Class Notes

Jason Ellis (MS ’03 meat science, food science and technology, PhD ’06 ag and life sciences education) has been named head of the Department of Communications and Agricultural Education at Kansas State University.

Mike Retallick (L)(PhD ’05 ag and life sciences education), professor and chair in the ISU Department of Agricultural Education and Studies, received the Distinguished Service Award from the Association for Career and Technical Education Research.

Scott Smalley (MS ’06 ag and life sciences education, PhD ’11), assistant professor in the ISU Department of Agricultural Education and Studies, received the Outstanding Beginning Scholar Award from the Association for Career and Technical Education Research.

Matt Romoser (’15 animal science, MS ’17 animal physiology) is a new technical service specialist for Fast Genetics in Ames.

Abigail Peterson (’15 agronomy) has been hired as an Illinois field manager for the Soil Health Partnership.

Andrea Basche (PhD '15 crop production and physiology/sustainable ag) has accepted a position as an assistant professor in the Department of Agronomy and Horticulture at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Logan Doty (’17 animal science) has been hired as the 4-H youth coordinator for Fremont County ISU Extension and Outreach.

Former Iowa State Daily sportswriter Ryan Young ('17 computer engr) covered the 2018 Winter Olympics for Yahoo! Sports as a freelancer based out of Los Angeles, Calif. "I've had to learn how to cover something from halfway across the world, which is just as difficult as it sounds," Young told the Daily in February. His writing for Yahoo! Sports, including his Olympics coverage, can be found online at https://www.yahoo.com/author/ryan-young/.

Jovan Johnson (MS '16 journalism) 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. Johnson currently works as assistant director of employer engagement and internships for Grinnell College in Grinnell, Iowa. He was recognized for his leadership in the community and efforts to help Des Moines attract, retain, and create a welcoming environment for young black professionals.

Kathleen Standafer Lopez ('04 dietetics) has written a book, Fibromyalgia Freedom!, subtitled "Your essential cookbook and meal plan to relieve pain, clear brain fog, and fight fatigue." Lopez is a board-certified nutrition support clinician and LEAP therapist who works with individuals with fibromyalgia.

Paul Kix ('03 journalism), a deputy manager for ESPN, The Magazine, has written a new book, The Saboteur: The Aristocrat Who Became France's Most Daring Anti-Nazi Spy. The New York Times Book Review calls it "an intense, highly detailed, and well-written book" and "first-class adventure writing."

Lt. Col. George A. Larson ('69 history) has written Whiteman Air Force Base, part of the "Images of America" series. Larson is retired and lives in Rapid City, S.D.

Janet L. Hanson (L)('81 biology) recently published, under the pen name Rannet Taj L'Orange, Alien Seduction and Destruction. Using humor, the book embraces some of the complexities that might occur when Extraterrestrials visit Earth.

Teresa (Adam) Green ('87 music, MS '98 curriculum & instruction) has been awarded the North Central Iowa Regional 2018 I.O.W.A. STEM Teacher Award. Green is a media specialist for the Ames Community School District.

Marvin Caruthers (A)('62 chemistry) was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame for his invention of methods for chemically synthesizing DNA. The co-founder of several successful biotech companies, including Amgen and Applied Biosystems, Caruthers holds 43 U.S. patents and has received numerous awards, including the 2006 U.S. National Medal of Science.

Matthew Condon (L)('99 exercise sci) is the youngest chair in the 130-year history of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce. He brings an entrepreneurial bent to the chairmanship, having founded and sold ARC Physical Therapy+ and founded Bardavon Health Innovations.

Beth Ford (A)('86 management) is the new COO of Land O'Lakes Businesses, with responsibility for Land O'Lakes' multi-billion-dollar dairy, animal nutrition, and ag-tech businesses. In addition, Ford has been elected chair of the board for Clearwater Paper Company.

Brad Hart (L)('78 pol sci) is the new mayor of Cedar Rapids -- Iowa's second-largest city. He writes that he's trying to determine how to have more Cardinal & Gold in city hall. Hart is the first of his family to graduate from Iowa State, but there are now 15 ISU grads.

Susan Weidmann (L) ('00 Family Resource Management) has joined Northwest Florida State College as Assistant Professor of Hospitality and Tourism Management. She is the founding faculty member of the newly created hospitality, tourism management and culinary arts department.

Martha Smith won the 2018 American Farm Bureau Federation’s Young Farmers & Ranchers Discussion Meet contest. Martha first won the Colorado Farm Bureau Discussion Meet in November before competing against other young farmers & ranchers from across the country at the AFBF Annual Convention in Nashville, TN in early January. The Discussion Meet simulates a committee meeting in which active discussion and participation are expected. Participants are evaluated on their ability to exchange ideas and information on a predetermined topic. As the winner of the 2018 Discussion Meet, Martha is the winner of a new Ford truck, courtesy of Farm Bureau Financial Services.

Howard Anderson (L)(’88 management) of Northcott Hospitality has been inducted into the Minnesota Hospitality Hall of Fame.

Billi Hunt (L)(’93 housing) has been named the executive director of Iowa's Cultivation Corridor. Hunt brings 20 years of experience working for one of the leading agriculture companies in the state. Hunt joins the Cultivation Corridor after working as the Government Affairs Manager — U.S. Central Region for DuPont. The U.S. Central Region includes Iowa, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wisconsin. In this role, she supported DuPont’s global business through state-level advocacy, public policy initiatives and government-related business collaborations. She represented DuPont’s business in a number of community and industry-related organizations, including the Iowa Business Council, the United Way of Central Iowa, the Iowa Biotech Association, the Greater Des Moines Partnership, the College of Human Sciences at Iowa State University and the Iowa Association of Business and Industry.

Eric Crowell (L)(’80 indus admin), president and CEO of UnityPoint Health – Des Moines, has announced he will retire July 1, 2018. Over a 37‐year career in health care -- 17 years in his current position, Crowell has led in Iowa, Illinois, and nationally, and he has been an active volunteer in his community.

Alison (Monaghan) Cate ('05 journalism) was united in marriage to James Cate in Des Moines, Iowa, on December 30, 2017. Alison is the director of marketing and development for Goodwill of Central Iowa, headquartered in Johnston. She and her husband reside in West Des Moines.

Eric Wilson (’77 electrical engineering), (‘73-‘77 Iowa State Rugby) was elected to the Austin Blacks Rugby Football Club inaugural Hall of Fame class.