Announcements

June 2022

Des Moines businessman named to regents vacancy

Gov. Kim Reynolds appointed James "JC" Risewick to the state Board of Regents, effective June 21 and subject to confirmation by the Iowa Senate when it next meets. Risewick will complete the six-year term (through April 2025) of former regent Milt Dakovich, who died in February after a lengthy cancer battle. His appointment fills the board at nine members.

Risewick is the president and COO of Seneca Companies, Des Moines. He has served in multiple roles with the company since 2006. He was a member of the Des Moines' Business Record's 2014 "Forty Under 40" class. He earned a bachelor's degree in business from Miami University, Oxford, Ohio; and completed the Minnesota Management Institute in the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management.

Garden donations sought for local food pantries

Story County Plant a Row for the Hungry (PAR) -- gardeners sharing their produce with local food agencies -- is underway for the 2022 growing season. Home gardeners may drop off produce at the Reiman Gardens maintenance building on Mondays (7:30-9 a.m.) or at the gardens' front desk on Saturdays (10 a.m.-5 p.m.). Collection dates are June 25-Oct. 17 (no collection on holiday Mondays July 4 and Sept. 5). PAR volunteers distribute produce to MICA food pantry, Primary Health Care, Salvation Army, Food at First, the SHOP at Iowa State and Bethesda food pantry. Volunteers also are needed to harvest, collect, weigh and distribute donated produce to the agencies. For more information, contact Reiman Gardens horticulturist Kara Hetrick, 294-6797.

Private gift boosts extension's donation garden project

ISU Extension and Outreach's Growing Together Iowa statewide donation garden project, which shares fresh produce with local food pantries, received $20,000 from Amerigroup, a managed care company. The gift expands extension's capacity to sustain existing project sites and offer funds to high-priority communities. Last year, Growing Together Iowa volunteers harvested and donated almost 91,000 pounds of fruits and vegetables to food pantries.

Reminder: University Boulevard closed overnight this week

To accommodate crews setting in place the pedestrian bridge spans across University Boulevard, the road will be closed overnight (7 p.m.-7 a.m.) Tuesday through Friday nights, June 28-July 1. The designated detour will route overnight traffic around the west side of the stadium using South Fourth Street, Beach Avenue and Mortensen Road. Motorists traveling north on University Boulevard from U.S. Highway 30 will be able to access South 16th Street/College of Veterinary Medicine during the overnight closures.

From 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., University Boulevard traffic will be limited to one lane in each direction between South Fourth and 16th streets.

Sign up by July 5 to help at the university's state fair exhibit

University marketing seeks faculty and staff volunteers to help in the university's exhibit at the Iowa State Fair Aug. 11-21. Inside the air-conditioned Varied Industries Building, choose from three shorter shifts daily: 8:45 a.m.-1 p.m., 12:45-4:30 p.m. and 4:15-8 p.m. Use the online registration form and register by July 5 to guarantee your T-shirt size. Questions may be directed to Jaden Reed, umarket2@iastate.edu or 515-294-3969. Volunteers choose from two assignments:

  • Roll and hand out football posters and schedule cards
  • Hand out dry Cyclone tattoos and complimentary bags

Order ISU calendars in time for the academic year

Produced by the ISU Alumni Association, Iowa State's 2022-23 wall calendar features striking full-color photos around campus by Matt Van Winkle and Chris Gannon. Order calendars online with a P-card or worktag/DD#. One P-card or worktag/DD# must be used to receive any bulk discounts. Calendar pricing:

  • 1-19 units: $15
  • 20-29 units: $13
  • 30+ units: $11

Spencer Award nominations due July 5

The Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture has extended the request for nominations for the 2022 Spencer Award through July 5. The cash prize of up to $2,000 recognizes contributions that advance ecological and economic practices to make agriculture more sustainable and the family farm secure for the future. Recipients have included farmers, landowners, professors, extension educators, farm managers and USDA scientists. For the first time, graduate students are eligible for the award this year. It's named for Norman and Margaretha Spencer, who farmed in Woodbury County for 40 years. More information, including the nomination form, are online.

Yoga in the gardens for five Mondays starts next week

After-work yoga at Reiman Gardens, with Ames Parks and Recreation instructor Stephanie Yocca, begins Monday, June 27, and continues for four more Mondays through Aug. 1 (5:45-6:30 p.m. weekly). There is no class on Monday, July 4. Participants provide their own yoga mat. The cost is $45 for Ames residents and Reiman Gardens members ($60 for all others, $38 for ISU students); registration is due June 26.

SBDC Iowa receives alumni association's Impact Award

America's Small Business Development Center Iowa received the ISU Alumni Association's 2022 Impact Award, and will be recognized in a livestreamed event Thursday, June 23 (noon, via YouTube). The award recognizes individuals, businesses, organizations or units whose programs or accomplishments brought broad recognition to the university and increased the involvement of ISU constituents in the life of the university during the previous year. SBDC Iowa was honored for its support of small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic and recovery period. Dec. 1 is the annual nomination deadline for this award.

Information to recover from a flood

ISU Extension and Outreach has gathered research-based, educational resources to help Iowans prepare for and recover from flooding. See the Dealing with Flooding page on extension's Disaster Recovery website.

Goatfeathers will perform June 21 in the Goldfinch Room

The Iowa Americana band Goatfeathers, featuring singer-songwriters Chris Patterson and IT services' Spencer Braly, will perform in Stephens Auditorium's Goldfinch Room series Tuesday, June 21 (7 p.m., Celebrity Café). A limited number of tables (seating up to four) for $40 and general admission individual tickets for $15 remain. Reservations can be made online. Concessions also will be available. Following COVID changes to the format, the Goldfinch series is returning this summer to the Celebrity Café on the ground floor of Stephens Auditorium where it began in January 2019.

Aug. 13 memorial service planned for Robert Martin

Robert Martin, retired professor of agricultural education and studies and former department chair, passed away of natural causes at his Ames home May 20. He was 76. A memorial service for Martin will be held Aug. 13 (3 p.m., Rasmusson-Ryan Funeral Home, 1418 Fawcett Parkway, Nevada). Condolences and memories can be shared via Kudoboard. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the ISU Foundation for a scholarship fund established in Martin’s name. 

Sign-up is open for university's state fair exhibit

University marketing listened to feedback from past years' Iowa State Fair volunteers and shortened the shifts, adding a third shift, to encourage more faculty and staff to volunteer. The fair runs Aug. 11-21, and Iowa State's exhibit in the Varied Industries Building will promote innovation as the result of its 75-year partnership with the Ames Laboratory. Faculty and staff volunteers are needed for 132 positions in the three shifts. The online registration form is first come, first served, and volunteers may sign up for more than one shift. Questions may be directed to Jaden Reed, umarket2@iastate.edu or 515-294-3969. Volunteers can choose to:

  • Roll and hand out football posters and schedule cards, or
  • Hand out dry Cyclone tattoos and complimentary bags

Reminder: DocuSign documents go away July 31

Adobe Acrobat Sign has replaced DocuSign as Iowa State's e-signature platform. University employees who wish to retrieve signed documents completed previously in DocuSign will need to export those files from the DocuSign application before July 31. Documents must be downloaded individually (not in bulk). Once exported, the PDF files can be stored in a department's file storage option, such as CyBox or OneDrive. More information is on the IT service portal, or email questions to adobesign@iastate.edu.

Nominations are open for Ivy Women in Business awards

The Ivy College of Business invites nominations through July 1 for its annual Ivy Women in Business Awards. The three awards honor individuals who have championed women in business or recognize impressive young professionals. One of the awards is limited to an Ivy alumna, and the Champion Award is open to organizations and individuals, regardless of gender. Submit nominations online.

EH&S 50th anniversary open house is June 10

Environmental health & safety is hosting a carnival-themed open house at its facility Friday, June 10 (1-3 p.m.) to celebrate its 50th anniversary. The campus community is invited to enjoy carnival games, prizes, an EH&S pop-up museum and tours of the Regulated Materials Facility. Beverages and snacks, including ISU Creamery ice cream, will be served.

Help yourself cope following mass shootings

David Brown, behavioral health state specialist with Extension and Outreach, shares tips from the American Psychological Association for coping with our reactions -- anger, shock, anxiety, grief -- to news coverage of mass shootings. Brown also shares contact information for Extension's Iowa Concern Hotline and the national Disaster Distress Helpline.

Anderson is a panelist in June 1 webinar on media violence and youth

Craig Anderson, Distinguished Professor of psychology, will take part in a webinar, "Violence of the Lambs: The Influence of Media Violence on Youth," Wednesday, June 1 (11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. CST, via Zoom). Audience members may submit or ask questions of the panelists. Register. The webinar is sponsored by Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child Development.