Sept. 17, 2009

2009 University Convocation & Awards Ceremony

Monday, Sept. 21, 3:15 p.m., Sun Room, Memorial Union

These members of the university community will be honored during the program portion of the convocation.

Distinguished Professor

The title of Distinguished Professor is awarded for exemplary performance in research and/or creative activities as reflected by a national or international reputation in the nominee's discipline. A $4,900 increment in base salary is granted, and the awardee retains the title the rest of his or her career at the university.

Charles F. Curtiss Distinguished Professor in Agriculture and Life Sciences

Rameshwar Kanwar
Professor and chair of agricultural and biosystems engineering

Kanwar achieved international recognition in the areas of sustainable irrigation and drainage systems, natural resources and water quality engineering, and helped make water supplies safe for people all over the world. He authored nearly 500 publications, including 161 refereed journal articles, 18 book chapters and one book; and has been principal or co-principal investigator on research projects totaling more than $13 million. He is among a few water experts in the United States who have been invited by such groups as the World Bank, European Commission, United Nations and U.S. Agency for International Development to consult on international projects affecting the water needs of growing global populations. Under his leadership, the agricultural and biosystems engineering department has risen to international status.

Anson S. Marston Distinguished Professor in Engineering

Steve Martin
University Professor of Materials Science and Engineering

Martin is an internationally recognized expert in glass science and engineering and a leading authority in glassy solid electrolytes that are at the center of the development of new, more powerful lithium batteries. He developed new glasses for surgical laser fibers and new ceramic membrane materials for fuel cells. His research has been supported by more than $11 million in contract funding, and more than 25 companies have sought his consulting expertise. He published more than 150 articles and delivered more than 200 invited and contributed presentations around the world. His efforts to engage high school and undergraduate students in funded research activities led to improved retention rates and substantial increases in the number of women and minorities enrolling in graduate programs. Among his many awards is the American Ceramic Society's George W. Morey Award.

University Professor

The title of University professor is bestowed on a faculty member whose professional work has focused upon effecting positive, significant institutional change at Iowa State. The awardee receives a base salary addition of $4,850 and retains the title for the remainder of his or her career at the university.

Sedahlia Jasper Crase
Professor of human development and family studies

Crase made outstanding contributions to Iowa State in curriculum development, interdisciplinary graduate studies, policies on university faculty appointments, teaching and advising. Her work in interdisciplinary graduate studies resulted in a better graduate education environment for cross-discipline education and more support for non-traditional learners. She directed 78 students to the successful completion of their master's and doctoral degrees, and currently is supervising another five. Her research focuses broadly on various aspects of parenting and parent education. She has published widely in scholarly publications and contributed to several popular parenting publications. She also provided leadership to the faculty and university, including as president of the Faculty Senate.

Lawrence Genalo
Professor of materials science and engineering

Genalo is recognized for highly successful recruiting and retention activities, particularly among under-represented groups in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines, and for his commitment to engineering education at the kindergarten through university levels and an infectious enthusiasm for learning. He started the Toying With Technology program, which uses LEGOS® to introduce youngsters to electronic technology, and his Cool Stuff materials demonstrations help encourage young people to pursue careers in science and technology. He started the Internet Explorers Program, which provided summer internship opportunities to female high school students interested in science and technology. He has taught in the University Honors Program for more than 20 years and is one of two faculty affiliates of the Freshman Honors Program.

Howard Van Auken
Professor of management; Bob and Kay Smith Fellow in Entrepreneurship

Van Auken has been a leader in entrepreneurship education at Iowa State since the early 1990s, and has been instrumental in ISU's development of one of the leading entrepreneurship programs in the nation. He developed and taught ISU's first entrepreneurship course (designed for MBA students), as well as numerous other courses, and he collaborated with and mentored faculty in developing entrepreneurship courses and curricula across colleges. He maintains an active research program in entrepreneurship and small family business, with more than 80 refereed journal articles and 100 research presentations. He was appointed the Bob and Kay Smith Fellow in Entrepreneurship in 2005, and also was named a Longenecker Fellow of the U.S. Association of Small Business and Entrepreneurship in 2009.

Regents Award for Faculty Excellence

This award recognizes a faculty member who is an outstanding university citizen and who has rendered significant service to Iowa State and/or the state of Iowa. A $1,000 award is granted.

Mark Kaiser
Professor of statistics

Kaiser administered the graduate program in statistics, recognized as one of the best programs in the world. He is an award-winning teacher who excels at all levels, from introductory courses to doctoral seminars, and is a caring and effective mentor for graduate students and junior faculty. His research on wildlife management and environmental statistics resulted in more than $10 million in external funding, nearly 35 refereed journal articles and one book chapter, and presentations to 38 national and international meetings. He has directed the work of 23 graduate students to and has five current students. He is a fellow of the American Statistical Association and former editor of the Journal of the American Statistical Association.

Peter Martin
Professor of human development and family studies

Martin is a leading international authority in a key area of gerontology -- the role of personality in adult development and aging. His scholarship and academic leadership as head of the gerontology program for the past nine years have positioned ISU's program as the leader in the north central United States. He is a fellow of the Gerontological Society of America, leader of the master's program in gerontology for the Great Plains Interactive Distance Education Alliance, and co-founder of the Iowa Commission on Aging Programs. His research has been supported by more than $10 million in external funding and he has published two books, 21 book chapters and 70 journal articles, as well as numerous other publications and professional presentations. He directed the work of 35 graduate students to successful completion of their degrees.

Leland Poague
Professor of English

Poague is the author of 10 books, primarily in film studies, and has another book scheduled for publication in 2010. His film classes are among the most popular and highly rated in the department, and he has directed the work of 25 graduate students. He teaches a variety of subjects, including literary theory and criticism, Shakespeare and first-year composition. His research examines the works of such film icons as Alfred Hitchcock, Woody Allen, Ingmar Bergman, Fritz Lang and Billy Wilder. He was assistant department chair for six years, and served the broader university as a member of the ISUComm planning committee. He currently is a member of the Center for Excellence in the Arts and Humanities steering committee.

Eugene Takle
Professor of agronomy; professor of geological and atmospheric sciences; professor of aerospace engineering

Takle has been a visionary leader in developing and implementing multi-disciplinary research and educational programs that link faculty and students in many different departments and colleges. These include the Climate Science Initiative, which he directs; the Global Change course he developed; and his own research on the regional impacts of global climate change. Takle's research helped policy makers, the agriculture industry and other segments of the Midwest develop policies and practices to cope with climate change, and resulted in more than 115 articles in refereed journals. He was a member of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change that was a co-recipient of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize for its work on global climate change. He served as faculty director of the University Honors Program from 2006 to 2009.

Lester Wilson
University Professor of Food Science and Human Nutrition

Wilson, an internationally recognized expert on food processing, established an exemplary record of teaching, advising and mentoring with students and colleagues. His research on the impact of processing and storage on food chemistry, quality and safety strengthened food industries in Iowa and attracted new industries to the state. His reputation for research excellence resulted in his selection as a USDA National Research Initiative panelist five times. He has published more than 50 refereed journal articles and made 70 invited presentations throughout the United States and in several other nations. He is a fellow of the Institute of Food Technologists, and he was as a NASA Visiting Fellow from 2003 to 2006.

Regents Award for Staff Excellence

This award recognizes a member of the Professional and Scientific staff or the Supervisory and Confidential staff who is an outstanding university citizen and who has rendered significant service to Iowa State and/or the state of Iowa. A $1,000 award is granted.

Edmund Adcock
Communications specialist, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Adcock received numerous awards for his communications work and publications, including three Gold Awards and three Silver Awards from the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education and the Outstanding Professional Skill award from the Association for Communications Excellence. He contributes to the college's relations with alumni, news media, and government agencies and officials through effective communications such as the college's Council for Agricultural Research, Teaching and Extension publication, which he directs.

Mary (Mandi) Anderson
Program coordinator, Research Institute for Studies in Education

Anderson provides exceptional support for the research efforts of faculty in the College of Human Sciences, and conducts her own research in physical education, wellness and sports. She completed nearly $2 million in funded research projects, and currently serves as principal investigator or co-principal investigator on four research projects, including a U.S. Department of Education Carol M. White Physical Education for Progress project with several Des Moines area schools. She began her affiliation with RISE in 1990 as a doctoral student and was a research associate from 1993 to 1998. She published several articles in refereed journals and other publications, and made numerous presentations across the country.

Allen Christian
Agriculture specialist, department of animal science

Christian has been a valuable asset to the swine industry and the students and faculty in Iowa State's swine program for 50 years. He joined Iowa State in 1959 as the swine herdsman at the Swine Teaching Farm and continues in that role today. His numerous awards include: Superior Service Awards from the American Berkshire Association, United Duroc Swine Registry, and American Yorkshire Club, Honorary Master Pork Producer and Iowa Master Seedstock Producer from the Iowa Pork Producers Association, National Pork Board Distinguished Service Award, National Barrow Show Hall of Fame and Master Pork Industry Visionary by National Hog Farmer.

Lynnette Hauser
Office coordinator, ISU Extension

Hauser has been a key member of the statewide 4-H program since 1995, and serves as the point person on many aspects of the program for the more than 150 campus-based and field staff involved in the 4-H and youth program. She has been a member of the Supervisory and Confidential Staff Council since 2000, serving as co-chair for two years, and has represented the council on several university efforts, including the Higher Learning Commission Accreditation preparation and site visit. She is active in the Mid-Iowa Professionals Chapter of the International Association of Administrative Professionals, serving as president, secretary and newsletter editor.

Jane Jacobson
Program manager/director, student academic services, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Jacobson works diligently to improve academic advising and the undergraduate educational experience at Iowa State and nationally. She was a member of the task force that rewrote the University Academic Probation Policy to encourage student retention, and co-chaired the University Academic Advising Committee subcommittee on academic advising positions that brought consistency to P&S advising positions across the campus. Nationally, she has been a member of the National Academic Advising Association since 1983, serving in several top leadership positions and helping shape national policy toward academic advising.

Louis Thompson Distinguished Undergraduate Teaching Award

This award recognizes an outstanding teacher who is dedicated to helping undergraduate students. Dr. Louis Thompson, emeritus associate dean of Agriculture, established the award to support his belief that a strong undergraduate teaching program should be one of the primary goals of the university. A $1,500 award is granted.

Kay Palan
Associate professor of marketing; associate dean, College of Business

Palan excels at creating an environment in which students can thrive as learners. She is a student-centered yet rigorous teacher, a leader in team-oriented and integrative pedagogy, a change agent in outcomes-oriented curriculum development and an advocate in advancing experiential learning in her college and throughout the university. She provided leadership and inspiration for the Gerdin Citizenship Program, Outcomes Assessment Program and Study Abroad Program, is a past chair of the Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching advisory board and received numerous awards for teaching excellence. She maintains an active teaching scholarship program, with several grant-funded projects, including a USDA CREES project in collaboration with colleagues in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences to develop an entrepreneurship program for students interested in bio-based products.

Mary Hagemann Wiedenhoeft
Professor of agronomy

Wiedenhoeft is a national leader in using technology for student-learning, teaching systems-level courses, developing student learning communities, incorporating experiential learning into classroom teaching, and incorporating learner outcomes and assessment into agronomy curricula. She is an enthusiastic and inspirational teacher who focuses on individual students, and has been recognized by the American Society of Agronomy with its highest teaching honor, the Agronomic Resident Teaching Award. She is the author or co-author of proposals receiving more than $1 million in grant funding for teaching projects and has served as principal investigator or co-principal investigator on several of the projects. She has directed the work of 15 graduate students and served on the committees of 20 others.

James Huntington Ellis Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Introductory Teaching

This award recognizes a faculty member who, in teaching introductory courses, demonstrates creativity in improving its quality, excites interest and involvement without compromising scholarship, and enhances student performance in future courses. Ellis ('28 industrial science) established this award to honor professors like his "who made their courses interesting." A $1,500 award is granted.

Andrew Manu
Associate professor of agronomy, George Washington Carver Chair

Manu developed a teaching methodology that has proven effective in teaching the large introductory courses in soils and in bolstering student performance. His Student-Oriented Individualized Learning of Soils (SOILS) program combines online and in-class teaching strategies and audio-tutorial approaches with weekly quizzes and recitations so that students feel in control of their learning. Students consistently give his teaching high evaluation marks and praise him for his calm and encouraging approach to teaching. He leads popular study abroad courses that attract 40 students each summer. He conducts research on effective teaching as well as on remote sensing for environmental monitoring, the effect on urbanization on soils and sustainability and restitution of tropical soils.

Brad Skaar
Associate professor of animal science

Skaar has established a stellar teaching record in his 25-year career at Iowa State, and particularly is well known for his effectiveness in teaching the introductory animal science courses. He develops approaches to learning that involve cooperative learning exercises, case studies and industry interactions, and he emphasizes communications development as well as examining the complex scientific and societal issues facing agriculture. He serves as academic adviser for up to 70 undergraduate students annually, and has an extensive record of extracurricular student service, including as coach or co-coach of many ISU national award-winning teams in the meat animal evaluation and livestock judging contests. In addition, he has led several international seminars and study-abroad programs to South America, Europe and Asia.

Margaret Ellen White Graduate Faculty Award

The Margaret Ellen White Graduate Faculty Award recognizes superior performance by a member of the graduate faculty who serves as a mentor and who enriches the student-professor relationship through support and attention to detail, enabling students to finish their work in a timely and scholarly manner. This award was established in 1985 by White to show her appreciation to graduate faculty for their guidance and encouragement of graduate students. A graduate of the former College of Home Economics, White served as an administrative assistant in the Graduate College for 37 years. A $1,500 award is granted.

Terry Besser
Professor of sociology

Besser is an award-winning teacher and scholar who excels at advising and mentoring graduate students, helping them achieve professional and personal success. She has directed the work of 14 graduate students and served on the committees of nearly 30 others, and her students praise her for her ability to motivate them and help them find opportunities for professional growth and networking, conduct successful research, and balance the pressures of graduate study with their personal lives. She maintains an active research program in rural small business, with more than $2 million in grant-funded projects that provide her graduate students with many opportunities to pursue research. She is the author or co-author of two books and nearly 30 articles in refereed journals.

International Service Award

This award recognizes a faculty member for outstanding international service in teaching, research or administration within the United States or abroad. A $2,500 grant for carrying out an internationally related activity is awarded.

Mufit Akinc
Professor of materials science and engineering

Akinc has made extraordinary contributions to Iowa State's international programs and relations over the past three decades. He spent 32 months abroad as a Fulbright Scholar, a visiting professor to several universities, a scientific consultant to institutes in Asia and Europe, a collaborator on projects with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the office of Naval Research, and as a member of the European Academy of Sciences. He initiated the materials science and engineering study abroad program in the United Kingdom, and served as international exchange coordinator for exchange programs with universities in China, Singapore and the Middle East. He is an internationally acclaimed researcher in ceramic materials, with research grants totaling nearly $10 million, more than 140 technical papers, seven patents and more than 180 invited presentations, including 36 in other nations.

Iowa State University Award for Departmental Leadership

This award recognizes outstanding departmental leadership that helps faculty members meet their complex obligations to undergraduate teaching, graduate mentoring, research and service. A $1,500 award is granted.

Douglas Bonett
Professor of psychology; professor of statistics

Bonnet is an exemplary academic leader who is admired and respected for his ability to effectively analyze and assess the many situations that impact an academic department; attend to the needs of faculty, staff and students; and maintain a broad university perspective while attending to everyday details. He leads faculty by example, as a leading scholar in categorical data methods, psychometric methods, sample size determination and interval estimation, with more than 100 refereed journal publications and 4,700 citations of his work.

Iowa State University Award for Outstanding Achievement in Teaching

This award recognizes a tenured faculty member for outstanding teaching performance over an extended period of time. A $1,500 award is granted.

Charles Jahren
Associate professor of civil, construction and environmental engineering; Warren Scholar of Distance Education in civil engineering

Jahren is recognized for innovative and motivational approaches to teaching, from freshman-level courses and learning communities through graduate-level distance learning programs. At each level, he emphasizes teamwork, industry involvement, hands-on experiences and student leadership to enhance student learning. The Mock Bidding course he developed to provide real-world experience for students in construction project bidding now is one of the most popular elective courses in construction engineering. His teaching approach and methodology has been cited numerous times in engineering education publications and trade journals.

Iowa State University Award for Early Achievement in Teaching

This award recognizes a tenured or tenure-track faculty member who has demonstrated outstanding teaching performance unusually early in his or her career. A $1,500 award is granted.

Carol Faber
Assistant professor of art and design

Faber brings traditional and digital art forms together to create unique and innovative computer-based courses and programs for students in both fine arts and graphic design. She developed several new courses that teach students to use both traditional drawing studio media as well as laptop computers and sophisticated drawing, design and photography software. These courses enhance students' artistic and technical abilities and help them gain skills that will enhance their professional opportunities and advancement. She made numerous national and international presentations on visual literacy and digital art, and her own art has been featured in several juried exhibitions throughout the nation.

Rachel Haywood-Ferreira
Assistant professor of world languages and cultures

Haywood-Ferreira's teaching earns high praise from students and peers for its clear and lively presentation, inclusion of the most recent scholarship, attention to student writing, and innovative and effective use of instructional technology, which she uses to facilitate both communication and analytical skills. She played a leadership role in strengthening the department's Luso-Brazilian courses, restructuring the languages and cultures curriculum, implementing outcomes assessment and developing a certificate program in Latin American studies.

Iowa State University Award for Academic Advising Impact

This award recognizes outstanding performance by an academic adviser over an extended period of time. A $1,500 award is granted.

Edward Kannel
Professor of civil, construction and environmental engineering

Kannel advised more than 1,000 civil, construction and environmental engineering students in his nearly 35 years at Iowa State, and the many advising awards he received are testament to his work. He developed the civil engineering advising center and was its supervisor for 10 years. He was co-adviser for the award-winning Transportation Student Association, and served on the college and university academic advising committees. He also served as associate department chair and teaches.

Kathleen Timmons
Academic adviser and program coordinator, student academic services, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Timmons has advised, empowered and championed thousands of Iowa State students for 30 years through her work with interdisciplinary programs, distance education, curriculum and the degree audit system. One of her most significant accomplishments has been her work with the bachelor of liberal studies program, which began in 1978 and is one of the largest majors in the college.

Iowa State University Award for Early Achievement in Academic Advising

This award recognizes outstanding performance by an academic adviser early in his or her career. A $1,500 award is granted.

Denise Hix
Academic adviser, biology

Hix provides exceptional and knowledgeable advising to more than 200 students annually in the biology program. She advises the Marine Biology Club, helps coordinate and advise several biology learning communities, develops and teaches the biology orientation course for new students, and assists faculty in advising. She develops materials, recruits student volunteers and teaches in several of Iowa State's science education outreach programs for K-12 students.

Iowa State University Award for Outstanding Achievement in Research

This award recognizes a faculty member who has a national or international reputation for contributions in research, and who has influenced the research activities of students. A $1,500 award is granted.

Klaus Schmidt-Rohr
Professor of chemistry

Schmidt-Rohr has made significant contributions to solid state chemistry, particularly in what are known as "soft" materials. His development of solid state nuclear magnetic resonance technology has made possible much higher levels of examination of soft materials, and led to advances in the study of biological tissues, such as bones, as well as soil, proteins and fuel cell membranes. He has published more than 150 journal articles, monographs and book contributions, and received numerous research awards, including the Dillon Medal from the American Physical Society and a Sloan fellowship. He also is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Johannes (Hans) van Leeuwen
Professor of civil, construction and environmental engineering; professor of agricultural and biosystems engineering; professor of food science and human nutrition

van Leeuwen is a leader in multidisciplinary environmental and biological engineering, with significant contributions in biofuels, environmental protection, resource recovery and process development in water and air pollution control. He has published nearly 200 articles in prominent journals, book chapters and papers; and directed 11 doctoral and 49 master's students to completion of their degrees. He has eight U.S. and 15 international patents or patents pending, and among his many recognitions are consecutive Grand Prize for University Research awards from the American Academy of Environmental Engineers (2007, 2008), and consecutive R&D 100 Awards (2008, 2009). He also was one of five finalists for R&D Magazine's Innovator of the Year Award.

Iowa State University Award for Mid-Career Achievement in Research

This award recognizes a faculty member who has demonstrated exemplary research performance or scholarship accomplishments as documented by peers and experts in the field. A $1,500 award is granted.

Amy Andreotti
Professor of biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology

Andreotti receives international recognition for her groundbreaking research in the interdisciplinary areas of structural biology and molecular immunology. Also a leader in Iowa State's nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) research, she was instrumental in obtaining nearly $1 million in NSF funding for an NMR spectrometer facility, and currently is principal investigator on two major research projects funded by the National Institutes of Health. She has an extensive publication record, presented 24 invited lectures throughout the country and internationally, and holds a U.S. patent involving cellular modulation technology.

Hailiang Liu
Professor of mathematics

Liu's seminal contributions to fluid flow, high frequency wave propagation, shock waves and polymer flow dynamics have earned him international acclaim. He produced landmark theoretical discoveries, such as proof of mathematics' Onsager Conjecture, which had been unsolvable since 1949, and equally significant computation method discoveries in partial differential equations. Since he began his research in 1992, he has averaged nearly five refereed journal articles per year, along with six manuscripts, four book chapters, and nearly 50 invited lectures and conference presentations throughout the world. Among his many awards is the National Science Foundation's 2008 Focused Research Group Award.

Iowa State University Award for Early Achievement in Research

This award recognizes a faculty member who has demonstrated outstanding accomplishments unusually early in his or her professional career. A $1,500 award is granted.

Adam Kaminski
Associate professor of physics and astronomy

Kaminski is an award-winning experimental physicist who quickly developed into a world leader in key areas of superconductivity. His research on photoelectron measurements of magnesium boride, copper oxide and iron arsenide high temperature superconductors resulted in 40 articles in such journals as Nature, Nature Physics, and Physical Review Letters, more than 200 citations annually, more than 100 invited lectures and presentations, and nearly $1.5 million in external funding.

Professional and Scientific Research Award

This award recognizes a Professional and Scientific staff member who has been at Iowa State for at least five years for excellence in research. A $1,500 award is granted.

Vladimir Kogan
Scientist, department of physics and astronomy

Kogan began his study of high temperature superconductors shortly after they were discovered in the late 1980s and is a leading authority on their properties. Among his many contributions to the physics of vortices in superconductors are the Kogan formulas, which have become the standard in the vortex physics community. He published more than 140 articles in refereed journals, and is among the top one-quarter of one percent of physics authors in the number of citations of his work. He is a fellow of the American Physical Society.

Professional and Scientific Excellence Award

This award recognizes contributions made by a Professional and Scientific staff member within and beyond the university, and career progress demonstrated by accomplishments at Iowa State. A $1,500 award is granted.

Jody Danielson
Program coordinator, department of chemical and biological engineering

Danielson does an outstanding job of representing the department of chemical and biological engineering to students, faculty, industrial partners, alumni and others. She has been with Iowa State for 24 years, the last 11 with chemical and biological engineering. She constantly strives for improvement in all of her responsibilities, is an effective staff leader and collaborator, and a very active volunteer with several community organizations and activities.

Nancy Knight
Director, graduate enrollment management, College of Engineering

Knight provides exceptional service to the college and continuously looks more broadly to see how she can help the university and educational community do a better job of serving students and broader society. One example is her leadership in recruiting minority graduate students and mentoring them throughout their academic careers. She has received several honors for her work, including the University Member of the Year Award from the National Consortium for Graduate Degrees in Engineering and Science.

Sylvester (Sly) Upah
Information technology/distance education director, College of Human Sciences

Upah has dedicated 23 years to improving information technology at Iowa State. For the first 20 years, he was with Information Technology Services, helping to design and manage many of the systems that are in place today, including the system that allows individuals to create their own web pages. For the past three years, he has been with the College of Human Sciences, completely overhauling the college's IT systems.

Carroll Ringgenberg Award
This award recognizes a Professional and Scientific staff member who has been employed by the university for at least 10 years and has demonstrated constant and contagious dedication and good will for Iowa State. The award was established in 1995 by colleagues of the late Ringgenberg to honor his 40 years of service in Iowa State's purchasing and facilities divisions. A $1,500 award is granted.

Mari Kemis
Assistant director, Research Institute for Studies in Education

Kemis has provided outstanding leadership and guidance for students, faculty and staff who use RISE programs and services for 26 years. She has a long list of service on university councils and committees, including Professional and Scientific Council member and secretary, University Teacher Education Program assessment committee, P&S professional development committee, and several Kellogg Foundation-funded projects.

Professional and Scientific Outstanding New Professional Award

This award recognizes a Professional and Scientific staff member who has demonstrated outstanding accomplishments unusually early in his or her professional career at Iowa State. A $1,500 award is granted.

Maneesha Aluru
Associate scientist, department of electrical and computer engineering, department of genetics, development and cellular biology

Aluru has made significant research contributions in functional genomics and plant metabolic engineering. She is the application team leader for systems biology work for project Cystorm, and is working on several projects to improve iron and vitamin A content in maize to alleviate nutritional deficiencies in Africa. She designed and created the curriculum for the undergraduate minor in bioengineering.

Robyn Cooper
Program coordinator, Research Institute for Studies in Education

Cooper is quickly developing into a national leader in the study of stresses that impact marginalized and under-represented students' persistence, and developing strategies to counter those stresses in the educational environment. She has amassed an impressive record of journal articles; book chapters; technical reports; manuscripts; and national, regional and state conference presentations, and is one of the leaders in a National Science Foundation-funded student enrollment and engagement project.

Andreas Kreyssig
Associate scientist, U.S Department of Energy's Ames Laboratory

Only three years after joining the U.S. Department of Energy's Ames Laboratory, Kreyssig already has earned international recognition for his contributions to condensed matter physics using X-ray and neutron scattering techniques. He made groundbreaking discoveries in new high temperature superconductors and magnetic domain properties of permanent magnets, and produced more than 60 refereed journal articles. He actively involves graduate students in his research.

Eun Joo Lee
Assistant scientist, department of animal science

Lee plays a major role in increasing the effectiveness and productivity of the animal science department's research effort. Her own research on food irradiation and physiochemical properties of foods has resulted in 30 refereed journal articles and more than $400,000 in research funding as co-principal investigator. She provides research guidance and support for graduate students in the department, and is credited with significantly increasing their research publication output.

Madelyn Ridgeway
Extension families field specialist

Ridgeway initiated programs that significantly enhanced Extension's service to minority parents and families in the Waterloo area in such subjects as marriage, parent education and financial management. She secured one of two federal Children, Youth and Families at Risk grants in Iowa, which was used to develop collaborations between schools and service agencies to reach low-income minority families. She coordinates Extension's Strengthening Families 10-14 Program.

Iowa State University Award for Distinguished Service in Extension

This award is the highest career award bestowed on an extension professional. It recognizes sustained distinguished performance and educational contributions to Iowa State's clientele through extension programs. A $1,500 award is granted.

Daniel Burkhart
Extension education director, Fayette County

Burkhart's strength throughout his 37-year career with Extension has been identifying and building partnerships with individuals and organizations to build stronger programs and more effective outcomes for Extension and its partners. Examples of his efforts include establishing the Fayette County 4-H Foundation with a sizable permanent endowment; organizing the Con$ertill Club to extend conservation education to farmers and agribusinesses in the county; and organizing a 4-H Safety Education and Shooting Sports program.

Iowa State University Award for Outstanding Achievement in Extension or Professional Practice

This award recognizes a faculty or staff member who demonstrated outstanding performance in statewide leadership in extension or professional practice and who has achieved national recognition for outreach activities. A $1,500 award is granted.

Henry Taber
Professor of horticulture

Taber's expertise in the production of vegetables has made him a valuable asset to growers in Iowa, the Midwest and nationally throughout his 37 years with Extension, the last 35 of which have been with ISU Extension. He led the re-establishment of the Iowa Vegetable Growers Association and provided leadership to make it an effective commodity group, and played a lead role in developing the regional Great Plains Vegetable Conference and Trade Show. He has maintained an active research program in vegetable production, and directed 10 master's and two doctoral students to successful completion of their degrees.

Iowa State University R.K. Bliss Extension Award

This award recognizes outstanding achievement of an Iowa State Extension staff member for developing an overall or continuing extension education program. This award was established in 1971 by donations from the family and friends of Bliss, director of extension from 1912 to 1946. A $500 award is granted.

Beverly Berna
Extension family life field specialist

Berna's ability to identify client needs and build community collaborations to meet those needs is a hallmark of her Extension career. She led the "Partners in Learning Progress" program, launched in 2000, which led to 403 AmeriCorps members contributing nearly 200,000 hours of service to families in Dubuque County and $2 million in grant funding. She partnered with the City of Dubuque to obtain a $900,000 grant that enabled the city's MultiCultural Family Center to acquire and remodel a facility that increased its space nine-fold and significantly expand services.

Virgil Schmitt
Extension field agronomist

Schmitt developed an outstanding reputation for using a wide range of new technologies and approaches to bring information and education to crop producers and agribusinesses in southeast Iowa. A 36-year veteran of Extension service, he has led a large number of educational sessions on topics ranging from watershed management and pesticide applicator training, to Asian soybean rust and the ISU Crop Scout School. He is co-chair of the ISU Extension Crops Team.

Iowa State University Award for Superior Service to Alumni

This award recognizes an Iowa State faculty or staff member who demonstrated a commitment to establishing or furthering alumni relationships with the university. A $500 award is granted.

Nancy Evans
Professor of educational leadership and policy studies

Evans has been in higher education since 1972, serving eight years as a student affairs professional and 29 years as a faculty member, the last 12 at Iowa State. She helped thousands of students achieve their educational and career goals, including 151 master's and 24 doctoral degree recipients she has supervised. And she currently advises 27 more. She is well known for the special care she takes with her graduate students, a great number of whom still maintain close contact with her.

Named Professorships and Chairs

Chairs, professorships and other faculty positions created through the generosity of philanthropists enable the university to recruit, retain and recognize outstanding faculty members. The perpetual earnings from endowed positions also provide support for scholarly endeavors. These appointments positions were made during the 2008-09 academic year:

  • Venkataramana Ajjarapu, David C. Nicholas Professor of Electrical Engineering
  • Srinivas Aluru, Ross Martin Mehl and Marylyne Munas Mehl Professorship
  • Lance Baumgard, Norman Jacobson Professorship
  • Robert C. Brown, Gary and Donna Hoover Chair in Mechanical Engineering
  • James Bushnell, Cargill Endowed Chair in Energy Economics
  • Paul Canfield, Robert Allen Wright Chair
  • Jesse Goff, Anderson Chair in Veterinary Science
  • Theodore Heindel, Bergles Professorship in Thermal Science
  • Labh Hira, David and Ellen Raisbeck Dean's Chair
  • Carl Jacobson, Smith Family Foundation Departmental Chair in Geology
  • Sarah Kadolph, Donna R. Danielson Professorship in Textiles and Clothing
  • Kevin Kimle, Bruce Rastetter Chair in Agricultural Entrepreneurship
  • Valerie Levitas, Schafer 2050 Challenge Professor
  • Surya Mallapragada, Stanley Chair in Interdisciplinary Engineering
  • Andrew Manu, George Washington Carver Chair
  • Gary Mirka, John Ryder Professorship in Engineering
  • Ralph Napolitano, Alan and Julie Renken Professorship in Material Science Engineering
  • James Oliver, Larry and Pam Pithan Professor of Mechanical Engineering
  • Joseph Sebranek, Morrison Chair in Meat Science
  • Jacqueline Shanks, Manley Hoppe Professor in Chemical Engineering
  • Sivalingam Sritharan, Wilson Professor in Engineering
  • Jonathan Wickert, James L. and Katherine S. Melsa Professorship
  • Stephen Willson, Janson Professorship in Mathematics