Class Notes

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- Class of 2009
- Agronomy
- Agriculture and Life Sciences
Timothy Berkland

Posted on May 21, 2019 in Honors and Awards

Tim Berkland (’09 agronomy, ’11 MS crop production and physiology), general manager of Growmark FS Midwest, is a 2019 recipient of the Secretary’s Iowa Ag Leader Award for Conservation from the Agribusiness Association of Iowa.
Diane Young
- Class of 1991
- Dairy Science
- Agriculture and Life Sciences
Diane Young (Ducommun)

Posted on May 21, 2019 in Honors and Awards

Diane Young (’91 ag microbiology, dairy science), director of technical services and owner of Foundation Analytical Laboratory in Cherokee, received the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s Leader in Innovation Award.
Adele and Dean Bowden
- Class of 1962
- Child Development
- Family & Consumer Sciences
Adele Bowden (Gerstenberger)

Posted on April 23, 2019 in Honors and Awards

Dean (’61 an sci) and Adele (’62 child devel) Bowden (L) of Webster City, Iowa, are the 2019 recipients of the Iowa 4-H Foundation's Outstanding Individual Supporter Award.
Adele and Dean Bowden
- Class of 1961
- Animal Science
- Agriculture and Life Sciences
Dean Bowden

Posted on April 23, 2019 in Honors and Awards

Dean (’61 an sci) and Adele (’62 child devel) Bowden (L) of Webster City, Iowa, are the 2019 recipients of the Iowa 4-H Foundation's Outstanding Individual Supporter Award.
Mackenzie Dierks
- Class of 2012
- International Agriculture
- Agriculture and Life Sciences
Mackenzie Dierks

Posted on April 23, 2019 in Honors and Awards

Mackenzie Dierks (A)('12 ag studies and intl ag), a sustainable ag consultant with KCoe Isom, is a member of the first-ever class of "AgGrad 30 Under 30" honorees -- a program celebrating young professionals shaping the future of agriculture.
Steven Brockshus
- Class of 2017
- Agricultural and Life Sciences Education
- Agriculture and Life Sciences
Steven Brockshus

Posted on April 23, 2019 in Honors and Awards

Steven Brockshus ('17 ag and life sci ed), founder and COO of FarmlandFinder, is a member of the first-ever class of "AgGrad 30 Under 30" honorees -- a program celebrating young professionals shaping the future of agriculture.
Tom Miller
- Class of 1961
- Animal Science
- Agriculture and Life Sciences
Thomas Miller

Posted on April 23, 2019 in Honors and Awards

Tom Miller (’61 an sci) has been inducted into the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) Hall of Fame. Miller, an Arizona pork producer, executive director of the Arizona Pork Council, and past president of the NPPC, was inducted into the Hall of Fame for his lifetime commitment to advocacy, leadership, and advancement on behalf of pork producers.
Dawn Mellion-Patin
- Class of 1995
- Agricultural Education and Studies
- Agriculture and Life Sciences
Dawn Mellion

Posted on April 23, 2019 in Honors and Awards

Dawn Mellion-Patin (PhD '95 ag and life sci ed), vice chancellor for extension and outreach at Southern University Agricultural Center, received the T.M. Campbell Leadership Award at the Tuskegee University Farmers Conference. Mellion-Patin was recognized for her efforts to improve extension and outreach and advancing the quality of life for rural citizens.
Rob Stout
- Class of 1978
- Farm Operation
- Agriculture and Life Sciences
Rob Stout

Posted on April 23, 2019 in Honors and Awards

Rob Stout (A)(’78 farm op) of Washington, Iowa, was named the American Soybean Association’s (ASA) 2019 National Conservation Legacy Award winner. The award was presented March 1, 2019 during the ASA's Commodity Classic in Orlando, Fla.
- Class of 1969
- Agronomy
- Agriculture and Life Sciences
Donald Latham

Posted on April 23, 2019 in Honors and Awards

Don Latham (L)(’69 agronomy) of Alexander, Iowa, has been named the United Soybean Board's 2019 Outstanding Achievement Award recipient. The award was presented March 1, 2019 during the American Soybean Association's Commodity Classic in Orlando, Fla.
Dawn Reding
- Class of 2011
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
- Interdisciplinary
Dawn Reding

Posted on April 23, 2019 in Careers

Dawn Reding (PhD '11 ecology & evolutionary bio) has been granted tenure by Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, where she has taught courses in biology, genomics, and vertebrate biology in the college's biology department since 2013. Her research interests include using genetic tools to study the evolution, ecology, and conservation of wildlife.
Ben Bruns
- Class of 2001
- Construction Engineering
- Engineering
Benjamin Bruns

Posted on April 22, 2019 in Careers

Ben Bruns (L)('01 construction engr) has been promoted to vice president of The Weitz Company, a leading U.S. commercial general contractor headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa. Bruns has spent his entire professional career with Weitz, including past roles as project engineer, project manager, and business development director.
Walter Armstrong
- Class of 1984
- Agricultural & Life Sciences Education
- Agriculture and Life Sciences
Walter Armstrong

Posted on April 22, 2019 in Honors and Awards

Walter Armstrong (A)('84 ag & life sci ed) of Bayer Crop Science in Ames, Iowa, recently received the 2019 International Certified Crop Adviser of the Year award from the American Society of Agronomy. The award is presented annually to just one from a pool of more than 13,000 certified crop advisers worldwide in recognition of customer service, innovation, leadership, knowledge, idea exchange, and education in the agriculture community.
Ben Zelle
- Class of 2014
- Agricultural Business
- Agriculture and Life Sciences
Benjamin Zelle

Posted on April 22, 2019 in Careers

Ben Zelle (L)('14 ag bus & MIS) has been promoted to territory customer support manager for John Deere based in Olathe, Kansas.
James Pease
- Class of 1971
- Political Science
- Liberal Arts & Sciences
James Pease

Posted on April 18, 2019 in Careers

James Pease ('71 pol sci), professor of agricultural and applied economics 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. A member of the Virginia Tech community since 1988, Pease’s scholarship focused on the economics of water quality protection at the farm, watershed, or regional levels as well as on community and regional economic development analysis, economic impacts analysis, regional economic development, and industrial development of bioenergy. Throughout his career, he provided Virginians with nationally recognized Extension education programs on state and federal food and agricultural policy, environmental and natural resource policy, and rural and community economic development.
Sara Egge
- Class of 2009
- History
- Liberal Arts & Sciences
Sara Egge

Posted on April 18, 2019 in Honors and Awards

Sara Egge (MA '09 history, PhD '12 ag history and rural studies) is the co-recipient of the State Historical Society of Iowa's Benjamin Shambaugh Award. The award recognizes the author of the "most important book on Iowa history" for the previous year. Egge penned "Woman Suffrage and Citizenship in the Midwest, 1870-1920" in 2018.
Marco Serrato
- Class of 2006
- Industrial Engineering
- Engineering
Marco Serrato

Posted on April 18, 2019 in Careers

Marco Serrato (PhD ’06 indust engr) has joined the University of Chicago as an associate provost. Prior to joining the University of Chicago, Serrato served as director and vice rector for executive and continuing education at Tecnolgico de Monterrey. He has also co-founded two startups that provide consulting and learning solutions in public and private sectors. Serrato has experience as professor for executive education, doctoral and master’s degree programs delivered in 17 countries worldwide.
Staci Laird
- Class of 2015
- Education
- Human Sciences
Staci Laird

Posted on April 17, 2019 in Careers

Staci Laird (M.Ed. '15) has been named principal of Fort Dodge (Iowa) Senior High School, effective for the 2019-2020 school year. She is the first-ever female lead principal of the school. Laird and her daughter are both graduates of the high school, and her son currently attends the school. Laird has been employed by the school as an English teacher for 19 years.
Carl Kirpes
- Class of 2012
- Industrial Engineering
- Engineering
Carl Kirpes

Posted on April 17, 2019 in Careers

Carl Kirpes (L)('12 indus & mech engr, M.S. '14), a crude oil strategy analyst with Marathon Petroleum Corp. in Findlay, Ohio, has been elected senior vice president for industry on the 2019 board of trustees for the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers. Officers are elected to a three-year term; Kirpes' began April 1, 2019. The Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers is the world’s largest professional society dedicated solely to the support of the industrial engineering profession and individuals involved with improving quality and productivity. Founded in 1948, IISE is an international, nonprofit association that provides knowledge, training, networking opportunities and recognition to enhance the skills and effectiveness of its members, customers and the profession.
Cybil Abrao
- Class of 1998
- Agricultural Business
- Agriculture and Life Sciences
Cybil Abrao (Range)

Posted on April 9, 2019 in Careers

Cybil Abrao (A)('98 ag bus) has joined the Charlotte, N.C., office of Burr Forman McNair as a partner in the firm's regional lending practice group. She represents national and regional financial institutions and investors in connection with complex financial transactions, with an emphasis on transactions involving commercial real estate. Her practice includes commercial loan origination, structuring, syndication and participation, debt restructuring, defaulted loan workouts and restructuring, portfolio loan sales, including both syndicated and single-lender transactions and secured and unsecured transactions.
Thomas Burns
- Class of 2001
- History
- Liberal Arts & Sciences
Thomas Burns

Posted on April 9, 2019 in Careers

Thomas Burns ('01 history & genetics) has joined the Chicago-based intellectual property law firm Marshall, Gerstein & Borun as associate. He is a patent litigator with a focus on representing clients in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries.
Prabhakar Tamboli
- Class of 1961
- Agronomy
- Agriculture and Life Sciences
Prabhakar Tamboli

Posted on April 9, 2019 in Honors and Awards

Prabhakar Tamboli (PhD '61 agron), an adjunct professor in the University of Maryland College of Agriculture & Natural Resources, is the 2019 recipient of the college's Honorary Alumni Award. The award was presented March 26.
Colin Hurd
- Class of 2013
- Agricultural Studies
- Agriculture and Life Sciences
Colin Hurd

Posted on April 8, 2019 in Honors and Awards

Colin Hurd ('13 ag studies), CEO of Smart Ag, is a member of the first-ever class of "AgGrad 30 Under 30" honorees -- a program celebrating young professionals shaping the future of agriculture.
Elizabeth Burns-Thompson
- Class of 2011
- International Agriculture
- Agriculture and Life Sciences
Elizabeth Burns-Thompson

Posted on April 8, 2019 in Honors and Awards

Elizabeth Burns-Thompson (L)('11 ag business & intl ag), a corporate affairs official for Renewable Energy Group, is a member of the first-ever class of "AgGrad 30 Under 30" honorees -- a program celebrating young professionals shaping the future of agriculture.
Andrew Lauver
- Class of 2012
- Agricultural Studies
- Agriculture and Life Sciences
Andrew Lauver

Posted on April 8, 2019 in Honors and Awards

Andrew Lauver (L)('12 ag studies), industry relations manager for Syngenta - North America, is a member of the first-ever class of "AgGrad 30 Under 30" honorees -- a program celebrating young professionals shaping the future of agriculture.
Sarah Dvorsky
- Class of 2015
- Event Management
- Human Sciences
Sarah Dvorsky

Posted on April 8, 2019 in Careers

Sarah Dvorsky ('15 event mgmt) has joined the professional staff of the Ames (Iowa) Chamber of Commerce as events coordinator. In the newly-created role, she will plan and execute events for Ames Main Street -- an affiliate organization of the Chamber.
Mike Tousley
- Class of 1980
- Construction Engineering
- Engineering
Michael Tousley

Posted on April 8, 2019 in Honors and Awards

Mike Tousley ('80 construction engr), executive vice president and general manager of The Weitz Company, is the 2019 recipient of the Master Builders of Iowa "Build Iowa Award." Tousley was selected by a committee of his peers based upon his leadership and actions that have embodied the principles of Master Builders of Iowa -- skill, integrity, and responsibility. Tousley has served Weitz for 34 years and currently works in Des Moines, Iowa.
Jeff Mounts
- Class of 2008
- Art and Design (Bachelor of Arts)
- Design
Jeffrey Mounts

Posted on April 8, 2019 in Honors and Awards

Jeff Mounts ('08 advertising and design), an employee-owner of ESP International, a 100% employee-owned global supply chain company headquartered in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, has been named the 2019 "Employee-Owner of the Year" by the Iowa/Nebraska Chapter of The Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) Association. The award was presented during the Association's annual meeting Feb. 28 in Omaha, Neb.
- Class of 1982
- Agricultural Engineering
- Agricultural Engineering
Norman Friedrich

Posted on March 31, 2019 in Honors and Awards

Norman Friedrich (A)('82 Ag Engr) was selected by the National Society of Professional Engineers as the 2019 Federal Agency Engineer of the Year for USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Ken Isley
- Class of 1984
- Agricultural & Life Sciences Education
- Agriculture and Life Sciences
Kenneth Isley

Posted on March 25, 2019 in Education

Ken Isley ('84 ag and life sci ed), head of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreigh Agricultural Service, will present Iowa State University's 2019 Carl and Marjory Hertz Lecture on Emerging Issues in Agriculture. The lecture will be held April 9 in the Dolezal Auditorium, 127 Curtiss Hall. As administrator of the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, he leads offices around the world in expanding trade and export opportunities for American agriculture. Additionally, Isley chairs USDA’s Intra-Departmental Coordination Committee on International Affairs.
Michael Nettles
- Class of 1977
- Education
- Education
Michael Nettles

Posted on March 25, 2019 in Honors and Awards

Michael Nettles (MEd '77, MA '78 pol sci, PhD '80 education) has received a 2019 Dr. John Hope Franklin Award from Diverse: Issues in Higher Education magazine. Nettles is senior vice president and the Edmund W. Gordon Chair of the Educational Testing Service's Policy Evaluation and Research Center. He is nationally recognized as a top policy researcher on educational assessment, student performance, and educational equity.
Steve Whitham
- Class of 1990
- Agricultural Biochemistry
- Agriculture and Life Sciences
Steven Whitham

Posted on March 25, 2019 in Honors and Awards

Steve Whitham (A)('90 ag biochem) is the 2019 recipient of Iowa State University's Rossmann Manatt Faculty Development Award. Whitham is an ISU professor of plant pathology and microbiology and co-leader in the development of the Enviratron system -- a robotic facility for phenotyping plants.
P. Kim Bui
- Class of 2004
- Journalism and Mass Communication
- Liberal Arts & Sciences
Phuong Bui

Posted on March 25, 2019 in Careers

P. Kim Bui ('04 journalism) has joined the Arizona Republic in Phoenix, Ariz., as the newspaper's director of audience innovation.
Cliff Brockman
- Class of 1975
- Journalism and Mass Communication
- Liberal Arts & Sciences
Clifford Brockman

Posted on March 25, 2019 in Careers

Cliff Brockman ('75 journalism) retired in May 2018 after 14 years in the Wartburg College Department of Journalism and Communication. He previously spent 32 years as a television and radio journalist.
Ashlee Sorensen
- Class of 2012
- Public Service and Administration in Agriculture
- Agriculture and Life Sciences
Ashlee Sorensen (Hespen)

Posted on March 25, 2019 in Careers

Ashlee Sorensen ('16 public svc & admin in ag & journalism) has accepted a position as digital account lead at Spinutech -- a web design and digital marketing firm in Des Moines, Iowa.
- Class of 2015
- Animal Science
- Agriculture and Life Sciences
Bailey Petersen

Posted on March 25, 2019 in Careers

Bailey Petersen ('15 an sci) has been promoted to thermal process authority in Hormel Foods' research and development unit.
Michael Knight
- Class of 2016
- Agricultural and Life Sciences Education
- Agriculture and Life Sciences
Michael Knight

Posted on March 25, 2019 in Careers

Michael Knight (A)('16 ag and life sci ed) of Ankeny, Iowa has accepted a position as a customer success training manager with Granular, Inc.
Charles Sukup
- Class of 1976
- Agricultural Engineering
- Agricultural Engineering
Charles Sukup

Posted on March 25, 2019 in Honors and Awards

Charles Sukup (L)('76 ag engr, MS '82) is the 2019 recipient of the Iowa 4-H Foundation's Outstanding Alumni Award. Sukup is the president of Sukup Manufacturing and a longtime 4-H supporter.
Emily Durr
- Class of 2018
- Kinesiology and Health
- Human Sciences
Emily Durr

Posted on March 25, 2019 in Careers

Former Iowa State women's basketball player Emily Durr ('18 kinesiology) has been named head women's basketball coach and athletic specialist at Mohawk Valley Community College in her hometown of Utica, N.Y.
Dr. Criss Salinas
- Class of 2012
- Education
- Education
Cristobal Salinas

Posted on March 25, 2019 in Honors and Awards

Criss Salinas (MEd '12, PhD '15 education), an assistant professor in the educational leadership and research methodology department at the Florida Atlantic University College of Education, has been named Florida Atlantic University's 2019 Scholar of the Year, as well as the 2019 recipient of the FAU Division of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management's Outstanding Faculty Award.
2019 NJCAA Division II National Champion Kirkwood Community College
- Class of 2009
- Kinesiology and Health
- Human Sciences
Bryan Petersen

Posted on March 25, 2019 in Careers

Bryan Petersen ('09 kinesiology, M.Ed. '12), a former Iowa State men's basketball player who is now head coach of the men's basketball team at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, has led the Eagles to their second National Junior College Athletics Association (NJCAA) Division II national championship in four season as head coach. Petersen, who also played basketball at Kirkwood and was a junior college All-American before transferring to Iowa State, led the squad to a 31-4 overall record this season.
- Class of 2012
- Liberal Arts & Sciences
Jeffrey Fletcher

Posted on March 12, 2019 in Births and Adoptions

Dr. Jeffrey Fletcher and his wife, Jessica, welcomed a daughter, Samantha Marie, on February 16, 2018.
- Class of 1995
- Agronomy
- Agriculture and Life Sciences
Kirk Scheckel

Posted on March 11, 2019 in Careers

Kirk Scheckel (L)(’95 agronomy) has been appointed director of the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Research and Development Land and Materials Management Division in Cincinnati, Ohio.
- Class of 1975
- Agricultural Journalism
- Agriculture and Life Sciences
David Drennan

Posted on March 11, 2019 in Careers

Dave Drennan (L)(’75 ag journalism) is retiring as executive director of the Missouri Dairy Association on May 1, 2019, after serving 23 years.
- Class of 2018
- Food Science (AGLS)
- Agriculture and Life Sciences
Rebecca Nellis

Posted on March 11, 2019 in Careers

Rebecca Nellis (’18 ag & society and food science) has accepted a position as an associate product development scientist with Johnsonville.
- Class of 2012
- Agronomy
- Agriculture and Life Sciences
Christopher Flansburg

Posted on March 11, 2019 in Careers

Chris Flansburg (’12 agronomy) has sold his company BCA Ag Technologies in Albion, New York, to LandPro Equipment. He will lead the agronomy and data management portion of the new LandPro Equipment ag technologies division.
Emily Schmitt
- Class of 2008
- Management
- Business
Emily Schmitt (Sukup)

Posted on March 5, 2019 in Honors and Awards

Emily Schmitt ('08 management) of Sukup Manufacturing has been named the 2019 recipient of the Ivy Women in Business Outstanding Young Alumni Award from the Iowa State University Debbie and Jerry Ivy College of Business.
Leslie Buttorff
- Class of 1980
- Industrial Admin Sciences
- Interdisciplinary
Leslie Buttorff (Cavarra)

Posted on March 5, 2019 in Honors and Awards

Leslie Buttorff (MS '80 indus admin), the president and CEO of Quintel Management Consulting in Greenwood Village, Colo., has been named the 2019 recipient of the Ivy Women in Business Champion Award from the Iowa State University Debbie and Jerry Ivy College of Business.
Jeff Rowe
- Class of 1995
- Agricultural Business
- Agriculture and Life Sciences
Jeffrey Rowe

Posted on March 5, 2019 in Honors and Awards

Jeff Rowe ('95 ag bus), Syngenta's president of global seeds, has been recognized with the 2018 Outstanding Alumni Award from the Iowa State University Agricultural Business Club.
Roosevelt Maggitt
- Class of 2012
- Liberal Studies
- Liberal Arts & Sciences
Roosevelt Maggitt

Posted on March 5, 2019 in Careers

Roosevelt Maggitt ('12 liberal studies) has been named defensive line coach for the college football program at the University of West Georgia.
Rob Henson
- Class of 1992
- Industrial Education/Technology
- Education
Robby Henson

Posted on February 26, 2019 in Careers

Rob Henson ('92 industrial ed/tech) has joined Rudolph Libbe Inc., of the Rudolph Libbe Group as a senior preconstruction leader in the Walbridge, Ohio, office. With more than 33 years of experience in construction, Henson previously served as director of preconstruction services with Touchstone Construction in Lima, Ohio.
"Forest World" by Margarita Engle
- Class of 1977
- Botany
- Liberal Arts & Sciences
Margarita Engle-Modrus (Modrus)

Posted on February 26, 2019 in Alumni Bookshelf

Margarita Engle-Modrus (MS '77 botany) has received a national Green Earth Book Award for her children's book, Forest World, a story of a Cuban-American boy who visits his family's village in Cuba for the first time. The award recognizes books that convey the best environmental stewardship message and inspire youth to respect their natural environment.
"A Different World: My Life and Making a Difference in the World" by Margaret Krug Palen
- Class of 1952
- Textiles and Clothing
- Family & Consumer Sciences
Margaret Palen (Krug)

Posted on February 26, 2019 in Alumni Bookshelf

Margaret Krug Palen ('52 textiles & clothing) has published A Different World: My Life and Making a Difference in the World," a detailed picture of rural American life from the 1930s to 1950s. The author also journeys to college, to work with the Department of Agriculture, and to work in other countries to improve food, textile, and clothing production.
"Peace Without God" by Dale Netherton
- Class of 1963
- Forestry
- Agriculture and Life Sciences
Dale Netherton

Posted on February 26, 2019 in Alumni Bookshelf

Dale Netherton ('63 forestry) is the author of the new book "Peace Without God," which is described as "a description of how to attain inner peace without believing in an imaginary deity."
"On the Hook" by Jeff Deitering
- Class of 1991
- Civil Engineering
- Engineering
Jeffrey Deitering

Posted on February 26, 2019 in Alumni Bookshelf

Jeff Deitering (L)('91 civil engr) recently published On the Hook, a fast-paced, light-hearted diversion from reality. The setting is a combination of real and fictional locations in a place with which many Iowa Staters are familiar: Kansas City, The book is the third novel in Deitering's "Hook and Patch" mystery series.
Diana Wilson
- Class of 2003
- Civil Engineering
- Engineering
Diana Wilson

Posted on February 26, 2019 in Careers

Diana Wilson ('03 civil engr) is the new general manager of the Island Water Association, a member-owned utility that provides potable water to Sanibel and Captiva Islands on Florida's Gulf Coast. She is the former manager of West Des Moines (Iowa) Water Works.
Mollie Aronowitz
- Class of 2006
- Horticulture
- Agriculture and Life Sciences
Mollie Aronowitz (Luze)

Posted on February 26, 2019 in Honors and Awards

Mollie Aronowitz (A)('06 hort) has been awarded the Accredited Farm Manager designation from the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers. She is one of only seven females holding this designation in the country, and the only female in the state of Iowa. Aronowitz is a land manager for People Company, an agricultural real estate firm in Indianola, Iowa.
Steven Lonergan
- Class of 1988
- Animal Science
- Agriculture and Life Sciences
Steven Lonergan

Posted on February 26, 2019 in Honors and Awards

Steven Lonergan (A)('88 an sci, MS '91), an Iowa State University animal science professor, was awarded one of two 2018 U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Agriculture Sciences Excellence in Teaching Awards.
Lindsay Tigue
- Class of 2014
- Creative Writing and the Environment
- Liberal Arts & Sciences
Lindsay Tigue

Posted on February 26, 2019 in Honors and Awards

Lindsay Tigue (A)(MFA '14 creative writing and the environment), a PhD student in English/creative writing at the University of Georgia, is one of 100 doctoral students in the U.S. and Canada selected to receive a $15,000 scholar award from the P.E.O. Sisterhood. Tigue is the author of the Iowa Poetry Prize-winning collection System of Ghosts.
Erika Lundy
- Class of 2012
- Animal Science
- Agriculture and Life Sciences
Erika Woolfolk

Posted on February 26, 2019 in Careers

Erika Lundy ('12 an sci, MS '15) has been hired as a beef specialist for ISU Extension and Outreach in southwest Iowa.
Petey Peterson
- Class of 2010
- Child, Adult, and Family Services
- Human Sciences
Petey Peterson

Posted on February 26, 2019 in Honors and Awards

Petey Peterson ('10 child, adult, and family svcs & comm studies, MEd '12), the director of LGBTQA affairs at Wright State University, has been awarded the 2019 Voice of Inclusion Award by the American College Personnel Association.
Yuh-Yuan Shyy ('81, '84) and Manjit Misra of FloMetrix
- Class of 1981
- Agricultural Engineering
- Agricultural Engineering
Yuh Shyy

Posted on February 26, 2019 in Honors and Awards

Yuh-Yuan Shyy (A)(MS '81 ag engr, PhD '84) and his cofounder Majit Misra of the start-up company FloMetrix have been selected for developing one of the 2019 "AE50" honored inventions by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers. The proprietary technology Shyy and Misra developed, known as RIFF (Real Time In-Like Inclined Flowmeter), can measure the flow of bulk materials such as seeds, grains, fertilizers, food, and pet food ingredients in real time as they move through an inclined pipeline. They founded FloMetrix in 2011.
John Akers
- Class of 1979
- Journalism and Mass Communication
- Liberal Arts & Sciences
John Akers

Posted on February 26, 2019 in Honors and Awards

John Akers (L)('79 journalism), who has spent 18 years as publisher and editor of Basketball Times, was recently inducted into the United States Basketball Writers Association Hall of Fame. This year’s USBWA Hall of Fame class also includes Dan Wetzel, Bill Rhoden, and Jack McCallum. As a former president of the USBWA, Akers instituted the organization’s Rising Star award, which recognizes excellence in a member who is under the age of 30. He resides in Charlotte, N.C., where the publication is headquartered, but travels the country writing about hoops.
Ben Durbin and Ernst Brun Jr.
- Class of 2014
- Liberal Studies
- Liberal Arts & Sciences
Ernst Brun

Posted on February 26, 2019 in Careers

Ernst Brun ('14 liberal studies) and Ben Durbin (M.Ed. '13) recently opened Premier Athlete Training in Ames, Iowa. The business offers high-performance sports training services for all ages, focusing on strength and conditioning.
Ben Durbin and Ernst Brun Jr.
- Class of 2013
- Education
- Human Sciences
Benjamin Durbin

Posted on February 26, 2019 in Careers

Ben Durbin (M.Ed. '13) and Ernst Brun ('14 liberal studies) recently opened Premier Athlete Training in Ames, Iowa. The business offers high-performance sports training services for all ages, focusing on strength and conditioning.
Mickey Mericle
- Class of 1988
- Political Science
- Liberal Arts & Sciences
Maureen Mericle

Posted on February 26, 2019 in Careers

Maureen "Mickey" Mericle (L)('88 pol sci) has been named the senior vice president and chief marketing officer of Shutterfly, Inc., in Redwood City, Calif. Mericle previously held positions in marketing and customer insights with companies such as Walmart, Adobe, Target, and Kinko's, Inc.
Jason Schuster
- Class of 2015
- Agricultural Engineering
- Engineering
Jason Schuster

Posted on February 20, 2019 in Honors and Awards

Jason Schuster (A)('15 ag engr) EIT, a product engineer for John Deere in Waterloo, Iowa, was selected as one of the 2019 "New Faces of ASABE (American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers)." He was selected in the professionals category, which honors professionals aged 35 and younger. As ASABE’s top New Face for 2019, he will travel to Washington, D.C., to join ASABE leadership as a judge in The Future City Competition finals, where ASABE sponsors two special awards, for food sustainability and use of renewable fuels.
- Class of 1997
- Electrical Engineering
- Engineering
Aaron Rasmussen

Posted on February 16, 2019 in Honors and Awards

Aaron P. Rasmussen** (’97 elec. engr.) has been chosen as the 2007 State of Nebraska Young Engineer of the Year by the Nebraska Society of Professional Engineers.
- Class of 1950
- Agricultural & Life Sciences Education
- Agriculture and Life Sciences
Lyle Palmer

Posted on February 13, 2019 in Engagements and marriages

Lyle Palmer (A)('50 ag ed) and Margaret Boyer Palmer (A)('48 instit mgmt) recently celebrated 70 years of marriage with an open house in Phoenix, Ariz.
- Class of 1948
- Institution Management
- Family & Consumer Sciences
Margaret Palmer (Boyer)

Posted on February 13, 2019 in Engagements and marriages

Lyle Palmer (A)('50 ag ed) and Margaret Boyer Palmer (A)('48 instit mgmt) recently celebrated 70 years of marriage with an open house in Phoenix, Ariz.
Kaesey Glaess
- Class of 2018
- Agricultural Engineering
- Engineering
Kaesey Glaess

Posted on February 12, 2019 in Careers

Kaesey Glaess (’18 ag engr) has been hired as an agricultural services engineer at Maurer-Stutz in Peoria, Ill.
- Class of 2013
- Animal Science
- Agriculture and Life Sciences
Ryan Healy

Posted on February 12, 2019 in Careers

Ryan Healy (’13 an sci) has accepted a position as production operator at Flint Hills Resources in Arthur, Iowa.
Amanda Snodgrass
- Class of 2009
- Horticulture
- Agriculture and Life Sciences
Amanda Snodgrass

Posted on February 12, 2019 in Careers

Amanda Snodgrass (’09 hort & env studies, MS ’12 hort) has accepted a position as a botanist for the U.S. Forest Service at Klamath National Forest in California.
Chris Miller
- Class of 2007
- Agricultural Business
- Agriculture and Life Sciences
Chris Miller

Posted on February 12, 2019 in Careers

Chris Miller (’07 ag business) has joined First National Bank’s Waverly office as vice president, business banker.
Steve Bierschenk
- Class of 1987
- Dairy Science
- Agriculture and Life Sciences
Steven Bierschenk

Posted on February 12, 2019 in Careers

Steve Bierschenk (’87 dairy science) of St. Louis, Mo., has joined the San Francisco-based private equity firm Paine Schwartz Partners, LLC as a managing director on its investment team.
Ryan Schon
- Class of 1995
- Agronomy
- Agriculture and Life Sciences
Ryan Schon

Posted on February 12, 2019 in Careers

Ryan Schon (L)('95 agronomy) of Ankeny, Iowa, has been named general manager of Latham Hi-Tech Seeds -- a family-owned company marketing hybrid seed corn, soybeans, and alfalfa under the Latham brand name. Schon most recently served as senior corporate development manager for Granular and led the post-acquisition integration of Granular with Encirca. Prior to working for DuPont Pioneer, Schon was a business development manager and traits marketing lead with Monsanto.
Dick Isaacson
- Class of 1972
- Agricultural Business
- Agriculture and Life Sciences
Richard Isaacson

Posted on February 12, 2019 in Honors and Awards

Dick Isaacson (L)('72 ag bus, MS '75 ag econ) of Agri-Management in Marion, Iowa, was named the American Society of Farm Managers & Rural Appraisers' 2018 Farm Manager of the Year. Isaacson started his business in 1990 and is the majority owner of the company.
- Class of 1958
- Household Equipment
- Family & Consumer Sciences
Marie Inkofer (Killinger)

Posted on February 12, 2019 in Engagements and marriages

Marie Killinger Inkofer (A)('58 home ec) and Walter A. Inkofer (A)('58 chem engr) of Seabrook, Texas, celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on Jan. 25, 2019.
- Class of 1958
- Chemical Engineering
- Engineering
Walter Inkofer

Posted on February 12, 2019 in Engagements and marriages

Marie Killinger Inkofer (A)('58 home ec) and Walter A. Inkofer (A)('58 chem engr) of Seabrook, Texas, celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on Jan. 25, 2019.
Shelly Kopriva
- Class of 2003
- Advertising
- Liberal Arts & Sciences
Shelly Kopriva

Posted on February 12, 2019 in Honors and Awards

Shelly Kopriva ('03 advertising) of Strategic America will be recognized on March 28, 2019 as one of the Des Moines Business Record's 20th annual "40 Under 40" honorees.
Nora Tobin
- Class of 2010
- International Studies
- Liberal Arts & Sciences
Nora Tobin

Posted on February 12, 2019 in Honors and Awards

Nora Tobin ('10 pol sci & intl studies) of Self-Help International will be recognized on March 28, 2019 as one of the Des Moines Business Record's 20th annual "40 Under 40" honorees.
Lydia Hornung
- Class of 2006
- Marketing
- Business
Lydia Hornung (Smirniotis)

Posted on February 12, 2019 in Honors and Awards

Lydia Hornung ('06 marketing) of John Deere Des Moines Works will be recognized on March 28, 2019 as one of the Des Moines Business Record's 20th annual "40 Under 40" honorees.
Emily Schmitt
- Class of 2008
- Management
- Business
Emily Schmitt (Sukup)

Posted on February 12, 2019 in Honors and Awards

Emily Schmitt ('08 management) of Sukup Manufacturing will be recognized on March 28, 2019 as one of the Des Moines Business Record's 20th annual "40 Under 40" honorees.
Tyler Weig
- Class of 2005
- C H E
- D
Tyler Weig

Posted on February 12, 2019 in Honors and Awards

Tyler Weig (A)('05 community health ed) of Des Moines' South Suburban YMCA will be recognized on March 28, 2019 as one of the Des Moines Business Record's 20th annual "40 Under 40" honorees.
Miriam De Dios-Woodward
- Class of 2004
- Management
- Business
Miriam Woodward (De Dios)

Posted on February 12, 2019 in Honors and Awards

Miriam De Dios Woodward (L)('04 marketing & mgmt) of Policy/Works/Affiliates Management Company will be recognized on March 28, 2019 as one of the Des Moines Business Record's 20th annual "40 Under 40" honorees.
Dreck Spurlock Wilson, ASLA, NOMA
- Class of 1971
- Urban Planning
- Agriculture and Life Sciences
Dreck Wilson

Posted on February 12, 2019 in Alumni Bookshelf

Author of Julian Abele, Architect and the Beaux Arts recently published by Taylor & Francis. Abele (1881-1950) was senior designer for the Office of Horace Trumbauer in Philadelphia. He was the third African American admitted to the AIA in 1942. Abele designed 21 buildings that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Not listed on the Register, nevertheless, Abele designed 39 buildings for a "new" Duke University (1925-42) without ever stepping foot on campus because of racial prohibitions.
Karla Bromwell
- Class of 2012
- Public Administration
- Liberal Arts & Sciences
Karla Bromwell

Posted on February 7, 2019 in Honors and Awards

Karla Bromwell (MPA '12) of Planned Parenthood of the Heartland will be recognized on March 28, 2019 as one of the Des Moines Business Record's 20th annual "40 Under 40" honorees.
- Class of 2003
- Construction Engineering
- Engineering
Matthew Van Loon

Posted on February 7, 2019 in Honors and Awards

Matthew Van Loon (L)('03 construction engr) of Ryan Companies will be recognized on March 28, 2019 as one of the Des Moines Business Record's 20th annual "40 Under 40" honorees.
Sarah Burke
- Class of 2013
- Creative Writing and the Environment
- Liberal Arts & Sciences
Sarah Burke

Posted on February 7, 2019 in Alumni Bookshelf

Sarah Burke (MFA ’13 creative writing & the environment) has won the 2018 Cider Press Review book award for her manuscript Blueprints. The book is tentatively scheduled to be published in August 2019 by Cider Press Review.
- Class of 1978
- Speech Communication
- Liberal Arts & Sciences
Peggy McClure (McClure)

Posted on January 31, 2019 in Miscellaneous

New project: Pen and watercolor of Chaminade Hall, Chaminade College Prep School in St. Louis. This one was commissioned for auction for the school's Esto Vir fundraiser, happening 6pm, February 9th, at the St. Louis Frontenac Hilton
Julie Peterson
- Class of 1981
- Industrial Administration
- Liberal Arts & Sciences
Julie Peterson (Lichty)

Posted on January 25, 2019 in Honors and Awards

Julie Lichty Peterson (L)('81 indus admin), vice president of Peterson Farms Seed in Harwood, N.D., is being recognized as one of Prairie Business Magazine's "25 Women in Business." She will be recognized in the magazine's March 2019 issue.
Margaret Smith and Doug Alert
- Class of 1977
- Agronomy
- Agriculture and Life Sciences
Margaret Smith

Posted on January 25, 2019 in Honors and Awards

Dr. Margaret A. Smith ('77 agronomy, MS '80), operator of Ash Grove Farm in Hampton, Iowa, has been chosen along with her spouse, Doug Alert, as the recipient of Practical Farmers of Iowa's 2019 Sustainable Agriculture Achievement Award. The award is granted annually by Practical Farmers to an individual or couple that has shown dedication to sustainable agriculture, generously shared their knowledge with others, and been influential in efforts to foster vibrant communities, diverse farms, and healthy food.
Kyle Peterson in the Wall Street Journal
- Class of 2010
- Marketing
- Business
Kyle Peterson

Posted on January 25, 2019 in Careers

Kyle Peterson ('10 journalism & marketing) has joined the editorial board of the Wall Street Journal.
- Class of 1970
- Electrical Engineering
- Engineering
Stephen Mosher

Posted on January 25, 2019 in Careers

At the invitation of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Iowa State University, Stephen Mosher (L)('70 elec engr) spoke to several classes of first-year engineering students on September 6, 2018. In his remarks Mosher discussed the opportunities available to graduate engineers, using examples from his own career path. It is a career path that included design and project engineer (analog radios, inductive cooktops, switching power supplies, RFI suppression), manager of computer development, patent agent, patent attorney, and partner in a law firm. These opportunities came about in large part because of the solid foundation in applied science and technology, and the skills and habits of thinking, analyzing problems, effective communication, and technical judgment developed while earning an engineering degree at Iowa State.
Elizabeth Burns-Thompson
- Class of 2011
- International Agriculture
- Agriculture and Life Sciences
Elizabeth Burns-Thompson

Posted on January 24, 2019 in Honors and Awards

Elizabeth Burns-Thompson (L)('11 ag business), regulatory affairs counsel for the Iowa Corn Growers Association, will receive the ISU College of Agriculture and Life Sciences' 2019 Emerging Iowa Leader Award. The award will be presented Feb. 9 at the ISU Alumni Center. Burns-Thompson will also be recognized on the court that same day during the ISU vs. West Virginia women's basketball game at Hilton Coliseum.
Islam H. El-adaway
- Class of 2008
- Construction Engineering
- Engineering
Islam El-Adaway

Posted on January 24, 2019 in Honors and Awards

Islam El-adaway (PhD '08 construction engr), the Hurst-McCarthy Professor of Construction Engineering and Management at the Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla, Mo., has been named by Engineering News Record as one of the Midwest's 2019 top young professionals. He was recently named a fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers and a fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers.
Mark Coberley
- Class of 1988
- Biology
- Liberal Arts & Sciences
Mark Coberley

Posted on January 22, 2019 in Honors and Awards

Mark Coberley (A)('88 biology), Iowa State University's associate athletics director for sports medicine, has been selected for induction into the Mid-America Athletic Training Association Hall of Fame. Formal induction will take place March 29, 2019, in Tulsa, Okla.
- Class of 2004
- International Agriculture
- Agriculture and Life Sciences
Martha Smith

Posted on January 17, 2019 in Careers

Martha Smith (Ag Business, '04) recently accepted a new position within Bayer Crop Science as the Global Issues Management Lead for New Platforms. Martha will be relocating to St Louis, Missouri in January of 2019.
Jean Duffy
- Class of 1987
- Family Resource Mgt & Consumer Sci
- Family & Consumer Sciences
Jean Duffy Ulrichson (Duffy)

Posted on January 14, 2019 in Honors and Awards

Jean Duffy (L)('87 fam resource mgmt & consumer sci) was recently recognized as one of the Top 50 All-Star Women in the field of retirement plan consulting by the National Association of Plan Advisors, an affiliate organization of the American Retirement Association. Duffy is senior vice president and financial advisor at Captrust in West Des Moines, Iowa.
M. Dudley Bonte
- Class of 1971
- Civil Engineering
- Engineering
Merle Bonte

Posted on January 14, 2019 in Honors and Awards

M. Dudley Bonte ('71 civil engr), PE, of Martinsville, Indiana, was inducted into the Asphalt Pavement Association of Indiana (APAI) Hall of Fame. Bonte’s career included 40 years with Rieth-Riley Construction Company, where he retired as regional quality control director. He served on Rieth-Riley’s board of directors during his last seven years with the firm. After a brief retirement, he served three years as Technical Director for APAI, where he retired in 2017.