Class Notes

American University Names Courtney Surls New Vice President of Development and Alumni Relations Contact: Kelly L. Alexander, University Communications, 202-885-5952 or kellya@american.edu Washington, D.C. August 19, 2015 – American University has selected Courtney Surls, currently senior vice president for development at the Newseum, to become AU’s new vice president for development and alumni relations, effective September 15. Surls was selected following a national search and meetings with members of the AU community. “She is an experienced leader whose collaborative style and contagious enthusiasm combined with high performance at remarkable institutions will help us advance AU in unprecedented ways,” said President of American University Neil Kerwin. Surls will lead a fundraising and alumni relations program that has grown in size, scope, ambition and performance over the last few years. She will help AU leverage significant momentum to support strategic priorities, attract new sources of funding, and deepen lifelong relationships between AU and its more than 120,000 alumni. Since 2012, Surls has served as senior vice president for development at the Newseum, where she provided strategic leadership for fundraising, membership, and stewardship and prepared the institution for its next fundraising campaign. Prior to her position at the Newseum, Surls was Vice President of Development at University of Southern California. Surls’s experience also includes positions in development and advancement at Loyola Marymount and as a teacher and development director at an independent school in Los Angeles. She earned her master of education degree in school administration from Loyola Marymount and her bachelor’s degree in music and music curriculum from Iowa State University. In accepting the appointment, Surls said, “I am honored to serve American University at this remarkable time in its history. With strong leadership and exceptionally committed faculty and staff, AU is poised to achieve new levels of distinction in engaging alumni and attracting philanthropic support to realize its bold ambitions.”

Shanda Takes Office as USITT’s New President Mark Shanda, professor of theatre design and technology and former Dean of Arts and Humanities at The Ohio State University, has begun a three-year term as president of USITT, the United States Institute for Theatre Technology. Shanda actually will serve a five-year commitment to USITT. Elected in January 2014, he spent the past year as President-Elect learning from Immediate-Past President Lea Asbell-Swanger. After completing his three-year term as President in 2018, he’ll also spend a year as Immediate-Past President assisting his successor. Shanda is known for his expertise in theatre technology and is co-author of two books with his mentor and friend, Dennis Dorn of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Drafting for the Theatre is a textbook in use by theatre programs throughout the country for over twenty years. Shanda and Dorn’s new book, Technical Management for the Performing Arts: Utilizing Time, Talent and Money, will be released by Routledge (formerly Focal Press) in December. Shanda also is a leader in evaluating college tenure and promotion cases, and helped devise the USITT Tenure & Promotion Guidelines for technical theatre faculty. A native of Perry, Iowa, Shanda received his BA in political science and speech/theatre from Iowa State University and his MFA in theatre technology from UW-Madison. He joined the OSU faculty 30 years ago as an assistant professor and has since become a tenured full professor. He also served as chair of the OSU Department of Theatre, and as Dean of Arts and Humanities, a post he recently left to return to the classroom and lead USITT. USITT is the national non-profit association serving performing arts and live entertainment design and technology professionals. The 54-year-old, 4,000-member organization aims to advance the skills and knowledge of theatre technology practitioners and provide opportunities for them to connect, create, share, and promote their craft. Shanda has been active in USITT since 1986, as a member, board member, Vice President for Publications, and was named a Fellow of the Institute in 2012. “USITT is an industry leader in education, safety training, preserving theatrical heritage, and advancing diversity and inclusion in the industry,” Shanda said. “What an honor to serve this great organization at this time!" Besides teaching production management and theatre technology at Ohio State, Shanda continues to oversee the university’s ongoing $200 million Arts District Project, which will expand its music school and the Wexner Center for the Arts, and provide a new home for the theatre department and a growing program in Moving Image Production. Shanda and his wife, Ginny, live in Columbus. They have two daughters, Ann and Kay.

Dare to Dream, Dare to Act is an unconventional biography filled with real stories of creativity, innovation, risk and success. Terry Rich is a proven CEO, leader, marketer and businessman who shares the method behind developing innovative ideas into successful actions throughout his professional career. "When I was growing up, people were always saying I was creative. For years I thought it was a polite way of telling me I was a little bit crazy. And I probably am a little bit crazy. I live to constantly come up with ideas that people don't quite know what to do with... ideas that seem not tried or break all the rules. But you're reading this book because I've found ways to put good ideas into action. So if you're looking for ways to create an innovative environment in your life, here's my advice to consider or throw away: Dare to Dream and Dare to Act."

Elizabeth Fox works in healthcare Library and Information Science at Trinity College of Nursing and Health Sciences in Rock Island, Illinois. Elizabeth previously taught full-time Business Communication in the Haworth College of Business at Western Michigan University.

Elizabeth Fox qualified for and swam in the United States Masters National swim meet in Omaha, Nebraska. Elizabeth swam the 400 Individual Medley and the 100 Butterfly.

Elizabeth Fox earned a second Masters Degree, Library and Information Science, from the University of Illinois Champaign.

Iowa State University graduate Lillian Howard has landed a place in the Master of Science Program in Genetic Counseling at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. The program is one of only 32 nationwide that offer a master's degrees in Genetic Counseling -- a requirement for anyone wanting to pursue a career in the increasingly in-demand area of genetic counseling. These degree programs are highly competitive; each receives around 200 applications and accepts only three to 25 students annually. Howard credits her success in securing a place in part to her experience in the Iowa Institute of Human Genetics (IIHG) Summer Internship Program. "[The IIHG internship] is such a unique opportunity and truly sets you up to succeed in a master's program in genetic counseling," says Howard who received a bachelor's degree in genetics (with a minor in psychology) from Iowa State University. "The experiences that you are exposed to are things that many master's students don't see until their second year." As the availability of and demand for genetic testing continues to rise, more genetic counselors are needed to assist patients in interpreting their test results. The IIHG internship program at the University of Iowa is helping to grow the ranks of genetic counselors. Now in its third year, this selective eight-week internship accepts three undergraduate students annually. Interns gain hands-on experience under the direction of genetic counselors at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City in a variety of specialty clinics, including neurogenetics, cancer, women’s health, pediatrics, cardiology, and personalized genomic medicine. "The internship strives to provide students with a similar experience as they will have during their first graduate school clinical rotation. This experience is something we can provide them to assist in the application process [to graduate school] as well as successful completion of their master’s degree in genetic counseling," says Colleen Campbell, Ph.D., IIHG assistant director.

Dana (Schmidt) McCullough (Class of 2004, journalism) recently published “Unofficial Guide to FamilySearch.org,” (F+W Media) an in-depth how-to guide to help people research their family histories using the world’s largest free genealogy website. Readers will learn how to maximize all of FamilySearch.org's research tools—including hard-to-find features—to extend their family tree in America and the old country. The book is currently available on Amazon.com and ShopFamilyTree.com. The book was the #1 new release in its category (Genealogy) on Amazon.com when it went on sale in August. Dana McCullough is a freelance writer and editor who frequently writes and edits content on genealogy and higher education topics. A former editor at Family Tree Magazine, Dana has written or edited content for twenty magazines and has contributed to the editing of eight books. Her writing has been published in Family Tree Magazine, The Artist's Magazine, Family Circle, Brain Child, Better Homes and Gardens' Simply Creative Weddings, My College Guide, The Iowan, Wisconsin Woman, and Scrapbooks, etc., among other national and regional consumer magazines.

Kyle Beaird (’97 mgmt information systems) has been named chief operating officer/chief financial officer for Hillerich & Bradsby Co., a sporting goods manufacturer in Louisville, Ky. Beaird joined H&B in 2012 as director of financial planning and analysis. He was promoted to VP for finance in September 2014 and now becomes COO/CFO in the newly reorganized H&B structure after the company’s sale of the Louisville Slugger brand to Wilson Sporting Goods in April. Beaird is a die-hard baseball fan. He’s also an avid mountaineer, having summited Mount Everest in Tibetan China, Denali in Alaska, and a number of other significant peaks in the U.S., South America, and Europe. Beaird is also a distance runner and triathlete.

John Bosley (’03 art & design), has started his own business, Bozz Prints. Bosley sells posters, prints, and T-shirts designed with his own artwork, which he describes as “graphic, colorful, and playful illustrations that focus on geographic icons and landmarks.” Bosley is a former designer for Raygun, the popular Des Moines-based T-shirt maker, and also worked for Sticks, a Des Moines company that makes folk art furniture and home accessories.

Dennis Muilenburg (L)(’86 aerospace engineering) has been named president and chief executive officer of The Boeing Company. In his new role, Muilenburg, oversees the strategic direction of the Chicago-based, $90.8 billion aerospace company – the world’s largest aerospace company and top U.S. exporter. Boeing is the leading manufacturer of commercial airplanes; military aircraft; and defense, space, and security systems. The company supports airlines and U.S. and allied government customers in more than 150 nations. Until July 2015, Muilenburg served as vice chairman and chief operating officer of Boeing. Before that, he served as president and chief executive officer of Boeing Defense, Space & Security. Muilenburg joined Boeing in 1985. He is a 2012 recipient of Iowa State’s Distinguished Alumni Award.

A memoir by Clayton Anderson (L)( MS ’83 aerospace engr), a former NASA astronaut and current senior lecturer in Iowa State’s aerospace engineering program, was released in June. The Ordinary Spaceman: From Boyhood Dreams to Astronaut chronicles Anderson’s adventures, from watching the Apollo 8 astronauts as a boy in Nebraska to twice traveling to the International Space Station and performing 40 hours of space walks. Anderson retired from NASA in 2013. He received Iowa State’s Distinguished Alumni Award in 2008.

Sarasota, Fla., resident and international designer Deeia Topp (L)(’90 interior design) has taken a break after 25 years of designing for “real housewives” to pen her first novel. Complicated …by Design is a witty, fast-paced novel that is a “delightfully dishy peek behind the draperies of Greenwich’s Botoxed elite.” Topp is the recipient of the ISU Foundation’s Order of the Knoll Young Alumni Award. She is the owner and president of Deeia M. Topp Interiors.

Most Iowa State fans have taken in a game at Jack Trice Stadium or Hilton Coliseum. But only real fans know how the team name came to be, know the location and story behind the “Honor Before Victory” plaque, and were in the stands when the basketball team made an Elite Eight run in 2000. 100 Things Iowa State Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die is the ultimate resource guide for true fans of Iowa State athletics. Whether they are die-hard boosters from the days of Earle Bruce on the gridiron or new supporters of Iowa State hoops, fans will value these essential pieces of Cyclones football and basketball knowledge and trivia – and all of the must-do activities in their lifetime. The 320-page book was authored by ISU alumni Alex Halsted (’14 JlMC) and Dylan Montz (’14 JlMC), both former Iowa State Daily sports writers and Larch Hall roommates. Previously, as a 19-year-old freshman at ISU, Halsted published 100 Things Twins Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die.

Carl Kirpes (A)(’12 indust engr, MS ’14 systems engr) recently received the Outstanding Early Career IE in Business/Industry Award at the Institute of Industrial Engineering Conference. The award recognizes individuals who have shown outstanding characteristics in leadership, professionalism, and potential in the industrial engineering field. Kirpes is vice president of operations for Genesys Systems Integrator. He is a 2011 Wallace E. Barron All-University Senior recipient.

Chris Rosburg (’99 advertising) has been named Big Brother of the Year by Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. Rosburg, a resident of Kansas City, Mo., has been matched with his Little Brother, Darrion, for four years. Darrion and his mother credit Rosburg for helping Darrion avoid negative influences. Together, they participate in activities such as bowling and go-karts. More importantly, Darrion now has someone to confide in about life, college, careers, politics, and family.

Barbara Kegerreis Lunde (PhD ’70 physics) received the Minnesota Federation of Engineering, Science and Technology Societies’ Highest Honor, the Richard S. Alberg Distinguished Science and Technology Professional Award this year, for outstanding lifetime achievements in and service to the practice of science and technology.

Cheryl (McClure) Beaver (A)(’81 home ec ed) was honored with the Iowa Family and Consumer Sciences Educator of the Year Award in June. Cheryl has taught high school family consumer science classes in the Clarinda (Iowa) Community School District for the past 34 years. Four years ago she added middle school classes. A native of Algona, Iowa, Cheryl shares her passion for sewing and pie baking – skills taught to her by her mother – with her students.

Chang-Jin “CJ” Kim (MS ’85), professor at the University of California in Los Angeles, has received the 2015 Ho-Am Prize for Engineering. Established in 1990 in memory of the founder of Samsung, this award is Korea’s highest honor for science, engineering, medicine, the arts, and community service. The prize covers the entire field of basic engineering and applied technology and is presented to people of Korean heritage whose accomplishments have contributed to the development of industry for greater prosperity for humanity. Kim is best known for pioneering work in micro- and nanotechnologies to control the transport of fluids at minute amount of liquids. His research breakthroughs are now used in e.g. inkjet printing and biological sample preparation.

Jacob Wilson (’11 women’s studies / political science) was recently featured on MTV.com after he created a scholarship for LGBT students and their allies through a crowdfunding effort. Wilson, a former regional director with the Civic Election Engagement Project based in Seattle, created the Missouri Courage Scholarship; scholarships will be available to students in Wilson’s home state. “LGBT teens in rural America have many hurdles to overcome in order to live happy, healthy lives,” Wilson told MTV. “This is about sending a message of love and acceptance to drown out hate. And, most importantly, it’s about making life better for LGBT youth today, not just telling them that, someday, things will get better.” He reports that the scholarship goal of $12,000 was reached in just 12 days. Wilson is currently a PhD student in higher education at the University of Arizona.

The tale of an invention born in an Iowa State economics class has landed Brandon Adams (A)(’12 management) on the cover of the July issue of Inventors Digest – even though his product, ArcticStick, has not yet made it to market. Adams has become an expert in entrepreneurship and crowdfunding strategies, and now his mission is not just to get his bottled-beverage-cooling device into production, but to share his stories of success and failure with others. Adams, who recently wrote a book called Keys to the Crowd: Unlocking the Power of Crowdfunding, is also the creator of the “University of Young Entrepreneurs,” a series of online courses, consultation sessions, and marketing packages – along with a podcast and blog – aimed at helping entrepreneurially-minded students learn how to get a product to market and maximize crowdfunding opportunities along the way. He also appears in a weekly television series on crowdfunding campaigns. “I loved everything I did about developing ArcticStick,” Adams told the magazine. “It was exhilarating to see it come alive. I liked people seeing me standing up for what I believed in. It was like a movement, and I thought, you know what, I want to help people like me.”

Davis Brown Law Firm Senior Shareholder Margaret Van Houten elected to American College of Trust and Estate Counsel Board of Regents Margaret Van Houten has been elected to the Board of Regents and will serve as member-at-large of the executive council of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC). ACTEC is the leading trust and estate organization contributing to the field of trusts and estates law through writing, teaching, and bar leadership activities. The organization is composed of peer-elected trust and estate lawyers. The election is an honor for Margaret as recognition of her dedication to the profession. She will work with ACTEC to further the mission of organization and promote integrity, competence and experience in the profession. Margaret Van Houten is a leading trust and estate attorney in the state, working with individual clients and business owners on the sophisticated wealth transfer matters to intended beneficiaries with the least amount of tax and administrative expense. She was instrumental in the passage of the Iowa Uniform Premarital Agreement Act in the 1990’s, and continues to work on legislation important to her clients. Margaret maintains a leadership role with the Iowa Academy of Trust and Estate Counsel as well. About the Davis Brown Law Firm Founded in 1929, Davis, Brown, Koehn, Shors & Roberts, P.C., provides comprehensive legal representation to a diverse client base. Firm clients include private individuals as well as Fortune 500 corporations. With 79 attorneys, the firm offers depth and experience in a wide variety of areas, such as corporate transactions, corporate governance, entity choice, litigation, banking and finance, taxation workers’ compensation, insurance defense, real estate, immigration, employment, finance, biotechnology, securities, patent and intellectual property and government relations.

that Kevin Reynolds (J.D., University of Iowa College of Law, ‘81; B.A., Iowa State University, ‘78) was recognized by Chambers and Partners in its 2015 attorney rankings. He was recognized in the area of Litigation/General Commercial – Iowa. Chambers Iowa is researched by one dedicated researcher who speaks to leading firms, clients, and government officials to recommend leading firms and attorneys. Chambers and Partners, based in London, England, publishes guides in 185 jurisdictions throughout the world and have been ranking the best lawyers and law firms since 1990.

Iowa State Alumnus Joins Husch Blackwell’s Kansas City Office May 28, 2015, KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Husch Blackwell welcomes Partner Joe R. Thompson to the firm’s Kansas City, Mo., office. As the newest member of Husch Blackwell’s Food & Agribusiness team, he brings more than 15 years’ experience counseling clients in the industry. Prior to joining Husch Blackwell, Thompson was a partner in the Minneapolis office of Barnes & Thornberg LLP (2013-2015), where he served as co-chair of the firm’s Agriculture and Food Practice Group. While there, he counseled agribusiness, food processing, beverage, manufacturing and renewable energy clients, among others, on joint ventures, mergers, acquisitions, divestitures and related commercial transactions. He has also handled matters involving strategic business entity structuring and restructuring, project development, private and public equity capitalization and co-packing, supply and tolling agreements. Previously, Thompson was a Partner with Stoel Rives LLP (2007-2013) and with Lindquist & Vennum LLP (1999-2007), where he started his legal career. Thompson received his J.D., with Distinction, from the University of Iowa College of Law (1998), and his B.S. in Agricultural Business, with honors and Distinction, from Iowa State University (1993). Husch Blackwell’s Food & Agribusiness team advises and advocates for its industry clients and provides counsel in several areas of business including agribusiness finance and capital raising; animal health and plant biotechnology/crop science; branding and advertising; food and beverage production and processing; food imports and exports; government regulation; human resources; mergers and acquisitions; organic production and certification; packaging and labeling requirements; sales and distribution; and supply chain and commodity tracking. About Husch Blackwell Husch Blackwell is an industry-focused, full-service litigation and business law firm with locations in 15 U.S. cities and in London. The firm represents national and global leaders in major industries including energy and natural resources; financial services; food and agribusiness; healthcare, life sciences and pharmaceuticals; real estate, development and construction; and technology, manufacturing and transportation. For more information, visit www.huschblackwell.com.

Deborah Tharnish awarded the Iowa State Bar Association 2015 Rolland Grefe Pro Bono Publico Award At the Iowa State Bar Association’s Awards Gala, Davis Brown senior shareholder Deborah Tharnish received the 2015 Rolland Grefe Pro Bono Publico award for her commitment to pro bono work and public service. Deb inspires the attorneys and community around her through her leadership, legal expertise, mentoring and community service work. In a letter of support of her nomination, Dennis Groenenboom, Executive Director of Iowa Legal Aid, had this to say, “Deb’s commitment and dedication through her contributions as a volunteer attorney, her encouragement of fellow attorneys to join the effort, and her donation of time to serve on the boards of Iowa Legal Aid and the Iowa Legal Aid Foundation in order to expand the resources available to help low-income Iowans make her a worthy recipient of this award.” Because of Deb’s leadership, many other younger attorneys, associates, summer associates, and law students have become interested in and involved with Iowa Legal Aid, the Volunteer Lawyers Project, and other legal clinics for low-income Iowans. Not only does Deb directly assist her clients, but through her encouragement and actions as a role model, many more are impacted as well. Davis Brown attorneys are consistently recognized for volunteering more than the Iowa State Bar Association suggested 50 hours of pro bono work and pride themselves on giving back to the community in this way. Deb and her colleagues also lead the way in serving on local community boards and committees dedicated to improving the lives of local Iowans. About the Rolland Grefe Pro Bono Publico Award The award recognizes a legal professional who has committed his or her talent and training to improve the quality of justice in the community and around the state. The recipient is someone who has enhanced the human dignity of others by improving or delivering pro bono legal services to those who are unable to afford a lawyer. In doing so, this individual honors the legacy of Rollie Grefe, one of the true pillars of the Iowa State Bar Association. About the Davis Brown Law Firm Founded in 1929, Davis, Brown, Koehn, Shors & Roberts, P.C., provides comprehensive legal representation to a diverse client base. Firm clients include private individuals as well as Fortune 500 corporations. With 79 attorneys, the firm offers depth and experience in a wide variety of areas, such as corporate transactions, corporate governance, entity choice, litigation, banking and finance, taxation workers’ compensation, insurance defense, real estate, immigration, employment, finance, biotechnology, securities, patent and intellectual property and government relations.