CALS Online and Dean’s Message
March 10, 2025
Dean’s Message
Hello CALS – Please join us tomorrow, Tuesday, March 11, as we celebrate the 2025 CALS Faculty and Staff awardees during a ceremony at 4:10 p.m. in Dolezal Auditorium, 127 Curtiss Hall. Then stick around for a wine and cheese reception in Harl Commons immediately following the ceremony… A few thoughts about safety. We have an incredible college, with an amazing variety of activities in multitudes of places and spaces. Some of the work we do has truly significant safety risks associated with it…
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March 11: CALS Spring Awards Program
The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Spring Awards Program, honoring faculty and staff achievements, is Tuesday, March 11, at 4:10 p.m. in Dolezal Auditorium, 127 Curtiss Hall. The program will include brief comments from Dean Robison and recognition of the 2025 CALS faculty and staff award recipients (see below). A wine and cheese reception will follow the program in Harl Commons.
2025 CALS Faculty and Staff Awards
Faculty Teaching and Advising Awards
- Early Achievement in Teaching Award – Karl Kerns, animal science
- Early Achievement in Teaching Award – Renu Srivastava, genetics, development and cell biology
- Outstanding Achievement in Teaching Award – Cheryl Morris, animal science
- Outstanding Achievement in Teaching Award – Kate Gilbert, food science and human nutrition
- Distance Education Teaching Award – Lidia Skrynnikova, natural resource ecology and management
- Outstanding Achievement in Advising Award – Adam Thoms, horticulture
Faculty Research Awards
- Early Achievement in Research Award – Dior Kelley, genetics, development and cell biology
- Mid-Career Achievement in Research Award – Justin Walley, plant pathology, entomology and microbiology
- Outstanding Achievement in Research Award – Asheesh “Danny” Singh, agronomy
- Outstanding Achievement in Research Award – Amani Elobeid, economics
Extension and Outreach Awards
- Early Achievement in Extension and Outreach Award – Julia Baker, natural resource ecology and management
- Outstanding Achievement in Extension and Outreach Award – Russell Euken, Extension and Outreach
Staff Awards
- Early Achievement in Advising Award – Lauren Pierce, animal science
- Outstanding Achievement in Advising Award – Kelsey Powell, animal science
- Early Achievement in Research Award – Missey Roths, animal science
- Outstanding Achievement in Research Award – Stith Wiggs, plant pathology, entomology and microbiology
- Early Achievement Award – Jordan Gillespie, CALS budget and finance
- Outstanding Achievement Award – David Bruene, animal science
- Service and Dedication Award – Ben Covington, Digital Ag Innovation Lab
- Community Excellence Award – Sandamali Dassanayake, animal science
- Creative Impact Award – Daryl Herzmann, agronomy
Community Excellence, Global Engagement and Team Awards
- Community Excellence Award – Anna Johnson, animal science
- Outstanding Achievement in International Agriculture Award – Thomas Lübberstedt, agronomy
- Team Award – Iowa Nitrogen Initiative
College Awards and Honors
- Dean Lee R. Kolmer Award for Excellence in Applied Research – J. Gordon Arbuckle, sociology and criminal justice
- Rossmann Manatt Faculty Development Award – Arti Singh, agronomy
- Dean’s Citation for Extraordinary Contributions to the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences – Agrivoltaics Team
2024 Faculty and Staff Awards, by Department
Departments were asked to submit notable honors and awards received by faculty and staff in 2024. Congratulations to those listed below, and thank you to those who shared the information.
Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
- Daniel Andersen (RegenPGC Team) – Interdisciplinary Team Research Award, ISU
- Stuart Birrell – 25 Year Club, ISU
- Thomas Brumm – Distance Education Teaching Award, CALS
- Thomas Brumm – Fellow, American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers
- Thomas Brumm – Massey-Ferguson Educational Gold Medal Award, American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers
- Matt Darr – Fellow, National Academy of Inventors
- Brian Gelder – Outstanding Achievement in Research Award, CALS
- Brian Gelder – P&S Research Award, ISU
- Matt Helmers – ADS/Hancor Soil & Water Award, American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers
- Amy Kaleita (RegenPGC Team) – Interdisciplinary Team Research Award, ISU
- Ramesh Kanwar (NCERA-101) – Excellence in Multistate Research, North Central Regional Association of State Agricultural Experiment Station Directors
- Anne Kinzel (RegenPGC Team) – Interdisciplinary Team Research Award, ISU
- Gretchen Mosher – Promotion to Professor, ISU
- Josh Peschel – Faculty Early Career Development Program Award, National Science Foundation
- Raj Raman (RegenPGC Team) – Interdisciplinary Team Research Award, ISU
- Brett Ramirez – Award for Early Achievement in Extension or Professional Practice, ISU
- Kurt Rosentrater – 2024 Live Green! Award for Excellence in Sustainability, ISU
- Saxon Ryan – Advanced to Associate Teaching Professor, ISU
- Saxon Ryan – Early Achievement in Teaching Award (Term), CALS
- Tim Shepherd – Advanced to Teaching Professor, ISU
- Michelle Soupir – Fellow, American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers
Agricultural Education and Studies
- Jon Davis – Advanced to Associate Teaching Professor, ISU
- Fally Masambuka-Kanchewa – Distinguished Research Poster Award, Association for International Agricultural and Extension Education
- Fally Masambuka-Kanchewa – Distinguished Paper Award, American Association for Agricultural Education North Central Region
- Shuyang Qu – Distinguished Research Poster Award, Association for International Agricultural and Extension Education
- Shuyang Qu – Distinguished Paper Award, American Association for Agricultural Education North Central Region
- Mike Retallick – Journal of Agricultural Education Article of the Year (co-author), American Association for Agricultural Education
- Mike Retallick – Distinguished Research Poster Award, Association for International Agricultural and Extension Education
- Mike Retallick – Distinguished Paper Award, American Association for Agricultural Education North Central Region
- Kristine Tidgren – Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award, Iowa Chapter of the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers.
Agronomy
- Cynthia Bartel (RegenPGC Team) – Interdisciplinary Team Research Award, ISU
- Rick Cruse – World Mollisols Lifetime Achievement Award, Association of National and International Science Organizations – World Mollisols Association
- Mindy DeVries – Advanced to Associate Teaching Professor, ISU
- Ursula Frei – Award for Achievement in Intellectual Property, ISU
- Susana Goggi (RegenPGC Team) – Interdisciplinary Team Research Award, ISU
- Brian Hornbuckle – Outstanding Achievement in Teaching Award, CALS
- Robert Horton – Presidential Award, Soil Science Society of America
- Mark Licht – Editor’s Citation for Excellence as a reviewer for Agricultural and Environmental Letters, American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America and Soil Science Society of America
- Thomas Lübberstedt (RegenPGC Team) – Interdisciplinary Team Research Award, ISU
- Thomas Lübberstedt – Award for Achievement in Intellectual Property, ISU
- Antonio Mallarino – 25 Year Club (35), ISU
- Marshall McDaniel (RegenPGC Team) – Interdisciplinary Team Research Award, ISU
- Ken Moore (RegenPGC Team) – Interdisciplinary Team Research Award, ISU
- Maria Salas-Fernandez – Promotion to Professor, ISU
- Maria Salas-Fernandez – Community Excellence Award, CALS
- Walter Suza – Top Agri-Food Pioneer, World Food Prize Foundation
- Elwynn Taylor – Iowa Master Farmer Exceptional Service to Agriculture Award, Wallaces Farmer
- Andy VanLoocke – Mid-Career Achievement in Research Award, CALS
- Andy VanLoocke – Raymond and Mary Baker Agronomic Excellence Award, Agronomy
- Kan Wang – Distinguished Professor, ISU
- Jianming Yu – Outstanding Achievement in Research Award, CALS
- Jianming Yu – Award for Outstanding Achievement in Research, ISU
Animal Science
- Ranga Appuhamy – Promotion to Associate Professor, ISU
- Lance Baumgard – Fellow, American Dairy Science Association
- Jennifer Bundy (Animal Science Student Help Room) – Team Award, CALS
- Justin Chapman – Leo and Jane Milleman Mentorship Award, ISU
- James Dickson – Outstanding Achievement in International Agriculture Award, CALS
- James Dickson – International Service Award, ISU
- James Dickson – Honorary Life Membership Award, International Association for Food Protection
- Laura Greiner – Promotion to Associate Professor with Tenure, ISU
- Stephanie Hansen – Outstanding Achievement in Advising Award, CALS
- Stephanie Hansen – Gary L. Cromwell Award for Minerals Nutrition, American Society of Animal Science
- Elisabeth Huff-Lonergan – 25 Year Club, ISU
- Elisabeth Huff-Lonergan – Fellow (Section on Agriculture, Food and Renewable Resources), American Association for the Advancement of Science
- Elisabeth Huff-Lonergan – Corbin Award in Companion Animal Biology, American Society of Animal Science
- Karl Kerns – Research Mission Award, Gamma Sigma Delta
- James Koltes – Promotion to Associate Professor, ISU
- Steven Lonergan – 25 Year Club, ISU
- Steven Lonergan – International Agriculture Mission Award, Gamma Sigma Delta
- Daniel Loy – Animal Science Distinguished Alumnus, Pennsylvania State University
- Daniel Loy – Distinguished Achievement in Agriculture Award, Gamma Sigma Delta
- Sherry Olsen (to remember and honor her life and legacy) – Distinguished Teaching Award, American Meat Science Association
- Lauren Pierce (Animal Science Student Help Room) – Team Award, CALS
- Jason Ross – Award for Early Achievement in Departmental Leadership, ISU
- Jason Ross – Extension Award, American Society of Animal Science
- Max Rothschild – Honorary Alumni Award, ISU
- Patrick Schnable – 25 Year Club (35), ISU
- Jodi Sterle – 2024 Women Impacting ISU Calendar, Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics, ISU
- Anna Wolc – American Egg Board Research Award, Poultry Science Association
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
- Amy Andreotti – Award for Outstanding Achievement in Research, ISU
- Mark Hargrove – 25 Year Club, ISU
- Tracie Hennen-Bierwagen – 25 Year Club, ISU
- Dipali Sashital – Promotion to Professor, ISU
- Dipali Sashital – Margaret Ellen White Graduate Faculty Award, ISU
- Erik Underbakke – Years of Service to Learning Communities (5), ISU
- Yang Yang – Award for Early Achievement in Research, ISU
Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology
- Matthew Hufford – Promotion to Professor, ISU
- Corinna Most – Learning Communities Scholarship Award, ISU
- Corinna Most – Advanced to Adjunct Associate Professor
- Robert Wallace – Regents Award for Faculty Excellence, ISU
Economics
- Gil DePaula – Early Achievement in Teaching Award, CALS
- Liesl Eathington – 25 Year Club, ISU
- Amani Elobeid (RegenPGC Team) – Interdisciplinary Team Research Award, ISU
- Dermot Hayes – ISU Big 12 Faculty of the Year, Big 12 Conference
- Elizabeth Hoffman – Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame
- Peter Orazem – Fulbright Specialist Program Award
- Joshua Rosenbloom – Advisory Committee for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences, National Science Foundation
- Lee Schulz – Promotion to Professor, ISU
- Alex Zhylyevskyy – Award for Outstanding Achievement in Teaching, LAS
Food Science and Human Nutrition
- Erica Beirman – 2024 Women Impacting ISU Calendar, Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics, ISU
- Erin Bergquist – Outstanding Dietetics Education Award (West Central Region), Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
- Dawn Bowker – Excellence in Nursing Education Award, Iowa Nurses Association
- Peter Clark – Promotion to Associate Professor, ISU
- Peter Clark – Undergraduate Research Mentor Award, APLU Board on Health and Human Sciences
- Mridul Datta – Oncology Nutrition Dietary Practice Group Connie San Andres-Robles Distinguished Service Award, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
- Mridul Datta – Medallion Award, Iowa Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
- Sarah Francis – Excellence in Nutrition Education Award, American Society for Nutrition
- Buddhi Lamsal – Fulbright Specialist Program Award, USDA
- Lorraine Lanningham-Foster – Promotion to Professor, ISU
- Karla Long – Community Excellence Award, CALS
- Aubrey Mendonca – 25 Year Club, ISU
- Anne Oldham – Outstanding Achievement in Advising Award, CALS
- Maren Wolff – Advanced to Clinical Associate Professor
- Catherine Woteki – Volunteer of the Year, American Society for Nutrition
Genetics, Development and Cell Biology
- Clyde Campbell – Advanced to Assistant Professor, ISU
- Clark Coffman – Learning Communities Scholarship Award, ISU
- Clark Coffman – 25 Year Club, ISU
- Raquel Espin Palazon – Early Achievement in Research Award, CALS
- Jeff Essner – Research Award, ISU GDCB Department
- Xun Gu – 25 Year Club, ISU
- Ping Kang – Award for Excellent Dedication to Education Activities and Outstanding Contributions to Research Progress, ISU GDCB Department
- Jinoh Kim – Award for Exceptional Contributions to the Research Mission of GDCB and ISU and with Additional Contributions Within and Outside of ISU Communities, ISU GDCB Department
- Jelena Kraft – Advanced to Associate Teaching Professor, ISU
- Fang Liu – Award for Exceptional Contributions to the Research Mission of GDCB and ISU, ISU GDCB Department
- Carly Manz – Advanced to Teaching Professor, ISU
- Maura McGrail – Promotion to Professor, ISU
- Aron Nakama – Award for Exceptional Dedication to Biology 255/256 Labs and Exceeding Expectations in Mentoring Graduates and Undergraduates, ISU GDCB Department
- Renu Srivastava – Teaching Award, ISU GDCB Department
- Geetu Tuteja – Promotion to Professor, ISU
- Geetu Tuteja – Research Faculty Fellow, ISU
- Geetu Tuteja – Dean’s Professorship, LAS
Horticulture
- Barb Clawson – Staff Service and Dedication Award, CALS
- Barb Clawson – Teaching Mission Award, Gamma Sigma Delta
- Barb Clawson – Learning Communities Collaborator Award, ISU
- Barb Clawson – 25 Year Club, ISU
- Christopher Currey (NCERA-101) – Excellence in Multistate Research, North Central Regional Association of State Agricultural Experiment Station Directors
- Kathleen Delate (Organic Ag Program) – 2024 Live Green! Award for Excellence in Sustainability, ISU
- Shuizhang Fei (RegenPGC Team) – Interdisciplinary Team Research Award, ISU
- Alicia Herzog – Staff Early Achievement Award, CALS
- Alicia Herzog – Innovation and Excellence in Virtual Program Delivery Award, ISU Extension and Outreach
- Quincy Law – Agricultural and Environmental Letters Outstanding Associate Editor, Tri-Societies
- Betsy Matos – Advanced to Rank-Only Adjunct Associate Professor, ISU
- Ajay Nair – Outstanding Achievement in Extension and Outreach Award, CALS
- Gail Nonnecke – Journal of Agricultural Education Article of the Year (co-author), American Association for Agricultural Education
- Adam Thoms – Extension Mission Award, Gamma Sigma Delta
Natural Resource Ecology and Management
- John Burnett – Years of Service to Learning Communities (25), ISU
- Troy Heeren – Leo and Jane Milleman Mentorship Award, ISU
- Tom Isenhart – Years of Service to NREM (25), ISU
- Adam Janke (Chronic Wasting Disease Ambassadors) – Conservation Education Award, The Wildlife Society
- Adam Janke (Out in the Field Initiative) – Group Achievement Award, The Wildlife Society
- Lisa Schulte Moore – Top Agri-Food Pioneer, World Food Prize Foundation
- Jan Thompson – Fellow, Society of American Foresters
- Michael Weber – Promotion to Professor, ISU
Plant Pathology, Entomology and Microbiology
- Nancy Boury – 25 Year Club, ISU
- W. Allen Miller – 25 Year Club (35), ISU
- Adam Sisson – Staff Creative Impact Award, CALS
- Justin Walley – Promotion to Professor, ISU
- Stith Wiggs – Hall of Fame, State Science and Technology Fair of Iowa
- Wendy Wintersteen – innovationENTREPRENEUR of the Year, Des Moines Business Record
Sociology and Criminal Justice
- Monic Behnken – Award for Impact on Student Success, LAS
- Jacque Parker – Award for Early Achievement in Academic Advising, LAS
Statistics
- Emily Berg-Baruth – Award for Mid-Career Achievement in Research, LAS
- Michael Brekke – 25 Year Club, ISU
- Petrutza Caragea – Cassling Family Faculty Award for Outstanding Achievement in Teaching, LAS
- Philip Dixon – 25 Year Club, ISU
- Philip Dixon – Award for Outstanding Achievement on Extension or Professional Practice, LAS
- Ulrike Genschel – Promotion to Professor, ISU
- Ranjan Maitra – Award for Outstanding Achievement in Research, LAS
- Dan Nettleton – Award for Outstanding Achievement in Departmental Leadership, LAS
- Daniel Nordman – Award for Excellence in Graduate Mentoring, LAS
- Daniel Nordman – Dale D. Grosvenor Chair, LAS
- Vivekananda Roy – Promotion to Professor, ISU
CALS Administration and Centers
- David Acker – Leo and Jane Milleman Mentorship Award, ISU
- Carla Harris, CALS Graduate Student Services – CYtation Award, ISU Professional and Scientific Council
- Carla Harris, CALS Graduate Student Services – 25 Year Club (35), ISU
- Katy Heineman, CALS Student Services – Recruitment Innovation Award, ISU
- Daniel Ossian – 25 Year Club (35), ISU
- Doan Schmitz, CALS Administration – 25 Year Club, ISU
- Seed Lab Team, Seed Science Center (Drew Miller, Natalie Jacobson, Will Zastrow, Jessica Blake, Brooklynn Aamodt, Kaitlin Metzger, Susan Souhrada, Charles Block, Day Carrera, Daniela Avalos-Ochoa, Tess Howard, Michael Stahr, Kim North, Derrick Mayfield and Gabriela Morel-Gadea) – CYtation Award, ISU Professional and Scientific Council
- Jess Shaffer, CALS Student Services – Recruitment Innovation Award, ISU
- Shelley Taylor, Office for Global Engagement – Staff Outstanding Achievement Award, CALS
- Shelley Taylor, Office for Global Engagement – P&S Excellence Award, ISU
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.