News From Campus—vol. 7 No. 1
Hearty Hellos
Jianming Yu, Pioneer Distinguished Chair in Maize Breeding, agronomy
Gretchen Mosher (PhD ’11 industrial and agricultural technology), researcher in food safety and grain quality and director of undergraduate services, agricultural and biosystems engineering
Daniel Andersen (MS ’08 agricultural engineering, PhD ’12), assistant professor, manure management and water quality matters, agricultural and biosystems engineering
Patrick Gunn, assistant professor, cow-calf specialist, animal science
Fond Farewells
Dan Otto, professor of economics and ISU Extension economist, retired in October
Dennis Shannon (‘69 agronomy), ISU Research and Demonstration Farms, retired in December
Phil Spike (PhD ’75 animal science), professor of animal science, retired in January
Jean Tilley, food science and human nutrition, retired in February
Wendel Maps Cotton Genome, Honored For Research Excellence
An international consortium of scientists that includes Jonathan Wendel, distinguished professor and chair of the Department of Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology, has mapped the genome sequence for cotton in a paper published in the journal “Nature.” The sequencing of the genome will have sweeping ramifications for cotton growers, plant biologists and producers who grow other cash crops. Wendel received the 2012 International Cotton Genome Initiative Award for Outstanding Contributions to Cotton Research at the initiative’s conference in October. For details about Wendel’s research visit www.news.iastate.edu/news/2012/12/20/cottongenome.
Retallick Receives National Teaching Award
Michael Retallick (PhD ’05 agricultural and life sciences education), agricultural education and studies, received the New Teacher Award at the Food and Agricultural Sciences Excellence in College and University Awards Program at the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities annual meeting in Denver in November. The award honors college and university instructors who demonstrate a commitment to a career in teaching and exhibit meritorious teaching with seven or less years of experience in higher education.
CALS WELCOMES NEW ASSISTANT DEAN FOR DIVERSITY
An agricultural educator from Tennessee has been named the new CALS assistant dean for diversity. Theressa Cooper, former director of Academic Success Programs and Outreach Initiatives at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, began Feb. 1. She will coordinate, manage and implement the college’s existing diversity programs, such as the George Washington Carver Summer Internship program and Graduate Assistant Research Match program. She also will lead efforts to identify new opportunities to enhance diversity and connect with minority serving institutions nationwide. To learn more about Cooper and her position visit www.cals.iastate.edu/news/releases.
Student Clubs Win National Competitions
Agricultural Business Club: 2012 National Outstanding Chapter, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association (seventh consecutive title); first place 2012 Academic Quiz Bowl
Block and Bridle Club: hosted the 93rd National Block and Bridle Conference in April attended by 500 students; first place yearbook, webpage and first-place outstanding senior
Crops Team: first place crops contest and Ag Knowledge Bowl
Dairy Products Evaluation Team: fourth place 91st National Collegiate Dairy Products Evaluation Contest and third place at the Regional Collegiate Dairy Products Evaluation Contest
Food Product Development: third place AACCI Product Development Competition in Hollywood, Fla.
Livestock Judging Team: first place Sioux Empire Farm Show Livestock Judging Contest; first place Iowa Beef Expo; High Team Overall honors at the Aksarben Stock Show and Rodeo
Meats Judging Team: first place Southeastern Intercollegiate Meat Judging Contest
National Agri-Marketing Association: first in 2012 John Deere Signature Award Competition at the NAMA Agri-Marketing Competition
Soil Judging Team: second place overall at the 2013 National Collegiate Soil Contest hosted by the University of Wisconsin, Platteville
Turf Club: first place 2012 Collegiate Turf Bowl Competition at the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America Education Conference (12th win out of the past 14 years)
Rothschild Receives Usaid Meritorious Honor Award
Max Rothschild, animal science, and fellow research team members at the U.S. Agency for International Development Bureau for Food Security received a Meritorious Honor Group Award for its outstanding vision, teamwork and dedication in designing and implementing USAID’s programs in support of the Feed the Future Research Strategy, building strong linkages that span USAID’s Missions, Bureaus and partners, especially U.S. universities, CGIAR Centers and the private sector.
