Congratulations, university award recipients

University leaders shared the names of 68 Iowa State faculty and staff — 61 individuals and two teams —who are receiving a 2026 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 peers and colleagues nominated them.

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). The awardee retains the title for the remainder of their career at the university.

• Baskar Ganapathysubramanian, Joseph and Elizabeth Anderlik Professorship in Engineering; professor, mechanical engineering
• James Reecy, professor, animal science; associate vice president for research
• Jianming Yu, Pioneer Hi-Bred Distinguished Chair in Maize Breeding; director, Raymond F. Baker Center for Plant Breeding; professor, agronomy

University Professor

The title is awarded to a faculty member whose professional work has focused on effecting positive, significant institutional change at the university and who has demonstrated outstanding performance in at least one other area of faculty responsibility (research/creative activity, teaching/advising or extension/professional practice). The awardee retains the title for the remainder of their career at the university.

• Thomas Brumm, Mary and Charles Sukup Global Professor in Food Security; professor, agricultural and biosystems engineering
• Matthew Sivils, professor, English

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). The awardee retains the title for the remainder of their career at the university.

• Susan Arendt, professor, apparel, events, and hospitality management; director, Iowa State Online
• Sarah Francis, Jane Armstrong Chair in Food Science and Human Nutrition; professor, food science and human nutrition
• Leslie Potter, Distinguished Teaching Professorship in Engineering; teaching professor, industrial and manufacturing systems engineering
• Jodi Sterle, Eldred and Donna Harman Professorship in Teaching and Learning; professor, animal science
• Jean-Pierre Taoutel, teaching professor, world languages and cultures
• Stacey Weber-Fève, professor, world languages and cultures

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.

• Sarah Bennett-George, teaching professor, apparel, events and hospitality management
• Joan Howard, clinical professor, veterinary clinical sciences
• Aileen Keating, Tyrone D. Artz, M.D. Chair for Faculty Excellence in Animal Science; professor, animal science
• Ian Schneider, associate professor, chemical and biological engineering
• Geetu Tuteja, Liberal Arts and Sciences Dean's Professorship; professor, genetics, development and cell biology

Regents Award for Staff Excellence

Presented by the Iowa Board of Regents to recognize professional and scientific staff who are outstanding university citizens and have made professional contributions or rendered significant service to the university or the state of Iowa. These contributions shall have had a lasting positive impact on members of the ISU community or beyond.

• Diann Burright, director, undergraduate student services, Ivy College of Business
• Paul Gormley, business services specialist, Center for Industrial Research and Service
• Erin Kramer, instructional designer, Child Welfare Research and Training Project, human development and family studies
• Megan Peterson, senior executive administrative assistant, office of the senior vice president and provost
• Carrie Schwake, associate director for hospital operations, Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center

University Champion Award

Recognizes outstanding employees 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. These contributions may be inside or outside the classroom.

• Monica Howard, assistant dean for student success, College of Veterinary Medicine
• Cristina Poleacovschi, associate professor, civil, construction and environmental engineering

International Service Award

Recognizes a faculty member for outstanding international service in teaching, research or administration within the United States or abroad.

• Richard Martin, E.A. Benbrook Endowed Chair in Pathology and Parasitology; Clarence Hartley Covault Distinguished Professor in Veterinary Medicine (biomedical sciences)

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.

• Dawn Bowker, director, nursing education; clinical associate professor, food science and human nutrition
• Andrea Klocke, academic advisor, materials science and engineering
• Student Success Unit, College of Design:
  • Anindita Das, program specialist
  • Jarael Madyun, program specialist

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.

• Rodger Main, director, Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory
• Brian Muff, 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.

• Carly Manz, teaching professor, genetics, development and cell biology
• Louis Thompson Distinguished Undergraduate Teacher designation: Cheryl Morris, associate professor, animal science

Award for Early Achievement in Teaching

Recognizes a faculty member who has demonstrated outstanding teaching performance unusually early in their professional career.

• Joe Charbonnet, assistant professor, civil, construction and environmental engineering
• Michelle Stallard, assistant teaching professor, industrial and manufacturing systems engineering

James Huntington Ellis Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Introductory Teaching

Established by a 1928 Iowa State graduate to recognize outstanding performance in teaching undergraduate introductory classes (defined as entry-level courses in the discipline).

• Michael Shogren-Knaak, associate professor, biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology

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.

• Jean-Philippe Tessonnier, Richard C. Seagrave Professorship; professor, chemical and biological engineering
• Kan Wang, Charles F. Curtiss Distinguished Professor in Agriculture and Life Sciences (agronomy); Global Professorship in Biotechnology

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.

• Yanhai Yin, professor and department chair, genetics, development and cell biology

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.

• Jonathan Kelly, professor and department chair, psychology

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.

• Kelsey Powell, academic advisor, animal science

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.

• Chase Olsen, academic advisor, natural resource ecology and management

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.

• Myra Cohen, Lanh and Oanh Nguyen Chair in Software Engineering; professor, computer science
• Simon Laflamme, Waldo W. Wegner Professorship in Civil Engineering; professor, civil, construction and environmental engineering
• Hongwei Zhang, Richardson Professorship in Electrical and Computer Engineering, professor, electrical and computer engineering

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.

• Soumik Sarkar, professor, mechanical engineering
• Dipali Sashital, Roy J. Carver Professor of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology 1; professor, biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology

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.

• Shana Moothedath, assistant professor, electrical and computer engineering
• Ethan Secor, associate professor, mechanical engineering

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.

I-Thrive Team:

• Scott Feinstein, associate professor, political science
• Christina Hill, associate professor, world languages and cultures
• Kaoru Ikuma, associate professor, civil, construction and environmental engineering
• Cristina Poleacovschi, associate professor, civil, construction and environmental engineering
• Carl Weems, professor, human development and family studies

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.

• Shan Jiang, associate professor, materials science and engineering

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.

• Vladimir Antropov, senior scientist, materials science and engineering, 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.

• Paula DeAngelo, deputy general counsel, office of general counsel

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.

• Judi Eyles, director, Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship
• Cassandra Knutson, lead evaluation manager, Partnerships in Prevention Science Institute, human development and family studies
• Natalie Robinson, assistant director, graduate academic services, Graduate College

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.

• Nick Crumpton, teaching laboratory specialist, biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology
• Anugrah Saxena, diagnostic associate, Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory
• Hannah Uhrich, program specialist, human development and family studies

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.

• Anna Johnson, Morrill Professor, animal science

R.K. Bliss Extension Award

Named for the director of Extension 1912-46, the award recognizes outstanding achievement of an ISU extension and outreach staff member for developing and implementing or continuing an extension education program.

• Janet Smith, director of field operations (South team), county services

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.

• Nora Ladjahasan, research scientist, Institute for Design Research and Outreach
• Peter Taylor, director, National Concrete Pavement Technology Center; research professor, civil, construction and environmental engineering

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.

• Jacob Manternach, industry extension specialist, animal science
• Richard Roth, assistant professor, agronomy; nitrogen science education specialist

Editor's note: The fall ceremony will reflect faculty promotions that were announced this spring and take effect this summer.