Class Notes

Dr. Steve Larsen ('98 animal science, ’00 MS animal science, meat science, food science and technology, ’04 PhD veterinary microbiology), assistant vice president of science and technology for the National Pork Board, was recently named one of "25 future icons who will change the meat and poultry industry over the next decade," by The National Provisioner magazine as part of the publication's 125th anniversary celebration.

Paul Anton ('89 ag studies) has been named vice president of business banking for BankIowa in Waterloo, Iowa.

Vince Lawson ('75 horticulture, MS '83) has retired as superintendent of the Iowa State Muscatine Island Research Farm in Muscatine, Iowa.

Shaobin Zhu (MS '99 computer sci) has been promoted to partner at Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dummer, LLP, one of the largest intellectual property law firms in the world. He focuses his practice on patent litigation in U.S. district courts; Section 337 investigations at the ITC; and client counseling and patent prosecution, with an emphasis on technologies related to computer software, business methods, Internet technologies, telecommunications, smartphones, video processing, Internet television, LEDs, wearable devices, robotics, 3D printing, and electronics. Shaobin has participated in many aspects of patent litigation, including patent validity and infringement analysis, technical discovery and production, depositions, Markman hearings, briefing, motion hearings, and trials. He has handled all stages of patent prosecution and administrative post-grant proceedings challenging validity of disputed patents.

Dean Fagner ('87 Marketing) was presented with the "Spirit of Durango" award by the Durango Chamber of Commerce. This annual award recognizes the contributions made by a local business benefiting and promoting Durango and the four corners area.

Josiah Dykstra, PhD (MS, 2004) is the author of his first book, Essential Cybersecurity Science (O'Reilly, 2016). This book provides practical and hands-on advice, case studies, and guidance for students and practitioners of cyber security. Internet pioneer Vint Cerf said "Dykstra surprises readers by showing that the security of software artifacts can be the subject of scientific study." Dykstra is a senior researcher at the National Security Agency, and was recently selected for promotion to the Senior Executive Service. He was a 2015 nominee for FedScoop's "Tech Champion of the Year" and received a 2015 Best Paper Award from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) for a research study on stress and cognitive workload in cybersecurity watch centers. He was featured for having one of the 13 coolest jobs in government (http://fedscoop.com/the-13-coolest-jobs-in-government/future-tech-expert-for-national-security).

Barbara A.M. Howard (BArch 1995) recently launched Stonebridge Learning, providing online continuing education for the heritage industry, including preservation, architecture, history, and planning professionals.

Chicago Review Press has released "Women in Blue" by Cheryl Mullenbach. This is her fourth book. She has been recognized by International Literacy Association, American Library Association, National Council for Social Studies, FDR Presidential Library and Museum. Cheryl's talk at Hyde Park was featured on C-SPAN's "Book TV." Her next book on the sinking of the "Athenia" in 1939 will release in 2017.

Josiah Dykstra, PhD (MS, 2004) has been honored by President Obama with the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), the highest honor bestowed by the United States Government on science and engineering professionals in the early stages of their independent research careers. The White House press release can be found at: https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2017/01/09/president-obama-honors-federally-funded-earl…

Dr. Bruce N. Stewart-Brown (L)('80 an sci, DVM '85) of Perdue Farms was recently named one of "25 future icons who will change the meat and poultry industry over the next decade," by The National Provisioner magazine as part of the publication's 125th anniversary celebration. Stewart-Brown serves as Perdue's senior VP of food quality & safety, where he has provided leadership in elimination of routine antibiotics use and improving animal care.

HGA Architects and Engineers (HGA) is excited to welcome recognized architectural leader Richard Smith (A)('86 architecture) as Associate Vice President and Principal. He will direct the firm’s growing services in the Science + Technology markets nationally. "Rich brings significant expertise in innovative science and technology projects for higher education and research clients nationally and internationally,” said James Vander Heiden, AIA, PE, Principal and Arts, Community and Higher Education Market Sector Leader. “His technical expertise and market knowledge will bring significant value to our teams and clients. We are excited to offer him a national platform to continue to develop both his expertise and HGA’s practice.” Smith has more than 30 years of design leadership experience with major architecture firms, including most recently Science + Technology Principal at HDR in Chicago, and Principal and Science + Technology and Higher Education Leader at HOK in Chicago. He has directed the design and planning of such high-profile projects as the William Eckhardt Research Center at the University of Chicago; Abbott Laboratories in Abbott Park, Illinois; Wisconsin Institute of Medical Research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison; the McGuire Translational Research Facility and the Molecular and Cellular Biology Building at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities; Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute at the University of Southern California; Fermilab National Laboratory in Batavia, Illinois; and the Health Sciences Campus at Acibadem University in Istanbul, Turkey. “HGA has a strong culture for design,” Smith said. “This is an exciting opportunity to work with firm-wide leadership to build on HGA’s growing design expertise in highly specialized science and research facilities for leading academic, health, governmental and corporate clients.” He is a frequent speaker and author within the Higher Education and Science + Technology design community, and is a member and leader in many industry and civic organizations, including the Society for College and University Planning (SCUP), International Institute for Sustainable Laboratories (I2SL), American Institute of Architects Committee on Education, Project Kaleidoscope (PKAL), Association of American Colleges & Universities (AAC&U) and BIO.

Vium, the first and only Digital Vivarium™ company, officially announced today the hire of David Hutto (L)(PhD '97 vet pathology), DVM, Ph.D., DACVP as its Chief Scientific Officer (CSO). Dr. Hutto is a highly experienced pharmaceutical scientist and executive who has led and managed key aspects of the successful discovery, development and approval of biologic and small molecule therapies in the U.S. and globally. At Vium, Dr. Hutto will be responsible for developing and executing the scientific and organizational strategic growth plan, ensuring operational excellence in vivarium operations, and serving as an important interface for Vium with key clients and partners. He was most recently the CSO at Charles River Laboratories. “David’s background and expertise in veterinary medicine, pathology, toxicology and immunology aligns perfectly with our focus on meeting the need for more reliable and reproducible early drug research while improving animal welfare,” said Timothy L. Robertson, Ph.D., CEO and Co-Founder of Vium. “His substantial career overseeing drug safety and development at biopharma companies will add further depth and leadership to our broad drug discovery service offerings.”

Andrew Lauver (L)('12 ag studies) was presented the Iowa Soybean Association's (ISA) 2016 New Leader Award with the help of DuPont Pioneer Dec. 15 in Ankeny, Iowa. The award recognizes an ISA member’s outstanding involvement and commitment to promoting the soybean industry and agriculture. Lauver was raised on a fifth-generation family farm near Lake City. An ISU graduate, Lauver is active in ISA, 4-H, Farm Bureau, the Agriculture Future of America Alliance and Iowa Corn Growers Association. Lauver is pursuing his Master of Agribusiness from Kansas State University, farms and is a sales representative for DuPont Pioneer.

William Smith ('16 MIS) has joined Ernst & Young in Des Moines, Iowa, as a member of the firm's IT risk advisory practice.

Holly Boman ('89 English) has been promoted to director of marketing for the Iowa State Center, managed by VenuWorks. She brings 15+ years of advertising, marketing and management experience. “Holly has been an integral part of our staff since VenuWorks assumed management of the Iowa State Center,” said Iowa State Center executive director Tammy Koolbeck. “She stepped up to take on more responsibility earlier this fall and earned this promotion with her creativity and work ethic.” Boman joined the marketing team at the Iowa State Center in 2014. Prior to her position at the Iowa State Center, Boman served in management positions with the Des Moines Register and the Daily Tribune, responsible for managing classified and retail sales teams, training and budgeting. As Marketing Director at the Iowa State Center, Boman will oversee marketing operations while guiding the definition and demonstration of VenuWorks' vision for the Center.

Dewberry, a privately held professional services firm, is pleased to announce the promotion of Douglas Pfeiffer ('93 architecture), AIA, LEED AP, to principal and business manager of Illinois operations in the firm’s Elgin, Ill., office. With more than 23 years of architecture experience, Pfeiffer has overseen the design of numerous civic buildings, including many libraries in the region. In his new role of business manager, he will be responsible for the management of the firm’s Northeastern and Central Illinois offices, which serve a diverse client base in the areas of advanced health, safety, education, and commercial architecture.

An Iowa State University alumnus who is a world-class cattle geneticist has established an endowed undergraduate scholarship for students in animal science with an interest in genetics. Robert Walton Sr. (L)(PhD '61 an sci), of DeForest, Wis., is the retired CEO of American Breeder Service (ABS) and an agribusiness leader known for his contributions to genetics research in the dairy, beef and plant breeding industries. While at ABS, Walton developed a mathematical formula for evaluating bulls that revolutionized the animal genetics industry and was adopted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Walton made gifts in the memory of family and friends, including his late wife, Janice Graning Walton who he met at Iowa State; his brother Chuck Walton, who had a successful career in professional football after being a member of the Iowa State football team in the early 1960’s; fellow graduate student and internationally honored educator, Tom Sutherland; and graduate professor Jay Lush and his wife, Adaline. Jay Lush was an animal science professor who is considered the father of modern animal breeding. “The ISU experience under Dr. Lush played a major role in my life and career. He and his wife were the best teachers I ever had,” he said. Known as a visionary, progressive and selfless leader, Walton served 38 years on the board of the World Dairy Expo and holds the honor of the longest serving director. Walton also has served on the boards of the National Association of Animal Breeders, Wisconsin Cattlemen’s Association, Wisconsin 4-H Foundation, Wisconsin Rural Opportunity Foundation and the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce. He recently was presented the Henry Wallace Award, from the Iowa State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, which honors an alumnus who has achieved notable professional achievements nationally or internationally and brought distinction to themselves, the college and the university through significant contributions.

Heidi Wall Burns (MA '02 English) is pleased to announce the recent publication of her book, "Intellectual Creativity in First-Year Composition Classes," published by Rowman & Littlefield, Oct. 2016. Burns currently teaches English courses for Minnesota State University Mankato and for St. Petersburg Community College in Florida. Burns' belief that the current methodology used in first-year composition classrooms is inadequate is what led her to create the study on which this book is founded. In addition, she has published several articles on teaching as well as presented at regional and national conferences. Her goal is to encourage other instructors to take risks in their classrooms and to continue offering more effective learning opportunities for students. In Spring 2016, she was awarded the contingent faculty award from her current institution for her innovation in the classroom.

Karly G. Good (L)(PhD '15 education) has joined the information technology services staff at Des Moines University. She is an applications administrator. Originally from Bloomfield, Iowa, Good earned her doctor of philosophy degree in curriculum and instructional technology from the Iowa State University School of Education in 2015. She also holds a bachelor of arts degree in biotechnology from the University of Northern Iowa and a master of arts degree in education from Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC. Founded in Iowa’s capital in 1898, Des Moines University offers eight graduate degree programs in medicine and the health sciences. Its mission is to improve lives in our global community by educating diverse groups of highly competent and compassionate health professionals.

Dr. Carl E. Whitcomb (L)('MS '66 hort, PhD '69), president of Lacebark Inc. in Stillwater, Okla., and plant breeder, recently received USA Plant Patents for two unique sterile landscape plants. Double Dynamite crapemyrtle is a shrub with cherry red flowers and dark wine foliage and, because it is sterile, typically blooms continuously for 100 days during the growing season. Short Stack Vitex, or spice tree, is a sterile dwarf, eventually reaching only 3 to 4 feet tall. Flowers are blue-purple spikes 3 to 4 inches long and with no seed production, flowering begins in late June and continues until frost. All Vitex constantly emit a spice-like odor with prevents damage by deer, rabbits, and insects. For more information visit lacebarkinc.com

Celebrated patron of the arts Sterling (Stu) Ainsworth ('55 horticulture) was a guest conductor for the Elgin (Ill.) Symphony Orchestra's (ESO) “This Christmastide” holiday concert Dec 11, 2016. “'This Christmastide' was a favorite of my late wife. She passed away soon after hearing it performed, and felt it was a true reflection of what Christmas was all about,” Ainsworth said in a press release issued prior to the concert. “I have had the privilege of conducting this work with the Elgin Master Chorale and the Elgin Symphony Orchestra. However, this will be the first time I am honored to conduct members of both organizations from the podium. I will be doubly honored by having the composer, whom I have known over 15 years, in the audience.” An ESO board member, Ainsworth has been involved with many area community organizations. “Stu Ainsworth is an amazing supporter of the entire arts community in the Fox Valley area,” noted ESO Chief Development Officer Cheryl Wendt. “He is a tireless advocate for the ESO who especially understands how exposure to art and music education can change the life of a child. In recognition of this, we recently named our youth concerts, which serve over 8000 students a year, Ainsworth Concerts for Youth.” Mr. Ainsworth also served as a Board member, as well as Board President, of the Elgin Choral Union from 1992-2000; he was a board member and event chairman for the St. Charles (Ill.) Art & Music Festival and has co-chaired seven of the past eight American Grand presentations; and he has participated in performances of the Berkshire Choral Festival in Santa Fe, N.M.; Canterbury, England; Salzburg, Austria; and Sheffield, Mass. Ainsworth is also highly involved with Kiwanis International as a past president and is a current member of the St. Charles Noon Club, as well as a past lieutenant governor of Division 10. A native of northwest Iowa, Ainsworth's entire professional career was devoted to commercial agriculture, with emphasis on control of insects and weeds. Prior to his retirement from Abbott Laboratories in 1990 as manager of Global Agricultural Projects, Ainsworth held positions in field sales, marketing, product management, and sales management for large chemical businesses, including Dow Chemical, CIBA-Geigy, and International Minerals & Chemicals.

Ryan Chapman ('08 landscape arch, MLA '08) recently graduated in the sixth class of the Nebraska Water Leaders Academy, a one-year program that provides leadership training and educates participants about the vital role of rivers, streams and aquifers play in the economic sustainability of the state. Chapman is a water assessment supervisor at the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality in Lincoln. A project of the Water Futures Partnership-Nebraska, the Academy sessions feature classroom as well as field trip experiences presented by acknowledged experts in leadership and natural resource topics. The Water Leaders Academy is partially funded through a grant from the Nebraska Environmental Trust and more than 25 other organizations and individuals. More information can be found at www.waterleadersacademy.org.

Lt. Col. Breea Lisko (L)('00 meteorology) of the U.S. Air Force enjoyed a Thanksgiving visit from fellow Iowa State alumna and veteran Joni Ernst ('92 psychology), currently a U.S. Senator representing the state of Iowa. "Whether near or far, Cyclones are truly family," Lisko writes.

Utah State University professor Lisa Berreau has been named a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), one of the nation’s top national science honors. One of 391 honorees recognized nationwide, she will be formally honored in a Feb. 18 ceremony during the association’s 2017 annual meeting in Boston. An inorganic chemist, Berreau is recognized for her innovative work in understanding reaction involving metals and dioxygen that led to carbon-carbon bond cleavage and the influence of hydrogen bonding on metal-centered reactivity. Her work investigates the role metal ions play in human health, the environment and catalysis. “Dr. Berreau is a most deserving awardee and Utah State is thrilled she is receiving this prestigious recognition,” says Maura Hagan, dean of USU’s College of Science. “She promotes the role of science not only as an accomplished researcher, but also as a dedicated educator and administrator.” In addition to her administrative and research efforts at Utah State, where she teaches and supervises a team of graduate and undergraduate students in research, Berreau serves as treasurer of the American Chemical Society of Inorganic Chemistry. At USU, Berreau was awarded the prestigious National Science Foundation CAREER Research Fellowship and was also named a Herman Frasch Foundation Fellow. In 2006, she was named “Undergraduate Research Mentor of the Year” for USU’s College of Science. The AAAS is the world’s largest general scientific society and publisher of a number of academic journals, including the association’s flagship publication “Science.”

Charles Hagedorn (MS '72 bacteriology, PhD '74), professor of crop and soil environmental sciences in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Virginia Tech, has been conferred the title of professor emeritus by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors. The emeritus title may be conferred on retired professors, associate professors, and administrative officers who are specially recommended to the board by Virginia Tech President Tim Sands. Nominated individuals who are approved by the board receive an emeritus certificate from the university. A member of the university community since 1986, Hagedorn made significant contributions to the management of fecal bacteria and viruses in waste treatment and land-based application systems, on the impacts of environmental release of genetically modified microorganisms, and to determining sources of fecal pollution in contaminated water. He led more than 40 research projects in Virginia, 16 in other states and the District of Columbia, as well as others in Puerto Rico, Canada, Egypt, Spain, Tanzania, and China. For his work, Hagedorn received distinguished service awards from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the American Society for Microbiology, the National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association, and the Maryland Biotechnology Institute. Support for his environmental microbiology research program included 78 state, private, and federal competitive research grants totaling more than $5 million. He was the co-editor of two books and published 142 peer-reviewed journal articles; 18 invited review articles; 10 invited book chapters; 82 invited presentations at international, national, and state conferences; 12 peer-reviewed bulletins; and 142 abstracts and presentation papers. Hagedorn taught environmental microbiology for more than 25 years. Fourteen Ph.D. and 22 master’s degree students completed their degrees under his direction and more than 80 undergraduate students worked in his laboratory to gain an out-of-the-classroom experience.