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The Posthumous Nobel Prize in Chemistry, Volume 1: Correcting the Errors and Oversights of the Nobel Prize Committee
- Class of 1964
- Chemistry
- Liberal Arts & Sciences
E. Thomas Strom

Posted on October 2, 2018 in Alumni Bookshelf

E. Thomas Strom (L) (Ph.D., 64) recently published his fourth co-edited book on the history of chemistry. It was published online last October, and the hard copy from Oxford University Press was published in summer 2018. The book is titled The Posthumous Nobel Prize in Chemistry, Volume 1: Correcting the Errors and Oversights of the Nobel Prize Committee.
Creating Guests for Life: Lessons Learned and Rules to Follow for Improved Service by Paul Ruby
- Class of 1985
- Hotel & Restaurant Management
- Family & Consumer Sciences
Paul Ruby

Posted on October 2, 2018 in Alumni Bookshelf

Paul Ruby (L)(’85 hotel & rest mgmt) has published a book titled Creating Guests for Life: Lessons Learned and Rules to Follow for Improved Service, a must-read for anyone in the service industry. Written in a light, conversational style, Ruby offers lessons from his many years in the hospitality industry, such as “Attentive service is appreciated, and sometimes throwing in a pool table doesn’t hurt” and “If guests are coming in for a special reason, find out what the occasion is. And if it is for a ‘last supper,’ put them in the back room.”
Chris Duree receives the IACCT 2018 Outstanding Diversity/Equity Award
- Class of 2007
- Education
- Education
Christopher Duree

Posted on October 2, 2018 in Honors and Awards

Iowa Valley Community College District (IVCCD) Chancellor Dr. Chris Duree (L)(PhD '07 education) received the Iowa Association of Community College Trustees (IACCT) 2018 Iowa Outstanding Diversity/Equity Award at the annual IACCT conference held in Mason City.
Melissa Jacobson James
- Class of 1991
- Biology
- Liberal Arts & Sciences
Melissa James (Jacobson)

Posted on October 2, 2018 in Careers

Melissa Jacobson James (L)('91 biology) has been elected to a third term on the International Council for Alpha Gamma Delta Fraternity.
Seth Shannon
- Class of 2002
- Architecture-Professional Degree
- Design
Seth Shannon

Posted on October 2, 2018 in Careers

The Schemmer Associates Inc., a local full-service architecture, engineering, and construction field services consultant, is pleased to welcome Seth Shannon ('02 arch), AIA, GGP, LEED AP BD+C, as an architect based in the Des Moines, Iowa, office. Shannon has 15 years of experience with projects that range from community centers to downtown condominiums and office buildings to historical restoration. At Schemmer, Shannon will be responsible for architecture services on multiple project types.
Mark Cruz at a guayule field in Arizona
- Class of 2006
- Plant Breeding
- Agriculture and Life Sciences
Von Mark Cruz

Posted on September 28, 2018 in Honors and Awards

Von Mark Cruz (PhD '06), plant breeder and geneticist at Bridgestone Americas, Inc., Eloy, AZ, received the 2018 Outstanding Researcher Award during the 30th international conference of the Association for the Advancement of Industrial Crops on Sept. 26 in Canada.
Kari Mattison
- Class of 2016
- Animal Science
- Agriculture and Life Sciences
Kari Mattison

Posted on September 14, 2018 in Honors and Awards

Kari Mattison (L)('16 Animal Science) was selected as an Achievement Rewards for College Scientists (ARCS) Foundation Scholar. She is a currently a 3rd year PhD Candidate in the Genetics and Molecular Biology program at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia.
Genna Tesdall
- Class of 2015
- Biology (AGLS)
- Agriculture and Life Sciences
Genna Tesdall

Posted on September 14, 2018 in Education

Genna Tesdall ('15 biology & global resource sys) has been selected by the U.S. Department of State as 2018-2019 Fulbright student program award recipient. She will conduct research at the Humboldt University of Berlin, Germany as part of a project to investigate the influences on decision making of farmers and policy makers in management of the invasive species spotted wing Drosophila, which is invasive to Germany and the U.S. Tesdall is currently pursuing her master's degree at Penn State University.
The happy couple, Patricia Ades-Hanson & Jeffrey Hanson
- Class of 1991
- Chemical Engineering
- Engineering
Patricia Ades-Hanson (Ades)

Posted on September 12, 2018 in Engagements and marriages

Patricia Ades (L)('91 Chemical Engineering) and Jeffrey Hanson ('86 Industrial Education & Technology) of Atlanta, GA were married July 28, 2018 on Hilton Head Island, SC.
Kody Olson
- Class of 2018
- Global Resource Systems
- Agriculture and Life Sciences
Dakota Olson

Posted on September 6, 2018 in Careers

Dakota Olson (’18 global resource systems, ag and society) has accepted a position as a public policy director for the Minnesota Council on Disabilities.
Emma Wilson
- Class of 2018
- Agricultural and Life Sciences Education
- Agriculture and Life Sciences
Emma Wilson

Posted on September 6, 2018 in Careers

Emma Wilson (’18 ag and life sci ed) has accepted a position as a publications manager for the Iowa Corn Growers Association.
Josie McQuillen
- Class of 2016
- Agricultural and Life Sciences Education
- Agriculture and Life Sciences
Josie Manternach

Posted on September 6, 2018 in Careers

Josie McQuillen (’16 ag and life sci ed) has accepted a position as an ag educator and FFA adviser at Cascade Junior/Senior High School.
Courtney Harder
- Class of 2015
- International Agriculture
- Agriculture and Life Sciences
Courtney Harder

Posted on September 6, 2018 in Careers

Courtney Harder (’15 ag business) has been promoted to crop productions specialist with Case IH.
- Class of 1978
- Speech Communication
- Liberal Arts & Sciences
Peggy McClure (McClure)

Posted on August 30, 2018 in Miscellaneous

New website ... same old URL: https://www.pegsportfolio.com/ Tech support from Todd Moudy, Nimbusnet IT services.
Hayley Williams
- Class of 2017
- Food Science (AGLS)
- Agriculture and Life Sciences
Hayley Williams

Posted on August 27, 2018 in Careers

Hayley Williams (’17 food sci) has been promoted to quality assurance supervisor for Cargill Protein.
Brian Odino
- Class of 2017
- Animal Science
- Agriculture and Life Sciences
Brian Odino

Posted on August 27, 2018 in Careers

Brian Odino (’17 an sci) has been promoted to operations supervisor for Cargill Protein.
Joni Erwin
- Class of 2017
- International Agriculture
- Agriculture and Life Sciences
Joni Erwin

Posted on August 27, 2018 in Careers

Joni Erwin (A)(’17 ag business & international ag) has joined the staff of the Iowa Corn Growers Association as a district field manager in North Central Iowa.
Shemaa Albayati
- Class of 2018
- Genetics (AGLS)
- Agriculture and Life Sciences
Shemaa Albyati

Posted on August 27, 2018 in Careers

Shemaa Albayati ('18 genetics) has accepted a position with Syngenta working with DNA extraction.
OP McCubbins
- Class of 2016
- Agricultural & Life Sciences Education
- Agriculture and Life Sciences
OP McCubbins (McCubbins)

Posted on August 27, 2018 in Careers

OP McCubbins (PhD '16 ag and life sci ed) has accepted a position as assistant professor in the Texas A&M University Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications.
Sara Hamlett
- Class of 2012
- Animal Science
- Agriculture and Life Sciences
Sara Hamlett

Posted on August 27, 2018 in Honors and Awards

Sara Hamlett (’12 animal science, MS '14, DVM '18), associate veterinarian at Summit Veterinary Services in Winterset, Iowa, was awarded the Iowa Veterinary Medical Association’s Future Service Scholarship.
Justin Saenz
- Class of 2011
- Public Service and Administration in Agriculture
- Agriculture and Life Sciences
Justin Saenz

Posted on August 27, 2018 in Careers

Justin Saenz (’11 public service and administration in ag) has accepted a position as Montgomery County Urban Youth Development County Extension Agent for Texas AgriLife Extension Service.
Dennis Calvin
- Class of 1978
- Pest Management
- Agriculture and Life Sciences
Dennis Calvin

Posted on August 27, 2018 in Careers

Dennis Calvin (’78 agronomy & pest management), director of Pennsylvania Extension and associate dean of the Pennsylvania State University College of Agricultural Sciences, has been promoted to associate dean and director of special programs.
Scott Hutchins
- Class of 1987
- Entomology
- Agriculture and Life Sciences
Scott Hutchins

Posted on August 27, 2018 in Careers

President Donald Trump announced his plans to nominate Scott Hutchins (’87 PhD entomology) to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Research, Education and Economics at the Department of Agriculture on July 16. Hutchins is the global head of integrated field sciences for Corteva Agriscience, the agriculture division of DowDuPont. He also serves as an adjunct professor at the University of Nebraska. Hutchins was global director for crop protection research and development at Dow AgroSciences before the merger with DuPont. He is a past president of the Entomological Society of America.
Jami Simon
- Class of 1981
- Physical Education
- Education
Jami Simon

Posted on August 27, 2018 in Careers

Actress Jami Simon (’81 speech comm) recently performed in staged readings for the Write Now Workshop & as Jessica in a reading of "The Morning Girls." She had a principal role in the Leon Bridges music video "Bet Ain't Worth the Hand" released in April & played Sideways Jane in "Riding the D," which screened at the L.A. Intl. Women's Film Festival in March. Her episodes as Pinky on HBO's "High Maintenance" can be viewed on HBO on Demand & HBO Now. Her episode on "The Blacklist" ("Ruin") can be viewed on NBC.com.
David Sanders
- Class of 1984
- Civil Engineering
- Engineering
David Sanders

Posted on August 23, 2018 in Careers

David Sanders (L)('84 civil engr) recently returned to Iowa State University as the Greenwood Department Chair in Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering. Sanders previously held a university foundation professorship at the University of Nevada Reno, and his research has centered on the behavior and design of structural concrete.