More than 50 Iowa State faculty and staff will be honored during the university's annual awards ceremony in September; a date hasn't been finalized. Following is the list of those employees and the promotions or awards for which they will be recognized.
Distinguished Professor
The title of Distinguished Professor, first awarded in 1956, 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 his or her discipline nationally or internationally 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 at least five years on the Iowa State faculty. The awardee retains the title for the remainder of his or her career at the university.
Distinguished Professor in Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Matt DeLisi, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Dean's Professor and professor of sociology
- Pamela Riney-Kehrberg, professor of history
Anson Marston Distinguished Professor in Engineering
- Manimaran Govindarasu, Mehl Professor in Computer Engineering and professor of electrical and computer engineering
Charles F. Curtiss Distinguished Professor in Agriculture and Life Sciences
- Robert Jernigan, professor of biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology
- GianCarlo Moschini, Pioneer Hi-Bred International Chair in Science and Technology Policy and professor of economics
University Professor
The title of University Professor is awarded to a faculty member who has acted as a change agent by making 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 at least 10 years on the Iowa State faculty. The awardee retains the title for the remainder of his or her career at the university.
- Lisa Larson, professor of psychology
- Gary Mirka, John Ryder Professor of Engineering and professor of industrial and manufacturing systems engineering
- Javier Vela, professor of chemistry
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 at least five years on the Iowa State faculty. The awardee retains the title for the remainder of his or her career at the university.
- Lee Burras, professor of agronomy
- Mark Hargrove, professor of biochemistry biophysics and molecular biology
- Sara Marcketti, professor of apparel, events and hospitality management, and director of the Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching
- Loreto Prieto, professor of psychology
- Greg Tylka, professor of plant pathology and microbiology
Regents Award for Faculty Excellence
The award is presented by the state Board of Regents to recognize tenured faculty members who are outstanding university citizens and have rendered significant service to the university or the state of Iowa.
- Monica Lamm, associate professor of chemical and biological engineering
- Chris Rehmann, associate professor of civil, construction and environmental engineering
- Warren Franke, associate chair and professor of kinesiology
Regents Award for Staff Excellence
The award is presented by the state Board of Regents to recognize members of either the professional and scientific or supervisory and confidential staffs who are outstanding university citizens and have rendered significant service to the university or the state of Iowa.
- Laura Iles, program manager, plant pathology and microbiology
- Michelle Stotts, operations manager, chemical and biological engineering
Award for Inclusive Excellence
The award recognizes faculty and professional and scientific staff who have advanced the university’s mission of diversity, equity and inclusion beyond their usual job responsibilities.
- Monic Behnken, associate professor of sociology
- Harrison Inefuku, librarian, university library
International Service Award
The award recognizes a faculty member for outstanding international service in teaching, research or administration within the United States or abroad.
- Karl Kraus, professor of veterinary clinical sciences
Outstanding Achievement in Teaching
The award recognizes a faculty member for outstanding teaching performance over an extended period of time.
- Beth Martin, associate teaching professor of world languages and cultures
- Rob Whitehead, associate professor of architecture
- Louis Thompson Distinguished Undergraduate Teaching designation: Aili Mu, associate professor of world languages and cultures
Early Achievement in Teaching
The award recognizes a faculty member who has demonstrated outstanding teaching performance unusually early in his or her career.
- Paola Pittoni, assistant teaching professor of mechanical engineering
- Marna Yandeau-Nelson, assistant professor of genetics, development and cell biology
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.
- Stephen Biggs, associate professor of philosophy and religious studies
Margaret Ellen White Graduate Faculty Award
Established by a longtime 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.
- Cathy Miller, interim department chair and professor of veterinary microbiology and preventive medicine
- Denise Schmidt-Crawford, associate professor in the School of Education and director of the Center for Technology in Learning and Teaching
Departmental Leadership
The award recognizes outstanding departmental leadership that helps faculty members meet their complex obligations to undergraduate teaching, graduate mentoring, research and service.
- Jeff Iles, chair and professor of horticulture
Academic Advising Impact
The award recognizes outstanding performance by an academic adviser over an extended period of time.
- Lisa Enloe, practicum placement coordinator, human development and family studies
- Diann Burright, director of undergraduate programs, Ivy College of Business
Early Achievement in Academic Advising
The award recognizes outstanding performance by an academic adviser early in his or her career.
- Flor Romero de Slowing, academic adviser, world languages and cultures
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.
- Basil Nikolau, Francis Craig Professor in biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology
- Kan Wang, Global Professor in Biotechnology and professor of agronomy
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.
- Asheesh Singh, Monsanto Chair in Soybean Breeding and associate professor of agronomy
- Jigang Wang, professor of physics and astronomy
- Yue Wu, Herbert Stiles Professor in Chemical Engineering and associate professor of chemical and biological engineering
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.
- Soumik Sarkar, associate professor of mechanical engineering
- Amie Zarling, assistant professor of human development and family studies
Professional and Scientific Research Award
The award recognizes a professional and scientific staff member employed at Iowa State at least five years for excellence in research.
- Tracie Hennen-Bierwagen, associate scientist, biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology
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.
- Arthur Winter, professor of chemistry
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.
- Brenda Martin, account manager, Center for Industrial Research and Service
Professional and Scientific Excellence Award
The award recognizes contributions made by a professional and scientific staff member within and beyond the university and career progress demonstrated by accomplishments at Iowa State.
- Teresa Fernando, teaching laboratory senior coordinator, chemistry department
- Richard Jauron, program specialist in horticulture, ISU Extension and Outreach
- Jacob Larsen, director of the language study resource center, world languages and cultures
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.
- Diane Meyer, pre-award project manager in the Grants Hub, office of the vice president for research
Professional and Scientific Outstanding New Professional Award
The award recognizes a professional and scientific staff member who has demonstrated outstanding accomplishments unusually early in his or her professional career.
- Erika Lundy, beef field specialist, ISU Extension and Outreach
- Christopher Myers, teaching laboratory coordinator, ecology, evolution and organismal biology
- Svitlana Zbarska, undergraduate research program coordinator, university honors program
Distinguished Service in Extension and Outreach
The highest award bestowed on an extension professional, it recognizes sustained distinguished performance and educational contributions to Iowa State's clientele through extension programs.
- Erin Hodgson, associate professor of entomology
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.
- Catheryn Hockaday, program manager, human sciences extension and outreach
- Rodger Main, director, Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory
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.
- Adam Janke, assistant professor of natural resource ecology and management
- Erika Lundy, beef field specialist, 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.
- Matthew Wenger, program coordinator in extension meat science, animal science
