Class Notes

DOING MORE WITH LINEAR CORRELATION AND REGRESSION advances the introductory-level student into a few intermediate topics associated with those essential statistical procedures. Although the basics of linear correlation are sufficient for many students in their first behavioral statistics course, others have a need to delve into a few additional ideas and methods that will develop their statistical wherewithal a bit further. This new text meets those objectives. More information is available at www.ebookslimited.com and Amazon.com.

April 2025, Felicia Zamora, BA Communication Studies (2021), released her seventh poetry collection, Interstitial Archaeology, with the Wisconsin Poetry Series, University of Wisconsin Press. Publishers Weekly writes, “The visceral latest from Zamora (Quotient) offers powerful and disquieting vignettes exploring racism, language, and the body. […] Palpable and urgent, these potent poems revel in defiance, catharsis, and wonder. (Apr.)” Zamora’s work has won the 2020 Iowa Poetry Prize, 2022 Ohioana Book Award in Poetry, Benjamin Saltman Award, Andrs Montoya Poetry Prize, Loraine Williams Poetry Prize, and two Ohio Arts Council Individual Excellence Awards, among others. She is a poetry editor for Colorado Review and an associate professor of poetry at the University of Cincinnati where she is a 2025-2026 Taft Research Center Fellow.

Attorney Bill Quick, partner at Polsinelli PC, Kansas City, and Iowa State alum (Class of ’93) receives a 2025 JD Supra Reader’s Choice Award, which honors top authors and law firms for thought leadership in key legal topics. Quick is one of the nation’s go-to resources and author of “The Corporate Transparency Act Desk Book” a guide for business owners, management, beneficial owners and their professional advisors about compliance and filing complexities. In addition to the publication nod, Quick’s lean into this niche expertise led to the launch of a new practice group for Polsinelli, citation in third parties’ amicus briefs to the U.S. Supreme Court and several U.S. Circuit Courts, and numerous presentations.

Mary Gannon Kaufmann, with a BS (1981) in Food Technology, has released a groundbreaking book for health professionals: The Renewed Practitioner: How Spiritual Care Transforms Nutrition, Dietetics & Lifestyle Medicine. In this engaging and practical guide, Kaufmann redefines spiritual care—not just as a resource in crisis but as essential for having flourishing health and life. She offers practical tools to prevent burnout, reconnect with purpose, and integrate spiritual care into practice. A must-read for Registered Dietitians, Nurses, and Lifestyle Medicine practitioners! To purchase the book, go to: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DXCD3KNQ

Two-time ISU graduate and former architecture faculty member Christos Saccopoulos has published a new memoir, In the Footsteps of Epicurus. Following his tenure at ISU, he served in administrative positions at three more universities, retiring as Dean of the College of Art and Design of Louisiana State University and returning to his native Greece to build Mikro Horio (Little Village), the experimental—polyhedral/ferrocement—compound on a cove of the Cycladic island of Kythnos, where he spends half the year building sculptures and writing. His architecture has been recognized with two AIA design awards and he has received an InForm award for furniture design. He has been the recipient of grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and from the Graham Foundation.

Retired after a 35 year career with the Iowa DNR. Was the Biologist at the Prairie Resource Center the last 24 years, that included collaborating with the Iowa State Horticulture Research Farm the last 3 years.

Peter Myers is combining his undergraduate degree in finance with his Master’s in Education to bring financial literacy to all public schools across the State of New York. Myers has been hired as Commack School District’s inaugural financial literacy teacher, launching a Finance Lab with Bloomberg Terminals with the goal of every student graduating financially literate. He is on the curriculum development team, utilizing his knowledge from College of Business coursework, for the school district and lobbies state legislators & the Board of Education of New York to make financially literacy a graduation requirement.

Marshall, Gerstein & Borun LLP announces the election of Thomas R. Burns as a partner in the firm. His elevation, effective Jan. 1, 2025, reflects a track record of excellent legal results and commitment to client service. Marshall Gerstein provides sophisticated intellectual property (IP) advice and legal services to many of the world’s largest, most innovative businesses, research institutions, universities, and entrepreneurs.

Promoted to Chief Operating & Financial Officer at Strategic America in West Des Moines, Iowa.

After 60 years, attorney John Shors is retiring from Dentons Davis Brown. With a love for science and how things work, John graduated from Iowa State University in 1959 with a degree in electrical engineering and then later went to law school. In the early 1970s, he began his involvement with the Iowa State University Alumni Association. He chaired or was president of each of the three major charitable foundations at ISU: the ISU Alumni Achievement Fund, the ISU Foundation Board Of Directors, and the ISU Foundation Committees. He was chair of the alumni foundation when Iowa State undertook its first capital campaign. Now a lifetime member of the Iowa State Foundation’s Board of Governors, his service was recognized with the ISU Alumni Medal, and he continues to offer his generosity and counsel to the university and its foundation.

My family found 80 letters my grandfather sent home to his family when he was a trench runner in WW1. I used these letters to create a book of narrative nonfiction Searching for John DeWitt. He later became an attorney in Griswold Iowa.

Iowa State alum Mackenzie Currans has been named the 2024 Fan of the Year by the Chicago Bear as announced by the Bears Organization on November 7th. She will represent the Chicago Bears at the Fan of the Year ceremony at Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans on February 9, 2025. “I am honored that the Bears organization has selected me as the 2024 Fan of the Year. I believe that we are only given one life and it is up to us to make sure that we live the best possible life. We can easily do that by staying positive in the face of adversity. Much like the game of football, we may not win every game but we become better after each experience. I hope that my story can inspire others to spread positivity and to be their best selves,” said Currans about this honor. https://www.chicagobears.com/news/bears-name-mackenzie-currans-2024-fan-of-the-year

Johnny Mackin has been appointed to Vice President of Creative at Meyocks, a leading branding and marketing agency. Mackin began his career at Meyocks as an intern. After earning his Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Iowa State University, he was hired as a full-time copywriter with Meyocks. Mackin then moved on to build a successful 26-year career in creative roles across various companies. Notable positions included serving as Director of Marketing at Mystic Lake Casino Hotel and as Creative Director at The Karma Group. Four years ago, he returned to Meyocks.

Dr. Christina Vernon, a 2009 graduate of Iowa State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, now serves pet families across Phoenix, AZ, and surrounding areas. With over 15 years of experience, Dr. Vernon is dedicated to providing compassionate care for dogs and cats throughout all stages of life. As a Phoenix-based veterinarian, Dr. Vernon continues to prioritize high quality, empathetic care, bringing years of experience and a commitment to supporting pets and families within her community. For more information about Dr.Vernon’s services, Visit https://www.codapet.com/veterinarians/dr-christina-vernon

Recently retired after 32 years owning and running Connie's Quilt Shop in Marion, Iowa.

Kaylee Cornwell was recently awarded Best in Show at Animate Des Moines for her costume craftsmanship. Throughout college and thereafter, she has entered her handmade costumes into craftmanship-based competitions where she has been awarded the titles Best Workmanship (Anime Detour 2024), Best in Show (Anime Iowa 2023), and three previous awards in the Midwest. Cornwell now lives in Minnesota where she continues to pursue the craft of costumes as a Graphic Designer for HalloweenCostumes.com. There she designs sublimated, embroidered, and screen-printed artwork for licensed costumes and other products. On November 9th, Cornwell will be attending Anime Ames, the first Anime convention in Ames, IA. There, Cornwell will attend as both a guest and cosplay contest judge and will be providing some of the programming of the event hosted by the Cosplay Club.

Craig joined Ehvert Mission Critical - a Salas O'Brien Company as a Principal in September. He has 29+ years experience in mechanical engineering consulting designing HVAC systems for buildings. For the last 20 years, he has been involved with mission critical facilities (data centers).

This book contains materials on: Strategies and Stories of the Omaha Stockyards, Beginning of the End 1900-1940 and 1950-1970, IBP, Boxed Beef & a New Big Four, Is Grass-Fed Beef Good for Your Health & Planet, Is Grass-Fed better than Conventional Beef, Grass-Fed Beef and the Environment, Problems with the Cattle Industry, The Rest of the Environmental Picture

Have been employed at the Amazon Fulfillment Center in Bondurant, Iowa since January 2022. Current role is serving as a Transportation Associate. This includes moving trailers around the yard. Promoted to this position in July of 2024. Still do media on a part time basis that includes broadcasting athletics for Grand View University of Des Moines via their website and Boys State Championship events for the Iowa High School Sports Network.

Elected to the National Academy of Engineering (2024).

Joel Rosenberg, Vice President, Data & Analytics, has been named to the 2024 Future Senior Living Leaders class by Aging Media Network. The award recognizes dynamic leaders who are laying the foundation for a bright future in care delivery and aging. Rosenberg began his career with LCS in 2022 and rapidly emerged as a transformative leader at LCS and within the senior living industry. At LCS, Rosenberg spearheads data analytics efforts and strategy.

Fredrikson attorney Nyajuok Y. Deng has been elected to the EMERGE Board of Directors. Deng will serve a two-year term through 2026 and be eligible for two three-year extensions. As a member of the Board, she will serve on the fundraising committee to support EMERGE’s mission to “reveal the potential in people and communities through skill-building, employment and economic opportunity.”

Jane Coletti Perry recently published her second historical fiction novel. Lila's Journey is a heartfelt coming-of-age story of a courageous young girl, entirely on her own, in pursuit of a better life during the pinnacle of travel on the Santa Fe Trail in 1866 Kansas.

Dr. Sandra (Tobin) Snyder (College of Agriculture Genetics, 1989; and College of Veterinary Medicine, 1993) was recently elected President of the Arizona Veterinary Medical Association. Dr. Snyder served on the Board of Directors for the AzVMA for five years prior to moving into the leadership role.

Alesha has made her first purchase of stock with Holmes Murphy. Shareholders influence the company in a variety of impactful ways, including helping to determine the direction of major company initiatives, growing employees and the company, fostering the unique company culture, and recruiting exceptional employee talent. Holmes Murphy is pleased to continue its tradition of being one of the nation’s largest privately held insurance brokerages with this group of shareholders.