Regents Excellence Awards
September 16, 2025
- Led the establishment and launch (2024) of the Quad Cities Manufacturing Institute, creating a partnership among Iowa State University, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Western Illinois University to promote advanced materials manufacturing and workforce development.
- In less than eight years, secured more than $50 million in research grants, some of which are multi-university and international collaborations, for example, an Office of Naval Research program grant shared with Australian universities and a $35 million Army Research Laboratory project on lightweight materials with the University of Illinois.
- Revamped and taught MatE 2730 (fall 2024), a large foundational engineering course (~430 students), revising 60% of the course content and implementing innovative pedagogical strategies that reduced DFW rates from over 30% to under 10% in one semester.
- Twice served concurrently as director or associate director for two campus centers (Center for Nondestructive Evaluation, Center for Advanced Non-Ferrous Structural Alloys, Center for Smart Design and Manufacturing), providing critical leadership and institutional service while maintaining active research and teaching roles.
- Authored or co-authored more than 55 peer-reviewed publications, including award-winning papers recognized by the American Society for Metals International and The Minerals Metals and Materials Society.
- Contributed to the university community through roles such as associate chair for undergraduate education in his department, member of 10 search committees and service on departmental and college visioning committees.
- Led a multidisciplinary team last year that secured $809,810 in U.S. Department of Agriculture funds for multiple projects addressing Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (bird flu) in dairy cattle, putting Iowa State at the forefront in this challenge.
- Developed a nationally recognized dairy production medicine teaching program for Iowa State, serves as lead instructor for eight professional and graduate courses, and teaches portions of another seven Vet Med courses and three courses in two other colleges.
- Serves as director of his department's food supply veterinary medicine section and as director of operations for Veterinary Field Services, where he conducts farm calls to several of the largest and most progressive dairies in Iowa.
- Serves as faculty advisor to 15-20 veterinary professional students annually (including mentoring for formal discussions of clinical cases, research findings, etc.) as well as summer scholars and student clubs, promoting student success.
- Participates on university, college and departmental committees including the college's admissions (chair) and assessment committees, dean's budget advisory committee and the department's research and graduate studies committee, supporting institutional operations and strategic planning.
- Served as President of the American Association of Bovine Practitioners (2022) and has held leadership roles on multiple national service committees.
- Developed (2015) and has continuously taught the innovative undergraduate course "The Biochemistry of Beer," engaging students from more than 20 majors in critical thinking with a unique blend of biochemistry and craft brewing.
- Led a workshop and presented at a professional conference for Iowa professional brewers on yeast propagation and maintenance, enhancing the skills and knowledge base of Iowa's brewing industry while increasing ISU's visibility in the private sector.
- Subsequently established partnerships with Iowa craft breweries such as Exile Brewing Company, NoCoast Brewery, Alluvial Brewing, Peace Tree Brewing, Blank Park Zoo and Templeton Distillery around wild yeasts to produce beers with novel flavors and aromas, and integrating these collaborations into student learning experiences.
- Conducts pioneering research on DNA repair mechanisms, particularly in the context of the infectious diseases malaria and tuberculosis, securing nearly $2.2 million in external funding from the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation and other agencies.
- Serves extensively in graduate education leadership roles, including chair of ISU's genetics major committee; chair of the graduate selection committee, director of certificate studies and director of graduate education for his department, managing more than150 graduate students in biochemistry.
- Co-founded (2021) and serves on the steering committee for the undergraduate science communication certificate, collaborating with faculty from multiple departments to expand student opportunities in this emerging field.
- Collaborated with faculty in agronomy and meteorology on a storytelling-based research project with women farmers, resulting in increased adoption of climate-resilient practices and earning numerous grants, most recently a $6 million award from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Climate Adaptation Partnerships program.
- Served as director (2017-18) and associate director (2012-16) of graduate education in the English department, and developed unique graduate seminars that integrate her knowledge of Renaissance literature, science communication and public outreach.
- ENGL 370, the department's Shakespeare course, received the affectionate student nickname "Shenkspeare."
- Mentors students, from first-year Honors program mentees to graduate students, serving on more than 55 master's and Ph.D. committees across five degree programs.
- Advises the theatre department during its staging of Shakespeare plays and has worked on Climate Change Theatre Action events.
- Led the creation (2014) and successful accreditation (2017, 2023) of the Greenlee School's public relations degree program.
- Teaches a wide range of public relations courses, from large introductory lectures to senior-level integrated campaign classes, consistently earning strong student evaluations, and adapts her class content with ongoing professional experiences and recent certifications, including AI-generated public relations and digital marketing.
- Advises ISU's award-winning Public Relations Student Society of America chapter, which has included annual agency tours and national competitions.
- Since 2022, has directed undergraduate education for the Greenlee School (the first term faculty member in this administrative role), where she chairs the undergraduate standing committee and oversees the internship and faculty mentorship programs.
- As director of undergraduate education, streamlined processes and communication related to the 300-hour internship requirement which resulted in a documented increase in student awareness of the requirements.
- Served on multiple university and college committees such as Faculty Senate (second term), Athletics Council (six years), internship task force (provost's office), ISU teaching awards review committee and LAS Start Something director search (chair).
Regents Award for Staff Excellence
- Performs at the level of a senior scientist, providing expert advice and suggestions to multiple lab teams.
- Develops new experimental methods independently, such as refining cloning methodologies and implementing sensitive mycoplasma detection assays used across labs.
- Listed as a contributor in 19 peer-reviewed articles and first author on a chapter (on laboratory applications) in three editions of a textbook.
- Adept at diagnosing the problem and repairing lab equipment, saving time and replacement costs.
- Designs and implements innovative computational systems including a laboratory database, requisitioning system, web-based interfaces and a Linux backup server that support daily lab operations.
- Helps lab users, other technicians and scientist-level staff trouble-shoot technical problems with an instrument or a procedure and informally offers alternative experimental ideas, serving as the go-to mentor and "lab guru."
- Trains and oversees undergraduates and new graduate students as they arrive, preparing the next generation of scientists.
- Known for her high-quality work, professionalism, positivity and collaboration.
- Guided the College of Health and Human Sciences through three learning management system transitions, Web CT to Blackboard to Canvas, during her 22 years (1999-2022) as one of its educational support staff members.
- During the pandemic, co-founded the ISU Campus Peers, a group of instructional designers and select Canvas users.
- Advises faculty and graduate students on survey software and conducting online surveys, including survey design, coding and data collection.
- Life-long learner who, upon discovering a better method, creates well-tested documentation for others' use.
- Closed 1,730 support request tickets in two calendar years (2023-24) for the Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching.
- Volunteers in many capacities, for example, collecting the college's gifts for a holiday giving tree, organizing Human Sciences Week, serving on the college's P&S committee or volunteering at SHOP student food pantry.
- Represents the university to the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners and the state departments of Education, Health and Human Services, and Criminal Investigations to maintain state approval of the educator preparation program.
- Selected by the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners to work with them to develop and test a new method of documenting license requirements for all of the state's educator preparation institutions.
- Served on a statewide team that collected comprehensive information on state-by-state license reciprocity for students (supporting a new federal requirement), and played a leadership role in assuring all Iowa colleges and universities have that information for their students.
- Recognized as a resource and leader in Iowa in licensure management.
- Supports university, college and School of Education events, including homecoming, job fairs and special ceremonies.
- Received the Merit Employee Distinguished Service Award (2022).
- Brings a service mentality to his work overseeing nearly 500 worktags shared among more than 35 cost centers and managing multiple budgets totaling $33 million-plus annually.
- Creates an atmosphere of collegiality and trust between the department's business office and faculty, removing hurdles and ultimately contributing to faculty success.
- Collaborates across departments and university offices (for example, human resources, facilities, ISU Foundation) to improve processes and resolve issues proactively.
- Through multiple department leadership transitions, a pandemic and the transition to Workday, "Cory was a steadying hand on the wheel, providing guidance to faculty and administrators," according to a letter of support in his nomination.
- Implements cost-saving measures that streamline departmental operations without compromising quality or productivity.
- His knowledge of university processes and regulations make him a valuable communicator and educator of faculty and staff.
- Strengthened processes and office operations during a six-year window that saw a 30% growth in Ivy graduate enrollment and the addition of six graduate programs.
- Advises the estimated 150 students in the full-time, cohort-based MBA program, and implemented programming to build a sense of community within each cohort.
- Created a system for interested MBA students to apply for business case competitions, and recruited faculty and staff to lead a series of coaching workshops in advance of a competition, increasing the college's success rate in the competitions.
- Collaborated on curriculum development, including a part-time MBA program for working professionals and 26 curricular proposals (for example new MBA specialties or double degree options) involving multiple colleges and departments.
- Uses her experience, campus networks and knowledge of higher education and university policy and procedures to advocate for changes for all students.
- Served as subject matter expert and change liaison since 2020 for the Workday enterprise system project related to student records.