In review: Summer 2025

Fall semester begins Aug. 25. If you were away from campus for significant chunks of time this summer, here's a quick summary of news you may have missed. 

New state law

A new state law prohibiting diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) offices at regent universities went into effect on July 1. SF2435 (now known as Iowa Code Chapter 261J) also prohibits individuals from doing the work of a DEI office. 

In compliance with state and federal laws as well as Iowa Board of Regents directives, the university has closed its central DEI office and restructured other offices and programs to eliminate DEI practices. Academic and other support services no longer focus on group identities but are available to all students based on their individual needs. University staff work directly with students to connect them with resources to support their academic success. 

University employees are expected to follow all guidelines and policies related to compliance efforts. Student organizations are exempt under the new state law. 

More news

• Iowa State launched the search for its next president in July with the goal of selecting a new president by mid-November.
• The Iowa Board of Regents approved fall tuition increases in the range of 3%-4.5%.
• After a non-unanimous vote to approve the university fiscal year 2026 budgets, the Iowa Board of Regents directed its investment and finance committee to meet to assess the board's budget review process and seek more detail about the university budgets.
• The 2025 Iowa legislative session, which adjourned May 15, included passage of various bills and appropriations related to higher education.
• ISU Plan participants won't see any changes in their health care or dental care coverage as proposed for the 2026 plan year. Employee premiums for the Wellmark HMO and PPO plans will go up, about 10% on average.
• Experienced project managers are available for part-time assignments on research teams -- in any field -- that could benefit from the professional help and whose projects aren't yet large enough for a full-time project manager.
• More than 5,500 -- and climbing -- new-to-ISU students already are registered for Destination Iowa State, which will work in tandem with Welcome Weekend for some events.
• Shannon Foote assumed the role of acting Lora and Russ Talbot Endowed President and CEO of the ISU Alumni Association; Jeff Johnson will step down from the position on Sept. 1.
• Karl Mueller started June 1 in his new role as director of the U.S. Department of Energy's Ames National Laboratory.
• State employees who welcome children to their family, through birth or adoption, now receive paid time off for these life events.
• Through mid-September, about a dozen employee teams are moving to renovated spaces in the Warren Madden Building on the north side of campus.
• Summer session enrollment was 7,128 students, nearly two-thirds (63%) of them at the undergraduate level.
• 90% of the 650 university fleet vehicles are equipped with Bluetooth® hands-free technology, complying with a new law that took effect in the state in July.
• As of Aug. 1, the Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center at the College of Veterinary Medicine offers a 15% discount for veterinary services for the animals of current Iowa State students, faculty and staff.
• Effective July 1, Strategic Relations and Communications will change its name to University Marketing and Communications.
• The Inside Iowa State website was redesigned; learn how to share your news.

Appointments

IT services

• Kristen Constant, vice president for information technology services and chief information officer, reappointed to a second five-year term, effective July 1 

Campus life

• Joe Paulick, director of campus living, George Washington University, Washington, D.C., to associate vice president for campus life, effective July 31

Provost's office

• Dawn Bratsch-Prince, associate provost for faculty, reappointed to a fourth five-year term, effective July 1 

State relations

• Jillian Carlson, Northern Iowa state relations officer, to Iowa State state relations officer, effective July 1

Dean's office

• Monic Behnken, associate professor of sociology and criminal justice, to associate dean of strategic initiatives, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, effective July 1
• Mike Retallick, professor and chair, agricultural education and studies department, to associate dean for personnel and finance in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, effective July 1 (retaining department leadership through August)

Center leadership

• Charlotte Hampson, health promotions coordinator and interim director, office of student wellness, to director, effective May 27
• Scott Heuchelin, Corteva Agriscience (formerly DuPont Pioneer), to director of the Seed Science Center and professor in the department of plant pathology, entomology and microbiology, effective July 15
• Adam Janke, natural resource ecology and management and the state wildlife specialist, to associate director of the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture
• Mark Licht, associate professor of agronomy, and Steve Whitham, professor of plant pathology, entomology and microbiology, to co-directors of the Iowa Soybean Research Center, effective July 1
• Peng Liu, professor of statistics, to director of the Laurence H. Baker Center for Bioinformatics and Biological Statistics
• Brady Talley, student success coordinator, Ivy College of Business, to director of the Military-Affiliated Student Center, effective May 5

Department chairs

• Lt. Col. John Cacic, Hanscom Air Force Base, Bedford, Massachusetts, to department chair, Air Force aerospace studies, effective July 1
• Chunsheng (Sam) Xin, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia, to department chair, computer science, effective Aug. 1

Veterinary medical center

• Dr. Meredith 't Hoen, clinical assistant professor in veterinary clinical sciences, to chief medical officer, Hixson-Lied Small Animal Hospital, Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center
• Dr. Jamie Kopper, assistant professor in veterinary clinical sciences, to chief medical officer, Large Animal Hospital, Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center 

Interim appointments

• Brenda Allen, associate director of operations, ISU Extension and Outreach, to interim assistant vice president for operations, effective July 1
• Christen Burgett, associate teaching professor of animal science, to interim director of career services, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, effective June 13
• Tim Derrick, professor of kinesiology and health, to interim department chair, effective Aug. 1
• Jeff Iles, professor of horticulture, to interim department chair, agricultural education and studies, effective in August
• Tracy Lucht, professor, Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication, to interim director of the school, effective July 1
• Megan Myers, professor and chair, world languages and cultures, to interim associate dean of student success, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, effective July 1
• Peter Orazem, University Professor emeritus of economics, to interim chair of the department, effective July 1