CALS Community Feature: Kaitlin Diggins

Name: Kaitlin Diggins (junior, environmental science)

Hometown: Mondamin, Iowa

Cultural identity: Native American

What has been your favorite class and why?
I studied abroad in Australia last year and took an environmental botany course. Hands down the best class! Getting a chance to learn about Australian flora and how the ecological boundaries differ was fascinating and was one of the best opportunities of my career.

ISU faculty/staff member who has been impactful to you:
Dr. Robert Hartzler has been an inspirational to me through his teaching of weed science. I took a one credit weed identification course for fun, and after that, I knew that I wanted to be a weed scientist too. He is a great professor. Fun fact: if you make a bet for extra credit points, he will always take the bait.

Favorite ISU Adventure:
I loved my study abroad to Deakin University, but the most impactful opportunity would have to be undergraduate research through the First-year Honors Mentor Program. I worked with the best graduate student, Allen Chen, and I learned so much. He inspired and encouraged me to pursue a higher education, which I hope to do following graduation.

What other unique opportunities, activities or student organizations have you been active with during your time at Iowa State?
Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) was the first organization I participated in upon my arrival at Iowa State. Dr. Corey Welch and all of the members of this student organization have been pivotal to allow me to build my education on a supportive foundation.

Kaitlin’s favorite resources to build community:

Social media account:

Tabitha Brown on Instagram @iamtabithabrown