The 2023 Dean’s Citation for Extraordinary Contributions to the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences was awarded to John Miranowski and Susan Thompson for their work with Iowa AgSTATE. Iowa AgSTATE stands for “Agricultural Strategic Thinkers Acting Together Effectively.” The organization got its start in 1997, when representatives of farm and commodity organizations, agribusinesses, state government and Iowa State University began to talk about the need for a long-range, strategic plan for Iowa agriculture.
The agricultural economics department and the Center for Agricultural and Rural Development were chosen to provide administrative support for the effort. Miranowski, professor emeritus of economics, served as facilitator for Iowa AgSTATE from 1997 to 2006. As a member of the college’s communications office, Thompson provided communications support during that same time.
Iowa AgSTATE took a six-year hiatus starting in 2006, then began meeting again in 2012. Although retired at this point, Thompson was asked to once again provide communications support, which she did through 2022, supporting Iowa AgSTATE for a total of 20 years. Miranowski returned as facilitator from 2017 to 2022, for a total of 15 years of support for this effort.
Also receiving the 2023 Dean’s Citation for Extraordinary Contributions to the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences are the college’s communications, marketing and recruiting offices. “Their work and dedication to the college during the transition to shared leadership was remarkable, especially as it occurred during the strain of the pandemic,” said Dean Robison.
The team included Andy Zehr, Whitney Baxter, Marcie Fahn, Julie Stewart, Ann Robinson, Angie Weeks, Katy Heineman, Beth Foreman, Breanna Wetzler and Craig McEnany.