CALS Online and Dean’s Message
December 15, 2025
Dean’s Message
Hello CALS – A very busy week ahead. Here are a few items to make note of: Innovation and Entrepreneurship Faculty Fellows reception for 2024 cohort… CALS Convocation… Graduate College University Commencement Ceremony… Undergraduate University Commencement Ceremony… New CALS Peer Award for Leadership and Service…
Top Stories
CALS Convocation to Honor Graduating Seniors, Dec. 19
The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences will hold its fall convocation Friday, Dec. 19, 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). David Acker, former associate dean of global programs and current professor in the Department of Agricultural Education and Studies, is the convocation guest speaker. Sam Martin, animal science, is the convocation student speaker. Emma Bastian, nutritional science, will serve as the CALS student marshal at the university undergraduate commencement ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 20, at 1:30 p.m. in Hilton Coliseum. The graduate commencement ceremony will take place Friday, Dec. 19, at 7 p.m. in Hilton Coliseum.
Five Seniors Honored During Fall 2025 Convocation
Each semester, the CALS Student Council recognizes graduating seniors who have gone above and beyond while attending Iowa State. This semester, the following five seniors will be honored at the Dec. 19 CALS Convocation:
- Allyson Aves, agricultural and rural policy studies – Leadership and Innovation
- Emily Kihlstrom, agronomy – Outstanding Ambassador of Agriculture and Life Sciences
- Caleb Clay, animal science – Outstanding Senior
- Morgan Lang, global resource systems and agricultural and rural policy studies – Academic Achievement
- Kai O’Connell, agronomy – Distinguished Service
CALS Convocation Speaker: Sam Martin
Sam Martin, animal science, is the CALS student speaker at the college’s convocation on Friday, Dec. 19, at 9 a.m. in Hilton Coliseum. His experience at Iowa State made him reevaluate the way he views the agriculture industry and even his family’s operation at home. “When we can perfect the skills of our trade, we can rise above the competition and lead,” Martin said.
CALS Student Marshal: Emma Bastian
Emma Bastian, nutritional science, will serve as the CALS student marshal at the university undergraduate commencement ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 20, at 1:30 p.m. in Hilton Coliseum. She is motivated by a desire to work toward food security for all. “Food is a basic human right, and I think we all have a role to play in securing that right,” Bastian said.
Christian Receives Honorary Doctorate Degree
Allen Christian’s lifelong commitment to Iowa State University and the pork industry left a lasting impact on animal science, swine production and student development. For more than 50 years (1959–2010), Christian served as Iowa State’s swine teaching farm manager. Christian will receive an honorary doctorate degree at the undergraduate commencement ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 20, at 1:30 p.m. in Hilton Coliseum. A celebration for Christian will be held following the Dec. 20 ceremony from 3-6 p.m. at the Hansen Agricultural Student Learning Center.
Research
Prairie Strips Can Rapidly Improve Soil Heath
Prairie strips can improve measures of soil health faster than expected, according to new research published in the Journal of Soil and Water Conservation. Co-authors include Cole Dutter, recent doctoral graduate in sustainable agriculture and soil science, Marshall McDaniel, agronomy, and Lisa Schulte Moore, natural resource ecology and management and director of the Bioeconomy Institute.
Teaching and Students
Investing in the Longevity of Food Science
With a focus on innovation and ideation, Kate Gilbert has dedicated her CALS Innovation and Entrepreneurship Faculty Fellows project to enhance FSHN 4120: Food Product Development, a three-credit capstone course for food science and culinary food science seniors. The course challenges students to develop a new food product using the knowledge they have gained from prerequisite courses.
Testing New Skills for Future Success
It’s no coincidence that first-year students in the Department of Plant Pathology, Entomology and Microbiology take Microbiology 1150: Phage Discovery Lab taught by Nick Peters as their very first class. The department intentionally schedules it this way so students kick off their Iowa State adventure in an exploratory lab offering real-world opportunities to build their skillset and get an early introduction to research.
Students Share Experiences in Science with Practice Program
Science with Practice is a CALS experiential learning and work program for undergraduate students. To celebrate the program’s 20th anniversary, the following articles highlight CALS students participating in the program.
- Caroline Strawhacker, junior in agricultural business, agronomy and economics, used her Science with Practice involvement to help people navigate changes in the land market, drawing from her agricultural background and economic passion. Alongside Rabail Chandio, economics and head of the Iowa State Land Value Survey, Strawhacker analyzed data from rural appraisers, landowners and farm managers to learn about their experiences, perceptions and expectations regarding land value.
- Rachel Becker, senior in horticulture, used her Science with Practice involvement to dive into poinsettia tree production, all while discovering a side of research she didn’t know existed. She has worked alongside Christopher Currey, horticulture, to conduct three experiments with an overall goal of refining poinsettia tree production.
- Emma Alstott, senior in global resource systems and horticulture, is working to address an issue that blueberry growers in southern Iowa brought to her Science with Practice mentor, Suzanne Slack, horticulture. These growers were unsure why their bushes were declining, so Alstott and Slack, along with graduate student Brooke Dietsch, took samples to identify the issue.
Students Gain Hands-On Experience at Meat Lab
The Iowa State Meat Laboratory hosts undergraduate animal science classes and other short courses and makes products for retail. In addition, the Meat Lab employs nearly 20 undergraduate students to work in the facility. Caroline Downey, animal science, said the Meat Lab gives students an opportunity to gain hands-on experience with what happens after animals go to a harvest facility.
Extension and Outreach
Chandio Reports on 2025 Land Value Survey
The 2025 Iowa State Land Value Survey reported a 0.7% increase in average farmland values, bringing the statewide average to $11,549 per acre. The inflation-adjusted value, $8,475 per acre in 2015 dollars, represents a 1.8% decline, driven by continued pressure from lower commodity prices, rising input costs and the lingering effects of elevated interest rates, reported Rabail Chandio, economics, at a news conference held Dec. 9.
Steil Offers Tips for Holiday Plant Care
Holiday plants bring color and life to homes during the winter months. Aaron Steil, consumer horticulture extension specialist at Iowa State, offers care tips to keep holiday plants healthy and appealing throughout the holidays and beyond.
Around the College
Schnable Elected to National Academy of Inventors
The National Academy of Inventors elected Iowa State agronomy professor Patrick Schnable as a fellow, recognizing the 17 U.S. utility patents and two plant variety protections he holds. Proso millet is the focus of a startup he runs called Dryland Genetics. The company is developing higher-yielding varieties of the grain crop, which is more water efficient than other grains.
Persia Named New Egg Industry Center Director
A former Iowa State faculty member is returning to Ames to serve as the next director of the Egg Industry Center. Michael Persia, John W. Hancock Professor in the School of Animal Sciences at Virginia Tech, will begin his new role on June 1, 2026. Brett Ramirez, agricultural and biosystems engineering and EIC associate director, has been serving as interim director of the EIC since February 2024, following the passing of former EIC director Richard Gates.
Interviews Continue for Agricultural Education and Studies Department Chair
The third of four candidates identified for the position of chair of the Department of Agricultural Education and Studies presented a public seminar on “Vision for the Future of the Department of Agricultural Education and Studies at ISU as a Land Grant University” this morning, Dec. 15. The final candidate will present on Wednesday, Dec. 17. Seminars are recorded and will be posted after all candidates have presented. All seminars will take place in the CCUR Auditorium, 1951 Food Sciences Building, from 9-9:50 a.m., followed by a faculty forum from 10-10:50 a.m. in the same room.
CALS Staff Council Creates New Award
Nominations are sought for the inaugural CALS Peer Award for Leadership and Service. The new award honors staff who consistently go above and beyond in their support of research, teaching and extension, which are at the heart of the university’s land-grant mission. Nominations in the areas of research, teaching, extension, administration/financial support and IT/technology are welcome. Nominations are due by Jan. 31. For questions, contact Katy Heineman (katyh@iastate.edu) or Roger Hintz (rhintz@iastate.edu).
Borels Receive Inaugural Knapp-Wilson Award
Jim ('78 agricultural business) and Marcia ('78 family environment) Borel received the inaugural Knapp-Wilson Award, which honors an individual, family or organization in recognition of their service to CALS, and who, in the spirit of Seaman Knapp and James Wilson, exemplify a commitment and innovation that crosses boundaries and helps to lift others.
Calendar
Feb. 2, 2026: Save the Date
Iowa State will celebrate the annual George Washington Carver Day of Recognition on Feb. 2, 2026, from 5-7:30 p.m. in the Durham Great Hall, Memorial Union. Amanda Williams, visual artist and architect, will present how Carver invented and patented a way to create a famous blue pigment from clay and how she used his process and pigment for a renewal project in New Orleans and other art experiments.
More Events Listed on CALS Website
Find more events on the CALS Events webpage. Submit events for inclusion on this list to madelyno@iastate.edu or jstewart@iastate.edu.
Infograzing
Art Walk Features Botanical Beauty in Parks Library
On Wednesday, Dec. 17, from noon to 1 p.m., University Museums docent Steve Petska will lead a guided tour of public art celebrating plant life in all its forms—from delicate florals to lush prairie. Meet on the fourth floor of Parks Library.
Marginalia
Are Santa’s Reindeer Used for Propulsion or Navigation?
A guest post from the Ask an Engineer series, published by MIT’s School of Engineering, says both. Although the author hasn’t seen the technical specifications for Santa’s sleigh, he thinks there are a few things he can deduce on the basis of reliable reports of the sleigh in flight. “The poem tells us that when the reindeer approach the roof of the house, an observer can hear ‘on the roof/the prancing and pawing of each little hoof.’ This tells us that the reindeer generally move their legs and feet when the sleigh is moving. Because reindeer are moving their legs, we know they are using energy. As nothing else on the sleigh seems to be actively producing energy, we can safely deduce that reindeer constitute the propulsion subsystem of Santa’s sleigh… The question of steering the sleigh is a trickier problem. Steering a flying vehicle is usually split into three separate processes: navigation, guidance and control…”
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.