Alumni News – Spring 2018

SHAO ELECTED TO CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

Headshot of Mingan ShaoMingan Shao (’96 PhD soil science) with the Institute of Soil and Water Conservation and Ministry of Water Resources in Yangling, Shaanxi, China, was one of 61 Chine se Academy of Sciences academicians elected to the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Shao’s research focu s is in water, heat and mass transport in soil.

 

 

NORTHEY NAMED USDA UNDER SECRETARY

Headshot of Bill NortheyBill Northey was sworn in as the U.S. Department of Agriculture Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Service (FFAS) in March. Northey (’81 ag business) had served as Iowa’s Secretary of Agriculture for more than 11 years. He is a former president of the National Corn Growers Association, served in state and local roles for the Iowa Farm Bureau and is a fourth-generation corn and soybean farmer.

 

CHAPIN, DE JONG HEAD STATE FARM SERVICE AGENCIES

Headshot of Amanda DejongClark Chapin and Amanda De Jong have been appointed by President Donald J. Trump to manage the Farm Service Agency (FSA) in their states. Chapin (‘12 MS interdisciplinary studies) will lead the Connecticut FSA. He previously served 16 years as a Connecticut state legislator prior to his most recent role as project director for Working Lands Alliance. De Jong (‘02 ag business) will lead the Iowa FSA. She worked with U.S. Senator Charles Grassley and the U.S. Department of Agriculture before serving in her most recent role as senior policy advisor for the Iowa Corn Growers Association.

 

LAWRENCE APPOINTED TO LEAD ISU EXTENSION AND OUTREACH

Headshot of John LawrenceJohn Lawrence was named vice president for ISU Extension and Outreach in March, following a nationwide search. Lawrence (’84 animal science, ’86 MS economics) served as interim vice president for one year. He previously served
as the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences associate dean for extension and outreach and director of Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension and Outreach. Lawrence has been an ISU faculty member since 1991.

 

HUNTER HONORED AS EMERGING IOWA LEADER

Headshot of Jacob HunterJacob Hunter (’11 ag and life sciences education), agricultural educator and FFA adviser at North Scott High School in Eldridge, received the 2018 Emerging Iowa Leader Award from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences during a college-sponsored basketball game on February 10. Hunter formerly served as the director of Iowa education programs for the World Food Prize Foundation.

 

CALS ALUMNI, FRIENDS RECOGNIZED BY ISU ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

CALS alumni and friends were among those honored by the ISU Alumni Association this spring.

Lequetia Ancar (’99 industrial technology, ’04 MS, ’08 PhD industrial
and ag technology), program coordinator for the ISU College of Engineering, received the Faculty-Staff Inspiration Award.

Eric Hoiberg, former CALS associate dean and faculty member in the Department of Sociology, received the Faculty-Staff Inspiration Award.

William Olson (’09 microbiology), student at the Medical University of Innsbruck in Innsbruck, Austria, was honored as a STATEment Maker.

Kevin Roepke (’06 public service and administration in agriculture), U.S. Soybean Export Council’s regional director to the Americas in Mexico, was honored as a STATEment Maker.

CALS ALUMNI EARN TOP NATIONAL HONORS

Jon Bergstrom (’92 ag studies), senior technical support manager and market development manager for DSM Nutritional Products, American Association of Animal Science Outstanding Early Career Agribusiness Award

Ian Plagge (’07 ag business) and Valerie Plagge (’06 ag and life sciences education), farmers near Latimer, Iowa; 62nd National Outstanding Young Farmers Awards Congress National Outstanding Farmers Honorees

Melea Reicks Licht (’00 public service and administration in ag, ’05 MS ag and life sciences education), Iowa State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences director of alumni relations, Sigma Alpha National Sorority Spirit of Ruth Award

Mark Schleisman (’86 ag business), farmer near Lake City, Iowa; American Soybean Association Conservation Legacy Award

Martha Smith (’04 ag business), area business manager-Channel Brand for Monsanto, Young Farmers and Ranchers Discussion Meet Champion

Charles Sukup (’76 ag engineering, ’82 MS), president of Sukup Manufacturing Company, elected to the National Academy of Engineering

Kirk Weih (’79 farm operations), Hertz Farm Management, American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers D. Howard Doane Award