More than 50 faculty and staff will be honored during the annual awards ceremony on Monday, Sept. 25, in the Memorial Union Great Hall. The program begins at 3:30 p.m., followed by a reception.
This year's event will include two recipients of a newly established award. Tera Jordan, assistant professor of human development and family studies, and Audrey Kennis, multicultural liaison officer in the College of Design, will receive the inaugural university Award for Inclusive Excellence, which recognizes faculty or professional and scientific staff who promote diversity, equity and inclusion.
Overall, 29 awards will be given to 54 recipients. Presenters include interim President Ben Allen, senior vice president and provost Jonathan Wickert, vice president for diversity and inclusion Reg Stewart, senior vice president for student affairs Martino Harmon, vice president for research Sarah Nusser, vice president for economic development and business engagement Michael Crum, senior vice president for university services Kate Gregory and interim vice president for extension and outreach John Lawrence.
Distinguished Professor
The title of Distinguished Professor, first awarded in 1956, is the highest academic honor the university bestows. It recognizes a faculty member whose accomplishments in research or creative activities have had a significant impact on his or her discipline, and who has demonstrated outstanding performance in at least one other area of faculty responsibility. Nominees must hold the rank of professor and have served for at least five years prior to the current year on the Iowa State faculty. The awardee retains the title for the remainder of his or her career at the university.
Charles F. Curtiss Distinguished Professor in Agriculture and Life Sciences
- Thomas Baum, professor and chair in plant pathology and microbiology
- Dermot Hayes, Pioneer Hi-Bred International Agribusiness Chair, professor of economics and finance
Anson Marston Distinguished Professor in Engineering
- Balaji Narasimhan, professor and Vlasta Klima Balloun Faculty Chair in Chemical and Biological Engineering
University Professor
The title of University Professor is awarded to a faculty member who has acted as a change agent by having made significant contributions to improve the university, and who has demonstrated outstanding performance in at least one other area of faculty responsibility. Nominees must hold the rank of professor and have served for at least 10 years prior to the current year on the Iowa State faculty. The awardee retains the title for the remainder of his or her career at the university.
- William Crumpton, professor of ecology, evolution and organismal biology
- Brenda Jones, professor of art and visual culture
- Mark Rectanus, professor of German, world languages and cultures
Morrill Professor
The title of Morrill Professor is conferred on a faculty member who has exhibited excellence in undergraduate or graduate teaching or extension and outreach programs, and who has demonstrated outstanding performance in at least one other area of faculty responsibility. Nominees must hold the rank of professor and have served for at least five years prior to the current year on the Iowa State faculty. The awardee retains the title for the remainder of his or her career at the university.
- Thomas Holme, professor of chemistry
- April Katz, professor of art and visual culture
- D. Raj Raman, professor of agricultural and biosystems engineering
Regents Award for Faculty Excellence
The award is presented by the state Board of Regents to recognize tenured faculty members are outstanding university citizens and who have rendered significant service to the university or the state of Iowa.
- Tom Baas, professor of animal science
- Susan Bradbury, professor of community and regional planning
- Jay Harmon, professor of agricultural and biosystems engineering
- F. Chris Minion, professor of veterinary microbiology and preventive medicine
- Frank Peters, associate professor of industrial and manufacturing systems engineering
Regents Award for Staff Excellence
The award is presented by the state Board of Regents to recognize members of either the professional and scientific (P&S) or supervisory and confidential staffs who are outstanding university citizens and have rendered significant service to the university or the state of Iowa.
- Carol Cordell, academic adviser, kinesiology
- Lisa Sebring, administrative specialist, College of Veterinary Medicine
Award for Outstanding Achievement in Teaching
The award recognizes a faculty member for outstanding teaching performance over an extended period of time.
- David Flory, senior lecturer, geological and atmospheric sciences
- Monica Lamm, associate professor of chemical and biological engineering
- Stacey Weber-Fève, associate professor of French, world languages and cultures
Louis Thompson Distinguished Undergraduate Teaching Award
Established by the late Louis Thompson, emeritus associate dean of Agriculture and Life Sciences, this is a special designation within the Outstanding Achievement in Teaching Award to recognize an outstanding teacher who is dedicated to helping undergraduate students.
- David Flory, senior lecturer, geological and atmospheric sciences
- Stacey Weber-Fève, associate professor of French, world languages and cultures
James Huntington Ellis Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Introductory Teaching
Established by a 1928 Iowa State graduate, the award recognizes a faculty member for exceptional achievement in teaching introductory courses.
- Sergio Lence, professor and Marlin Cole Chair of International Agriculture Economics
Award for Early Achievement in Teaching
The award recognizes a faculty member who has demonstrated outstanding teaching performance unusually early in his or her career.
- Shannon Jones Hostetter, assistant professor of veterinary pathology
- Dorothy Mukudi Masinde, senior lecturer, horticulture, global resource systems
Margaret Ellen White Graduate Faculty Award
Established by a long-time staff member of the Graduate College, the award recognizes superior performance by a member of the graduate faculty in enriching the student-professor relationship and enabling students to finish their work in a timely and scholarly manner.
- Dan Nettleton, Distinguished Professor in Liberal Arts and Sciences, Laurence H. Baker Chair in Biological Statistics, professor of statistics
Award for Departmental Leadership
The award recognizes outstanding departmental leadership that helps faculty members meet their complex obligations to undergraduate teaching, graduate mentoring, research and service.
- Steven Mickelson, Charles R. and Jane F. Olsen Professor in Engineering, professor and chair in agricultural and biosystems engineering
Award for Early Achievement in Departmental Leadership
Recognizes the exceptional impact of a department chair or school director within the first three years of his or her leadership role.
- Carl Weems, professor and chair in human development and family studies
Award for Inclusive Excellence
Recognizes faculty and P&S staff who have advanced the university’s mission of diversity, equity and inclusion beyond their usual job responsibilities.
- Tera Jordan, assistant professor of human development and family studies
- Audrey Kennis, multicultural liaison officer, College of Design
International Service Award
The award recognizes a faculty member for outstanding international service in teaching, research or administration within the United States or abroad.
- Hongwei Xin, Charles F. Curtiss Distinguished Professor in Agriculture and Life Sciences, assistant dean for research, Iowa Egg Council Endowed Professor of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, professor of animal science
Award for Academic Advising Impact
The award recognizes outstanding performance by an academic adviser over an extended period of time.
- Beth Hartmann, senior lecturer, civil, construction and environmental engineering
- Devna Popejoy-Sheriff, student services specialist, industrial and manufacturing engineering
Award for Early Achievement in Academic Advising
The award recognizes outstanding performance by an academic adviser early in his or her career.
- Dawn Walker Chalmers, academic adviser, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences student academic services
Award for Outstanding Achievement in Research
The award recognizes a tenured faculty member who has a national or international reputation for contributions in research and has influenced the research activities of students.
- Christopher Tuggle, professor of animal science
- Jeffrey Zimmerman, professor of veterinary diagnostic and production animal medicine
Award for Mid-Career Achievement in Research
The award recognizes a tenured or tenure-track faculty member who has demonstrated exemplary research performance or scholarship accomplishments as documented by peers or experts in the field.
- Emily Smith, professor of chemistry
- Jianming Yu, Pioneer Hi-Bred Distinguished Chair in Maize Breeding, professor of agronomy
Award for Early Achievement in Research
The award recognizes a tenured or tenure-track faculty member who has demonstrated outstanding accomplishments unusually early in his or her professional career.
- Simon Laflamme, associate professor of civil, construction and environmental engineering
- Paul Plummer, associate professor of veterinary diagnostic and production animal medicine
Professional and Scientific Research Award
The award recognizes a P&S staff member employed at Iowa State for at least five years for excellence in research.
- Igor Slowing, scientist, Ames Laboratory, adjunct professor of chemistry
Award for Achievement in Intellectual Property
The award recognizes individuals or teams of faculty or P&S staff for outstanding university-based achievements in producing intellectual property.
- Kan Wang, Global Professor in Biotechnology, professor of agronomy
Award for Achievement in Economic Development in Iowa
The award recognizes individuals or teams of faculty or P&S staff for outstanding university-based achievements in advancing the state of Iowa's economic development.
- Lisa Shimkat, state director, Small Business Development Center
- Center for Crops Utilization Research and BioCentury Research Farm: Peggy Best, administrative specialist; Sharon Colletti, administrative specialist; Bill Colonna, assistant scientist; Steven Fox, research technician; Darren Jarboe, program manager; Kevin Keener, director; Jeni Maiers, program assistant; John Strohl, fermentation manager and assistant scientist; Andrew Suby, BioCentury Research Farm manager and associate scientist; Hui Wang, pilot plant manager; Ethan Wiegle, assistant pilot plant manager and agricultural systems technology senior
Professional and Scientific Excellence Award
The award recognizes contributions made by a P&S staff member within and beyond the university and career progress demonstrated by accomplishments at Iowa State.
- Tera Lawson, program coordinator, Center for Technology in Learning and Teaching, School of Education
- Rita Phillips, director, ISU Book Store
- Andrew Severin, scientist, office of biotechnology
Carroll Ringgenberg Award
Named for a long-time 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.
- Deborah Lewis, curator of the Ada Hayden Herbarium, ecology, evolution and organismal biology
Professional and Scientific Outstanding New Professional Award
The award recognizes a P&S staff member who has demonstrated outstanding accomplishments unusually early in his or her professional career.
- Elizabeth Juchems, extension program specialist, agricultural and biosystems engineering
- Lesa Vold, communications specialist, animal science, Egg Industry Center
- Diana Wright, program coordinator, College of Business, Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship
Award for Distinguished Service in Extension
The highest award bestowed on an Extension professional, it recognizes sustained distinguished performance and educational contributions to Iowa State's clientele through Extension programs.
- Donna Donald, human sciences specialist, field operations, ISU Extension and Outreach
Award for Outstanding Achievement in Extension or Professional Practice
The award recognizes a faculty or staff member who has demonstrated outstanding performance in statewide leadership in extension or professional practice, and has achieved national recognition for outreach activities.
- Kent Schwartz, clinical professor, veterinary diagnostic and production animal medicine
Award for Early Achievement in Extension or Professional Practice
The award recognizes a faculty or staff member who has demonstrated outstanding accomplishments in extension or professional practice unusually early in his or her career.
- Bailey Hanson, systems analyst, community and economic development, ISU Extension and Outreach
R.K. Bliss Extension Award
Named for the director of Extension from 1912 to 1946, the award recognizes outstanding achievement of an Extension staff member for developing an overall or continuing extension education program.
- Russell Euken, beef and swine field specialist, ISU Extension and Outreach
