Inside Iowa State for faculty and staff
April 28, 2022
Inside news
Faculty and staff who won one of the nearly 30 annual awards will be recognized in a ceremony this fall.

You might know about individual projects, but did you know they happened because Emerging Leaders Academy classes were challenged to take on impactful projects that make us a better university community?

ISU Police created a social media sensation with an April Fools' joke viewed by millions. Detective Ferret Bueller was announced as a narcotic-detecting ferret more cost effective than drug-sniffing dogs. The post exploded in popularity with 69,000 shares.

After a two-year pandemic hiatus, graduation breakfast returned to the Memorial Union Tuesday. University photographer Chris Gannon captured the celebratory spirit of the morning.

Through July 31, employees will have reading and exporting access only to documents in DocuSign they want to keep.
Announcements
The following announcements were added this week:
  • COVID-19: By the numbers
  • Library open continuously during finals week, therapy dogs return for prep week
  • Reiman Gardens' plant sale is May 7-8
  • Reminder: Complete regents' free speech training by May 13
  • Classrooms reserved for evening study during prep week
  • Direct pay to participating providers available via dependent flex
  • Honors poster presentation, convocation is May 4
  • Faculty-Staff Inspiration Awards to honor five on May 20
Around campus
With a $16 million research project and a new Center for Wireless, Communities and Innovation, Iowa State is working to be a leader in developing advanced wireless technologies for affordable and universal rural broadband. Read the latest in the Innovation at Work series from ISU news service.

Vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion Sharon Perry Fantini invites members of the university community to expand your knowledge about Asian American and Pacific Islander heritage month and join the Iowa State celebration on May 7.
 
A new study from Iowa State found men convicted of domestic violence were charged with significantly fewer violent and nonviolent charges one year after completing a treatment program developed in Iowa, compared to a model used in most other states. 

ISU researchers who studied the environmental impacts of vegetable production and distribution found local production offers significant benefits overall when compared to the large-scale methods that represent most vegetable sales to supermarkets.

An ISU research team received a $1 million XPRIZE milestone award for its strategy to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to combat climate change.

Senior Jillian Olson was selected as a Fulbright teaching assistant who will teach English in Taiwan during the 2022-23 academic year. Olson is one of approximately 2,000 U.S. citizens who will pursue graduate study, conduct research and teach English abroad through the Fulbright U.S. Student Program.
Appointments
  • Fred Love, news service, to director of marketing and sales at Stephens Auditorium, effective May 9
Retirements
Next week
  • Sarah Nusser, statistics and former vice president for research, May 2 (3:30-5:30 p.m., Speer Room, Reiman Gardens), retirement was in June 2021
  • Leonard Bond, aerospace engineering and Center for Nondestructive Evaluation, May 3 (3-4 p.m., 1235 Howe), retiring June 30
  • Patricia Daugherty, supply chain management; William Dilla, accounting; and Jose Rosa, marketing, May 3 (4:30-6:30 p.m., remarks at 5:15 p.m., 3560/Pioneer Room, Memorial Union)
  • Cynthia Feller, HR service delivery (president's units, enrollment management, IT services and Student Innovation Center), May 4 (no public event), post well wishes on her Kudoboard
  • Susan Yager, English, May 4 (4-6 p.m., Alluvial Brewing, 3715 W. 190 St.)
  • Mark Honeyman, dean's office, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, May 6 (open house 11:45-2 p.m., Harl Commons, Curtiss Hall)
  • Brenda Behling and Julie Johnston, office of the senior vice president and provost, May 6 (3-5 p.m., remarks at 3:30 p.m., first floor rotunda, Beardshear Hall)
  • Lee Cagley, interior design, May 6 (4-6 p.m., program at 4:30 p.m., atrium, College of Design)

Upcoming
  • Mike Dotzler, facilities and engineering, Ames Laboratory, May 16 (no public event)

Employees, their colleagues or supervisors are invited to submit retirements and departures to inside@iastate.edu. University human resources doesn't provide them for publication.
Arts and events
Iowa Insect Pageant, performed tonight on central campus and Saturday at Bandshell Park, is a collaboration between ISU arts and sciences that brings attention to insects through original music and large puppets made of discarded materials. 

Help celebrate the recipients of the university's highest awards at the annual Distinguished Awards Celebration Friday, April 29 (2 p.m., MU Sun Room). The ceremony is open to the public and a reception follows. Details about the awards, presented through the ISU Alumni Association and ISU Foundation, as well as livestream information are online.

The ISU symphony orchestra and more than 200 ISU choir members will perform together Saturday, April 30 (7:30 p.m., Stephens Auditorium) for "Diversity Un/masked," a concert celebrating identity by highlighting works by composers of diverse backgrounds. The performance is the seventh "Symphony of Diversity" and the first to feature choral singing. Admission is free.

In observance of the national "Go Public Gardens" initiative to encourage the public to visit, value and volunteer at public gardens, Reiman Gardens is offering free admission to all visitors on Wednesday, May 4 (10 a.m.-6 p.m., includes conservatory and gift shop). The butterfly wing closes at 4:30 p.m.
Learning opportunities
Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT) programming

ISU WorkLife programming
  • Workshop, Unplugged, cutting back on screen time to refresh and recharge, May 5 (10-11 a.m.), register in Learn@ISU (under UHR) to receive link
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About us
Inside Update is published Thursday mornings by Strategic Relations and Communications. Questions may be directed to 515-294-7065.