What has been your favorite class and why?
My favorite class has been Agronomy 1810 with Mary Wiedenhoeft. I took this class in my very first semester at Iowa State with Abby Wing, who is now one of my best friends. In this class, we sat in the very front row, chatted with Mary at the beginning of each class and had study groups with other friends in the class throughout the semester. Part of the reason I loved this class so much was the friends I was with and the content we were learning, but most of my love for this class came from Mary. She took the time to get to know us and discover our learning styles, so all students had the opportunity to learn in a way that was best for them. Mary has never forgotten who I was over the four years that followed this course. She is the professor who helped show me that even if you are in a class of 150 people, you can have a close connection with the professor for more individualized learning.
Who has positively impacted your time at Iowa State?
Countless people have positively impacted my time at Iowa State! I will forever be grateful to each person I have had the opportunity to be a student under, work alongside or have as a mentor! The following people are only a few of the many who have been by my side through many years, obstacles, life events, new adventures and more: Nate Dobbels, Dr. Toyia Younger, Kristine Heflin, Brad Hill, Dr. Mary Wiedenhoeft, and Shelley Taylor!
What is the best advice you have ever received?
The best academic development advice that I have ever received came from my academic advisor, Nate Dobbels. Coming into college, I believed it was entirely about attending class and getting the best grades possible to impress future employers. However, through one of our many chats over the years, he changed my mind set and the trajectory of my college life. He advised me that college is not only about academics, but rather split into three main categories for your future career: internships, extracurricular activities and academics. This advice allowed me to take the pressure off myself over picking the "perfect" major and getting "the best" grades possible, which was creating an incredibly unhealthy mindset for me in my first year. Instead, it allowed me to focus on the bigger picture and understand that one mishap will not tank your career or life.
What is one thing you’re most proud of?
One thing that I am most proud of is the assistance that I provided to get violence and assault resource education included in the New Student Orientation. This was a priority of mine during my presidency, and thanks to conversations with President Wintersteen, Dr. Toyia Younger, the ISU Police Department and Anna Spahn, the student government health and wellness director, we were able to take this incredible step forward for all incoming students. Having this education provided first-hand, in-person, during a time when you are doing everything possible to learn about your new home, is essential, and I am positive that this has allowed at least one student to feel more confident and comfortable reaching out for help during a time of need.
What is one takeaway from your time at Iowa State?
A key takeaway from my time at Iowa State is to not be afraid to reach out for help. This help can be for anything happening in your life. Whether you are confused about what major you should be in, facing mental health struggles, overwhelmed with your course load, unsure of how to handle a sticky situation in a leadership role or anything else that you can think of, asking for help is 100% okay, and truthfully encouraged. At Iowa State, there are a multitude of resources and people to assist when you are in a time of need, and if the first person or resource that you reach out to does not know how to help you, chances are, they know someone who would. Iowa State is one big community, where everyone wants to see you succeed during your collegiate years and post-graduation, which taught me how to be comfortable with seeking out help and assisting others in seeking help.
What is a memory that you will cherish from Iowa State?
A memory that I will forever cherish, thanks to Iowa State, is trying every single ice cream at Hickory Park with one of my best friends, Kaylee Kleitsch. Kaylee graduated with her bachelor's degree in May of 2023, and her goal was to try every single ice cream option at Hickory Park before she graduated. Because of this, we did this in one semester! While it was a lot of sugar and money, it was incredible to get to bring random friends in with us along the adventure. One key time that we often visited Hickory Park was after our Sigma Alpha meetings on Monday evenings, so we created a new tradition for many girls who have continued to do this even today.
What is the best advice you would give an underclassman?
Academically, the best advice I could give an underclassman is to join an organization that does not necessarily fit the ideal trajectory of your career path, but rather is a personal passion. This allows you to create friends and connections outside of your studies and could potentially open your eyes to a life path that you never originally considered. For me, this was joining Student Government, which truly changed my life in so many ways, small and large. It allowed me to discover a passion I never knew I had and delve into the potential of a career in student affairs. Now, I have a life goal of eventually returning to Iowa State as a professor.
On a personal basis, the best advice I could give is to take in every step of this adventure. It sounds cliche, but your time at Iowa State will fly by in the blink of an eye. Be sure to prioritize your friends, amid your studies, internships and organizations, because eventually you won't live within a 10-minute drive of them anymore.
What are your plans after graduation?
I have been accepted to the Sustainable Food Systems Double Degree Program through the ISARA Lyon Agro School for Life & Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, located in France and Italy, respectively! Through this program, I will graduate in 2027 with dual master of science degrees in sustainable food systems and food processing: innovation and tradition.
Information compiled by Katrina Hageman