Fifty Iowa State employees, recipients of the 2016 university-wide awards, will be recognized during an afternoon ceremony on Monday, Sept. 26 (3:30 p.m., MU Great Hall). The group includes nine faculty members who have received the title of Distinguished, University or Morrill professor, titles they keep for the duration of their service at Iowa State.
President Steven Leath; senior vice presidents Jonathan Wickert, Martino Harmon and Kate Gregory; and vice presidents Sarah Nusser, Mike Crum and Cathann Kress will present the awards.
The university community is invited to honor its colleagues and their accomplishments. A reception will follow the awards ceremony. Following is the list of awards to be presented.
You're invited
Faculty and Staff Awards
Ceremony
Monday, Sept. 26
3:30 p.m., MU Great Hall
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.
Anson Marston Distinguished Professor in Engineering
- Surya Mallapragada, Carol Vohs Johnson Chair in Chemical and Biological Engineering
- James McCalley, professor of electrical and computer engineering, Jack London Chair in Power Systems Engineering
Clarence Hartley Covault Distinguished Professor in Veterinary Medicine
- Richard Martin, professor of biomedical sciences
Charles F. Curtiss Distinguished Professor in Agriculture and Life Sciences
- Gene Takle, Pioneer Hi-Bred Agronomy Professor
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.
- Ann Marie Fiore, professor of apparel, events and hospitality management
- Peter Martin, professor of human development and family studies
- Lynn Paxson, professor of architecture
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 Leslie, Pickard Chilton Professor of Architecture
- Jan Thompson, professor of natural resource ecology and management
Regents Award for Faculty Excellence
The award is presented by the Board of Regents, State of Iowa, to recognize tenured faculty members who are outstanding university citizens and who have rendered significant service to the university or the state of Iowa.
- Hector Avalos, professor of philosophy and religious studies
- Elisabeth Huff Lonergan, professor of animal science
- Kevin Schalinske, professor of food science and human nutrition
- Daniel Russell, professor of human development and family studies
- L. Keith Woo, professor of chemistry
Regents Award for Staff Excellence
The award is presented by the Board of Regents, State of Iowa, to recognize members of either the Professional and Scientific or Supervisory and Confidential staffs who are outstanding university citizens and who have rendered significant service to the university or the state of Iowa.
- Sarah Bade, assistant scientist, Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory
- Renee Harris, administrative specialist, department of chemistry
- Robert Steffes, program manager, Institute for Transportation
- Jeanne Stewart, assistant scientist, Nutrition and Wellness Research Center
Iowa State University Award for Outstanding Achievement in Teaching
The award recognizes a faculty member for outstanding teaching performance over an extended period of time.
- Anne Clem, senior lecturer, department of accounting; Elaine R. Everson Teaching Fellow
- Steven Lonergan, professor of animal science
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.
- Rachel Meyers, assistant professor of classical studies
Iowa State University 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.
- Lisa Orgler, lecturer, department of horticulture
- Alejandro Ramirez, associate professor of veterinary diagnostic and production animal medicine
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.
- Basil Nikolau, Frances M. Craig Professor of Biochemistry
Iowa State University 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.
- Kristen Constant, Morrill Professor and chair, department of materials science and engineering; Wilkinson Professor of Interdisciplinary Engineering
Iowa State University Award for Early Achievement in Departmental Leadership
The award recognizes the exceptional impact of a department chair or school director within the first three years of his or her leadership role.
- Chad Gasta, professor and chair, department of world languages and cultures
International Service Award
The award recognizes a faculty member for outstanding international service in teaching, research or administration within the United States or abroad.
- Dorothy Masinde, lecturer, department of horticulture
Iowa State University Award for Academic Advising Impact
The award recognizes outstanding performance by an academic adviser over an extended period of time.
- Stephanie Larson, academic adviser, College of Business
- Howard Tyler, assistant dean for student services, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences; professor of animal science
Iowa State University Award for Early Achievement in Academic Advising
The award recognizes outstanding performance by an academic adviser early in his or her career.
- Ruxandra Looft, academic adviser, department of world languages and cultures
Iowa State University 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 who has influenced the research activities of students.
- Bryony Bonning, professor of entomology
- Valery Levitas, Schaefer Professor of Engineering, department of aerospace engineering
Iowa State University 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.
- Anna Johnson, associate professor of animal science
- Aaron Sadow, professor of chemistry
Iowa State University 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.
- Stephanie Hansen, associate professor of animal science
- Jianqiang Zhang, assistant 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.
- Zhiliang Hu, associate scientist, department of animal science
Iowa State University Award for Achievement in Intellectual Property
The award recognizes individuals or teams of faculty or professional and scientific staff for outstanding university-based achievements in producing intellectual property.
- Matt Darr, associate professor of agricultural and biosystems engineering
Iowa State University Award for Achievement in Economic Development in Iowa
The award 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.
- Kevin Kimle, senior lecturer, department of economics; Bruce Rastetter Chair in Agricultural Entrepreneurship; director of the Agricultural Entrepreneurship Initiative
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.
- Karen Colbert, program coordinator, department of human development and family studies
- Larry Tranel, dairy field specialist, ISU Extension and Outreach
- Douglas Wood, associate scientist, department of civil, construction and environmental engineering
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 University.
- Nicci Port, administrative specialist, College of Human Sciences administration
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.
- Sunghwan Kim, assistant scientist, Institute for Transportation; associate director, Program for Sustainable Pavement Engineering and Research
- Melissa Miller, associate director, Iowa Water Center
- Meredith Williams, career coordinator/recruiting coordinator, College of Business career services
Iowa State University 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.
- Denise Schwab, beef field specialist, ISU Extension and Outreach
Iowa State University 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 who has achieved national recognition for outreach activities.
- Dan Morrical, professor of animal science; sheep specialist, ISU Extension and Outreach
Iowa State University 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.
- Jon Wolseth, community development field specialist, ISU Extension and Outreach
Iowa State University 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.
- Robert Dodds, assistant vice president, ISU Extension and Outreach
