The university's ability to graduate the large entering student classes of four to six years ago, including this spring's record-setting graduating class, is reflected in recent enrollments. Enrollment this summer dropped under 11,000 for the first time since 2012.

Karen Zunkel, who has successfully led many academic projects and programs for Iowa State, will take on a new one as executive director of the office of institutional research. She'll start in that post July 22.

The School of Education welcomed its new director, Donald Hackmann, last week. He was a faculty member in the former educational leadership and policy studies department in his first stop on campus (1998-2004).

Christopher Hanes is the new director of Student Counseling Services, as of July 1. He came from the University of Cincinnati.

Iowa State is in week two of using the Workday system for its finance, payroll and human resources work. More than 6,500 employees logged in during the first week of its launch.

LinkedIn acquired the Lynda.com online learning resource and will discontinue it later this year. ISU's subscription will switch to LinkedIn Learning on July 29 -- a similar platform with additional features.

A team of Iowa State graduate students brought home the top prize from the 20th annual Data Mining Cup, beating nearly 150 teams from 114 universities in 28 countries. The ISU team developed a mathematical model to detect fraud at self-checkouts in grocery stores.

One year after an EF-3 tornado struck Marshalltown, Iowa State students and faculty are conducting research and outreach to help a community still in recovery. They're using what they learned to create a toolkit for examining challenges that exacerbate a disaster's damage and slow recovery.

 

A second year of seed grants will support three Iowa State-Iowa research teams working on projects in the biosciences. The idea is to help the researchers build joint teams, collect data, grow projects, compete for bigger grants and help grow the state's bioscience economy.

• Andrea Nelson, interim 4-H youth development state program leader, to interim assistant vice president for county services, ISU Extension and Outreach, effective July 1
• Molly Hewitt, extension director for Woodbury County, to regional director for Region 5 (Monona, Plymouth and Woodbury counties), ISU Extension and Outreach, effective Aug. 5
• Deborah Nistler, University of Florida, Gainesville, to 4-H youth development state program leader, ISU Extension and Outreach, effective Aug. 15

• Workshop, Developing a Convergence SUS Agenda for Redesigning the Urban-Rural Interface Along the Mississippi River Watershed, Aug. 12-13, Alumni Center, $30 (students $20), register online by July 22

Finalists: MU associate director for student activities (third of three)

• July 11, 11 a.m.-noon, MU Cardinal Room, Allen Womble, University of Illinois, Chicago

Recreation services staff will lead an outdoor yoga series on the lawn south of the campanile beginning Thursday, July 11 (5:30 p.m.). Other dates are July 18, 22 and 29, and Aug. 8. They're free and all are welcome.

Nearly 60 artists will display and sell their nature-inspired pieces during Reiman Gardens' annual garden art fair Sunday, July 14 (9 a.m.-4 p.m.). Media include jewelry, painting, pottery, woodwork, glass, photography, sculpture and fabric arts. To make the event more accessible, the gardens will offer reduced admission for the day: $8 general admission, $7 for seniors ages 65+ and $3.50 for youth ages 2-12 years. As always, admission is free for members and ISU students.