Class Notes

Jamie Jorgensen ('90 Political Science/Economics) is the new Chief of Staff and Chief Legal Counsel at Pitzer College, one of the Claremont Colleges in Claremont, California.

Brandon Kennedy (2010 BSME/MBA grad) has accepted a new role as a global Supply Base Manager for John Deere. In this role, Brandon will own the supplier relationship of tooling suppliers with all John Deere factories. Brandon has continued to stay involved with Iowa State as a member of the ISU MBA Executive Advisory Council through the ISU College of Business.

David C. Nielsen ('77 meteorology, MS '79 agronomy), research agronomist with the USDA-Agricultural Research Service, has been named the 2018 recipient of the Soil Science Applied Research Award by the Soil Science Society of America. The award will be presented Jan. 7, 2019 at the society's annual international meeting in San Diego.

Jeremy Roth ('82 psychology), co-president and managing director of Littler, has been recognized by Human Resources Executive magazine and Lawdragon in the 2018 annual rankings guide as one of the "100 Most Powerful Employment Lawyers."

Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City announced the promotion of Omaha Branch executive Nathan Kauffman (PhD '12 economics) to vice president. In this role, he supports the Kansas City Fed’s leadership in agricultural economics and provides strategic direction and management oversight for the Omaha Branch, regional research, and economic outreach in Nebraska. Since joining the Bank in 2012, Kauffman has fostered collaboration across the Kansas City Fed to enhance resources on rural and agricultural economic and banking conditions and elevated the profile of the Bank’s Agricultural Symposium. He has been a leading voice on issues in the agricultural economy in the Tenth District and Federal Reserve System, including providing testimonies at both U.S. Senate and U.S. House Agricultural Committee hearings. Kauffman also serves as the Kansas City Fed’s lead officer and economist in the state of Nebraska. As part of this responsibility, he builds relationships with business and community leaders across the state to gain an understanding of regional economic conditions and provide a local connection to the Federal Reserve. Kauffman holds a Ph.D. in Economics from Iowa State University and a Bachelor’s Degree from Malone University in Canton, Ohio. As the regional headquarters of the nation’s central bank, the Kansas City Fed and its branch offices in Denver, Oklahoma City and Omaha serve the seven states of the Tenth District: Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Wyoming, northern New Mexico and western Missouri.

Jan Elfline ('80 craft design) is the co-author of the forthcoming textbook, "Actor for Life: How to have an amazing career without all the drama." The book is co-authored with Connie de Veer and aims to offer "cutting-edge strategies and inspiring interviews with award-winning professionals." It is published by Smith & Kraus.

Former All-Big Eight Cyclone golfer Mark Hankins (A)(’93 psychology, MBA ’97) has been named head men’s golf coach at the University of Nebraska. Hankins previously spent two years as assistant athletics director at the University of Iowa and was a head coach at both Iowa and Michigan State.

Vic Bekkum (L)(PhD ’78 ag and life sci ed) was honored with the 2018 Wisconsin Agriculturalist Award from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences.

Tim Heiller (L)(’90 an sci) retired after 27 years with Elanco Animal Health and accepted a position with Genus PlC in January as a key account manager for PIC.

Kelly Lee (’05 ag and life sci ed & an sci, MS ’15 ag & life sci ed), has accepted a position as a science teacher at Newton-Harris Public School in Newtown, Mo.

Caitlin Remington (’12 ag and life sci ed) has accepted a role as an ag educator and FFA adviser for Bondurant-Farrar (Iowa) High School.

Miranda Furrer (’13 animal ecology) graduated from Purdue University with a master’s degree in youth development and agricultural education. She has accepted a position as an education specialist at the Great Plains Zoo in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Wyatt Forsyth (’18 ag and life sci ed) has been hired as the new ag educator and FFA adviser at Vinton-Shellsburg (Iowa) Community Schools.

Austin Pueschel (’18 ag business) has accepted a role as a director of education and outreach with the National Swine Registry.

Brian Buhr (A)(’85 an sci & ag business, PhD ’92 econ), dean of the University of Minnesota College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences, was inducted in to the 2018 Minnesota FFA Alumni Association Hall of Fame.

Wendy K. Wintersteen (L)(PhD '88 entomology), President of Iowa State University, has been named a 2018 Des Moines Business Record "Women of Influence" award recipient. The award will be presented Aug. 9 at the Des Moines Marriott Downtown.

Rollie Link (A)(’81 English), a retired Ames Police officer, has authored two detective novels that are available via Amazon and CreateSpace publishers: G&B Detective Agency: Case of the Missing Tucker, and G&B Detective Agency: Case of the Lonelyfarmer.com.

Bethann Kassman (’67 psychology), CEO of Go Beyond Network – an international early stage investing services company and business angel network with U.S. headquarters in Naples, Fla., was recently named among the top entrepreneurial women investors of 2018 and honored with the Bridging the Global World of Investing Award from Portfolia.

David Stark (L)(’94 mgmt) has been appointed president and chief executive officer of UnityPoint Health – Des Moines. Stark will assume day-to-day leadership July 1, succeeding the retiring Eric Crowell (L)(’80 indus admin). Stark has been employed by UnityPoint Health – Des Moines since 1995, most recently holding the position of executive vice president and chief operating officer.

Jeremy Roth (’82 psychology), a shareholder in the San Diego office of Littler – the world’s largest employment and labor law practice representing management, has been recognized in the 2018 Who’s Who Legal Labour, Employment & Benefits Guide.

Terry Huffman (L)(PhD ’88 sociology) has written a new book, Tribal Strengths and Native Education: Voices from the Reservation Classroom. Huffman is a professor of education at George Fox University. He lives in Wilsonville, Ore.

The American Horticultural Society has announced that Kelly D. Norris (A)(’08 horticulture, MS ’11) of Des Moines is the recipient of its newest award, the Emerging Horticultural Professional Award. Norris began his horticultural career at 15, when he talked his parents into purchasing a nursery, Rainbow Iris Farm, which he still runs. He is currently the director of horticulture and education at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden. He also has authored two garden books and is a regular contributor to several gardening publications.

Alan Greiner (’85 music) has received a National Federation of State High School Associations Citation. He is currently the executive director of the Iowa High School Music Association.

Annette Payne (’16 ag and life sci ed) has accepted a sales position at Agri Drain Corporation in Adair, Iowa.

Lauren Houska (’15 ag and life sci ed) is a new communications specialist at the Iowa Soybean Association.