Eighty Iowa State faculty and staff -- 63 individuals and two teams -- are receiving one of the university's awards for 2024. They'll be honored at a community celebration this fall, scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 25 (3:30 p.m., Durham Great Hall, Memorial Union, reception follows).
No new awards were introduced this year, the most recent universitywide award, recognizing a significant impact on student success, debuted last year.
Following are the employees and the promotions or awards for which they've been recognized.
Distinguished Professor
The title of Distinguished Professor, first awarded in 1956, is Iowa State's highest academic honor. It recognizes a faculty member whose accomplishments in research or creative activities have had a significant impact on their discipline nationally or internationally and who has demonstrated outstanding performance in at least one other area of faculty responsibility. Nominees must hold the rank of professor and have served at least five years on the Iowa State faculty. The awardee retains the title for the remainder of their career at the university.
- Michael Bailey, professor, history; and interim chair, world languages and cultures
- Hui Hu, professor, aerospace engineering; and Martin C. Jischke Professor in Aerospace Engineering
- Robyn Lutz, professor, computer science
- James Vary, professor, physics and astronomy
- Kan Wang, professor, agronomy; and Global Professor in Biotechnology, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
University Professor
The title of University Professor is awarded to a faculty member who has acted as a change agent by making significant contributions to improve the university and who has demonstrated outstanding performance in at least one other area of faculty responsibility. Nominees must hold the rank of professor and have served at least 10 years on the Iowa State faculty. The awardee retains the title for the remainder of their career at the university.
- Ingrid Lilligren, professor, art and visual culture
Morrill Professor
The title of Morrill Professor is conferred on a faculty member who has exhibited excellence in undergraduate or graduate teaching or extension and outreach programs and who has demonstrated outstanding performance in at least one other area of faculty responsibility. Nominees must hold the rank of professor and have served at least five years on the Iowa State faculty. The awardee retains the title for the remainder of their career at the university.
- Raj Agnihotri, professor, marketing; and executive director of industry engagement
- Michael Dorneich, professor, industrial and manufacturing systems engineering; and Joseph Walkup Professor in Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering
- Kelly Reddy-Best, professor, apparel, events, and hospitality management
- Christopher Seeger, professor, landscape architecture
- Arthur Winter, professor, chemistry
Regents Award for Faculty Excellence
The award is presented by the state Board of Regents to recognize tenured faculty members who are outstanding university citizens and have rendered significant service to the university or the state of Iowa.
- David Peterson, professor, political science; and Lucken Professorship in Political Science
- Ann Smiley, professor, kinesiology
- Emily Smith, professor, chemistry; and director, division of chemical and biological sciences, Ames National Laboratory
- Gary Taylor, professor, community and regional planning
- Robert Wallace, associate professor, ecology, evolution and organismal biology
Regents Award for Staff Excellence
The award is presented by the state Board of Regents to recognize professional and scientific or merit staff who are outstanding university citizens and have rendered significant service to the university or the state of Iowa.
- Kirsten Abel, faculty recognition director, office of the senior vice president and provost
- Kelly Boesenberg-Smith, manager, quality service program, Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory
- Nancy Qvale, manager, business administration, civil, construction and environmental engineering
- Jamie Sass, director, Ivy Writing and Speaking Center, Ivy College of Business
Award for Inclusive Excellence
The award recognizes faculty, professional and scientific staff and merit staff who have advanced the university's mission of diversity, equity and inclusion beyond their usual job responsibilities.
- Jennifer Shane, associate professor, civil, construction and environmental engineering; and W.A. Klinger Teaching Professor
- Arnold Woods III, director, multicultural student success, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
International Service Award
The award recognizes a faculty member for outstanding international service in teaching, research or administration within the United States or abroad.
- James Dickson, professor, animal science; and Morrison Chair in Meat Science, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Award for Impact on Student Success
The award recognizes outstanding achievement by professional staff and faculty who have a sustained impact on undergraduate student success. This positive impact may be with individual students or a group of students, inside or outside the classroom.
- Stacy Cordery, professor, history
- Shalika Khindurangala, coordinator, career services, Ivy College of Business
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ISU Student Centered Learning Workshop Team:
- Erin Baldwin, associate vice president, student health and wellness; and director, Thielen Student Health Center
- Laura Bestler, program specialist, Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT)
- Tony Dirth, director, recreation services
- Paul Hengesteg, data analyst, CELT
- Sara Marcketti, Morrill Professor, apparel, events and hospitality management; assistant provost and executive director, CELT
- Kristen Sievert, director, counseling services
- Brian Vanderheyden, director, student wellness
Award for Outstanding Achievement in Teaching
The award recognizes a faculty member for outstanding teaching performance over an extended period of time.
- Michael Lyons, teaching professor, biomedical sciences
- Louis Thompson Distinguished Undergraduate Teaching designation: Neysa Goodman, associate teaching professor, world languages and cultures
- Louis Thompson Distinguished Undergraduate Teaching designation: Suzanne Millman, professor, veterinary diagnostic and production animal medicine; and Scott and Nancy Armbrust Professor in Veterinary Medicine
Award for Early Achievement in Teaching
The award recognizes a faculty member who has demonstrated outstanding teaching performance unusually early in their career.
- Luke Roling, assistant professor, chemical and biological engineering
- Clay Thomas, assistant teaching professor, management and entrepreneurship
James Huntington Ellis Award for Excellence
in Undergraduate Introductory Teaching
Established by a 1928 Iowa State graduate, the award recognizes a faculty member for exceptional achievement in teaching introductory courses.
- Kaoru Ikuma, associate professor, civil, construction and environmental engineering
Margaret Ellen White Graduate Faculty Award
Established by a longtime staff member of the Graduate College, the award recognizes superior performance by a member of the graduate faculty in enriching the student-professor relationship and enabling students to finish their work in a timely and scholarly manner.
- Kenny Cook, professor, English; co-coordinator, MFA program in creative writing and environment
- Dipali Sashital, associate professor, biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology
Award for Departmental Leadership
The award recognizes a department chair or school director who has demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities in advancing the faculty, staff, students and programs in their department.
- Kristie Franz, professor and Smith Family Foundation Departmental Chair in Geology, geological and atmospheric sciences
- David Sanders, professor and Greenwood Department Chair in Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering
Award for Early Achievement in Departmental Leadership
The award recognizes the exceptional impact of a department chair or school director within the first three years of their leadership role.
- Jason Ross, professor and chair, animal science; and Lloyd L. Anderson Endowed Professor in Physiology
Award for Academic Advising Impact
The award recognizes outstanding performance by an academic advisor over an extended period of time.
- Mindy Cooper, academic advisor, landscape architecture
Award for Early Achievement in Academic Advising
The award recognizes outstanding performance by an academic advisor early in their career.
- Grace Wolf, academic advisor, psychology
Award for Outstanding Achievement in Research
The award recognizes a tenured faculty member who has a national or international reputation for contributions in research and/or creative activity.
- Amy Andreotti, University Professor, biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology; and Roy J. Carver Chair of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
- Jianming Yu, professor, agronomy; Pioneer Hi-Bred Distinguished Chair in Maize Breeding; and director, Raymond F. Baker Center for Plant Breeding
Save the date
University Awards Ceremony
3:30 p.m., Sept. 25
Durham Great Hall, MU
Award for Mid-Career Achievement in Research
The award recognizes a tenured or tenure-track faculty member who has demonstrated exemplary performance or scholarship in research and/or creative activity as documented by peers or experts in the field.
- Daniel Linhares, associate professor, veterinary diagnostic and production animal medicine; and Roy A. Schultz Professor in Swine Medicine
- Amy Erica Smith, associate professor, political science; and Dean's Professor, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Jean-Philippe Tessonnier, professor, chemical and biological engineering; and Richard C. Seagrave Professor, chemical and biological engineering
Award for Early Achievement in Research
The award recognizes a tenured or tenure-track faculty member who has demonstrated outstanding accomplishments in research and/or creative activity unusually early in their professional career.
- Roy Sturgill, assistant professor, civil, construction and environmental engineering
- Yang Yang, assistant professor, biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology
Interdisciplinary Team Research Award
The award recognizes an interdisciplinary team of two or more faculty researchers with outstanding achievements who have made a significant contribution to the university's research and scholarship mission through successful interdisciplinary collaborations.
RegenPGC Team (Regenerating America's Working Landscapes to Enhance Natural Resources and Public Goods through Perennial Groundcover):
- Daniel Andersen, associate professor, agricultural and biosystems engineering
- Cynthia Bartel, research scientist, agronomy
- Amani Elobeid, teaching professor, economics; and Ron and Lynn Deiter Endowed Chair for Sustaining Excellence in Ag Business
- Shuizhang Fei, professor, horticulture
- Susana Goggi, professor, agronomy
- Amy Kaleita, professor and chair, agricultural and biosystems engineering
- Anne Kinzel, project deputy director; agricultural and biosystems engineering
- Thomas Lubberstedt, professor, agronomy; and K.J. Frey Chair in Agronomy
- Marshall McDaniel, associate professor, agronomy
- Ken Moore, Distinguished Professor, agronomy
- Raj Raman, project director; Morrill Professor, agricultural and biosystems engineering
Professional and Scientific Research Award
The award recognizes a professional and scientific staff member employed at Iowa State at least five years for excellence in research.
- Brian Gelder, manager of research, agricultural and biosystems engineering
Award for Achievement in Economic Development in Iowa
The award recognizes individuals or teams of faculty or professional and scientific staff for outstanding university-based achievements in advancing the state of Iowa's economic development.
- Eric Cochran, professor, chemical and biological engineering; and Mary Jane Skogen Hagenson and Randy L. Hagenson Professor in Chemical and Biological Engineering; and Christopher Williams, professor, civil, construction and environmental engineering; and Gerald and Audrey Olson Professor in Civil Engineering
- Chris Hill, director, engineering services, Center for Industrial Research and Service
Award for Achievement in Intellectual Property
The award recognizes individuals or teams of faculty and professional and scientific staff for outstanding university-based achievements in producing intellectual property.
- Thomas Lubberstedt, professor, agronomy; and K.J. Frey Chair in Agronomy; and Ursula Frei, research scientist, agronomy
Carroll Ringgenberg Award
Named for a longtime staff member in purchasing and facilities, the award recognizes an extraordinary professional and scientific staff member who exhibits constant and contagious dedication to and goodwill for Iowa State.
- Dawn Miller, program specialist, civil, construction and environmental engineering
Professional and Scientific Excellence Award
The award recognizes contributions made by a professional and scientific staff member within and beyond the university and career progress demonstrated by accomplishments at Iowa State.
- Jessica Hansen-Moench, assistant director of academic advising, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Theresa McLeod-Hughes, teaching lab coordinator and teaching laboratory specialist, physics and astronomy
- Shelley Taylor, director, Global Engagement, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Professional and Scientific
Outstanding New Professional Award
The award recognizes a professional and scientific staff member who has demonstrated outstanding accomplishments unusually early in their professional career.
- Breanna Kixmiller, academic advisor, mechanical engineering
- Jean Walsh, program specialist, Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship
R.K. Bliss Extension Award
Named for the director of Extension from 1912 to 1946, the award recognizes outstanding achievement of an extension staff member for developing an overall or continuing extension education program.
- Lesia Oesterreich, senior manager, Human Sciences, ISU Extension and Outreach; and state extension specialist, early childhood education programs
Award for Distinguished Service in Extension and Outreach
The highest award bestowed on an extension professional recognizes sustained distinguished performance and educational contributions to Iowa State's clientele through extension programs.
- Keli Tallman, director, program development and evaluation, ISU Extension and Outreach
Award for Outstanding Achievement in Extension or Professional Practice
The award recognizes a faculty or staff member who has demonstrated outstanding performance in statewide leadership in extension or professional practice, and has achieved national recognition for outreach activities.
- Phillip Gauger, professor, veterinary diagnostic and production animal medicine
- Christine Hradek, senior manager, nutrition education program, College of Human Sciences
Award for Early Achievement in Extension
or Professional Practice
The award recognizes a faculty or staff member who has demonstrated outstanding accomplishments in extension or professional practice unusually early in their career.
- Brett Ramirez, associate professor, agricultural and biosystems engineering; and interim director, Egg Industry Center
- Luke Seaberg, field specialist, community and economic development, ISU Extension and Outreach
Editor's note: The September ceremony will reflect faculty promotions that were announced this spring and take effect this summer.
