Class Notes

Amber Harrison (A)(’02 public service and administration in ag) has accepted a position as vice president of business development and marketing for FieldReveal in Humboldt, Iowa.

Nathan Katzer (A)('07 public service and administration in ag & agronomy), has accepted a position as an investment manager for the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation.

Jenna Lansing ('16 ag bus) is a new project manager for KG MarketSense in Des Moines.

Elizabeth Wardle (PhD '03 rhetoric & prof comm) is one of four nationally recognized leaders of composition scholarship who have collaborated to edit the new book, Composition, Rhetoric, and Disciplinarity, which asks a fundamental question: Can Composition and Rhetoric, as a discipline, continue its historical commitment to pedagogy without sacrificing equal attention to other areas, such as research and theory? The book is published by University Press of Colorado and Utah State University Press.

During the American Association of Swine Veterinarians' 49th annual meeting in San Diego, Calif., Dr. Elizabeth Wagstrom (DVM ’99, MS '00 vet mirco & prev med) was named the 2018 recipient of the AASV’s Meritorious Service Award. She is the chief veterinarian with the National Pork Producers Council.

During the American Association of Swine Veterinarians' 49th annual meeting in San Diego, Calif., Dr. Mary Battrell (DVM ’95, MS '95 vet clinical sci) was named the 2018 Swine Practitioner of the Year. She is currently the staff veterinarian for the East Central Region of Smithfield Hog Production and is responsible for the health and well-being of 140,000 sows.

Jared Seliger (PhD '15 education) became president of Allen College of Nursing in Waterloo, Iowa, in January 2018. He recently told the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier the job is filled with challenges. “The nursing shortage is not coming. It’s here,” he said. “We’ve got to strategize about how to get students interested in health care.” Seliger was previously the director of Allen College’s nuclear medicine technology program for nine years and associate chancellor for two years.

Tonisity, a cutting-edge company bringing innovative swine nutrition, health, and wellness products to market, is growing its senior leadership with the addition of Daniel Faidley (L)('97 ag bus) as general manager of its U.S. business.

Erik Ervin ('89 hort), chair of the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences at the University of Delaware and former professor of crop and soil environmental sciences at Virginia Tech University, has been conferred the title of professor emeritus by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors.

Scott Larson ('12 English & religious studies), an attorney with Bell Nunnally & Martin LLP has been named to the 2018 "Pathfinders Program" class for the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD).

The Rosmann family –including ISU alumni Ron ('73 biology), David ('04 public svc & admin in ag), Daniel ('05 agron), Mark )'08 agron & history; MS '15 ag), and Ellen ('09 public svc & admin in ag) – was recognized by Moses Organic as the 2018 Organic Farmers of the Year. Rosmann Family Farms is located in Harlan, Iowa.

The Rosmann family –including ISU alumni Ron ('73 biology), David ('04 public svc & admin in ag), Daniel ('05 agron), Mark )'08 agron & history; MS '15 ag), and Ellen ('09 public svc & admin in ag) – was recognized by Moses Organic as the 2018 Organic Farmers of the Year. Rosmann Family Farms is located in Harlan, Iowa.

The Rosmann family –including ISU alumni Ron ('73 biology), David ('04 public svc & admin in ag), Daniel ('05 agron), Mark )'08 agron & history; MS '15 ag), and Ellen ('09 public svc & admin in ag) – was recognized by Moses Organic as the 2018 Organic Farmers of the Year. Rosmann Family Farms is located in Harlan, Iowa.

The Rosmann family –including ISU alumni Ron ('73 biology), David ('04 public svc & admin in ag), Daniel ('05 agron), Mark )'08 agron & history; MS '15 ag), and Ellen ('09 public svc & admin in ag) – was recognized by Moses Organic as the 2018 Organic Farmers of the Year. Rosmann Family Farms is located in Harlan, Iowa.

Justin Platts (A)(’01 landscape arch), a principal with RDG Planning & Design, was honored by the Des Moines Business Record as part of its 2018 class of ’40 Under 40’ business leaders

Katie Fencl (’07 marketing & mgmt.), director of conventions, sports, and services for Catch Des Moines, was honored by the Des Moines Business Record as part of its 2018 class of ’40 Under 40’ business leaders

Libby Crimmings (’04 art and design), director of national education programs for the World Food Prize Foundation, was honored by the Des Moines Business Record as part of its 2018 class of ’40 Under 40’ business leaders.

Amanda Young (MS ’08 indus relations), senior vice president for human resources with Bankers Trust Co., was honored by the Des Moines Business Record as part of its 2018 class of ’40 Under 40’ business leaders.

Natasha Sayles (’11 marketing), executive director of Winefest Des Moines, was honored by the Des Moines Business Record as part of its 2018 class of ’40 Under 40’ business leaders.

Kristopher Kunze (’02 elec engr), managing principal with KCL Engineering, was honored by the Des Moines Business Record as part of its 2018 class of ’40 Under 40’ business leaders.

Matthew Coen (’02 arch), a principal with Walker Coen Lorentzen Architects, was honored by the Des Moines Business Record as part of its 2018 class of ’40 Under 40’ business leaders.

Alison Cate (A)(’05 journalism), director of marketing and development for Goodwill of Central Iowa, was honored by the Des Moines Business Record as part of its 2018 class of ’40 Under 40’ business leaders.

Brenna Finnerty (’04 comm studies) was one of four recipients of the 2017 YP of the Year Awards presented by the Des Moines Register and the Greater Des Moines Partnership's Young Professional Connection Feb. 15 in Des Moines, Iowa. Finnerty is the director of development for UnityPoint Health – Blank Children’s Hospital in Des Moines. She was recognized for her work with the YMCA boards in Des Moines and Waukee, her volunteerism with Freedom for Youth, and her work to create a youth philanthropy program for Blank Children’s Hospital called Shining Stars.

Al Doster (L)(DVM '75) received the Distinguished Service Award from the Nebraska Veterinary Medical Association. He is a professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and director of the university's Veterinary Diagnostic Center.

Sarah Carlson (MS '08 sustainable ag, crop production & physiology), the director of strategic initiatives for Practical Farmers of Iowa, is one of four recipients of the 2018 Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Leader Awards. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig presented Carlson with the Leadership in Conservation Award during an awards ceremony and dinner March 6.