Class Notes

Robbyn Wacker (PhD ’90 sociology) has been named president of St. Cloud State University. She is an experienced administrator and a tenured professor with a reputation for leadership of strategic initiatives, encouraging innovation, and advancing student enrollment, retention, and success. She previously served the University of Northern Colorado as provost and senior vice president for academic affairs and as senior campaign adviser in the UNC Office of Development and Alumni Relations.

Libby Crimmings (A)('04 art and design) has joined McClure, a Midwest-based engineering, surveying, and planning firm as vice principal community placemaker and community placemaker in the Clive, IowaPreviously, she served as Director of Global Programs and Partnerships at The World Food Prize Foundation, an international organization known as the “Nobel Prize for Food and Agriculture,” leading efforts in 23 states in the U.S. as well as Europe, Africa and Central America. and St. Louis offices. Crimmings' role at McClure will include assisting in long-term strategic planning, visionary goals, and in maintaining the tracking of projects and placemaking staff.

Greg Nickerson (L)('81 ag journalism), the 2017 recipient of the National Agri-Marketing Association’s Marketer of the Year award, was named chairman at Bader Rutter, the country’s largest agricultural marketing agency, with offices in Milwaukee, Chicago, and Lincoln. He previously served as CEO for nearly a decade. He was also nominated to the Alpha Gamma Rho board of directors in August.

Judith K. Zimmerman (A)('86 interior design), RID, LEED AP, has been named President of RVK Architects in San Antonio, Texas. She has managed the firm's business operations for the past 13 years.

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.

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.”

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 (L)('91 biology) has been elected to a third term on the International Council for Alpha Gamma Delta Fraternity.

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.

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 (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 ('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.

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.

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 (’18 ag and life sci ed) has accepted a position as a publications manager for the Iowa Corn Growers Association.

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 (’15 ag business) has been promoted to crop productions specialist with Case IH.

New website ... same old URL: https://www.pegsportfolio.com/ Tech support from Todd Moudy, Nimbusnet IT services.

Hayley Williams (’17 food sci) has been promoted to quality assurance supervisor for Cargill Protein.

Brian Odino (’17 an sci) has been promoted to operations supervisor for Cargill Protein.

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 ('18 genetics) has accepted a position with Syngenta working with DNA extraction.

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 (’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 (’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.