporation commodity procurement team as a senior commodity manager.

Lexie Cook has joined the Hy-Vee floral design team in Dubuque.

Lauren Houska has been hired as an account coordinator at Sandbox Group.

Longtime industry sales veteran Wes Johnson, has joined Ceva Animal Health’s swine business unit as strategic account manager with a keen focus on the custom vaccine business. In his new role, Johnson will focus on helping to launch the company’s customized swine vaccines to key accounts, as well as growing and managing Ceva’s portfolio of swine products. “With nearly 30 years of product sales experience, most of it in the swine industry, Wes is the ideal professional to lead our custom vaccine sales efforts and to provide these solutions to swine veterinarians and producers,” says Gary Robertson, director, swine business unit. “Wes is well known and highly regarded by producers and veterinarians and has a thorough understanding of the production and health challenges currently facing producers. His previous custom vaccine sales experience and knowledge will be especially beneficial to our team and the customers we serve.” Prior to joining Ceva, Johnson spent nearly 11 years as national swine accounts manager for MVP Laboratories, Inc., in Omaha, Nebraska, where he was responsible for calling on key swine integrators and consulting veterinarians and providing direction for the company’s swine business. Johnson also has held swine sales positions with Novartis Animal Health, ImmTech Biologics and Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc.

Susan G. Magliaro, professor of educational psychology in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences at Virginia Tech, has been conferred the title of “professor emerita” by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors. The emeritus title may be conferred on retired professors, associate professors, and administrative officers who are specially recommended to the board by Virginia Tech President Tim Sands. Nominated individuals who are approved by the board receive an emeritus certificate from the university. A member of the Virginia Tech community since 1988, Magliaro has made significant contributions to educational psychology through her work in K-12 outreach and extensive service through the Virginia Department of Education. Her scholarship has yielded four books and more than 50 book chapters, peer-reviewed journal articles, and reports. She has also given more than 100 presentations at professional meetings. At Virginia Tech, Magliaro provided tremendous support to the VT-STEM and Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) projects. In addition, she served as chair of the Department of Teaching and Learning, director of the School of Education, and associate dean in her college. Magliaro has consulted and collaborated with numerous school systems on issues including instructional design, beginning teacher training and mentoring, and the alignment of curriculum, instruction, and assessment. In 2014, Magliaro, was appointed to Virginia’s Standards of Learning Innovation Committee by Gov. Terry McAuliffe. In 2003, she assumed responsibility as director of the Southwest Virginia Professional Education Consortium, which focuses on the training and development of cooperating teachers for the student teachers of the four participating universities, including Virginia Tech. She has served on the Virginia Advisory Board on Teacher Education and Licensure and on the Board of Trustees for the Science Museum of Western Virginia. At Virginia Tech, Magliaro taught a wide variety of undergraduate and graduate courses across the School of Education curriculum. She advised many students on their master’s degree and doctoral dissertations and helped them develop successful careers in both academic and industrial settings. She has received numerous honors and awards for her professional contributions, such as the Outstanding Teacher Educator Award from the Virginia Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, Virginia Tech’s Alumni Teaching Award, and the William E. Wine Award for Excellence in Teaching.

Neumann Monson Architects is pleased to announce the addition of intern architect Callah Nelson to its Iowa City office. Prior to joining Neumann Monson, Callah interned at BNIM in Des Moines, where she began refining her skills working on graphics and physical models. Callah is originally from Fargo, North Dakota. Neumann Monson Architects, founded in 1977, provides award-winning architectural, planning, and interior design services to a wide variety of clients and utilizes a collaborative work process to produce sustainable design solutions.

Kevin Reynolds has been recognized by Chambers and Partners in its 2016 attorney rankings in the area of litigation/general commercial -- Iowa. Chambers USA is researched by dedicated staff who speak to leading firms, clients, and government officials to recommend leading firms and attorneys. Chambers and Partners, based in London, England, publishes guides in 185 jurisdictions throughout the world and have been ranking the best lawyers and law firms since 1990.

Southern Vermont College Director of Athletics Michael McDonough announced on June 1 the naming of Ashley Hodges as the new Assistant Director of Athletics for SVC, as the College was one of 26 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III members to be awarded with the Association’s diversity grants for the 2016-17 academic year. Hodges has been the head athletic trainer for Southern Vermont athletics since the fall of 2009, and she assumed the Senior Woman Administrator role in the fall of 2010. She has been a part of numerous committees both at the College and at the NCAA level, including serving on SVC’s recent presidential search advisory committee which resulted in the hire of David Rees Evans, Ph.D., as the College’s ninth president. She also chaired the College’s search for its new Vice President and Dean of Admissions which landed Daniel Summers II in the position back in November. Hodges will continue to oversee athletic training at Southern Vermont as the head athletic trainer. "Ashley has played an increasingly important role at SVC and is respected throughout the New England Collegiate Conference as our Senior Woman Administrator,” said McDonough. “We are grateful for this opportunity to extend her impact as Assistant Director of Athletics. The growing success of our athletic program is in no small measure a reflection of the team we have assembled to coach, serve, and mentor our student-athletes." The announcement comes on the heels of Southern Vermont being awarded one of the six DIII Strategic Alliance Matching Grants given out for 2016-17 in conjunction with 20 DIII Ethnic Minority and Women’s Internship Grants. Both programs are in their 15th year, with the upcoming academic cycle set to see the NCAA award more than $800,000 to those 26 member institutions, collectively. The two grants aim at encouraging access, recruitment, selection, and the long-term success of ethnic minorities and women in athletics administration and assistant coaching. “I’m very excited for the opportunity to grow professionally at Southern Vermont College,” Hodges said. “I am looking forward to helping our student-athletes in other ways besides medically.” Hodges received her Master of Science degree in Adult Learning and Organizational Performance, with a concentration in human resources, from Drake University in 2009. She is currently pursuing her Doctorate in Education at Northcentral University.

Edwin R. Mickelson, principal at NBBJ in Columbus, Ohio, has received the Cleveland Botanical Garden's Delia White Vail Medal for his esteemed body of work including his contributions to landscaping Cleveland public spaces. Former Cleveland Botanical Garden board member Herman Lansing Vail established the award in 1957 to commemorate his wife’s lifelong interest in horticulture and civic beautification. The medal recognizes individuals and organizations that have made significant national contributions to the field of horticulture. Mickelson strives to combine artistic expression with social purpose and realize outdoor environments that respect the natural environment, enliven community and enhance life. During his career he has won more than 30 design awards for his work in the planning and design of highly complex sites in the United States, China, South Korea, Taiwan, Turkey, Jordan and Kuwait. He continues his connection with Cleveland through current commissions such as the Lucia Smith Nash Walk on the campus of Case Western Reserve University, a streetscape study for Euclid at Uptown, and the urban landscapes associated with the nuCLEus development located downtown adjacent to the Quicken Loans Arena. The Cleveland Clinic Foundation Vail Garden, built in 2006 at the front doors of the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, represents Mickelson’s design excellence in an intimate setting, expressing beauty and simplicity.

The American Physical Therapy Association has named Justin Moore, PT, DPT, as chief executive officer. A physical therapist and veteran of both the profession and the association with more than 20 years' experience, Justin earned the Board of Directors' overwhelming support to lead the organization. His tenure will begin July 1, 2016.

One of the American livestock industry’s highest honors will be awarded to an Iowa State University emeritus professor and former animal science department chair. The 2016 Saddle and Sirloin Club Portrait Award will be presented to Maynard Hogberg at a ceremony in Louisville, Kentucky, in November. Hogberg’s portrait will be unveiled as the newest entry in the Saddle and Sirloin Club Portrait Collection, a 113-year-old tradition honoring leaders who have demonstrated lifetime achievements and provided outstanding service to animal agriculture. For three decades, Hogberg led animal science departments at Iowa State University and Michigan State University. He served as chair of Michigan State’s animal science department from 1984 to 2002 and chair of Iowa State’s animal science department from 2003 to 2015. “The Saddle and Sirloin Club honor recognizes Dr. Hogberg’s legacy as one of the nation’s premier university leaders of animal science programs,” said Wendy Wintersteen, endowed dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. “During his tenure, he contributed greatly to enhance our animal science department’s reputation. Due to his leadership, the department is nationally and internationally recognized for its strong undergraduate and graduate programs, an excellent broad-based research program and an actively engaged extension program. His engagement with and responsiveness to the needs of Iowa livestock and poultry industries was critical in helping Iowa State meet its land-grant mission to Iowa agriculture.” As a national leader in animal agriculture, Hogberg shaped a generation of animal scientists, extension specialists and industry leaders through his mentoring of students, faculty and staff and academia and industry colleagues. Hogberg provided leadership to numerous state and national livestock associations and organizations, including serving as president of the American Society of Animal Science and of the Federation of Animal Science Societies. He was instrumental in the formation of the National Swine Registry. Hogberg will be the 369th person honored since 1903, joining the ranks of other notable names in Iowa State history, including Seaman Knapp, Charles F. Curtiss, Henry Kildee, Jay Lush and Richard Willham. Willham, an emeritus distinguished professor, was the last Iowa State person to be inducted, in 2004.

Law student Megan Hingtgen has joined the Davis Brown Law Firm for its 2016 Summer Associates program. Megan is a first-year law student at the University of Iowa College of Law with a background in chemical engineering. The Summer Associates program allows talented law students to assist shareholders and associates on challenging, sophisticated, and complex cases and transactions. Summer associates also gain experience in legal research and contribute to the community through their work on pro bono projects.

Law student Katelynn McCollough has joined the Davis Brown Law Firm for its 2016 Summer Associates program. Katelynn is in her second year of law school at the University of Iowa; she studied journalism and political science at Iowa State. The Summer Associates program allows talented law students to assist shareholders and associates on challenging, sophisticated, and complex cases and transactions. Summer associates also gain experience in legal research and contribute to the community through their work on pro bono projects.

Dr. Leola Adams has been inducted into South Carolina State University’s Miller Society for contributing $100,000 cumulatively to the university.

Sharon Meier Lutheran began serving as the Chair of Nutrition Education for the Public for the Dietetic Practice Group of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics June 1. This Dietetic Practice Group has 985 members nationwide. Ms. Lutheran has been a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics since 1990.

Robert Gunderson (L)('76 Landscape Architecture) was recently reappointed to the Minnesota Board of Architecture, Engineering, Land Surveying, Landscape Architecture, Geoscience, and Interior Design (AELSLAGID) by Governor Mark Dayton. The Board administers over 20,000 licensed professionals. He is currently serving as Vice Chair of the 21-member board.

Sally Beisser is the 2016 recipient of Drake University's Provost Ronald Troyer Research Fellowship Endowment, as well as the university's Madelyn Levitt Teacher of the Year Award. Beisser is a Drake University Professor of Education.

Schemmer welcomes Elizabeth Hunter, P.E., AICP, LEED AP BD+C, as Civil Engineering Manager Council Bluffs, Iowa - The Schemmer Associates Inc. (Schemmer), a local full-service architecture, engineering and planning firm, is pleased to welcome Elizabeth Hunter, P.E., AICP, LEED AP BD+C, as Civil Engineering Manager based in the Council Bluffs, Iowa office. Hunter has more than 19 years of diverse experience in designing housing developments, managing environmentally sensitive field work and near zero disturbance construction and master planning projects from design through construction administration. Hunter is a licensed professional engineer in Iowa, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Michigan, New Mexico, Puerto Rico, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Washington, D.C., Wisconsin and Wyoming. In addition, she is a Certified Planner and a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) accredited professional with a Building Design + Construction (BD+C) specialty. Her expertise lies in code and zoning reviews as well as permitting and getting projects approved with local planning boards, zoning board of appeals and city councils. Her experience includes work in both public and private industries providing site development on numerous types of projects such as transportation, residential, commercial, healthcare, educational, sports facilities, stormwater and environmentally sensitive projects. At Schemmer, Hunter will be responsible for leading the Council Bluffs office in civil engineering efforts, project management and business development. She holds Bachelor of Science degrees in both Civil Engineering and Environmental Studies from Iowa State University, and a Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering and Community and Regional Planning from the University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Hunter is a member of the Society of Women Engineers Eastern Nebraska Section, the American Planning Association, the Iowa Engineering Society and a Life Member of the Iowa State University Alumni Association. She has served in leadership roles for the Society of Women Engineers and the Metro Area Engineers Roundtable for more than 16 years. Schemmer is a collaborative full-service architectural, engineering and planning firm providing responsible solutions for complex design- and construction-related challenges. Headquartered in Omaha, Neb., Schemmer has regional offices in Des Moines and Council Bluffs, Iowa; Tulsa and Oklahoma City, Okla.; as well as in Lincoln, Neb. For more information, please visit our website at www.schemmer.com.

Virginia Tech University recently hosted visiting scholar William Copenhaver, who for the last 36 years has worked for the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) in Dayton, Ohio. Copenhaver earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Virginia Tech, the latter in 1978; and he went on to earn a doctorate in mechanical engineering from Iowa State University in 1988. Since June 2015 he has been in Blacksburg working with Walter O’Brien, the J. Bernard Jones Professor of Mechanical Engineering. As a researcher focusing on fan and compressor technology, Copenhaver applied for the visiting scientist program knowing exactly where he needed to be. “In our branch at AFRL, we have four Virginia Tech graduates and we know that the focus here is on developing turbomachinery that is distortion tolerant, so the connection to Virginia Tech is pretty natural,” he said. Citing the university as one of the leaders in the field of propulsion research, Copenhaver submitted a proposal to spend six months in Blacksburg looking at the influence of distortion on propulsion systems. In November, as he neared the end of his term, he submitted a second proposal, to build upon the momentum of the first and help further develop a technology created at Virginia Tech called StreamVane. “The proposals have to be a good connection for the Air Force and be connected to a university considered a leader in the field,” Copenhaver explained. “When I submitted my second proposal to stay an additional six months, I didn’t consider it very likely – it’s very difficult to get one six-month tour. To get successive proposals approved is very rare indeed. But the StreamVane technology represents a significant potential benefit to the Air Force, and my sponsors wanted me to maintain my momentum and continue my work.” StreamVane is a patent-pending technology developed in 2012 by O’Brien and the Virginia Tech TurboLab research team. It has the potential to drastically reduce time and costs associated with turbine engine inlet integration testing. As the Air Force and many civilian aviation industries move toward more-complex inlet designs for aircraft engines, more research needs to be done to show how those inlets affect the flow of air into and through engine and how that flow corresponds to aircraft stability and handling characteristics. “You want to understand the influence of distorted inflow on fans,” Copenhaver said. “It’s important to know how propulsion systems operate in a very harsh inlet environment where there are a lot of swirling flows and pressure distortions. We want our propulsion devices to work just as well inside the airframe as they do outside, so we focused on how to make turbine engines operate better with more complex inlet flow fields.” StreamVane allows researchers to generate any type of flow field they want for testing. By specifying a specific flow field, a StreamVane can be made through additive manufacturing processes to evaluate the flow field with a turbine engine. The result is far more cost-effective than building a separate inlet for each flow field. “Currently, if we want to test a flow field we have to spend six months and about $1 million to create a mock inlet to test the field,” Copenhaver said. “Stream Vane lets us generate any type of flow field we want to put in front of our fan to determine how it reacts with a particular distortion pattern. You can simulate any kind of inlet you want for a much lower cost, and it can be manufactured within about a week. That kind of turnaround not only saves money but it helps speed future innovation in the field.” The StreamVane process is broken into two steps. The first is a subscale 6-inch diameter design that can be created using 3-D printers found in the mechanical engineering department and elsewhere on campus. The second step is to move up in scale. Currently StreamVanes are made in 17- and 21-inch sizes for the AFRL and Virginia Tech labs, respectively. Larger versions might be up to 42-inches. “As you get larger you have higher stresses on the StreamVane and we have to verify that additive manufacturing technology can build the larger sizes,” Copenhaver said. “The 21-inch size is currently manufactured by a company in California. Virginia Tech has built a 17-inch model for AFRL, and two 21-inch models for research at Virginia Tech, and more are in design. So it’s easy to see how there is a natural connection between the research taking place in both locations.” The inlets, modeled with computational fluid dynamics, let researchers determine how to best design a machine to adapt to environments that are always changing. Different distortion patterns are generated through take-offs, landings, and aerial maneuvers and create different boundary positions for the turbine engine. Researchers need to create a fan that can adapt and operate effectively in all situations. “We’re not designing the engine or the plane,” explained Copenhaver, “our focus is to improve design tools for the turbine engines. StreamVane is a very promising technology that will help us efficiently and cost-effectively impose multiple distortion patterns on a given fan design. To understand the key parameters in fan design to accommodate all the different distortions you can’t just use one pattern; that won’t lead to the right solution. So you have to do a parametric variation to make sure you get to the right solution. At the end of the day, we want our fans to take any type of distortion, not just one – that won’t do.” While the design code for StreamVane resides at Virginia Tech, Copenhaver has been working with that code, bringing the knowledge and experience of AFRL to bear in improving the design capability. “This is why I enjoy this interaction,” he said. “Virginia Tech benefits from the experience we have at AFRL and we benefit from the innovation of the university. We’re learning from each other. It’s a win-win.” As Copenhaver winds down his time at his alma mater before returning to Ohio, he said the university experience continues to drive him. “Virginia Tech has seen a lot of change over the last 35 years. Aside from the expansion of the campus, the university is attracting really smart students; I don’t think I would be able to get into VT today. The other big improvement I’ve seen is in the diversity of the student body. If you look at the photo of my graduating class, tucked away in a corner of Randolph Hall, and compare it to the students who are graduating in mechanical engineering today, there is a lot more diversity in those class photos. More women, more minorities – and that makes our research programs much stronger; both here and at AFRL.” Copenhaver is quick to acknowledge that while his opportunities as a researcher began at Virginia Tech, they didn’t end there. During his tenure at AFRL ,he has achieved Fellow status at AFRL, ASME, and AIAA. “Visiting scientist periods aren’t awarded to just anyone – proposals are heavily scrutinized and the opportunities I’ve been able to take advantage of have significantly broadened my career. We (AFRL) are world leaders in propulsion development – the Air Force in particular takes the lead within the Department of Defense. As leaders in that effort, we want quality people in our organization; that’s one reason why this program is so important. It helps us make connections to get students interested in the opportunities at AFRL. “I had the good fortune to earn my doctoral degree and have it paid for by the Air Force; and there aren’t a lot of visiting scientists programs in industry. I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for what I’ve been able to do at AFRL. I’m well past the age where most people retire and I’m not leaving; the research is way too interesting for me to let it go.” So how will Copenhaver transition back to life at AFRL after a year in Blacksburg? “My boss expects me to come back all re-energized, but I don’t know – I might be worn out because I’ve been so involved here.”

Virginia Tech’s Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation and the College of Natural Resources and Environment’s Leadership Institute presented alumnus Douglas J. Austen with the Gerald H. Cross Alumni Leadership Award. Austen, executive director of the American Fisheries Society, earned his master’s degree in fish and wildlife conservation from Virginia Tech in 1984. He also holds a bachelor’s degree from South Dakota State University and a doctorate in animal ecology from Iowa State University. Austen discovered a love of fishing as a child and pointed to family vacations spent on lakes or with access to nearby trout streams as the start of his career in fisheries. A native of suburban Chicago, Austen had to search to find a fisheries program, eventually leading him to South Dakota State University. During his time as a graduate student at Virginia Tech, Austen worked closely with Professor Donald Orth on a project on the New River addressing smallmouth bass and helped to create computer programs to generate population estimates for use in the classroom. He spoke fondly the close-knit learning community fostered by the college. “All of the graduate students helped one another on whatever research they were doing at the time.” While working with Orth, Austen became involved with the American Fisheries Society, attending professional conferences and making connections that would ultimately lead to a position with the Illinois National History Survey. “They needed someone who could do computer programing and also knew about fish,” he recalled. Austen went on to serve as a fisheries researcher with the Illinois Department of Conservation and spent six years as the director of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. In 2010, he became the national coordinator of the Landscape Conservation Cooperative with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, where he served until his appointment as executive director of the American Fisheries Society in 2013. Austen now works with staff and partners to ensure that fisheries science is used in policy development and legislation. He says the best part of his current position is the opportunity to work directly with the society’s members. “I get to help talented people flourish in their careers.” On receiving the Gerald H. Cross Alumni Leadership Award, Austen noted, “I was surprised. There are so many great people that come out of Virginia Tech. To be counted among them is really an honor.”

Julie Schwalbe has joined Ceva Animal Health’s swine business unit as strategic account manager. In her new role, Schwalbe’s number one priority is the customer – listening and learning about their needs while going above and beyond to provide an unparalleled customer experience. “Julie has proven herself to be a highly knowledgeable and experienced partner to both swine veterinarians and producers across the United States,” says Gary Robertson, director, swine business unit. “She thoroughly understands the production and health challenges currently facing swine producers and has the consultative selling skills to help provide customers with effective solutions. She will be a tremendous asset to our team and the swine customers we serve.” Schwalbe is also responsible for developing and implementing comprehensive sales strategies; partnering with Ceva Technical Services in supporting customer initiatives; and managing relationships with designated key account partners. Schwalbe has more than 25 years of sales management experience in the swine industry and agriculture. Prior to joining Ceva, she worked in several sales and product management positions for Zoetis, Meredith Corporation and Pioneer Hi-Bred. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in agricultural business from Iowa State University. “In today’s swine industry, it’s imperative that we meet the needs of our customers and help them be more productive and profitable,” says Robertson. “Not only are we expanding our portfolio of effective products and solutions available to our customers, we are building a team with the right people who can add value to their businesses. With Julie’s knowledge and ability to solve problems, she can be a trusted partner in their operations.”

David L. Trauger has published "Peak Oil, Economic Growth, and Wildlife Conservation," a compelling synthesis of key emerging issues of our time --- the fundamental relationships of peak oil and economic growth to conflicts with wildlife conservation. There are numerous books available on the subject of Peak Oil; however, most, if not all, address the consequences of peaking on our industrialized society and how we might adapt. There also are several excellent books available dealing with economic growth. Books on wildlife conservation are also commonplace. However, no book currently integrates the topics of Peak Oil, economic growth, and wildlife conservation into one narrative. This book attempts to do just that. The book is divided into four sections, respectively titled The Energy Dilemma, Economic Considerations, Fundamental Conflicts, and Wildlife Conservation and the Future. Each succeeding section builds on those that come before it. Readers of this book will gain a deeper understanding of the vital linkages between energy, economic growth, and the conservation of natural landscapes and native species. a compelling synthesis of key emerging issues of our time --- the fundamental relationships of peak oil and economic growth to conflicts with wildlife conservation. There are numerous books available on the subject of Peak Oil; however, most, if not all, address the consequences of peaking on our industrialized society and how we might adapt. There also are several excellent books available dealing with economic growth. Books on wildlife conservation are also commonplace. However, no book currently integrates the topics of Peak Oil, economic growth, and wildlife conservation into one narrative. This book attempts to do just that. The book is divided into four sections, respectively titled The Energy Dilemma, Economic Considerations, Fundamental Conflicts, and Wildlife Conservation and the Future. Each succeeding section builds on those that come before it. Readers of this book will gain a deeper understanding of the vital linkages between energy, economic growth, and the conservation of natural landscapes and native species.This book is written for a broad audience, including natural resources professionals, planners, and policy-makers in federal, state, and provincial governments. Leaders of conservation and environmental organizations will value its clarion call for action to stem further losses of biodiversity (including genetic diversity) and advance its conservation. Professors teaching university courses in wildlife ecology and management, conservation biology, and ecological economics will find this volume to be an indispensable course book for their students. Others will use it as a primary reference for seminars dealing with sustainability. Persons interested in Peak Oil and energy depletion will learn how these issues impinge on wildlife conservation. Those interested in alternatives to a growth economy will find the discussion of a steady state economy enlightening, given that lack of cheap, abundant energy may force us in that direction anyway. It is our hope that readers of this book will act on the information contained in it to effect positive change in how our global civilization interacts with the biosphere and humanity’s co-inhabitants—the millions of species composing Earth’s biodiversity. Everyone interested in making positive changes for a better future will discover the insightful discussions concerning alternatives to a growth economy and potentials of the steady state economy to be essential reading.

X.J. Meng, University Distinguished Professor of Molecular Virology at Virginia Tech, has been elected a member of the National Academy of Sciences. Membership in the academy is one of the highest honors given to a scientist in the United States Meng, a virologist in the Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, is one of 84 new members and 21 foreign associates from 14 countries recognized for their distinguished and continuing achievements in original research. He is the fifth faculty member to be elected to the National Academy of Sciences while at Virginia Tech and the sixth in the university’s history. With the selection of Meng, 23 Virginia Tech affiliates have held membership in the national academies, one of the highest honors bestowed in the United States to scientists and engineers. “Dr. Meng’s extraordinary research on emerging and re-emerging animal viruses is bringing national and international acclaim to Virginia Tech,” said Virginia Tech President Tim Sands. “His groundbreaking research led to the discovery of new viruses and the invention of a commercially licensed vaccine that is now in use around the world. His work is revolutionizing the way scientists and physicians think about human and animal viruses. We are lucky to have such an accomplished researcher and scholar at Virginia Tech.” Meng’s research focuses on emerging and reemerging viral diseases that impact veterinary and human public health. Meng is widely considered one of the world’s leading scientists in hepatitis E virus, porcine circovirus type 2, and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus. Meng’s lab developed the first U.S. Department of Agriculture fully-licensed vaccine to protect against porcine circovirus type 2 infection and its associated diseases in pigs, a major threat to the global swine industry. In addition, Meng discovered the swine hepatitis E virus in pigs, which led to the recognition of hepatitis E as a zoonotic disease. “We have long recognized Dr. Meng’s important contributions to the field of molecular virology and are delighted to hear of his recent election to the National Academy of Sciences,” said Cyril Clarke, dean of the veterinary college. “This honor not only recognizes the national and international reach of Dr. Meng’s scholarship, but also raises the visibility of his outstanding research program at the veterinary college. As a world-class scholar, Dr. Meng is a tremendous asset to our college and community.” Meng has authored or co-authored more than 290 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters. These have been cited more than 18,380 times by other researchers. Meng has been awarded more than 40 research grants as a principal investigator with more than $15 million, and he is also a co-investigator or collaborator on more than 50 other awarded grants of more than $27 million. In 2014, Meng was elected a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors, and in 2013, he became the first faculty member at the veterinary college to be named a University Distinguished Professor. He received the Virginia Tech Alumni Award for Research Excellence in 2008 and the Pfizer Award for Research Excellence in 2001 and then again in 2008. Meng was also elected to American Academy of Microbiology in 2012. A native of Qingdao, China, Meng earned a medical degree from Binzhau Medical College and master’s degree in microbiology and immunology at Wuhan University College of Medicine. He then completed a Ph.D. in immunobiology from Iowa State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. Prior to joining the Virginia Tech faculty, he worked as the John E. Fogarty Visiting Scientist and a senior staff fellow at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, a part of the National Institutes of Health. The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit institution that was established under a congressional charter signed by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863. It recognizes achievement in science by election to membership, and — with the National Academy of Engineering, Institute of Medicine, and National Research Council — provides science, technology, and health policy advice to the federal government and other organizations. Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech takes a hands-on, engaging approach to education, preparing scholars to be leaders in their fields and communities. As the commonwealth’s most comprehensive university and its leading research institution, Virginia Tech offers 240 undergraduate and graduate degree programs to more than 31,000 students and manages a research portfolio of $513 million. The university fulfills its land-grant mission of transforming knowledge to practice through technological leadership and by fueling economic growth and job creation locally, regionally, and across Virginia.

Two CALS alumnae were recently honored as Farm Credit 100 Fresh Perspectives Honorees as part of a nationwide search to identify and honor 100 leaders who are changing rural America. Leslie Jordan (’03 animal science) and Lisa Shumaker (’05 ag business), sisters and co-founders of Farm to Family, an organization teaching families to prepare meals and connecting farmers and consumers, were recognized in the agriculture education and community impact category. Leslie and Lisa founded FTF when they realized that some food pantry clients didn’t know how to prepare nutritious meals. For these sisters, who grew up in agriculture and who both work in agriculture-related careers, this was a problem they knew they could help solve. “Our connection to food pantries showed us that it is not enough to provide individuals with food or money for food,” says Lisa, who is an appraiser with Ag Credit, ACA. “If they do not know how to prepare nutritious meals, food distributed at pantries may go to waste, and food dollars will be spent on less nutritious products.” In the past three years, they’ve helped more than 300 families improve their nutrition by first demonstrating recipes and then providing attendees with one meal along with a cookbook the sisters developed featuring simplified recipes. The events are held at local food pantries and outreach centers, and also include door prize drawings for kitchen items like slow cookers, baking dishes and electric skillets. In 2014, FTF expanded into farming, planting a one-acre sweet corn patch. Local food pantries harvest truckloads of corn for their clients, and area farmers assist in planting and maintaining the corn patch, and help harvest the corn. “Farm to Family has connected area farmers to consumers in need at local food pantries,” says Lisa. “Our fundraising programs have also connected farmers to consumer who can provide financial support for those in need. It is also our hope that collaborations with other community groups helps to break the cycle of poverty in our community.” Expanding the program again in 2015, FTF collaborated with a local high school to conduct a series of four educational sessions with their most at-risk students. Students learned how to follow a recipe, prepare meals, basics of food safety, budgeting and meal planning. During the last session, students were taken to a local grocery store and given a $35 budget. Students chose meals from the FTF cookbook, and used their budgets to shop for the needed ingredients. FTF is meeting a need in the community while promoting a positive image of agriculture, and developing relationships with a group of consumers who would otherwise have no connection to the farm. “It is important that the agriculture industry connects with consumers at all income levels,” says Lisa. “We cannot grow as an industry without building relationships and welcoming dialog with consumers within our own communities."

Two CALS alumnae were recently honored as Farm Credit 100 Fresh Perspectives Honorees as part of a nationwide search to identify and honor 100 leaders who are changing rural America. Leslie Jordan (’03 animal science) and Lisa Shumaker (’05 ag business), sisters and co-founders of Farm to Family, an organization teaching families to prepare meals and connecting farmers and consumers, were recognized in the agriculture education and community impact category. Leslie and Lisa founded FTF when they realized that some food pantry clients didn’t know how to prepare nutritious meals. For these sisters, who grew up in agriculture and who both work in agriculture-related careers, this was a problem they knew they could help solve. “Our connection to food pantries showed us that it is not enough to provide individuals with food or money for food,” says Lisa, who is an appraiser with Ag Credit, ACA. “If they do not know how to prepare nutritious meals, food distributed at pantries may go to waste, and food dollars will be spent on less nutritious products.” In the past three years, they’ve helped more than 300 families improve their nutrition by first demonstrating recipes and then providing attendees with one meal along with a cookbook the sisters developed featuring simplified recipes. The events are held at local food pantries and outreach centers, and also include door prize drawings for kitchen items like slow cookers, baking dishes and electric skillets. In 2014, FTF expanded into farming, planting a one-acre sweet corn patch. Local food pantries harvest truckloads of corn for their clients, and area farmers assist in planting and maintaining the corn patch, and help harvest the corn. “Farm to Family has connected area farmers to consumers in need at local food pantries,” says Lisa. “Our fundraising programs have also connected farmers to consumer who can provide financial support for those in need. It is also our hope that collaborations with other community groups helps to break the cycle of poverty in our community.” Expanding the program again in 2015, FTF collaborated with a local high school to conduct a series of four educational sessions with their most at-risk students. Students learned how to follow a recipe, prepare meals, basics of food safety, budgeting and meal planning. During the last session, students were taken to a local grocery store and given a $35 budget. Students chose meals from the FTF cookbook, and used their budgets to shop for the needed ingredients. FTF is meeting a need in the community while promoting a positive image of agriculture, and developing relationships with a group of consumers who would otherwise have no connection to the farm. “It is important that the agriculture industry connects with consumers at all income levels,” says Lisa. “We cannot grow as an industry without building relationships and welcoming dialog with consumers within our own communities."

Eldean “Dean” Borg, senior correspondent and producer for Iowa Public Radio, has been selected by the faculty of Iowa State University’s Greenlee School as the 2016 recipient of the James W. Schwartz Award honoring distinguished service to journalism and mass communication. The Forest City native is a 1959 ISU graduate in technical journalism. He also holds a master’s degree in political science from the University of Iowa. His degrees have helped distinguish Borg as one of the state’s foremost voices on public policy and politics. In addition to his IPR reports, Borg hosts and moderates Iowa Public Television's popular “Iowa Press” broadcast, now in its 45th year. In 2008, Borg received the Jack Shelley Award, the highest honor bestowed by the Iowa Broadcast News Association. Shelley was the Greenlee School’s 1993 Schwartz Award winner. Other past winners of the school’s highest honor include CNN’s Christine Romans and former Time Magazine White House bureau chief Hugh Sidey. “I’m fortunate to have learned from–to have been prepared by—Jim Schwartz,” Borg said upon learning he had won the honor in his former professor’s name. “Not only the photography and journalism law classes where he shared his expertise, but four years of observing his professional standards and personal character that served as a model for my classmates and me. “I profited because Jim was good. Good at his profession and superb at mentoring students.” Michael Bugeja, Greenlee School director, said he was delighted to hear that Borg had won the Schwartz Award. “By coincidence or serendipity, Dean and I shared the same mentor,” former Iowa State agricultural journalism and broadcast professor Harry Heath. Heath, who left ISU to become director of the Oklahoma State journalism school, hired Bugeja from United Press International and played a key role in helping him transition from reporter to professor. “Harry would be exceptionally proud to know that Dean Borg has won the award," Bugeja said. Borg credited Heath with teaching him broadcast journalism. “It wasn’t in a formal classroom, but in a radio studio that Professor Heath crafted in the journalism department basement. He developed an arrangement with KASI, a downtown Ames commercial station for a daily, five-minute broadcast from our remote studio. “Harry, with shirt collar unbuttoned and necktie loosened, would look over my copy. With an editor’s pencil, he’d mark it up and send me into the studio while he operated the engineering switches for our daily newscast. We were quite a team," Borg said. Heath also arranged media assignments for Borg, including stringing for UPI. “Harry Heath was a journalistic Godfather to me," Borg added. "He not only guided me academically, but also pointed me to professional opportunities that shaped my career. But most of all, he prepared me to succeed in those opportunities.” Borg's reputation for quality journalism and ethical character made him a prime candidate for the Schwartz Award, Bugeja said, and faculty and administrators across campus were excited to learn he'd been selected. “Dean Borg is part of our extended Greenlee family," Bugeja added. Borg and spouse Sheila have five children, including son Lindsey Borg, director of integrated communications for Raytheon’s Intelligence, Information and Services business and also a Greenlee School Advisory Council member. Dean Borg will attend the Greenlee School October Advisory Council meeting where he will be honored officially with presentation of the Schwartz Award.

Larry Ebbers, university professor in the Iowa State School of Education, retired in May 2016 after more than 50 years of service to Iowa State University.

Steve Berger, a farmer near Wellman, Iowa, has received the Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Conservation Pioneer Leader Award.

Todd Wiley, a farmer near Walker, Iowa, has received the Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.

Amy Millmier Schmidt, assistant professor in the departments of biological systems engineering and animal science at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, was honored with the Outstanding Pork Service Award for Producer Outreach by the Nebraska Pork Producers Association.

Garrett Smith, a graduate student at Ohio State University, has been awarded a National Science Foundation Graduate Fellowship.

Maria Bumgarner was named a 2016 ACE (Architecture, Construction, and Engineering) "Outstanding Mentor" at the organization's awards ceremony in Washington, D.C., April 25, 2016. Established five years ago, the ACE Twin Cities affiliate, where Maria has mentored for the past two years, is considered an emerging affiliate. As the lead mentor at a high school drawing students from a very diverse and underserved neighborhood, Maria has faced numerous challenges while creating a successful ACE program. This year, for example, only two students initially registered for the program, but through her special outreach efforts, the team ended the year with nine active students. It placed second in the affiliate’s final presentation event. Because of her contributions, the affiliate’s board of directors has nominated her to become a member starting in the fall. Maria is an MEP Project Engineer at Mortenson Construction in Minneapolis.

The article “Exploring Apparel Purchase Issues with Plus-size Female Teens” was named outstanding paper by the Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management's editorial team as part of the 2016 Emerald Literati Network Awards for Excellence. The article was co-authored by Laurel Romeo and her major professor, Young-A Lee.

Dan Cox, Charles City superintendent, has been elected vice president of School Administrators of Iowa, and will begin his term on the SAI Executive Committee September 1, 2016. “I am deeply humbled and honored to have been elected as the next SAI vice president. I look forward to working with the SAI team to deepen the impact our organization can have on its members,” Cox shared. Responsibilities of the SAI Executive Committee include actively promoting and delivering on the mission and goals of the association, which involve developing Iowa’s educational leaders and learners. Cox became the Charles City district’s superintendent in 2013. He previously served as principal at Hoover Middle School in Waterloo. He began his education career as a Spanish and social studies teacher at Essex High School.

Lori Reesor, formerly the vice president for student affairs at the University of North Dakota, has been named vice provost for student affairs and dean of students at Indiana University Bloomington pending formal approval by the Indiana University Board of Trustees. “Lori comes to IU with the perfect combination of higher-education experience, compassion and a record of success in implementing student success initiatives,” said IU Bloomington Provost and Executive Vice President Lauren Robel. “We’re thrilled to welcome her to the IU community and look forward to her continuing our campus-wide efforts to promote inclusion and expand services to ensure the success of every IU student.”

Rachel Hall's (MA English 1989)collection of linked short stories, HEIRLOOMS, was selected by Marge Piercy for the G.S. Sharat Chandra Book Prize. BkMk Press will publish the collection in September 2016.

Pete Kostelnick won the 2015 Badwater 135, the "World's Toughest Foot Race," which covers 135 miles nonstop from Death Valley to Mt. Whitney, Calif. He placed 14th in the 2014 race before claiming the title the next year. He is a financial analyst at a health care market research firm in Lincoln, Neb.

Susie Veatch has been named president of Kinze Manufacturing, a farm equipment company in Williamsburg, Iowa. Veatch was formerly vice president. She remains the company's chief marketing officer.

For the fourth straight year, Suku Radia -- CEO & president of Bankers Trust Co. -- has been voted by Des Moines Business Record readers as the most influential business leader in greater Des Moines. Radia topped the annual list of top-25 influential leaders that appears in the 2016 Book of Lists.

Scott E. Olson was re-elected to a second four-year term on the Cedar Rapids (Iowa) City Council. Scott was also recently selected to the Midwest Real Estate News Magazine's 2015 Real Estate Hall of Fame class.

Allen Schroeder received the Legacy Award in March, one of the Wisconsin Governor's Tourism Awards. Schroeder is the historic site director for three separate historic sites in the state: Pendarvis, Stonefield, and First Capitol.

Sandra Otten Davis has published Pearls of Leadership Wisdom, Volume II. David is the chair and co-founder of MDA Leadership Consulting in Minneapolis.

Retired Air Force Lt. Col. George A. Larson of Rapid City, S.D., recently published South Dakota War Stories: The Great Plains to Southwest Asia. The book begins with the historic "voyage of discovery" of Lewis and Clark and continues through World Wars I and II, the Cold War, Vietnam, and beyond.

Carter Niemeyer has just published his second book, Wolf Land. The book is a collection of nonfiction "campfire" stories, sharing memorable field experiences about Niemeyer's interactions with wolves and people.

The Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden announces the appointment of Dr. Rebecca J. Snyder as curator of conservation and science, a new position that will oversee the management of the Zoo’s growing and diverse conservation and research initiatives. Snyder will further identify and evaluate the Zoo’s conservation partnership opportunities, establish a strategy for conservation spending and messaging, conduct research on the Zoo’s animal collection and publish findings, and expand partnerships with other zoos, local universities and nonprofit organizations. “We are delighted that Dr. Snyder has joined the Zoo team. With the amount of conservation support the Zoo gives through both monetary and in-kind work all over the world, we needed someone who could help oversee this large and significant range of projects,” said Barry Downer, Zoo deputy director. “With a diverse background in animal management and global research and conservation, she will help the Zoo expand its influence and effect on the wildlife we all treasure.”

Ayesha Riaz has been chosen among 55 international students to be part of the 2016 Gates Cambridge Scholarship programme. “Upon completion of my PhD, I intend to join my university back to continue teaching and doing research in my field of study. I am excited and honoured to begin my doctoral studies at Cambridge as part of the Gates community,” said Riaz, who is a Karachi University graduate and has also completed her MS in Genetics from the Iowa State University on a Fulbright scholarship.

Beth Shelton, PE, has been promoted to project manager in the transportation department at RPS Klotz Associates in Houston, Texas. Shelton has 10 years of experience in traffic engineering, including modeling, traffic impact analysis, wayfinding signing plans, access management studies, and signal warrant analysis.

A Utah State associate professor with expertise in textiles and apparel design has been named associate director of Oregon State University Extension Service. Lindsey Shirley will begin work at OSU on June 1. She’ll also serve as associate provost. Shirley’s work at Utah State has branched out from textiles and apparel design to include the social dynamics represented by clothing, according to an OSU news release. Among other work, she developed ways to teach design as a STEM subject, bringing science, technology, engineering and math principles into the study. Shirley has a bachelor’s degree and Ph.D. from Iowa State University and a master’s in education from the University of Minnesota. In her OSU position, she succeeds Deborah Maddy, who retired.

Hugo Cota-Snchez has been named a Master Teacher by the University of Saskatchewan. Since joining the Department of Biology in 2000, Cota-Snchez has earned a reputation as one of the University of Saskatchewan's most esteemed teacher-scholars. Although many of the concepts he teaches are highly technical, Cota-Snchez employs interactive and engaging teaching methods to make the subject matter less intimidating. For example, one of his undergraduate classes is taken annually on a “supermarket safari,” where students travel to a grocery store and learn how various foods and cosmetic products are inextricably connected to plants. Cota-Snchez has also designed a suit made entirely of burlap that he will often wear during class to demonstrate the versatility of plants. As curator of the W.P. Fraser Herbarium on campus, Cota-Snchez also leads many outreach initiatives that introduce a wide range of students to the world of botany. For example, he regularly conducts tours of the herbarium for elementary and secondary school students, and also frequently acts as a guide for Saskatchewan Polytechnic students who are visiting campus during field trips. While Cota-Snchez’s classes can be large, he makes a point to know each student by name. He is engaging and genuine in a way that many teachers strive to be, yet few can truly achieve. This ability to connect with students, and his belief that teachers must consistently assess and adjust their teaching methods, is annually reflected in his student evaluation scores, which are consistently excellent. As one student noted in a 2010 evaluation form, “Hugo is by far the best professor I’ve ever had. … He loves his subject so much and that is a big influence on how he teaches. … Hugo sets a high standard for any prof to live up to. His attitude and positive energy keep the class interesting and fun.” For his exceptional work in the classroom, Cota-Snchez has won numerous teaching honours in addition to the Master Teacher Award. Namely, he twice received the College of Arts and Science’s Teaching Excellence Award (2006, 2014), a Provost’s Award for Outstanding Teaching (2015), and a USSU Teaching Excellence Award (2003). He also won a Teaching Excellence Award from his previous employer, Iowa State University, in 1997.

Joseph R. Marconi, a 1972 graduate of Iowa State and a 1976 graduate of John Marshall Law School, has been named a 2016 recipient of The John Marshall Law School Spirit Award. The Spirit Award is presented by The John Marshall Law School’s Board of Trustees to men and women in the John Marshall community who “display the true spirit of The John Marshall Law School in his or her work in the community, as well as a concern for the welfare and continued success of our law school.” Joe Marconi is the chair of Johnson & Bell's Business Litigation group and Professional Liability group. He handles and supervises complex civil litigation, including real estate and commercial disputes, professional liability and employment law. Mr. Marconi successfully tries cases to verdict for various professionals including attorneys, accountants, appraisers and brokers. He prosecutes and defends cases involving trade secrets, unfair competition, trademark and patent infringement. In addition, he has extensive experience with a wide range of real estate litigation, both in court and in arbitration, including disputes over purchase agreements, partnership agreements, management agreements, construction and lease disputes.

On Jan. 14, 2016, William Farr became president of Chapter 400, Mended Hearts of Fayetteville in the Mid-Atlantic Region. Mended Hearts is a national and community-based non-profit organization of heart patients (over 20,000 members) whose mission is dedicated to "Inspiring hope and improving the quality of life for heart patients and their families through ongoing peer-to-peer support." As an Accredited Visitor, Farr is permitted to visit with heart patients in their hospital rooms and with families in the waiting room to answer their heart-related questions and to inspire that hope. We 4 Accredited Visitors saw over 1100 patients and 189 families in 2015. As a heart patient with six heart surgeries, including open heart surgery with 5 bypasses, 4 heart attacks, multiple angioplasties and 9 stents, Farr says he is "somewhat qualified to relate my experiences and to help ease the patients' and families' minds about life after surgery. Our unofficial motto is: 'As you are, I was. As I am, you will be.'"

MacGarret Becker has joined the Steier Group as a campaign manager. The Steier Group conducts campaign planning studies and manages capital campaigns for Catholic parishes, schools, dioceses, and community nonprofits all over the country. Becker comes to the Steier Group from a career in higher education, where he worked in student affairs at Creighton University, Northern Arizona University, Syracuse University and Semester at Sea. The Northern Arizona and Iowa State University (M.Ed.) graduate is currently leading a capital campaign in Louisiana.

There is always an interesting result with sports teams when you hold open tryouts. That is true for the Cedar Valley CourtKings, the new minor league basketball team in Waterloo/Cedar Falls, Iowa, which will play its inaugural season in the new Midwest Basketball League. Matt Craft, a 37-year-old lawyer in Waterloo, showed up for the first open tryout in January. He played well enough that the team invited him back for a second look at tryout number two. After the 3rd and final open tryout, the CourtKings extended a player agreement contract to Craft. Matt played his high school basketball at Union High School in LaPorte City and then went to Iowa State and went through the walk on tryouts. “The players all have different goals and reasons for wanting to play for a team like this and Matt is no different. He just wants to be part of this new team and help us in anyway he can whether it is at practice, at home games or filling in on a road trip if needed.” said owner/GM Gary Rima. “He is like a player/coach for us, and I am excited to have Matt be part of this organization.” The Cedar Valley CourtKings open up the season Saturday, April 23 in Chicago against the Chicago Clovers. The Clovers have replaced Sioux City in the MBL for the inaugural season. The CourtKings will play their home opener on Sunday, May 15, hosting the Minnesota Broncos from St. Paul.

Susana Muoz (Rundquist) (BS 95; PhD, 08) recently completed her first book "Identity, Social Activism, and the Pursuit of Higher Education: The Journey Stories of Undocumented and Unafraid Community Activists" (Peter Lang Publishing), which highlights the lives of 13 activist who grapple with their legality as a salient identity as they navigate higher education and social activism. The purpose of this book is for educators and allies to understand how undocumented students make meaning of their legal status, institutional barriers to college access, and the complexities of “coming out of the shadows” to advocate for changes to immigration policy and access to higher education.

Jonathan Kramer was recently recognized by the firm for 15 years of service to Whitfield & Eddy. He is a Member attorney and co-chair of the Estate Planning, Probate and Tax Law Practice Group.

Gary A. Norton was recently recognized by the firm for 30 years of service to Whitfield & Eddy. Gary is a Member attorney and chair of the Environmental Law Practice Group and past chair of the firm’s Business and Banking Practice Group.

Lindsay Tigue has published her first book, a poetry collection, SYSTEM OF GHOSTS (University of Iowa Press, 2016), which won the 2015 Iowa Poetry Prize. It is being published on April 1, 2016. In System of Ghosts, Lindsay details the way landscape speaks to isolation and personhood, how virtual and lived networks alter experience. She questions how built environments structure lives, how we seek out information within these spaces, and, most fundamentally, how we love. Rooted in the personal, the speaker of this collection moves through society and history, with the aim of firmly placing herself within her own life and loss. Facts become an essential bridge between spatial and historical boundaries. She connects us to the disappearance of species, abandoned structures, and heartbreak—abandoned spaces that tap into the searing grief woven into society’s public places. There is solace in research, one system this collection uses to examine the isolation of contemporary life alongside personal, historical, and ecological loss. While her poems are intimate and personal, Lindsay never turns away from the larger contexts within which we all live. Lindsay is currently a PhD student in Creative Writing at the University of Georgia; the book began as her master's thesis at Iowa State.

Todd Snyder, an ISU alum and Ames native, was nominated for Menswear Designer of the Year in this year's Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) awards. He's previously been nominated for best new menswear designer.

Heather James was recently named her school district's elementary nominee for Kansas Teacher of the Year. James is a first-grade teacher at Valley Park Elementary in Kansas. She has worked in the Blue Valley school district for nine years.

The Schemmer Associates Inc.(Schemmer), a Des Moines-based full-service architecture, engineering and planning firm, is pleased to announce John Bloom, AIA, LEED AP, has joined the firm as an architect based in the Des Moines office. Bloom has more than 15 years of diverse experience in new construction and renovation projects from design through construction administration. Bloom’s experience includes multifamily residential, commercial office, industrial, entertainment, historic preservation, senior living and educational facilities. At Schemmer, Bloom will be responsible for business development and project management. He has a Bachelor of Architecture from Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. He has been active in the design of the community by serving on boards and committees for Central Iowa Architects, Hoyt Sherman Place and Clive Festival. Bloom is also a member of the Technical Advisory Network for the State Historical Society of Iowa.

Dr. Sadanand D. Joshi will receive the Society of Petroleum Engineering IOR (Improved Oil Recovery) Pioneer Award at the 2016 SPE IOR Symposium in Tulsa, OK, on April 11, 2016. The IOR Pioneer Award is given to selected individuals who have made outstanding contributions over the years in the development and application of technology to improve oil recovery. Dr. Joshi is well known for his expertise in horizontal well drilling. His Horizontal Well Technology textbook (PennWell Publishing) is a standard in the field. Adding to his status as a pioneer is his development of the “Joshi Equation” formula, used worldwide for predicting production rates from horizontal wells, as well as methodologies for calculating decline curves and well-testing equations for horizontal wells. Dr. Joshi is President of Joshi Technologies International, Inc. (JTI), a Tulsa-based petroleum engineering and production firm, which he founded in 1988. JTI has oil and gas production operations in the US, India, Colombia and Ecuador.

Michelle Eastman, a former West Des Moines elementary school teacher and Iowa Public Television producer, recently published two picture books for children: The Legends of the Dust Bunnies, a Fairy's Tale and Dust Fairy Tales: Absolutely Aggie. The books take a lighthearted approach to the compelling desire kids have to fit in. The stories validate the need we feel for acceptance, while imparting a subtle message about the joy that can come from embracing one's individuality. "I am passionate about literacy and issues affecting our children," Michelle says. "In 2014, I launched a successful literacy initiative to raise awareness and collect books for children of incarcerated parents (Picture Book Pass it On/MARCHing Books to Kids). The initiative was adopted as the special project for the current legislative session by the LegisLative League, Iowa General Assembly. Learn more at www.michelleeastmanbooks.com.

Raths, Raths & Johnson, Inc. (RRJ), a national engineering, architecture, and forensics consulting firm, located in Willowbrook, Illinois, is pleased to announce that George R. Mulholland, S.E., P.E. has been promoted to Senior Consulting Engineer. An accomplished structural engineer with 28 years of professional experience, George is an expert forensic engineer specializing in the evaluation, investigation, and repair of distressed facades, buildings, and structures. As a Senior Consulting Engineer, he is responsible for project management and client development across RRJ's range of expert consulting services. Throughout his 28-year career at RRJ, his experience has concentrated in concrete and building facade investigation, assessment of structures and structural components, repair design, and construction quality assurance. His portfolio has encompassed cast-in-place, precast, and post-tensioned concrete, masonry, steel, and timber structures with a specialization in parking garages. George has served as Project Manager on numerous investigation projects utilizing the latest techniques and testing approaches, ranging from exterior facade and masonry wall evaluations to concrete deterioration, steel corrosion, and other structural performance-related problems and collapses. His experience extends to structural analysis and structural design peer review, and litigation support and expert witness testimony on related structural performance and facade failures. From his vast portfolio of repair design projects, George has extensive knowledge of remedial design solutions for rehabilitation, durability, and strengthening of structural framing components and connections; development and implementation of methods to prevent, manage, and control air, water, and vapor migration of building envelopes; and historic facade restoration.

Beth Takemoto, a supervisor with John Deere Harvester Works in East Moline, Ill., is a 2016 recipient of the Manufacturing Institute's STEP Emerging Leaders Award. Beth began her career with John Deere in 2005 as a summer intern working in Manufacturing Engineering. During her career, she has gained a broad business perspective and has honed both technical and communication skills from assignments in Operations, Material Flow, Project Management and Manufacturing Engineering. Beth is currently leading a team responsible for bringing a new part-fastening system into John Deere’s assembly operations. To develop a world class process, she has focused the team’s efforts on evaluating capability on all of the new tools and fixtures proposed for this assembly. Mentoring comes naturally to Beth. She has mentored dozens of people over her career. Currently, she mentors a group of summer interns in Manufacturing Engineering as well as several employees in the Engineering Development Program. She has served formally as a mentor through the John Deere Enterprise mentoring program, as well as informally as a mentor to the Module Leaders who have gone through the company’s internal training program. Her assignments at multiple John Deere factories and experience working with employees and leaders from around the world allow her to provide a broad, valuable perspective on the company and the career opportunities available. Beth is an active volunteer in a range of efforts, perhaps most importantly serving on the Board of Directors for GiGi's Playhouse in the Quad Cities. GiGi's Playhouse, an organization near to her heart, provides educational and therapeutic programs for individuals with Down Syndrome at no charge to the families.

The Ankeny Area Chamber of Commerce has named Ankeny City Councilwoman Kerry Walter-Ashby, an active community volunteer, as Outstanding Citizen of the Year.

Jeffrey Fletcher and his wife, Jessica, welcomed a son, William, on April 3, 2015.

Center for Diagnostic Imaging (CDI) announces the promotion of Ryan Raschke to chief financial officer. Raschke, who had been serving as interim chief financial officer since November, will provide leadership and oversight for the accounting, financial planning and analysis, internal audit and treasury/cash management departments. “Ryan has played a key role in managing and maintaining CDI’s strong balance sheet and capital structure,” said Rick Long, chief executive officer at CDI. “He’s developed strong relationships with our financial partners and has been key to supporting CDI’s continued growth and maintaining our solid financial position.” “Ryan brings a deep knowledge and stability to our organization at a time of growth and expansion,” said Jim Stanley, the previous CDI chief financial officer who was promoted to chief operating officer in November. “For more than 15 years, he’s been involved in every level of the organization’s financial management, and that experience and expertise serves us very well moving forward.” Raschke was promoted to Senior Vice President, Finance and Treasurer in 2015 and has supported CDI’s finance, treasury, and business development functions. He joined CDI in 1998, and has held various roles within CDI including vice president-treasurer, assistant treasurer, manager of treasury and financial analysis, and financial analyst. Raschke's responsibilities have included corporate financial management, equipment financing, and managing corporate banking relationships, treasury operations, and cash management.

Keysight Technologies won the Electronic Products' Product of the Year Award for 2015 in the Test and Measurement category for the PA2203A IntegraVision Power Analyzer. A number of former Cyclones worked on the project including Bryan Boswell (BS EE '83), Ken Christensen (BS EE '85, MS CS '88), Steve Hird (BS EE '87), Kari Fauber (BS EE '89) and Blake Vermeer (BS EE '13, MS CptrE '15).

IntegriChain, founded by Kevin Leininger, sold to Accel-KKR

Donald McKale was honored with the Outstanding Alumni Advising Award by Delta Tau Delta International Fraternity. McKale was initiated in the Fraternity in 1966. The award was presented at the Delta Tau Delta Southern Division Conference on Feb. 13, 2016, in Charleston, S.C. As chapter advisor for the Theta Mu Chapter at Clemson University, McKale provides tremendous insight and experience related to the Fraternity and the University and is dedicated to the growth and development of chapter members. Delta Tau Delta has 140 chapters and colonies across the United States with a membership of more than 9,500 undergraduates and 119,000 alumni members. The Fraternity posts a GPA of 3.09, making it one of the highest achieving men’s fraternities in academics. Delta Tau Delta is a values-driven fraternity founded in 1858. Its mission, “Committed to Lives of Excellence,” is what the Fraternity seeks to represent at its host institutions. Delta Tau Delta strives to develop its members’ leadership skills, seeks superior academic achievement, promotes community service efforts, and helps its members launch successful careers.

Mindy Aust, AIA, of Substance Architecture is a 2016 recipient of the American Institute of Architects' Young Architects Award. She will be presented with the award at the 2016 AIA National Convention and Design Exposition in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, along with other recipients from around the country. The Young Architects Award is given to individuals who have shown exceptional leadership and made significant contributions to the profession in an early stage of their architectural career. Aust is an Associate of Substance Architecture. She has worked on many prominent Des Moines projects such as the John and Mary Pappajohn Higher Education Center, multiple projects for Wells Fargo Financial, and four branches within the Des Moines Public Library System including the award-winning Central Library. Aust serves on a number of professional committees and currently serves on the AIA Iowa Board of Directors as President. The AIA notes “In her short time as a professional, Mindy has tapped in to her expertise to help advance the profession on multiple fronts. Through rigorous and recognized design and dedication with an emphasis on mentorship and community involvement, she brings both strategic vision and a willingness to roll up her sleeves and get to work on any project.”

Carey Nagle, AIA, of BNIM is a 2016 recipient of the American Institute of Architects' Young Architects Award. He will be presented with the award at the 2016 AIA National Convention and Design Exposition in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, along with other recipients from around the country. The Young Architects Award is given to individuals who have shown exceptional leadership and made significant contributions to the profession in an early stage of their architectural career. Nagle is an Associate Principal with BNIM in Des Moines. His award-winning high performance design projects have helped to define design excellence as a balance of design and building performance. Nagle is a holistic practitioner with a broad range of notable project experience, professional leadership and community contributions that demonstrate his rare combination of humility, integrity and drive. The AIA notes “With his accomplishments in high-performance design, leadership in the profession, and community engagement, Carey has led the design dialogue on numerous fronts. By developing an interdisciplinary and collaborative mindset, he has been reaffirming the core role of an architect. Carey is a prototypical holistic practitioner, with a quiver of notable projects that include office buildings, higher education projects, churches, and museums.”

Anna Jones, Assoc. AIA, is a 2016 recipient of the American Institute of Architects' Associates Award. She will be presented with the award at the 2016 AIA National Convention and Design Exposition in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, along with other recipients from around the country. The AIA Associates Award is the highest award given to individual associate AIA members who best exemplify the highest qualities of leadership and have demonstrated an unparalleled commitment to their component or region's membership, in the community, in professional organizations, and/or in the design and construction industries. Jones received numerous prestigious academic awards including the Undergraduate AIA Certificate and the Leonard Wolfe Leadership Award. Anna is a previous Regional Associate Director for the Central States Emerging Professionals Committee and past Chair of Iowa Women in Architecture (iaWia). She is currently an active Executive Board Member and special task force leader for Iowa Women in Architecture, and serves as an Associate Editor for Iowa Architect Magazine.

Tom Lynn, an Edward Jones financial advisor in Goshen, Ind., has been named a principal with the firm’s holding company, The Jones Financial Companies, LLLP. He was one of only 51 individuals chosen from more than 43,000 associates across the United States and Canada to join the firm’s 353 principals. Lynn holds the Accredited Asset Management SpecialistSM professional designation. After graduating from ISU, Lynn joined the U.S. Marine Corps, where he served as an officer. He joined Edward Jones in 1993 and worked for 10 years before being called back to active duty. After completing a three-year tour, he settled in Goshen, where he will remain and continue serving investors.

Bethany Wilcoxon, the Greater Des Moines Partnership's Capital Crossroads director, has been selected to the 17th annual list of Des Moines Business Record "Forty Under 40" honorees. The award recognizes local business leaders who are under the age of 40 and have demonstrated impressive career achievements and unparalleled community involvement. The 2016 awards ceremony is March 30 at the Sheraton Hotel, West Des Moines.

Emily Toribio of Fareway Stores Inc., has been selected to the 17th annual list of Des Moines Business Record "Forty Under 40" honorees. The award recognizes local business leaders who are under the age of 40 and have demonstrated impressive career achievements and unparalleled community involvement. The 2016 awards ceremony is March 30 at the Sheraton Hotel, West Des Moines.

Catherine Swoboda of the World Food Prize Foundation has been selected to the 17th annual list of Des Moines Business Record "Forty Under 40" honorees. The award recognizes local business leaders who are under the age of 40 and have demonstrated impressive career achievements and unparalleled community involvement. The 2016 awards ceremony is March 30 at the Sheraton Hotel, West Des Moines.

Cory Scott of RDG Planning & Design has been selected to the 17th annual list of Des Moines Business Record "Forty Under 40" honorees. The award recognizes local business leaders who are under the age of 40 and have demonstrated impressive career achievements and unparalleled community involvement. The 2016 awards ceremony is March 30 at the Sheraton Hotel, West Des Moines.

Susan Rathjen, vice president at Bankers Trust Co., has been selected to the 17th annual list of Des Moines Business Record "Forty Under 40" honorees. The award recognizes local business leaders who are under the age of 40 and have demonstrated impressive career achievements and unparalleled community involvement. The 2016 awards ceremony is March 30 at the Sheraton Hotel, West Des Moines.

Josh Ehlen, CPCU, ARM, CLCS, an account executive at Reynolds & Reynolds Inc., has been selected to the 17th annual list of Des Moines Business Record "Forty Under 40" honorees. The award recognizes local business leaders who are under the age of 40 and have demonstrated impressive career achievements and unparalleled community involvement. The 2016 awards ceremony is March 30 at the Sheraton Hotel, West Des Moines.

Josh Braby of Neumann Brothers Inc. has been selected to the 17th annual list of Des Moines Business Record "Forty Under 40" honorees. The award recognizes local business leaders who are under the age of 40 and have demonstrated impressive career achievements and unparalleled community involvement. The 2016 awards ceremony is March 30 at the Sheraton Hotel, West Des Moines.

Collin Barnes, an interior design focus market leader/designer with RDG Planning & Design, has been selected to the 17th annual list of Des Moines Business Record "Forty Under 40" honorees. The award recognizes local business leaders who are under the age of 40 and have demonstrated impressive career achievements and unparalleled community involvement. The 2016 awards ceremony is March 30 at the Sheraton Hotel, West Des Moines.

Ryan Chapman has been accepted as a member of the Class VI of the Nebraska Water Leaders Academy, a one-year program that educates participants about the vital role rivers, streams and aquifers play in the economic sustainability of the state. Chapman is water quality assessment supervisor for the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality, a position held since 2014. He supervises DEQ’s groundwater and surface water units, which include 20 employees and 10 programs. He has been affiliated with DEQ since 2009. Among his civic activities are active memberships in the Ground Water Protection Council, the Soil and Water Conservation Society, the American Society of Landscape Architects, the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum, and Alpha Gamma Sigma fraternity. He is interested in both the physical and societal aspects of water and in water policies. Water Leaders Academy sessions feature classroom and field trip experiences presented by acknowledged experts in leadership and natural resource topics held at locations across the state. The Nebraska State Irrigation Association sponsors the program. The Water Leaders Academy is partially funded through a grant from the Nebraska Environmental Trust and more than 25 other organizations and individuals. More information can be found at www.waterleadersacademy.org.

Theaster Gates was featured in an October 2015 piece on “The Eye,” Slate magazine’s design blog, and a cool story in The New York Times T Magazine in December 2015. The Times article was titled “Three Artists Who Think Outside the Box” and featured Gates and two other artists who are “changing what art can – and should – do for the world.” The Eye focused on Gates’ Stony Island Art Bank, a formerly dilapidated 1920s savings and loan building turned cultural center on the South Side of Chicago.

Peter Aitchison (’89 speech communication) and Kristin Halsey Aitchison (’90 speech communication) met as students in the theatre department at Iowa State. Since graduation, Peter has worked in summer stock, commercials, film, and theatre; Kris is both an actor and a director. The couple recently launched their own company, Hero Now Theatre, along with a third partner, in the Twin Cities. In January, Hero Now presented its second production: Terra Nova. This show is notable for two reasons. First, Peter and Kristin met while performing in the production at Iowa State. Second, the company presented the show outside. In January. In Minnesota. In a crazy way, this makes perfect sense. Terra Nova tells the story of two expeditions, both heading for the South Pole at the same time in 1911. One never returned. So Hero Now’s winter theatre experience began the minute theatre-goers got out of their cars. Performances took place inside a performance tent set up on a soccer field in a northeast Minneapolis suburb. According to its website, Hero Now Theatre aims to “engage audiences with stories about everyday people making extraordinary choices, unique performance atmosphere in nontraditional venues, and thoughtful conversation before and after each performance. We aim to tell stories so compelling that you experience something new – an insight, self-understanding, an idea for change – that leads you to respond, to be a hero, now.”

Peter Aitchison (’89 speech communication) and Kristin Halsey Aitchison (’90 speech communication) met as students in the theatre department at Iowa State. Since graduation, Peter has worked in summer stock, commercials, film, and theatre; Kris is both an actor and a director. The couple recently launched their own company, Hero Now Theatre, along with a third partner, in the Twin Cities. In January, Hero Now presented its second production: Terra Nova. This show is notable for two reasons. First, Peter and Kristin met while performing in the production at Iowa State. Second, the company presented the show outside. In January. In Minnesota. In a crazy way, this makes perfect sense. Terra Nova tells the story of two expeditions, both heading for the South Pole at the same time in 1911. One never returned. So Hero Now’s winter theatre experience began the minute theatre-goers got out of their cars. Performances took place inside a performance tent set up on a soccer field in a northeast Minneapolis suburb. According to its website, Hero Now Theatre aims to “engage audiences with stories about everyday people making extraordinary choices, unique performance atmosphere in nontraditional venues, and thoughtful conversation before and after each performance. We aim to tell stories so compelling that you experience something new – an insight, self-understanding, an idea for change – that leads you to respond, to be a hero, now.”

Patrick James Brown is the author of The Mick. He sent a copy to the ISU Alumni Association, noting: “Not only did I graduate from Iowa State, but so did my editor, Greg Lauser [’70 political science], whom I asked to edit my novel because he is so much smarter than I am. Greg was editor of the Iowa State Daily, I merely the sports editor of the 1972 Bomb.” The Mick tells the story of Jack O’Connor, a poor Irish lad, as his life takes him from the Easter Rebellion in 1916, through World War I, back home to Ireland (where he discovers an unspeakable tragedy), and then on to America, where he works as a Mob enforcer.