Doug Russo: International Horseshoeing Hall of Fame
Doug Russo, certified journeyman farrier in the Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center, has been named to the International Horseshoeing Hall of Fame. He is only the third Iowa farrier to be inducted into the hall of fame. He will be formally inducted at the Hoof Care Summit in Cincinnati in February.
ISU Research Park: Distinguished Community of Innovation of the Year
The Iowa State University Research Park received the Distinguished Community of Innovation of the Year award from the Association of University Research Parks. The award recognizes ecosystems that are "driving the journey of research translations from concept to market and creating measurable impact."
Susie Johnson: Excellence in Volunteering Award
Susie Johnson, director of risk management, received the 2025 Jenny Whittington Excellence in Volunteering award from the University Risk Management and Insurance Association. The award recognizes association members who go above and beyond in their volunteer service or leadership at the association and promotion of its mission, vision and values. Whether online or in person, she volunteers in roles that address the needs of the association. She has served on the association’s board of directors since 2022, was elected president-elect in July and will serve as president in 2026-27.
Greg Dingel: National placement for Veenker junior golf team
In the 17U age group, the Veenker All-Stars finished seventh at the 2025 PGA Jr. League Championship Oct. 23-26 in Santa Ana Pueblo, New Mexico. One of just 12 teams to qualify for the championship, the group is coached by Greg Dingel, general manager and director of golf at Iowa State's Veenker Memorial Golf Course. Among 600,000 young golfers nationally who participate in the league, 96 compete on the final weekend. Dingel introduced the junior league golf program at Veenker in 2014, as featured in a PGA of America story.
Mary Schott: 40 Women to Watch in Iowa's Hospitality Industry
Mary Schott, associate director of IT, menu management and nutritional services for ISU Dining, has been named one of the Iowa Restaurant Association's 40 Women to Watch in Iowa's Hospitality Industry for 2025. The program celebrates the contributions of women to Iowa’s hospitality community and their strength and vision for the future of hospitality across the state. Schott oversees systems that manage more than 10,000 recipes across 23 dining locations and nutritional services for students with special dietary needs. In 2022, her team earned software provider CBORD's national Visionary Award for innovation in dining technology.
Tenured faculty recipients: 2025 Pomerantz development award
Seven Iowa State faculty have received a 2025 award from the Marvin A. Pomerantz Endowment for Faculty Enrichment, created in 1992 to recognize tenured faculty and provide additional support for their work. The $5,000 awards will be used to further their activities in research, teaching, service, professional practice, and extension and outreach. The recipients are:
- Steve Butler, Morrill Professor, mathematics
- Andrew Crecelius, associate professor, marketing
- Amanda Kreuder, associate professor, veterinary microbiology and preventive medicine
- Jeongeun Lee, associate professor, human development and family studies
- Gretchen Mosher, professor, agricultural and biosystems engineering
- Alenka Poplin, associate professor, urban planning and development
- Anupam Sharma, professor, aerospace engineering
ISU Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic: National accreditation
The Iowa State University Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic has earned accreditation from the National Plant Diagnostic Network's core accreditation program, a recognition of the clinic's commitment to high-quality, reliable diagnostic services. The ISU clinic is one of only eight core accredited labs in the country. It provides diagnostic services for plant diseases, insect identification and other plant health issues. Iowans are encouraged to submit samples for analysis to support healthy crops, landscapes and ecosystems statewide.
Iowa State University: 'Ignition School' recognition
Iowa State University is No. 47 on the 2025 Ignition Schools list, compiled by the Fast Company and Inc. business magazines, to celebrate postsecondary institutions that are driving measurable impact in entrepreneurship and innovation. Now in its second year, the list honors 50 institutions worldwide following an evaluation process that looks at metrics such as alumni entrepreneurship rates, the strength of incubators and accelerators, research commercialization success, and the university's role in driving economic growth. Iowa State earned its place for its hands-on, community-driven approach to entrepreneurship education, connecting students, faculty and industry partners through cross-disciplinary programming.
Breaking Barriers sculpture: CODAaward
Breaking Barriers, artist Ian Toth Depeña's bronze and concrete sculpture located in Albaugh Family Plaza near the north entrance of Jack Trice Stadium, has received a 2025 CODAaward in the education category, presented by CODAworx, an international community for those involved in the commissioned art industry. The awards honor projects that "most successfully integrate commissioned art into the interior, architectural, public space."
Judi Eyles: Legacy Award, Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers
Judi Eyles, director of the Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship, received the Legacy Award from the Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers. The award, one of the consortium's highest distinctions, recognizes individuals whose work has created enduring, transformational impact in advancing entrepreneurship within universities. Eyles has been a cornerstone of Iowa State's entrepreneurial ecosystem since 1996, when she joined the newly founded Pappajohn Center. She has served as director since 2017.
Dr. Pat Gorden: Zoetis Distinguished Service Award, American Association of Bovine Practioners
Dr. Pat Gorden, professor of veterinary diagnostic and production animal medicine, is the 2025 recipient of the Zoetis Distinguished Service Award from the American Association of Bovine Practitioners. The award recognizes an individual who, through long and continued service, has promoted the association's goals and whose accomplishments have served as a model for service to bovine agriculture through organized veterinary medicine. More.
Toyia Younger: Pillar of the Profession, NASPA Foundation
Senior vice president for student affairs Toyia Younger is a 2026 recipient of a Pillar of the Profession (video) award given out by NASPA, Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education. The award recognizes exemplary members of the student affairs and higher education community who give back to NASPA by their leadership and build a lasting legacy in the field of student affairs and/or higher education.
Iowa State University: WELCOA Well Workplace Award
Iowa State University has been recognized by the Wellness Alliance with the WELCOA Well Workplace Silver Award for its commitment to employee health and well-being. ISU is one of just two universities to receive the honor in 2025. The Well Workplace Award evaluates companies and organizations across seven critical benchmarks -- such as leadership, health-promoting policies and practices, a clear operating plan and results-oriented wellness initiative. Iowa State's innovative programs, commitment to continuous improvement, and investment in employee wellness were key factors in earning this recognition.
The Wellness Alliance is a joint effort of the Wellness Council of America and the National Wellness Institute.
Iowa State receives Best Campus Integration award from CLC collegiate licensing company
Extension housing program wins national impact award
ISU Extension and Outreach's Rural Housing Readiness Assessment program has received the National Association for Community Development Extension Professionals' 2025 Excellence in Community Development Award. Since 2020, the program has helped more than 60 Iowa communities assess their housing needs and take action, generating more than $132 million in investment and another $104 million in development. It was developed and is facilitated by extension's Community and Economic Development unit.
Learning Communities Awards recipients announced
Iowa State's 2025 Learning Communities Awards were presented on May 19. This year's recipients are:
- Learning Communities Champion Award: Arne Hallam, economics department and associate dean for finance and operations in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Learning Community Advocate Award: Karen Zunkel, retired executive director of Institutional Research
- Exemplary Service to Learning Communities Award: Kurt Earnest, associate director of residence life, student engagement and academic excellence and Gail Nonnecke, University and Morrill Professor of horticulture and global professor and faculty coordinator of the global resource systems program
- Early Achievement in Learning Community Coordination: Andrew Albaugh, coordinator of the aerospace engineering first-year and upper-division learning communities
- Learning Community Partner Award: English Links faculty team (Kristin Stoner, Brenna Dixon, Candy Miller, Stacie Schaefer and Jenny Aune) and Office of the Registrar Tuition and Fees Learning Communities Team
Ivy marketing team captures multiple creative awards
The marketing and communications services team in the Ivy College of Business recently received four awards and one honorable mention in the 2025 Hermes Creative Awards international competition for creative professionals. Hermes Creative Awards is one of the oldest and largest creative competitions in the world. Winners range from individuals to media conglomerates and Fortune 500 companies. Team members are: Michele Appelgate, director; Emily Bowman, graphic designer; Spencer Feinberg, social media specialist; Suzanne Lyndon, event planner; and Cindy Robertson, web manager. 2025 Hermes Awards to the Ivy team are:
- Platinum: "Ivy" magazine, spring 2024 edition.
- Platinum: Magazine article, "Miracle on the Hudson" feature with alumnus Craig Black.
- Gold: Magazine article, "Experience Before Ivy," featuring the career of Ryan Bhattacharyya, professor of practice in the department of management and entrepreneurship.
- Gold: Event, 40th anniversary of the college.
- Honorable Mention: News release announcing a new partnership with Trinity Health.
Appelgate named marketing executive of the year
Michele Appelgate, director of marketing and communications in the Ivy College of Business, has received the "Marketing Executive of the Year" award from the Iowa chapter of the American Marketing Association. The award honors an individual in a director-level or above position who "inspires, leads and achieves excellence in the field of marketing and has helped to build and transform their marketing community." Appelgate collaborates with more than 300 professionals across the college's departments to showcase Ivy's programs and successes. Notable marketing achievements have been in the areas of record enrollment, national visibility and recognition via awards.
Ehlers elected delegate to regional executive council
Isaac Ehlers, senior assistant director, office of student financial aid, was elected to serve a two-year term as a delegate on the executive council of the nine-state Midwest Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators.
Engineering faculty receive NSF CAREER awards
Two College of Engineering faculty members have received National Science Foundation CAREER Awards, the NSF's most prestigious award for early-career faculty. They are:
- Luke Roling, assistant professor and Jack R. and Carol A. Johnson Faculty Fellow in chemical and biological engineering, for a project that uses computational modeling to design new electrocatalysts to convert nitrate to inert nitrogen gas or ammonia, addressing nitrate pollution from industrial wastewater and agricultural runoff.
- Cheng Wang, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering, for a project to develop scalable, energy-efficient hardware systems that can support AI's growing computational demands in energy consumption and resource use.
First recipients of youth program awards are selected
Risk Management has announced the inaugural recipients of its annual Youth Program Awards, which recognize outstanding contributions (during 2024) to youth development and leadership for ISU-sponsored youth programs. They are:
- Youth Program Leader of the Year (an individual who has created impactful and memorable experiences for both youth participants and volunteers): Alexis Campbell, director, Science Bound
- Outstanding Youth Program of the Year (a program that stands out for its creativity, effectiveness, culture of safety and overall positive contribution to youth development): ADMYRE (Advocating for My Relationships), department of human development and family studies
- Youth Program Staff Member of the Year (an employee or volunteer who has demonstrated exceptional dedication and effort, supporting the youth program's success in every way possible): Molly Barten, youth and family education coordinator, Reiman Gardens
Collins named fellow of materials science society
Peter Collins, professor of materials science and engineering and the Stanley Chair in Interdisciplinary Engineering, has been named a fellow of the Alpha Sigma Mu, an international professional society for the field of materials science and engineering. The designation recognizes significant accomplishments and contributions to the materials science and engineering profession and service to Alpha Sigma Mu.
Burgin wins leadership award
Amy Burgin, chair of the ecology, evolution and organismal biology department, was the 2025 Leadership Award recepient from the Society for Freshwater Science (SFS). The SFS Leadership Award recognizes early- or mid-career members for extraordinary work on behalf of the society. It is not awarded every year and only granted to exceptional nominees.
Financial aid staff receive state service awards
The office of student financial aid and two staff members received awards from the the Iowa Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators at the group's April conference. They are:
- The office of student financial aid received the John E. Moore Award, which recognizes a financial aid office demonstrating the highest standards of service and commitment to its students and community.
- Mary Jacobsen, business systems analyst in the new office of student information, received the John Heisner Lifetime Achievement Award, the highest honor the association bestows on an individual member for significant contributions over an extended period of time.
- Jacob Severn, financial aid advisor, received the Outstanding New Professional Award, which recognizes the achievements of a financial aid professional in the profession five years or less who has made outstanding contributions to the association or the profession.
Shelley named outstanding journal reviewer
Mack Shelley, University Professor of political science and of statistics, has received an Outstanding Reviewer Award from MDPI for his work on Nutrients, an international, open-access journal focused on human nutrition. The award recognizes reviewers who generously contribute their time to review papers and display thoroughness, professionalism and timeliness in their work. Winners were selected from Nutrients' 5,648 reviewers in 2024. MDPI is a publisher of peer-reviewed, open access journals.
University receives Tree Campus USA award
Iowa State University received the 2024 Tree Campus USA award, presented by the Arbor Day Foundation and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. The award reflects campus planning and campus services' commitment to educating and engaging students and the community about the benefits of trees and demonstrating excellence in tree management. Iowa State is one of just 10 Tree Campus USA award winners in Iowa. To qualify, a campus must, at a minimum, have a tree advisory committee, tree care plan, tree program with dedicated annual expenditures, annual Arbor Day observance and a service learning project to engage its student body.
Lauren Schalinske is student employee supervisor of the year
Gansemer-Topf honored for work in higher education
Ann Gansemer-Topf, School of Education director and Frances S. and Arthur L. Wallace Professor, received a prestigious Pillars of the Profession award by the Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education Foundation. The award recognizes individuals who have served as leaders, mentors, and scholars in student affairs and higher education.
Vet Med faculty serving as association officers
Dr. Locke Karriker, Morrill Professor in veterinary diagnostic and production animal medicine and the Dr. Douglas and Ann Gustafson Professor for Teaching Excellence in Veterinary Medicine, was installed as president of the American Association of Swine Veterinarians during the group's annual meeting this month. At the same time, Dr. Chris Rademacher, clinical professor of veterinary diagnostic and production animal medicine, was elected vice president of the association.
Hashemi named senior member of inventors academy
Nicole Hashemi, associate professor of mechanical engineering, is one of just 162 inventors named a senior member of the National Academy of Inventors for 2025. The honor recognizes the nation's top emerging leaders in turning innovative discoveries into new technologies and products. Senior members are also educating and mentoring the next generation of inventors.
Ceylan receives highest honor in transportation engineering
Halil Ceylan, Pitt-Des Moines, Inc. Endowed Professor in Civil Engineering, has received the Francis C. Turner Award from the Transportation and Development Institute of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) for significantly advancing the field of transportation engineering. Under his leadership, interdisciplinary groups of engineers have pioneered innovations in pavement and transportation infrastructure research.
Elder appointed to national post
Abbey Elder, open access and scholarly communication librarian, has been appointed to the steering committee for the newly announced Open Education Association Development Project. Elder leads Iowa State's open education program and is the open educational resources (OER), open access and copyright contact at university library.
Halbur named outstanding swine academic
Dr. Pat Halbur, professor and chair of the department of veterinary diagnostic medicine and executive director of the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (VDL), is the 2025 recipient of the American Association of Swine Veterinarians' Outstanding Swine Academic of the Year award. It recognizes an association member employed in academia who has demonstrated excellence in teaching, research and service to the swine veterinary profession. Halbur's contributions include his leadership in strengthening the nation's diagnostic capacity through the development and evolution of Iowa State's VDL, and his pivotal role in the career paths of many students, mentees, professional staff and faculty.
Brown elected to national academy
Bryden named fellow of mechanical engineering society
Mark Bryden, professor of mechanical engineering and founding program director of the Division of Simulation, Modeling and Decision Science at Ames National Laboratory, has been named a fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineering, an honor held by less than 5 percent of its members and conferred to recognize outstanding engineering achievements.
Datta receives Medallion Award
Mridul Datta, clinical associate professor in the food science and human nutrition department, received the Iowa Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics' 2024 Medallion Award. The award recognizes a member of the association who has demonstrated leadership above and beyond job requirements in either the Iowa Academy or their place of employment and has made outstanding contributions to the dietetic profession.
Alipour named structural engineering fellow
Alice Alipour, associate professor and Thomas M. Murray Family Faculty Fellow of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, has been named a fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers' Structural Engineering Institute (SEI). SEI fellows represent less than 1 percent of the society's total membership, recognized as leaders and mentors in structural engineering.
Squire honored by Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture
Mitchell Squire, a Morrill Professor of architecture, is one of five faculty members nationwide to receive Distinguished Professor recognition in the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture’s (ACSA) 2025 Architectural Education Awards. The ACSA Distinguished Professor award highlights individuals who have had a positive, stimulating and nurturing influence upon students. Squire will be honored at the 113th ACSA Annual Meeting in New Orleans in March.
Pedestrian bridge receives national design award
The Jack Trice Gateway Bridge on University Boulevard received a 2025 Honorable Mention Design Award from the Chicago-based Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute in the category of Best Non-Highway Bridge. Each year panels of construction professionals, including architects, designers and concrete producers, honor the best precast concrete projects in a variety of categories.
White House honors three faculty for their work in science and engineering
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Three faculty receive White House early career award
Three faculty have received the 2025 Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), the highest honor the U.S. government bestows on outstanding scientists and engineers who show exceptional potential for leadership early in their careers. Each Presidential award winner receives funding from their national agency for up to five years. In the case of each ISU recipient, the funding agency is the National Science Foundation. In addition to recognizing innovative and far-reaching developments in science and technology, the award highlights the scientific missions of the participating agencies and the importance of science and technology for the country's future. Among the 400 scientists honored this year, Iowa State's recipients are:
- Soumik Sarkar, Walter W. Wilson Faculty Fellow in Engineering, professor of mechanical engineering and director of Iowa State's Translational AI Center
- Dipali Sashital, professor in biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology
- Zengyi Shao, Hershel B. Whitney Professor for Global Initiatives and professor in chemical and biological engineering
Neuhold-Ravikumar named technical assistance coach for national pilot arts program
The National Endowment for the Arts named Ruki Neuhold-Ravikumar, professor of practice in graphic design, one of six technical assistance coaches for a new program, ArtsHERE. In this role, she will advise nearly 20 of the 112 nonprofit organizations selected to receive an ArtsHERE grant to strengthen their capacity to sustain community engagement and increase arts participation for underserved groups and communities. The pilot program is managed by Atlanta-based South Arts in collaboration with the other five U.S. regional arts organizations.
Admissions team receives international recruitment award
The office of admissions' international recruitment team, which is led by Jorge Calderon, received the 2024 Institution of the Year award from the Association of International Enrollment Management. The award recognizes a member institution that stands out for its staff innovation, commitment to the association's mission and excellence in the field of international education. Iowa State was recognized specifically for its recruitment efforts and admitted student events around the world; collaboration with agent partners through webinars, trainings and global events; and for hosting multiple campus visits for counselors, agents and EducationUSA advisors.
Pappajohn Center, Ivy Business college recognized for entrepreneurship research
The Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship and the Ivy College of Business received the 2024 Award for Exceptional Contributions in Entrepreneurship Research from the Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers, an academic organization for university-based entrepreneurship centers. The recognition reflects the robust and innovative research produced by Ivy faculty, in collaboration with entrepreneurship faculty and leaders across Iowa State's colleges and divisions, as well as initiatives developed in partnership with the Pappajohn Center that enhance the university's reputation as a leader in entrepreneurship education and research. The award underscores the unique collaboration between the Pappajohn Center and the Ivy College of Business.
Communications units capture district awards
Iowa State units received five Best of District VI recognitions in the annual CASE Circle of Excellence awards program:
- Haylee Sheppard, University Library, AI illustration for Bookmarks magazine cover, fall 2023 edition, category: Design: Illustrations
- University Library, Bookmarks magazine, fall 2023 edition, Design: Publications
- College of Engineering, Cyclone Engineering Magazine, spring 2023, Design: Covers
- ISU Foundation, Forward magazine, spring 2023 edition, Communications: Storytelling
- President's division, 2023 President's Holiday Message, Videos: Holiday/Year-end
Zarecor appointed to National Science Foundation position
Architecture professor Kimberly Zarecor has been appointed a full-time program director in the National Science Foundation's Regional Innovation Engines (NSF Engines) program. Zarecor will serve on the team that manages the current portfolio of NSF Engines awards. Additionally, she will help select recipients for the next round of NSF Engines awards that will be announced in late 2025.
Suza, Schulte Moore named Top Agri-food Pioneers
Agronomy adjunct associate professor and George Washington Carver Endowed Chair Walter Suza and natural resource ecology and management professor Lisa Schulte Moore were named Top Agri-Food Pioneers by the World Food Prize Foundation. They are among 38 global innovators selected for their transformative food systems work in recognition of the World Food Prize Foundation’s 38th anniversary. The awardees will be recognized at the 2024 Borlaug Dialogue in Des Moines on Oct. 29-31.
Holiday video earns CASE Gold Award
President Wendy Wintersteen's 2023 holiday video has earned Iowa State University a Gold Award in the national 2024 Circle of Excellence Awards sponsored by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). The annual competition recognizes outstanding marketing, communications, alumni relations, fundraising and advancement work in higher education. The production team for the holiday video included representatives from the president's office, strategic relations and communications, extension and outreach, admissions and College of Engineering, with collaborators in the music and theatre department, facilities planning and management and several college and unit leaders. Watch the 90-second video, which features "The Bells of Iowa State" and about a dozen iconic campus locations.
Pappajohn Center recognized again among entrepreneurial universities
Iowa State's Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship was the runner-up in the Accreditation Council for Entrepreneurial and Engaged Universities' (ACEEU) prestigious 2024 Triple E (Entrepreneurship and Engagement Excellence) Awards, in the category of America's Most Impactful Initiative of the Year. The award was presented at the ACEEU's 2024 Americas Forum in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The Triple E Awards recognize global efforts in entrepreneurship and engagement in higher education.
Additionally, center director Judi Eyles was invited to participate on a panel group discussing "Driving Innovation and Community Impact: The Critical Role of Entrepreneurial and Engaged Universities."
The 2024 recognition follows the center's success last year when it was named 2023 Entrepreneurial University of the Year, the council's highest recognition.
Learning Communities Awards recipients announced
Iowa State's 2024 Learning Communities Awards were presented on Monday, May 13.
- LC Advocate Award: Valentina Salotti, dean's office, Ivy College of Business
- Outstanding Innovation Award: Karen Scheel, psychology department, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Champion Award: Carrie Richie, psychology department, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Early Achievement in Learning Community Coordination: Christina Moore, student services, College of Engineering
- Collaborator Award (4): Barb Clawson, horticulture department; Brenna Dixon, department of English; Kody Henke, office of student assistance; Rachel Smith, School of Education
- Scholarship Award: The Sky is the Limit Team (Clark Coffman, genetics, development and cell biology; former student Maria Espino and Corinna Most, ecology, evolution and organismal biology)