Two Endowed Professorships Named at Iowa State University

Two endowed professorships have been established in the Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management at Iowa State University. Steven Jungst will fill the Harmon Family Professorship in Forestry. The endowed professorship was a gift from Eleanor Harmon Cowen. Her brother, Wendell Harmon, graduated from Iowa State in 1932 with a degree in forestry. Cowen, who died in 2000, asked that the professorship be occupied "by an instructional innovator who is capable of developing and demonstrating innovative techniques." Jungst, who has been a member of the forestry faculty since 1974, received his bachelor's degree in forestry from Iowa State University in 1969. He also earned master's and doctorate degrees in forestry at Iowa State. Jungst's appointment is 100 percent teaching. He serves as chair of the department's student learning outcomes committee and teaches seven courses. Richard Hall will fill the Arthur L. and Frances S. Wallace Endowed Professorship. Arthur Wallace was a 1941 forestry graduate from Iowa State. In 1961, he graduated from Northwestern University with a degree in dentistry and established a private practice in South Dakota. He now is retired. Frances Wallace, who died in 1996, also was a graduate of Iowa State with a degree in textiles and clothing. Their gift left the criteria for the endowed professorship to be determined by the department chair, on how to benefit the department in ways other than scholarships. Hall has been a member of the ISU faculty for 30 years, following the completion of his doctorate degree at the University of Wisconsin in plant breeding and genetics. He earned his bachelor's degree at Iowa State in forest management science. Hall currently teaches four courses. In addition, his research focuses on genetic improvement of poplars and alders and the production of woody biomass. J. Michael Kelly, chair of the natural resources ecology and management department, said both Jungst and Hall are excellent choices for these endowed professorships. "Both have been on the Iowa State forestry faculty for 30 years and have proven themselves to be excellent representatives of our department, the ISU College of Agriculture and the entire university," Kelly said. Both professorships are for three years, renewable for an additional three years. The Wallace gift was established in 1992 and the Harmon gift in 1996. Catherine Woteki, dean of the College of Agriculture, said watching such gifts grow into the establishment of an endowed professorship is exciting. "Gifts such as these are a tremendous way for our alumni and friends to contribute to the continued excellence of our teaching and research programs," Woteki said. The forestry program in the Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.