Class Notes

Lisa Uhl (A)('08 biology, DVM '18) a former Olympian will be one of five new inductees this fall into the Iowa State Athletics Hall of Fame for 2020. Uhl is currently working as a resident in veterinary ophthalmology at Colorado State University.

Dale Netherton ('63 forestry) has just had his eighth book published, "More Thoughts and More Commentary." Find him on Amazon.com.

Mark Meacham (A)('99 mechanical engineering, MS '02 and PhD '06), assistant professor of mechanical engineering and materials science at the McKelvey School of Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis, has received a Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) award from the National Science Foundation. The five-year, $500,000 grant will support Meacham’s research using active swimming algae cells as measurement probes to assess performance of acoustic microfluidic devices.

Dan Thomson (A)('90 animal science, DVM '00) joined the Iowa State Department of Animal Science on March 23 as the new department chair. He has spent the past 15 years at Kansas State University as the Jones Professor of Production Medicine and Epidemiology. He comes from a long line of Iowa State graduates and is one of three Iowa State-trained veterinarians in his family.

Elizabeth Andre (L)('98 Spanish and international studies, MS and PhD '01) was awarded the 2020 Faculty Merit Award for Outstanding Scholarship by Northland College in Ashland, Wisconsin. The selection criteria include significant research, leadership in professional societies, and innovative curriculum design.

Jana (Bernatz) Cunningham (L)('77 physical ed), ISU Women’s Golf four-year letter winner, shares her book “Watch Your Shadow: Surviving Not One but Both Hip Replacement Operations!". “Watch Your Shadow" is a true story about the recovery journey Cunningham went through after two hip replacement surgeries in her early 50s. In it, she shares the discoveries -- as well as both good and bad experiences -- she went through during her hip replacements. In "Watch Your Shadow," Cunningham wants to provide a helpful and supportive book for people who are, will be, or are assisting someone going through major hip surgery. "It reads more like a story than a self-help book ... " she says. "You may not even realize all you've learned and experienced about hip surgery until you finally put it down. It will hopefully aid with the prep work, home set-up, physical, mental, and emotional situations that go along with having hip surgery and recovery that I dealt with during my journey." Cunningham's book is published by Lulu Publishing.

Philip Johnson ('77 animal science, DVM '81) received the Outstanding Service Award from the Wisconsin Veterinary Medical Association (WVMA). Johnson practices at Omro Animal Hospital in Omro, Wisconsin. He has served on numerous committees of the WVMA and is a past president of the WVMA.

Neil Harl (L)('55 ag & life sciences ed, PhD '65 economics), retired Charles F. Curtiss Distinguished Professor in Agriculture and Life Sciences, was awarded the Meritorious Service Award to Farmers Union and to American Agriculture, the highest honor of the National Farmers Union.

Gary Gackstetter (L)(DVM '79) has been named director of South Dakota State University's Professional Program in Veterinary Medicine. He has served as chair on the former National Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners (now the International Council for Veterinary Assessment) and was the National Association of Federal Veterinarians' designee for three consecutive three-year terms on the International Council for Veterinary Assessment. Additionally, he is a current member of the Collaboration for Veterinary Assessments Governance Committee (CVAGC).

Michelle Kromm (DVM '06) has been named vice president of animal health and welfare at Jennie-O Turkey Store.

Frank Walker (DVM '77), has been inducted as the new president of the North Dakota Veterinary Medical Association. Walker is the owner of Flickertail Veterinary Service in New Rockford, North Dakota. His clinical practice provides care for small animals, large-animal clinical medicine and surgery, cow-calf preventative herd health medicine, dairy herd management, as well as herd work and farm calls out in the field.

Joel Nerem (DVM '96), veterinarian with Pipestone Veterinary Services, has been named the 2020 Practitioner of the Year by the American Association of Swine Veterinarians. Nerem joined Pipestone Veterinary Services and Pipestone System staff in July 2006 with an expertise in swine health.

David Steffen (DVM '87), diagnostic pathologist and quality control section head of the Nebraska Diagnostic Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, has received the 2019 Dr. Edward Pope Memorial Award presented by the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians.

Martin Gross ('11 biology, MS '13 food science & tech, PhD '15 ag & biosystems engineering/food science & tech) was the recipient of the 2020 Neal Smith Entrepreneur of the Year Award. The award honors an Iowa entrepreneur who has been in business for a minimum of three years and has been significantly assisted by an Iowa Small Business Development Center. Gross is president and co-founder of Gross-Wen Technologies, Inc. (GWT). GWT is an inaugural cohort member of the ISU Startup Factory and an Ag Startup Engine portfolio company.

Adam Kramer ('05 agricultural studies) was named the 2020 International Certified Crop Adviser of the Year. Kramer's business, Black Sand Granary, offers soil testing, data management, cover crop consulting, and equipment retrofits. His consulting is focused on soil health with an eye on short-term and long-term impacts to profitability.

Bob Mancuso ('83 business) was recently inducted into the Nebraska Baseball Hall of Fame. Mancuso played at Iowa State from 1980-83. He was named Academic All-Big Eight, All-District, and All-American. He played professionally in Italy and also in semi-pro baseball. He is chairman of the Greater Omaha Sports Committee in Omaha, Nebraska.

Nick Lindsley ('09 architecture/environmental studies), AIA, an architect with Neumann Monson Architects, has been named a recipient of the 2020 American Institute of Architects (AIA) Young Architects Award. The national award recognizes individuals who have impacted the profession through significant contributions and leadership early in their architectural careers.

Laura (Smith) Kessel ('05 community & regional planning/landscape architecture) is a member of the Business Record's Forty under 40. These 40 Des Moines area business leaders, who were chosen by past award winners, are under the age of 40, and have demonstrated impressive career achievements and unparalleled community involvement. Laura is a landscape architect, planner, and studio director at RDG Planning & Design.

John Cheville ('86 entomology) was awarded the Distinguished Clinician Award at the Mayo Clinic Annual Meeting in November. John is a physician and professor of laboratory medicine and pathology in Rochester, Minnesota. The award is given to one physician each year who best exemplifies Mayo Clinic professionalism, mastery of clinical medicine, and compassionate care.

Charles A. Sloniger (L)('74 dairy science) received the Story County Cattlemen Award for 2020. Story County Cattlemen is a county organization of the Iowa Cattlemen's Association. The Iowa Cattlemen's Association works to grow Iowa's beef business through advocacy, leadership, and education.

Berta Aldrich (A)('90 finance) was recently honored with the Inspiration Award, one of the 2020 Ivy Women in Business Awards. Berta is the chief marketing officer and chief human resources officer at the Private Advisor Group in Morristown, New Jersey. The Inspiration Award recognizes a woman who has made a significant impact in her career while inspiring other women in business to become leaders and reach their full potential.

A new gardening show on Iowa Public Television featuring Aaron Steil (L)('05 horticulture and biology), assistant director of ISU’s Reiman Gardens, debuts this weekend. “Gardening with Steil” will premiere March 1 at 2:30 p.m.

Laura Finger ('03 dairy science) and her husband Phil were recently named Wisconsin’s Outstanding Young Farmers. The couple are fifth-generation dairy farmers in Oconto and Marinette Counties.

Reed Burres ('17 ag business, international ag), owner of AgriPeril Risk Management, LLC, was recognized with the New Leader Award from the Iowa Soybean Association.

Jacob Handsaker ('04 ag studies), of Radcliffe, Iowa, has been named the 2020 Emerging Iowa Leader by the ISU College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Handsaker is a farmer and co-owner of Hands-On Excavating.