The CALS Staff Champions Program is a cohort-based professional development initiative designed to cultivate informed, engaged and forward-thinking staff leaders within the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Launched in 2023, the program brings together a select group of staff participants each year to deepen their understanding of the college’s mission, operations and strategic priorities while strengthening their individual leadership capabilities.
Participants meet six times from July to December every year to learn about the college, its land-grant mission, operations and research farms. Members of the cohort also meet CALS administrators and engage in professional development sessions.
Since 2023, 70 CALS staff have participated in the program.
"I valued being part of the CALS Staff Champions Program for many reasons, one being the opportunity to network and connect with colleagues across the college to find synergies in our daily work,” said Sarah Canova, business manager of the Iowa State University Creamery and member of the 2024 CALS Staff Champions cohort. “I also highly valued the personality and Real Colors sessions to help improve team communication across personality styles."
Staff Champions serve as connectors across units, helping to strengthen communication, foster collaboration and provide valuable insight to college leadership. The program builds a network of informed staff who support continuous improvement and advance the mission of CALS.
"One of my biggest takeaways from the CALS Staff Champions Program was gaining a better understanding of CALS as a college and the many ways it supports faculty, staff, students and our land-grant mission,” said Zoë Kiefer, a research scientist in animal science and member of the 2023 cohort. “I really valued the opportunity to interact with the CALS leadership team and learn more about their roles. It was also great to build connections with staff members outside of my department and focus on a growth mindset to positively impact CALS."
Members of the 2026 CALS Staff Champions cohort are:
- Cayla Johnson, agricultural and biosystems engineering
- Kate Groe, agricultural and biosystems engineering
- Leigh Long, agricultural and biosystems engineering
- Ben Ostendorf, agricultural education and studies
- Greg Schoenbaum, agronomy
- Rachel Logsdon, agronomy
- April George, animal science
- Briana Leonard, animal Science
- Ruben Bogado Benitez - animal science
- Eric Anderson, CALS Career Services
- Katy Griner, CALS Career Services
- Angie Weeks, CALS Communications
- Casey Constable, food science and human nutrition
- Mitch Michel, food science and human nutrition
- Troy Heeren, natural resource ecology and management
- Cole Hopkins, Iowa State Research Farms
- Shawnia Silverthorn, Iowa State Research Farms
- Crystal Davis, Seed Science Center
Interested in joining the CALS Staff Champions Program? Applications typically open in May each year.
