One of Iowa State University’s greatest strengths is our tremendously loyal and supportive alumni, friends, and stakeholders. As president, one of my joys is hearing your life stories and for me to tell you the latest stories of our campus life and mission.
It’s been a priority for me to work on strengthening the relationships the university has, and to forge new ones. The work requires me — and all of us at Iowa State — to tell our story in the most compelling, convincing, and consistent way possible.
That’s why I decided last summer to hire a consultant to conduct a comprehensive assessment of our communications and constituent engagement ecosystem — all the many ways that Iowa State University, the Iowa State University Alumni Association, and the Iowa State University Foundation connect with you and many others.
For years, Iowa State has used decentralized approaches for communication and engagement, especially to our alumni, supporters, and partners. Sometimes we’d hear from stakeholders who received multiple mailings and phone calls from one or more university units, all in the same week. Some felt confused about who to respond to, who did exactly what, and how to proceed.
When I was named president in 2017, I made a number of changes to build greater awareness of Iowa State’s hard-earned, well-deserved reputation. I emphasized to our communications and marketing leaders that we needed to be viewed as “one university.”
We made important strides in the one-university approach. Among them is the alumni magazine you now hold in your hands. Iowa Stater was reimagined in 2022 with new direction and support from the university, alumni association, and foundation.
I decided to take a bigger step. The charge to the third-party consultant was to recommend a strategy and proposed organizational structure that would position us to be more strategic, cohesive, and consistent in our communications and engagement efforts.
Over five months, the consultant — The Segal Group — interviewed 270 people, reviewed more than 500 documents, and provided a peer university benchmarking.
In the consultant’s final report, one of the recommendations was to combine the ISU Alumni Association and the ISU Foundation, an action already taken by many of our peers and other universities. I named a review committee to take up this recommendation and provide me with a decision on whether we should move forward. In April, the review committee informed me that the committee had affirmed the recommendation.
Subsequently, an implementation plan was developed, led by Kurt Tjaden (’85), the acting Lora and Russ Talbot Endowed President and CEO of the ISU Alumni Associa- tion from March 1 to May 31, and Larissa Holtmyer Jones (’03, ’94), president and CEO of the ISU Foundation. They sought input from their board leaders, staff from both organizations, and Jeff Johnson (’14), the Lora and Russ Talbot Endowed President and CEO who this past spring went on medical leave.
The plan they developed outlined three guiding principles:
- Ensure the plan supports the mission of Iowa State University and advances the university’s commitment to excellence.
- Ensure the plan supports an optimal approach for engagement and service to constituents that best serves the university and its long-term priorities and needs.
- Ensure the plan recognizes that organizations work because of the people who work for them — the valued contributions each person can make. Dignity, respect, and fairness for everyone involved should be foremost.
A steering committee with members from both boards and the university was formed and is guiding the process. The committee sets direction and expectations for work teams focused on people, finances and facilities, communications, constituent engagement and programming, and governance.
The process for the combination began in earnest in May, with a goal of the work teams to complete the majority of their tasks by the end of September.
It’s a significant undertaking. But it’s one firmly grounded in both organizations’ collective strengths and proud histories.
I want to thank Chad Harris, chair of the ISU Alumni Association board of directors, and Mary Jane Hagenson, chair of the ISU Foundation board of directors, for their commitment in moving us forward toward a successful conclusion.
I am thankful for the leadership of Kurt Tjaden and Larissa Holtmyer Jones. I am especially grateful for Jeff Johnson, who has faithfully served the university, alumni association, its members, and all other alumni, students, and friends for more than 25 years. Jeff’s dedication and how he has proudly embodied the spirit of and service to “Cyclones Everywhere” is extraordinary. Thank you, Jeff.
Finally, I want to thank you, our tremendously loyal and supportive alumni, friends, and supporters. We will continue to communicate with you on progress and what you can expect in the future from this important initiative. It truly is exciting to consider new opportunities and to imagine how a more unified approach will benefit you.
Wendy Wintersteen, PhD ‘88
Iowa State University President