AMES, Iowa – Iowa State University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences honored faculty and staff with awards in teaching, advising, research, extension and outreach, diversity and global engagement during a ceremony on March 10.
Teaching and Advising Awards
Emily Zimmerman, assistant professor in natural resource ecology and management and global resource systems, received the Early Achievement in Teaching Award. In addition to her teaching assignment, she is faculty coordinator of the ISU EARTH Program in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Elisabeth Huff-Lonergan, professor in animal science, received the Outstanding Achievement in Teaching Award. She teaches fundamental meat science and muscle biology courses at the graduate and undergraduate levels, as well as provides study abroad opportunities.
Jeffrey Mitchell, program specialist with the Meats Laboratory in animal science, received the Professional and Scientific Outstanding Achievement in Teaching Award. He conducts extension program demonstrations and teaches undergraduate laboratories.
Amber Anderson, assistant teaching professor in agronomy, received the Excellence in Teaching by Term Faculty Award. She teaches traditional on-campus courses, exclusively online and off-campus immersion courses in both domestic and international settings.
Scott Smalley, associate professor in agricultural education and studies, received the Distance Education Teaching Award. Many of his graduate students are current secondary agriculture education teachers and extension professionals who are furthering their education.
Dawn Koltes, assistant professor in animal science, received the Early Advisor Award. She advises students on the course to complete a degree, guides undergraduate students through individualized research programs and serves as a career mentor.
Susan Cramer, academic advisor in the undergraduate microbiology program, received the Professional and Scientific Early Advisor Award. She works with students at Experience Iowa State and summer orientation, and as an instructor in the microbiology orientation course.
Ben Chamberlain, student services specialist in agricultural education and studies, received the Professional and Scientific Outstanding Advisor Award. In addition to working with students in his department, he serves on the University Academic Advising Committee.
Christen Burgett, associate teaching professor in animal science, received the Outstanding Service in Student Recruitment and Retention Award. Her involvement in state, regional and national youth programs contribute to her recruiting activities.
Research Awards
Walter Moss, assistant professor in biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology, received the Early Achievement in Research Award. He has become a leader in the field of RNA structure, securing more than $2.8 million in funding for his research in the past five years.
Joshua Selsby, professor in animal science, received the Mid-Career Achievement in Research Award. He has developed a successful research program focused on skeletal muscle injury, including Duchenne muscular dystrophy and muscle injury caused by prolonged heat stress.
Lance Baumgard, professor in animal science and Norman L. Jacobson Endowed Professor in Dairy Science, received the Outstanding Achievement in Research Award. He is a global leader in nutritional and environmental physiology.
Yuba Kandel, research scientist in plant pathology and microbiology, received the Professional and Scientific Research Award. He is an accomplished researcher in laboratory and field settings and has greatly augmented scientific literature on soybean disease management.
Extension and Outreach Awards
Adam Thoms, assistant professor in horticulture, received the Early Achievement in Extension and Outreach Award. He works with the state’s golf course, sports turf, lawn care and sod industries, and is growing the next playing surface to be installed at Jack Trice Stadium.
Stacie Matchan, program specialist with the Iowa Pork Industry Center, received the Professional and Scientific Early Achievement in Extension and Outreach Award. She manages pork industry conferences for the IPIC, including Iowa Swine Day and the IPIC Sow Summit.
Antonio Mallarino, professor in agronomy, received the Outstanding Achievement in Extension and Outreach Award. His work focuses on soil fertility and nutrient and soil management for efficient crop production and environmental stewardship.
Denise Schwab, northeast Iowa regional beef field specialist for ISU Extension and Outreach, received the Professional and Scientific Outstanding Achievement in Extension and Outreach Award. She has been instrumental in forage and grazing education and developing programs for emerging producers.
Professional and Scientific Staff Awards
Maya Hayslett, crop science youth education specialist in plant pathology and microbiology, received the Professional and Scientific Outstanding New Professional Award. She is part of the Integrated Pest Management program and focuses on agricultural education for youth through 4-H.
Carl Pederson, agricultural specialist in agricultural and biosystems engineering, received the Professional and Scientific Excellence Award. He has been critical to water quality field research through leading installation of monitoring equipment at numerous sites.
Diversity, Global Engagement and Team Awards
Joan Cunnick, professor in animal science, received the Faculty Award for Diversity Enhancement. In addition to her work in the college, she provides hands-on STEM opportunities for high school students from underrepresented groups.
Justin Chapman, student services specialist in animal science, received the Professional and Scientific Award for Diversity Enhancement. He is helping the Department of Admissions provide Experience Iowa State programs that focus on multicultural student recruitment.
Kurt Rosentrater, associate professor in agricultural and biosystems engineering and executive director of the Distillers Grains Technology Council, received the Outstanding Achievement in International Agriculture Award. He is recognized as a global leader in production and processing of value-added food and biomaterials.
The Soynomics Team received the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Team Award. They are internationally recognized for their work in machine learning applications to agriculture. The team has received more than $30 million of research funding, published more than 50 refereed journal papers and presented more than 50 invited talks in the United States, Australia, Brazil, Canada, India and Japan.
The Soynomics team is led by Asheesh Singh, agronomy, and includes: Arti Singh, agronomy; Baskar Ganapathysubramanian and Soumik Sarkar, mechanical engineering; Daren Mueller and Greg Tylka, plant pathology and microbiology; and Matt O’Neal, entomology.