CALS Online and Dean’s Message
Dec. 16, 2024
Dean’s Message
Hello CALS – Here we go into the last week of the semester with everyone looking forward with great, happy anticipation for the holidays! And, of course, we're all looking forward to CALS Convocation this Friday at 9 a.m. in Hilton Coliseum, the university's graduate student commencement Friday at 7 p.m., and the undergraduate student commencement Saturday at 1:30 p.m.! Please try and attend these celebratory events. And remember, at CALS Convocation, you can be in the handshake and high-five line… This time of year is crazy with events and happenings…
Top Stories
Singh Named CALS Associate Dean for Research and Discovery
Asheesh "Danny" Singh has been named the new associate dean for research and discovery and associate director of the Iowa Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Station for Iowa State's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, effective Jan 1, 2025. In his new role, Singh will provide the dean, department chairs and other unit directors with strategic guidance and counsel on opportunities and challenges related to the effective and compliant conduct of the college's research enterprise, and further enable the college’s graduate student programs. Working in collaboration with the dean and other associate deans, he will help ensure operations directly advance and integrate across the college's missions, and that resources are deployed wisely. He will engage with department chairs and individual faculty and programs to find ways to amplify the resources, impact and scope of research activities across the college.
CALS Convocation to Honor Graduating Seniors, Dec. 20
The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences will hold its fall convocation Friday, Dec. 20, at 9 a.m. in Hilton Coliseum. Doors open at 8 a.m. The event will also be livestreamed. The CALS Student Council will present its senior awards (see award recipients below). Christopher Meyer, agronomy and agricultural business, is the convocation speaker. Madison Vetter, biology, will serve as the CALS student marshal at the university undergraduate commencement ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 21, at 1:30 p.m. in Hilton Coliseum. The graduate commencement ceremony will take place Friday, Dec. 20, at 7 p.m. in Hilton Coliseum.
CALS Convocation Speaker: Christopher Meyer
Christopher Meyer’s passion for agronomy and feeding the world through agriculture led him to Iowa State. Meyer, a graduating senior in agronomy and agricultural business while concurrently pursuing an MBA, will serve as the student speaker at the fall 2024 CALS Convocation on Dec. 20 in Hilton Coliseum.
CALS Student Marshal: Madison Vetter
Madison Vetter has a passion for human biological sciences and was an active student in the research lab of Don Sakaguchi, genetics, development and cell biology, focusing on stem cell and tissue engineering and research. Vetter, a graduating senior in biology, was chosen as the CALS student marshal for the fall 2024 Iowa State Commencement on Dec. 21 in Hilton Coliseum.
Senior Award Winner: Jackie Miller
Jackie Miller, agricultural communication and international agriculture, is the fall 2024 recipient of the Leadership and Innovation Award given by the CALS Student Council. She participated in the Next Gen Innovation Impact Study internship, researching innovative agricultural products while learning to market the innovations to various target audiences.
Senior Award Winner: Gillian Anderson
Gillian Anderson, agricultural and rural policy studies and international agriculture, is the fall 2024 recipient of the Academic Achievement Award given by the CALS Student Council. Anderson had three collegiate international experiences that gave her context and understanding of how global agriculture worked, which helped amplify what she learned in the classroom.
Senior Award Winner: Samantha Noteboom
Samantha Noteboom, agricultural business and animal science, is the fall 2024 recipient of the Distinguished Service Award given by the CALS Student Council. She has been active in CALS Ambassadors, worked in laboratories on and off campus, and worked weekends at a cattle farm, all while excelling academically.
Senior Award Winner: Lia Schippers
Lia Schippers, forestry, is a fall 2024 recipient of the Outstanding Ambassador of Agriculture and Life Sciences Award given by the CALS Student Council. In addition to her classwork, Schippers worked as a member of AmeriCorps for Practical Farmers of Iowa, honing her ability to communicate with landowners and agronomists. She discovered she had a love of communicating and a natural gift when it came to interacting with the public.
Senior Award Winner: Hailey Rossmiller
Hailey Rossmiller, agricultural communication and international agriculture, is a fall 2024 recipient of the Outstanding Ambassador of Agriculture and Life Sciences Award given by the CALS Student Council. Rossmiller’s outreach includes membership in Sigma Alpha, Agriculture Communicators of Tomorrow Club, National Agri-Marketing Association, CALS Council and the CALS Ambassador program.
Senior Award Winner: Elizabeth Severson
Elizabeth Severson, agronomy and horticulture, is the fall 2024 recipient of the Outstanding Senior Award given by the CALS Student Council. From judging soil profiles to swimming at nationals to learning to play the Campanile, Severson has done it all during her time at Iowa State.
Class of 2024: Caleb Spry
Caleb Spry, horticulture, came to Iowa State with a dream of becoming a medical illustrator – the perfect way to combine his love for art with his passion for biology. Two years into his college career, Spry realized that while his passion was still there, the major of biomedical illustration was no longer the route he wanted to take. He met with the Department of Horticulture and felt an instant connection and sense of community.
Class of 2024: Matt McGarry
Matt McGarry, agricultural studies, grew up on an Iowa farm without dairy cows, but always dreamed of starting his own dairy operation. Decades later, he’s finally pursuing that dream thanks to the custom-designed education and hands-on experiences he received at Iowa State. McGarry was drawn to the agricultural studies program’s multidisciplinary option, in which students select three emphasis areas to build their own personalized focus.
Research
Water Quality Research is a Team Sport
Over the years, Iowa Soybean Association staff and farmers have worked with Iowa State scientists to study the nutrient-reduction potential of constructed wetlands, bioreactors and saturated buffers. ISA has also led research to explore the potential of drainage water recycling, working with Iowa Nutrient Research Center Director Matt Helmers and others. (This is the second in a series of INRC articles highlighting important partnerships that help advance science water quality.)
New Digital Ag Innovation Lab Encourages Research and Collaboration
More than 100 people gathered at the Iowa State Research Park on Dec. 5 to celebrate the grand opening of the Alliant Energy Agriculture Innovation Lab. Also known as the Digital Ag Innovation Lab, the building provides more than 85,000 square feet of collaboration space. The Ames Tribune reports that President Wendy Wintersteen and Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig referred to the new Ames facility as a "crown jewel" of Iowa agriculture.
Teaching and Students
Culinary Boot Camp Equips Students for a Healthier Future
Iowa State students of all majors had the opportunity to enroll in Culinary Boot Camp, gaining valuable food safety, meal prepping and grocery shopping tips and tricks. The class was made possible by Erica Beirman’s involvement in the CALS Innovation and Entrepreneurship Faculty Fellows program.
Extension and Outreach
Iowans Make Progress Towards Monarch Habitat Conservation Goals
The Iowa Monarch Conservation Consortium has recently updated its Monarch Conservation Effort Report, which offers a summary of monarch habitat establishment through 2022 in all 99 counties. The data shows that since 2015, more than 690,000 acres of monarch butterfly habitat have been established across the state.
Master Gardener Home Gardening Series Begins in January
The ISU Extension and Outreach Master Gardener program will again host the Home Gardening Webinar Series, beginning in January and ending in March. Sessions will take place every Thursday from 6–7 p.m., ending March 13. Designed for anyone who is interested in gardening or horticulture, the series aims to inspire and educate.
Around the College
Darr Recognized by NAI for Tackling Real-World Issues
Matt Darr, agricultural and biosystems engineering, has been selected by the National Academy of Inventors for its 2024 Class of Fellows. Darr is an author or co-author on 88 patents and licensed technologies – ranging from smart sensors and controls to biomass logistics to machinery electronics – found in approximately 60 different products globally. Darr says the team, which includes faculty, professional staff and graduate students, focuses on technology, data insights and automation that are critical to feeding and fueling the world.
Women Impacting ISU Calendar Honorees Announced
Twelve women whose leadership has made a difference at Iowa State University will be honored on the 2025 Women Impacting ISU calendar, published by the Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics. Faculty, staff and students selected from CALS are: Amani Elobeid, economics; Rachel Burlingame, sociology and criminal justice; Albulena Basha, doctoral student in agricultural economics; and Ashlyn Rairdin, doctoral student in plant breeding. The calendar will be unveiled during a reception recognizing the honorees on Jan. 22, 2025, from 3:30-5 p.m. (program at 4 p.m.) in the Memorial Union Sun Room.
Winery’s Holiday Sale Closes Friday
The final pick-up and purchase of the Iowa State University Winery’s 2022 La Crescent, 2023 Marquette and 2023 Rosé wines (limited quantities of Rosé available), will be Friday, Dec. 20, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Meat Lab in Kildee Hall.
Dean’s Offices Closed During Winter Break
Curtiss Hall and the Dean’s offices and suite will be closed during winter break (Dec. 24 to Jan. 1), but the phone (515-294-3830) will be answered in the dean’s office if something is needed.
CALS Online: Next Issue Jan. 6
CALS Online will not be published for the next two weeks. It will resume Monday, Jan. 6. Happy holidays.
Calendar
Feb. 3: George Washington Carver Day in Iowa
CALS and the College of Veterinary Medicine will celebrate the annual George Washington Carver Day at Iowa State on Feb. 3 at 5 p.m. in the Memorial Union Durham Great Hall. Jewel Bronaugh, president and CEO of the 1890 Universities Foundation is the keynote speaker. Please RSVP by Jan. 27, 2025.
Communications Kiosk
Change Your Voicemail and Email Messages for Winter Break
If your department is closing over winter break, discuss how to handle incoming phone calls. Change your personal voicemail and email messages as well. Consider stating the dates you will be absent and if you will be checking your messages. Also, consider posting holiday hours on your department’s website.
Infograzing
Volunteers Needed for SHOP during Winter Break
The SHOP student food pantry invites university employees to volunteer during winter break to help keep the pantry open for students. Volunteers may sign-up for shifts online.
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Online
Julie Stewart, Editor
jstewart@iastate.edu, (515) 294-5616
https://www.cals.iastate.edu/cals-online
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Online, the newsletter for faculty and staff in Iowa State University's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, is published by email every Monday. The deadline for submitting content is 12 p.m. on Thursday.