More than 75 Iowa State faculty and staff -- 66 individuals and two teams -- are receiving a 2025 university award, the highest recognitions available to employees. They'll be honored at a community celebration this fall; details about the event will be shared later this summer. Following are the recipients and the honors or awards for which their colleagues nominated them and they've been selected.
Distinguished Professor
The title 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 (teaching/advising, extension/professional practice or institutional service). 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.
- Lynn Clark, professor, ecology, evolution and organismal biology
- William Gallus, professor, earth, atmosphere and climate
- John Levis, professor, English
- Lisa Schulte Moore, professor, natural resource ecology and management
University Professor
The title is awarded to a faculty member whose professional work has focused upon effecting positive, significant institutional change at the university and has demonstrated outstanding performance in at least one other area of faculty responsibility (research/creative activity, teaching/advising or extension/professional practice). 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.
- Gustavo Macintosh, professor, Liberal Arts and Sciences Dean's Professorship, biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology
Morrill Professor
The title is conferred on a faculty member who has exhibited long-term and sustained excellence in undergraduate or graduate teaching or extension and outreach programs and has demonstrated outstanding performance in at least one other area of faculty responsibility (research/creative activities, professional practice or institutional service). Nominees must hold the rank of professor (tenure or term) 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.
- Denise Crawford, professor, School of Education
- Sonja Giles, professor, music and theatre
- Anna Johnson, professor, animal science
- Suzanne Millman, professor, Scott and Nancy Armbrust Professorship in Veterinary Medicine, veterinary diagnostic and production animal medicine
- Frank Montabon, professor, Dean's Professorship in Supply Chain Management, supply chain management
Regents Award for Faculty Excellence
Presented by the Iowa Board of Regents to recognize faculty members who are outstanding university citizens with a sustained record of excellence across the spectrum of faculty responsibilities and have rendered significant service to the university or the state of Iowa.
- Peter Collins, professor, Stanley Chair in Interdisciplinary Engineering, materials science and engineering
- Patrick Gorden, professor, veterinary diagnostic and production animal medicine
- Scott Nelson, associate professor, biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology
- Linda Shenk, professor, English
- Erin Wilgenbusch, teaching professor, Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication
Regents Award for Staff Excellence
Presented by the Iowa 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.
- Lee Bendickson, laboratory technician, biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology
- Karla Embleton, instructional technology specialist, Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching
- Teresa Kahler, record analyst, School of Education
- Cory Walker, business administrator, animal science
- Sarah Wilson, associate director, Ivy College of Business student services
University Champion Award
Recognizes faculty, professional and scientific staff and merit staff who have advanced the university's land grant mission in ways that significantly impact the environment for student, faculty or staff success at Iowa State. Their contributions may be inside or outside the classroom.
- Katherine Bruna, professor, Willie and Kathleen Robinson ISU 4U Promise Faculty Professorship, School of Education
- Scott Feinstein, assistant professor, political science
International Service Award
Recognizes a faculty member for outstanding international service in teaching, research or administration within the United States or abroad.
- Thomas Lübberstedt, professor, K.J. Frey Chair in Agronomy, agronomy
Award for Impact on Student Success
Recognizes outstanding achievement by professional staff and faculty who have had 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.
- Sarah Bennett-George, teaching professor, apparel, events and hospitality management
- Adriana Gonzalez-Elliott, associate director, Academic Success Center
- Paula Herrera-Siklody, teaching professor, physics and astronomy
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Instructional Design Team, Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching:
- Amy Austin, instructional designer
- Lesya Hassall, senior manager, instructional design
- Catelyn Janda, instructional designer
- Angi Karthik, manager instructional design
- Melissa McCarthy, instructional designer
- Jamie Niman, instructional designer
- Todd Vens, instructional designer
- Suhan Yao, instructional designer
- Misty Zimmerman, instructional designer
Award for Achievement in Economic Development in Iowa
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.
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Peter Hong, director; and Hannah Kirkendall, program specialist; ISU Startup Factory,
Iowa Go-To-Market Accelerator - John Roberts, business services specialist, Center for Industrial Research and Service
Award for Outstanding Achievement in Teaching
Recognizes a faculty member for outstanding teaching performance over an extended period.
- Christine Denison, associate professor, Roger P. Murphy Professor in Accounting, accounting
- Louis Thompson Distinguished Undergraduate Teacher designation: Kathy Burke, associate teaching professor, chemistry
Award for Early Achievement in Teaching
Recognizes a faculty member who has demonstrated outstanding teaching performance unusually early in their professional career.
- Karl Kerns, assistant professor, animal science
- Scott Radke, clinical associate professor, veterinary diagnostic and production animal medicine
James Huntington Ellis Award
for Excellence in Undergraduate Introductory Teaching
Established by a 1928 Iowa State graduate, the award recognizes a member of the graduate faculty for outstanding performance in teaching entry-level courses in their discipline.
- Tyler Jensen, associate professor, finance
- Cassandra Rutherford, associate professor, Richard L. Handy Professorship, civil, construction and environmental engineering
Margaret Ellen White Graduate Faculty Award
Established by a longtime staff member of the Graduate College, the award recognizes a member of the graduate faculty who has demonstrated exceptional mentorship and measurable impact on graduate students, both during their time at Iowa State and beyond graduation. Recipients are selected by members of the Graduate and Professional Student Senate.
- Stephanie Hansen, professor, animal science
- Asheesh (Danny) Singh, professor, G.F. Sprague Chair in Agronomy, agronomy; and associate dean for research and discovery, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Award for Departmental Leadership
Recognizes a department chair or school director who has demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities in advancing the faculty, staff, students and programs in their department or school.
- David Wong, professor and chair, veterinary clinical sciences
Award for Early Achievement in Departmental Leadership
Recognizes a department chair or school director for exceptional impact on advancing the faculty, staff, students or programs in their department or school within the first three years of their leadership role.
- Alex Tuckness, professor and chair, political science
Award for Academic Advising Impact
Recognizes an academic advisor (faculty or professional staff) for continued outstanding performance in advising undergraduate students or Veterinary Medicine professional students throughout their career.
- Liz Harris, academic advisor, human development and family studies
- Kelly Pistilli, senior academic advisor, Ivy College of Business undergraduate programs
Award for Early Achievement in Academic Advising
Recognizes an academic advisor (faculty or professional staff) for outstanding performance in advising undergraduate students or Veterinary Medicine professional students early in their career.
- Zack Bonner, academic advisor (humanities, communication, social sciences), College of Liberal Arts and Sciences academic services
- Kirsten Hauge, academic advisor, mechanical engineering
Award for Outstanding Achievement in Research
Recognizes a tenured faculty member who has a national or international reputation for outstanding career achievements in research or creative activity as evaluated by peers and experts in their field.
- David Cantor, professor and Ruan Chair in Supply Chain Management, supply chain management
- Wenzhen Li, professor, chemical and biological engineering
- Mark Lyte, professor, W. Eugene Lloyd Chair in Toxicology, veterinary microbiology and preventive medicine
Award for Mid-Career Achievement in Research
Recognizes a tenured or tenure-track faculty member who has demonstrated outstanding accomplishments in research or creative activity at the mid-career stage as evaluated by peers and experts in their field.
- Jodi McGill, associate professor, John G. Salsbury Endowed Chair, veterinary microbiology and preventive medicine; and associate dean of graduate studies and research training, College of Veterinary Medicine
- Zhaoyu Wang, professor, electrical and computer engineering
Award for Early Achievement in Research
Recognizes a tenured or tenure-track faculty member who has demonstrated outstanding accomplishments in research or creative activity unusually early in their professional career as evaluated by peers and experts in their field.
- Jacob Simon, associate professor, physics and astronomy
- Tichakorn (Nok) Wongpiromsarn, assistant professor, computer science
Award for Interdisciplinary Team Research
Recognizes an interdisciplinary team (two or more faculty researchers) with outstanding achievements that has made a significant contribution to the university's research and scholarship mission through successful interdisciplinary collaborations.
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Soynomics team
- A.K. (Danny) Singh, professor, agronomy; G.F. Sprague Chair in Agronomy; associate dean for research and discovery, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
- Aditya Balu, data analyst, Translational AI Center
- Liang Dong, professor, electrical and computer engineering; Vikram L. Dalal Professorship
- Baskar Ganapathysubramanian, professor, mechanical engineering; Joseph and Elizabeth Anderlik Professorship in Engineering
- Adarsh Krishnamurthy, associate professor, mechanical engineering
- Fernando Miguez, professor, agronomy
- Daren Mueller, professor, plant pathology, entomology and microbiology
- Matt O'Neal, professor, plant pathology, entomology and microbiology; Henry A. Wallace Endowed Chair for Sustainable Agriculture
- Soumik Sarkar, professor, mechanical engineering
- Arti Singh, associate professor, agronomy
- Talukder Jubery, research scientist, Translational AI Center
- Greg Tylka, Morrill professor, plant pathology, entomology and microbiology
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Dairy Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza team
- Todd Bell, professor, veterinary pathology
- Eric Burrough, professor, veterinary diagnostic and production animal medicine, Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory
- Phillip Gauger, professor, veterinary diagnostic and production animal medicine, Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory
- Luis Gimenez-Lirola, associate professor, veterinary diagnostic and production animal medicine, Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory
- Pat Gorden, professor, veterinary diagnostic and production animal medicine, Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory
- Phillip Jardon, clinical associate professor, veterinary diagnostic and production animal medicine
- Ganwu Li, professor, veterinary diagnostic and production animal medicine, Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory
- Drew Magstadt, clinical associate professor, veterinary diagnostic and production animal medicine, Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory
- Rahul Nelli, research assistant professor, veterinary diagnostic and production animal medicine, Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory
- Ariel Nenninger, assistant professor, veterinary pathology
- Chris Siepker, clinical assistant professor, veterinary diagnostic and production animal medicine, Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory
- David Verhoeven, assistant professor, veterinary microbiology and preventive medicine
- Jianqiang Zhang, Lora and Russ Talbot Endowed Professor in Veterinary Medicine; professor, veterinary diagnostic and production animal medicine, Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory
Award for Achievement in Intellectual Property
Recognizes individuals or teams of faculty and professional and scientific staff for outstanding university-based achievements in developing patentable discoveries.
- Ikenna Nlebedim, deputy division director, critical materials, Ames National Laboratory
Professional and Scientific Research Award
Recognizes a professional and scientific staff member employed at least three years at Iowa State for notable independent research accomplishments and impact as evaluated by supervisors and experts in the nominee's field.
- Makariy Tanatar, scientist, Ames National Laboratory
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.
- Garry Greenlee, associate director for facilities operations, recreation services
Professional and Scientific Excellence Award
Recognizes a professional and scientific staff member employed at least five years who has achieved excellence in their field, demonstrated by service/contributions within the university, career progression and positions held in professional organizations.
- David Bruene, senior manager, Beef Teaching Farm, animal science
- Garland Dahlke, research scientist, Iowa Beef Center, Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension and Outreach
- Abbey Elder, librarian, university library
- Jie Li, technical project specialist, Center for Survey Statistics and Methodology
Professional and Scientific
Outstanding New Professional Award
Recognizes a professional and scientific staff member employed fewer than five years who has achieved excellence in their field, demonstrated by service within the university, innovative ways to complete job responsibilities, and commitment to professional progression.
- Alexa Groff, STEM education specialist, 4-H Youth Development Extension and Outreach
- Sean Kelly, research and development engineer, Nanovaccine Institute
- Susheel Nethi, research scientist, chemical and biological engineering
- Abbie Suntken, registrar specialist, office of the registrar
- Kristin Terrill, program specialist, Graduate College
Award for Distinguished Service in Extension and Outreach
The highest award bestowed in extension, this recognizes a faculty, campus staff or field staff member for demonstrated, sustained outstanding performance and educational contributions to Iowa State and its clientele through extension programs.
- David Brown, state specialist, behavioral health, Health and Human Sciences Extension and Outreach
R.K. Bliss Extension Award
Named for the director of Extension 1912-46, the award recognizes outstanding achievement of an extension staff member for developing and implementing or continuing an extension education program.
- Carol Ehlers, educator, family wellbeing, Health and Human Sciences Extension and Outreach
Award for Outstanding Achievement
in Extension or Professional Practice
Recognizes a faculty, campus staff or field staff member who has demonstrated outstanding performance in statewide leadership in extension or professional practice and achieved national recognition for their contributions to outreach activities.
- Russ Euken, beef and swine field specialist, Iowa Pork Industry Center, Iowa Beef Center, Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension and Outreach
- Sarah Francis, professor, Jane Armstrong Chair in Food Science and Human Nutrition, food science and human nutrition, Health and Human Sciences Extension and Outreach
Award for Early Achievement
in Extension or Professional Practice
Recognizes a faculty, campus staff or field staff member who has demonstrated outstanding accomplishments in extension or professional practice unusually early in their career.
- Julia Baker, special projects coordinator, natural resource stewardship, Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension and Outreach
- Roy Sturgill, assistant professor, civil, construction and environmental engineering
Editor's note: The fall ceremony will reflect faculty promotions that were announced this spring and take effect this summer.
