Class Notes

Jessica Tekippe (’08 dairy science), research and development and tech service manager for AjiPro-L, won the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation’s Young Farmer Discussion Meet. The Young Farmer Discussion Meet is a unique competition in which participants are scored based on their ability to engage in a cooperative discussion on challenges affecting agriculture.

Kevin Falk (PhD’19 plant breeding), integrated field sciences research scientist with Corteva Agriscience, is the grand prize winner of the Better Seed, Better Life Student Video Contest sponsored by the American Seed Trade Association, National Association of Plant Breeders and the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of American and Soil Science Society of America.

Ariel Perry ('15 kinesiology & health) has been hired as director of programming for Opportunity On Deck, a Des Moines nonprofit organization that provides sports programming opportunities to youth across Central Iowa.

Practical Farmers of Iowa has chosen Paul Mugge (A)('74 aero engr), an organic farmer and longtime on-farm research participant from Sutherland, Iowa, to receive the 2020 Sustainable Agriculture Achievement Award. The award is given each year by PFI to an individual or couple that has show exemplary commitment to sustainable agriculture, generously shared their knowledge with others, and been influential in efforts to foster vibrant communities, diverse farms, and health food. Mugge and his wife, Karen, farm 300 acres of certified organic crops; the farm also features a mature, 17-year-old restored prairie, prairie strips, and a beetle bank.

Margaret Krug Palen ('52 textiles & clothing) has published her sixth book, "Germany and Scotland Immigrants in Iowa." The book is being published by Heritage Press in Berwyn Heights, Md.

David L. Garin (A)(PhD '64 chem), Associate Professor of Chemistry Emeritus, was the first recipient of the University of Missouri-St. Louis Retired Faculty of the Year award. The honor was presented in November 2019.

Polk County (Iowa) Chief Deputy Assessor Amy Rasmussen ('93 psychology) assumed the office of president of the International Association of Assessing Officers (IAAO) on Jan. 1, 2020. As president, Rasmussen is chair of the IAAO Board of Directors and presides at all meetings of the board and membership.

Rachel Chikwamba (PhD ’02 genetics) has been named director general of the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics. The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics is an international organization which conducts agricultural research for rural development, headquartered in Patancheru, India, with several regional centers and research stations.

Elizabeth Burns-Thompson, (L)(’11 ag business, international ag) manager of corporate affairs for Renewable Energy Group, was elected to the Altoona City Council (Iowa) and was recently featured as one of the Des Moines Register’s “15 People to Watch in 2020.”

Rebekkah (Nelson) Sandt (’06 civil engineering) has been named Young Engineer of the Year by the Texas Chapter of the American Public Works Association, Southeast Branch. Sandt is a professional engineer with more than 13 years of experience designing wastewater and potable water. The American Public Works Association strives to advance the professional, social, and economic interests of engineering while supporting engineering education opportunities and recognizing outstanding professionals.

Jeffrey Coleman (A)(’76 civil engineering, MS ‘77) has been elected vice president of the American Concrete Institute (ACI). The institute is a leading authority and resource worldwide in concrete design, construction, and materials. Coleman is a licensed professional engineer and attorney at law and principal partner of The Coleman Law Firm, LLC. in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and has been an ACI member for more than 37 years.

Dustin Loy ('05 animal science, DVM '09, PhD '11 vet microbiology), molecular diagnostician in the Nebraska Veterinary Diagnostic Center and faculty member in the School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, recently received the Excellence in Diagnostic Microbiology award from the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians (AAVLD) at its annual meeting in Providence, Rhode Island. The award recognizes research accomplishments in the field of diagnostic bacteriology that result in new scientific findings that better veterinary medicine.

Doug Reynolds (L)(’95 ag and life sci ed) received the 2019 Professional Development Award of Excellence from the National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) in October at the organization’s fall conference. As the U.S. leader for Marketing and Digital Communications at Corteva Agriscience, Reynolds was recognized for playing an instrumental role in the successful formation of Corteva Agriscience, the agricultural spinoff of DowDuPont that includes the Pioneer seed brand.

Neil Harl (L)('56 ag and life sci ed, PhD '65 economics), retired Charles F. Curtiss Distinguished Professor in Agriculture and Life Sciences at Iowa State University, was elected to the National Association of Estate Planners and Councils Estate Planning Hall of Fame and recognized as a Distinguished Accredited Estate Planner. The award is given in recognition of distinguished service to the field of estate planning and was presented Nov. 7 at a ceremony during the organization’s annual NAEPC Advanced Estate Planning Strategies Conference.

Justin Moore (L)('93 dietetics), PT, DPT -- CEO of the American Physical Therapy Association -- has been unanimously elected to serve a four-year term on the Board of the Amputee Coalition. The Amputee Coalition’s mission is to raise awareness and advocate on behalf of people affected by limb loss and limb difference, serving to amplify their collective voice on Capitol Hill and ensure that legislators and policymakers are educated about the unique needs of this community. The Coalition’s work helps to secure the services, supports, and resources for individuals to live the lives they want to live. In his role on the Coalition’s board, Moore will join 11 other board members who advise the organization on initiatives including federal policy outreach, insurance protections for patients, the organization’s National Limb Loss Resource Center, summer youth camp, and hospital partnerships.

Sophia Magill (L)('05 pol sci) is the recipient of the 2019 American Association of Universities (AAU) Council on Federal Relations (CFR) "Ripple Effect Award." Magill is the director of federal relations in the Office of the President at Iowa State University. She advocates on behalf of Iowa State University’s federal priorities by promoting research, higher education, and science activities in an effort to increase federal support and expand awareness of the university in Washington, D.C. She has been actively engaged in the higher education community, serving as chair of the Council on Government Affairs at the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU) and on the AAU CFR Steering Committee.

LaTasha Mabry Snipes ('06 elec engr) has joined the Houston, Texas office of the law firm Polsinelli as a member of the firm's Intellectual and Property and Technology Litigation Office. Snipes is an experienced intellectual property litigator who completed her J.D. at the University of Houston Law Center. She has been named to The National Black Lawyers’ Top 40 Under 40 from 2017-2019 and previously served as a submissions editor with the University of Houston Law Center’s Houston Business & Tax Law Journal. She is a member of the Houston Intellectual Property Association and The Honorable Nancy F. Atlas Intellectual Property American Inn of Court.

Colby Moorberg (BS '08 environmental science) recently published an open textbook, Soil and Water Conservation: An Annotated Bibliography . Moorberg is an assistant professor of soil science in the Kansas State University Department of Agronomy. The book was published by New Prairie Press, KSU's open digital press. The book is designed to be a resource for conservation students and practitioners, and highlights freely available online resources such as extension publications and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service technical bulletins. Topics covered include conservation history and fundamentals, conservation practices, conservation implementation, and careers. The book will save students approximately $80 each relative to competing textbooks. The book also features a foreword by Rick Cruse (BS '72 agronomy), professor in the Iowa State University Department of Agronomy.

Mansoor Sarwar (MS '85 computer engr, PhD '88) has been appointed vice chancellor of the University of Engineering and Technology in Lahore, Pakistan. UET Lahore is the oldest engineering educational institution in the country. “My favorite role as vice chancellor is my interaction with the extremely bright students and teachers belonging to every nook and corner of the country, and motivating them to be superior professionals as well as contributing members of the world community with a sense of service and empathy towards others,” Sarwar said.

Steve Tornberg (DVM ’79) received the 2019 South Dakota Veterinary Medical Association’s (SDVMA) Distinguished Service Award. Tornberg's practice has focused on treating, breeding and working with horses at the Dakota Large Animal Clinic since since 1981. He has served various roles on the SDVMA Board, including president, served as an South Dakota State University extension associate and as an expert witness in equine cases.

Luis Verde (MS ’01 plant breeding, PhD ’03), maize product development director of Latin America and global sorghum lead for Corteva Agriscience, was recognized with the 2019 Plant Breeding Impact Award from the National Association of Plant Breeders. The award recognizes significant advancements in the field of plant breeding, specifically in the area of applied variety and/or technology development. Verde focuses on breeding technologies and methods to accelerate genetic gain and continue delivering the best products to the market.

Tom Annear ('75 fisheries and wildlife biology) in the 2019 recipient of the Carl R. Sullivan Fishery Conservation Award from the American Fisheries Society. Annear recently retired from his position as the Wyoming Game and Fish Department water management supervisor after nearly 38 years of service.

Mike Berry ('17 construction engr) has been promoted to superintendent with Graham Construction Co. in Des Moines.

Shea Daniels ('07 computer sci), lead software engineer at Dwolla in Des Moines, has been named one of the Technology Association of Iowa's 2019 "Catalysts." This year's Catalyst honorees are recognized for promoting underrepresented groups in Iowa's technology industries with policies and advocacy to build a diverse workforce in the state.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has appointed Judge Paul Ahlers (L)('91 finance) of Fort Dodge to the nine-member Iowa Court of Appeals.