Class Notes

Bruce Thatcher, SB '59, is a recognized author ... for his first book! Adamant Aggressors: How to Recognize and Deal with Them was recognized by USA Best Books 2011 as the award-winning finalist in the “Current Events: Political/Social” category. Thatcher’s book takes a business-case look at five adamant aggressors – Mehmed the Conqueror, James K. Polk, Adolph Hitler, Chaim Weizmann/David Ben-Gurion, Joseph Stalin – and what they teach about recognizing and dealing with adamant aggressors who may be threatening America today. Thatcher says, “The lessons in this book may not ensure that the best choices will be made today, but understanding them will surely help to reject demonstrated bad choices and, thus, more likely arrive at better choices. Adamant Aggressors will help scholars, political scientists, policy-makers and laymen understand specific lessons that history has for the present time.” Diane Donovan at Midwest Book Review says of Adamant Aggressors “Any history collection serious about analyzing historical trends for modern applications should consider this a top pick ..." A complete list of USA Best Books winners and finalists is available at http://www.usabooknews.com. For more information about Adamant Aggressors, go to www.historyspeakstoday.com.

Douglas Robinson ('73 phys. ed.; '74 MS educ.), vice president for Student Services at California State University, Long Beach since 1991, will be inducted into the university athletics Hall of Fame on Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2011. He has been a steadfast supporter, both personally and professionally, of Long Beach State athletics. He served as chair of the university's NCAA Athletics Certification Steering Committee three times. He has also served on the Long Beach State Athletics Compliance Committee for 20 years, including 15 as chair. He was a three-year letterman at Iowa State where he played from 1965-67 and was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the 1968 NFL Draft. As a senior he was selected as most valuable player in football and was named to the All-Big Eight team. Robinson earned his Ph.D. at Claremont Graduate University and provides leadership to more than 35 university departments and programs that focus on the needs of students outside the calssroom. The programs and services he oversees are primarily designed to assist students in achieving their educational goals and enhancing their personal growth and development.

Rayonier has announced that Paul G. Boynton ('86 mech. engr.) will begin serving as chief executive officer effective January 1, 2012. In May 2012, he will also assume the role of chairman in addition to the roles of CEO and president. Rayonier is a leading international forest products company with three core businesses: Forest Resources, Real Estate, and Performance Fibers. Boynton joined Rayonier in 1999 and has led each of the core businesses during his career with them.

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) New England chapter has announced that New Haven Connecticut-based Pickard Chilton has won a Special Citation for Excellence in Architecture for the firm's design of BG Group Place in Houston, Tex. Completed in 2011, BG Group Place is located on downtown Houston's Main Street and serves as the headquarters for BG Group, an international natural gas company. This is the second time in as many years that Pickard Chilton's work has been recognized with an award from AIA New England. William Chilton ('76 architec.) is a Principal of Pickard Chilton.

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) New England chapter has announced that New Haven Connecticut-based Pickard Chilton has won a Special Citation for Excellence in Architecture for the firm's design of BG Group Place in Houston, Tex. Completed in 2011, BG Group Place is located on downtown Houston's Main Street and serves as the headquarters for BG Group, an international natural gas company. This is the second time in as many years that Pickard Chilton's work has been recognized with an award from AIA New England. Jon Pickard ('76 architec.) is a Principal of Pickard Chilton.

In October, 2011, the Solstice Low-Residency MFA in Creative Writing Program of Pine Manor College announced its new faculty member, Kashmira Sheth ('73 bacter.). She is an award-winning writer of picture books, middle grade novels, and young adult fiction. She has a chapter book, "The No Dogs Allowed Rule, due out in 2012 and a picture book, Tiger in My Soup, forthcoming in 2013. Pine Manor College is a private liberal arts college located in Chestnut Hill, Mass., a suburb of Boston.

The Society of Montana Broadcast Legends recently recognized Fred Lark ('66 English & speech), as a newly inducted member of the Broadcast Legends Society. Inductees are recognized for their many years of contributions and dedication to American broadcasting. Fred began his broadcasting career in 1958 and has worked in broadcasting in Colorado, Nebraska, Wyoming, Iowa, and Montana. He purchased KXLO-AM radio (Lewistown, Mont.) in 1972 and served as President/General Manager. In 1975, he created KLCM-FM.

BHC RHODES Civil Engineering and Surveying Firm awarded Dr. Craig Denny ('71 civ. engr.; MS '73), President of the Shawnee Mission (Kans.) School District Board of Education, with their seventh annual Community Leadership Award in October, 2011. Recognized for his dedication to education, he is serving his fourth term as President of the board and has been a member of the board since 1997. Also recognized was his passion and effort to promote education and mentoring by endowing the James M. Hoover Chair of Geotechnical Engineering at Iowa State University. The gift honors Denny's college mentor who influenced and inspired him while attending Iowa State.

Sophia Magill ('05 pol. sci.) was one of two Iowans selected to work as interns in White House departments during the fall of 2011. The program aims to shape future public service leaders and make the White House more accessible to them. Interns work in one of several White House departments, some of which are: Office of Cabinet Affairs, Office of the Chief of Staff, Office of Scheduling and Advance, Office of the First Lady, Office of the Vice President, and Office of the White House Counsel. The internships provide a unique opportunity to gain valuable professional experience and build leadership skills.

The American Society of Agricultural & Biological Engineers (ASABE) has named Ronald K. Leonard ('56 ag. engr.) the 2011 winner of one of its most prestigious awards, the Cyrus Hall McCormick-Jerome Increase Case Gold Medal Award. THe award is given for exceptional and meritorious engineering achievement in agriculture. He was honored for his outstanding accomplishments that resulted in new concepts of products, processes, and methods that have advanced the development of agriculture. A retired director, Worldwide Agricultural Tractor and Component Engineering, John Deere Product Engineering Center, Waterloo, Iowa, Leonard was recognized as a visionary and exceptionally talented engineer and manager in the agricultural machinery industry.

My first jobs in Des Moines were in Advertising at WHO TV, then as public relations writer for the Iowa Credit Union League. After an eight year break to raise children, I worked in advertising at Teldyne Water Pik, in Ft. Collins, CO. Following that I was at Meyer Broadcasting in Bismarck, ND. for 18 years. There I started as office manager for television sales and ended as administrative assistant to the General Manager of the four radio and four TV stations owned by the Meyer family. Wound down before retiring at a part-time job at an advertising company in Dubuque, IA. Moved to my hometown, Ackley, IA with my husband, Bob to retire. Have been here for 12 years.

Scott Olson ('69 arch.), registered architect and commercial real estate broker, has been selected as "Best Commercial Realtor in the Corridor" in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011, by readers of the "Corridor Business Journal."

Erin McKeown ('05) married Matt Heeren on July 2, 2011 in Des Moines, Iowa. The couple currently lives in West Des Moines, Iowa.

My wife and I first met in the ISU Armory and we both were in uniform. She was in the Air Force Angel Flight(Honorary Group of Girls who worked with the AF ROTC honorary club of Cadets). I was a senior in Air Force ROTC and had to be at school a week early for ROTC(fall of 1964). She had to be there early for Angel Flight. I and a fellow cadet were coming down the southwest stairs and two Angel Flight girls in uniform were walking along the hall at the bottom of the stairs. Marty and I were also in our AFROTC uniforms and Marty knew both of the girls. He introduced me to both of them. That evening I called Lindy for a date and the next day we had our first date. In the fall of 1965 we got pinned just before I went on active duty with the Air Force and were engaged that Christmas. She graduated in Feb 1967 and we were married a week later. Out of our marriage we have two children: a son and daughter. Our son also graduted from ISU and was commissioned as an officer through AFROTC and today 1/13/2011 he is a Lt. Col. and career officer in the Air Force. I sometimes think what if Lindy had walked by the bottom of the stairs a few minutes later or earlier. (I was not a member of the AFROTC honorary club.) I would have not met my best friend and wife of 44 years and there would not have been a Lt. Col. son in the Air Force.

I received a non-thesis M.S. degree from Iowa State in General Graduate Studies (Biology) in May, 1976, and haven’t been back to campus since then. In reading over my old tests and numerous term papers during my two short academic years at ISU, I was very surprised at not only the breadth of material covered in my graduate-level classes, but also the depth of detail required. Certainly this preparation came in handy when I was accepted into the doctoral program in Physiology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; I was well-prepared and received a thesis M.S. in Physiology in December, 1978, and a Ph.D. in Endocrine Physiology in December 1982. My wide background in several areas at ISU enabled me to combine my main area of research in Neuroendocrinology/Neurochemistry with Cellular/Ultrastructural Biology in a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity in 1983 to work as a post-doctoral research associate in Marseilles, France at a national research institute near the gorgeous blue-green waters of the Mediterranean. I’ve taken the opportunity to go back to the “South of France” several times since! I also had a chance to work at my alma mater (KU), albeit just temporarily, from 1984-86, as a result of my outstanding education at ISU. The position was in the Department of Physiology and Cell Biology in Lawrence, KS. My diverse training initiated in large part in ISU’s General Graduate Studies program has also resulted in my publishing many scientific articles in several areas of research science. I would like to express my gratitude to my professors for providing me with a rich and diverse educational experience in Ames.

James Schmeling, Political Science '97, co-founded and was appointed Managing Director of the Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University effective July 1, 2011. http://insidesu.syr.edu/2011/07/05/institute-for-veterans-and-military-families-2/ The Institute was founded with a commitment of $7.5 million from JPMorgan Chase. http://www.syr.edu/news/articles/2011/veterans-military-families-06-11.html The Institute was invited to participate in the Clinton Global Initiative America inaugural meeting in Chicago and make a commitment to action. http://insidesu.syr.edu/2011/06/29/institute-for-veterans-and-military-families-takes-part-in-veter…

http://insidesu.syr.edu/2011/07/05/institute-for-veterans-and-military-families-2/ James Schmeling has been appointed managing director of the newly established Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) at Syracuse University, which he co-founded with Mike Haynie, Barnes Professor of Entrepreneurship in SU’s Whitman School of Management. Schmeling was previously chief operating officer and managing director of the Burton Blatt Institute at SU. His appointment was effective July 1. In his role with the IVMF, Schmeling will be a member of the senior leadership team. He will promote the institute’s mission by working with University stakeholders; federal, state, and local partners throughout the country; veterans and their families; NGOs; educational institutions; and others who have a stake in IVMF’s mission and values. His focus will be on veterans and inclusion activities on campus and with external stakeholders, including the IVMF board of advisors and corporate, governmental and non-governmental partners. “Given my background as a veteran, my work with the IVMF is a way for me to formalize what I have learned over the years about veteran networking and educational support and resources, and share it with the wider community of veterans and those who serve them,” says Schmeling. “As a veteran attending Iowa State University, my first roommate was a Ukrainian Army veteran, my second a U.S. Navy vet. Both were living in a graduate/adult student dorm, which housed many veteran students. I also met vets through a non-traditional student organization for adult students,” he adds. “As veteran students, we formed informal support networks—sharing information about registrar reviews of military school transcripts, adult and veteran scholarships, financial aid processes, veteran-friendly faculty and more. While in law school, I had similar informal networks with vets, Guard and Reserve members. Many of my friends and peers returned to service after college and advanced, in some cases becoming officers or Judge Advocate General Corps members. Several have served multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. I am excited for this opportunity to be a part of the Institute’s leadership, in order to promote its mission and drive opportunities for veteran inclusion.” “James has examined and written about business practices, conducted research with Fortune 100 human resources professionals and has been involved with the creation and growth of two other higher education research centers—the Law, Health Policy & Disability Center at the Iowa College of Law, and the Burton Blatt Institute here at Syracuse,” says Haynie. “He has worked with me as part of the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities (EBV), EBV-Families and the disability components of our SBA veterans programs from the beginning. I am thrilled to have him on the IVMF leadership team, and for the breadth of professional and veteran experiences he brings to the Institute.” Schmeling has extensive experience related to veterans, education, inclusion, assistive technology, diversity, social science and STEM disciplines, and has written and published in the area. He has been principal investigator on three grants from Disabled American Veterans and the William Bingham Foundation for disability-related components of the EBV, founded in 2007 at Whitman. He is also co-principal investigator on a cooperative agreement from U.S. DOL/VETS on the National Veterans Technical Assistance Center for Homeless Veterans Reintegration Projects, and an investigator for a contract from the Department of Veterans Affairs on business practices related to hiring, retaining and advancing veterans’ employment. Schmeling is currently a member of the Veterans Best Practices Advisory Committee at SU, and an advisory board member of the Taishoff Center on Inclusive Higher Education in SU’s School of Education. A U.S. Air Force veteran who served for more than six years, Schmeling was honorably discharged at the rank of sergeant. He was stationed in Colorado, California and Spain. Through his service, he engaged with and supervised active duty Air Force and civil service employees, in addition to Spanish Air Force and Spanish National Geographic Institute staff. During his time in the service, Schmeling was assigned to the Air Force Technical Applications Center (AFTAC) and was a seismic systems computer-electronics technician. He was responsible for repair logistics for all reparable assets worldwide in the Atomic Energy Detection System. While assigned to a field maintenance position at a remote detachment in Spain, he also conducted resource protection, crime prevention and counterterrorism duties. He held Top Secret security clearance during active duty and was awarded the Air Force Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters and the National Defense Service Medal. He was also a distinguished graduate of the Air Force Noncommissioned Officer Preparatory Course. As part of his unit, he was awarded the Air Force Organizational Excellence Award. Schmeling began his education while serving, earning credits from the Community College of the Air Force. After leaving the service, he received his B.A. in political science, with a minor in international studies, from Iowa State University and earned his law degree, with distinction, from the University of Iowa.

William Doughtery Metz born Sept. 10, 2010, 7 lbs. 1oz.

People who know me know that I am all about technology PR... this is something that stayed with me from my early beginnings at former 3D animation company Engineering Animation, Inc. which was incubated out of ISU's Research Park. I recently enjoyed a fun diversion from the exciting world of technology: I have just returned from a memorable trip to Italy for work and play. My PR firm (Rushing PR - www.rushingpr.com) represents Italy's Marche Region regarding a tourism campaign starring Dustin Hoffman, as well as the region's battle with the Getty Museum over disputed ownership of a very important 2,300-year-old statue - The Victorious Youth. To say this has been an exciting client to work with would be an understatement. In addition to putting together a standing room only press conference for Marche Region President Gian Maria Spacca on short order during his visit to Los Angeles to strike a deal with the Getty, I also organized a press tour for ten U.S. journalists to see what makes the Marche Region such a special place. It really is a hidden gem. I have also worked with the Italian Trade Commission in Los Angeles on a campaign highlighting the health benefits of authentic Italian cuisine. At this point, I think I am an honorary Italian! I enjoy hearing from fellow ISU alums in the LA area... feel free to reach out to me at lana@rushingpr.com. Ciao!

Wendell Mosby ('01 apparel merch., design, produc.) was elected to the Board of Trustees of Prairie State Community College, Chicago Heights, IL on April 5, 2011.

DeRionne Pollard ('93 English; '95 MA) has been named to Strathmore's Board of Directors. Strathmore is an established arts presenter and cultural destination that nurtures art, artists, and community through creative and diverse programming, and is home to the Music Center at Strathmore, a concert hall and education complex.

Steven Jones will serve in the role of Executive Vice President of Quinn Evans Architects. For over two decades, he has specialized in preservation and restoration projects with an emphasis on project management. He currently manages multiple contracts for the National Park Service across the country.

My husband, Jeff Van Winkle, and I met at ISU in the late 90s. He was a student in the College of Design and I was a student in the College of Business. Before I graduated in 2001 with my bachelors degree, Jeff proposed to me under the Campanile at midnight. We were marriend in 2003.

Kum & Go, based in West Des Moines, Iowa, recently announced the promotion of Charles W. Campbell ('01 finance) to vice president and general counsel. He has been a member of the Kum & Go legal team for over seven years and provides business-centered counsel to the company's executives and associates.

Joel Magruder ('88 phys. ed.), founder of Financial Partners Group, has successfully completed the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) professional designation program. Graduates of the CRPC program must complete a specialized independent study course that prepares them for the changing demands of the retirement planning profession by emphasizing the importance of understanding each client's individual financial situation, and then analyzing his or her related needs and identifying investment opportunities that will best meet those needs.