Inside Iowa State for faculty and staff
March 25, 2021
Inside news
The next academic calendar features two 16-week semesters and an optional four-week winter session, and includes weeklong fall and spring breaks.

The universitywide program will tap existing student support services, provide a community structure for undergraduate and graduate members and appeal to staff and faculty benevolence.

Ending a yearlong prohibition, faculty and staff can resume university-sponsored international trips. Travelers will need to agree to comply with COVID-19 regulations and meet with the risk management office for an itinerary review. 

Over the next two years, ISU Extension and Outreach staff in every county will help Iowans recover from the pandemic by focusing on one of six initiatives -- economic revival, financial security, food supply access, youth education, mental health or child care.

The 88-year-old Genetics Laboratory is coming down. Demolition includes removing a tunnel to it under the road and seeding the site as a pollinator garden for migrating butterflies.
Announcements
The following announcements were added this week:
  • Aerospace engineering professor Rajagopalan passes away
  • Presentation proposals sought for Youth Programs Symposium 
  • Extension extends face covering mandate
  • Submit course materials now for summer and fall
  • Save the date: Alumni awards event is April 7
Around campus
In a Q&A interview after a few weeks on the job, vice president for research Peter Dorhout shares his perceptions of Iowa State and his priorities for its research enterprise.

ISU engineers are using their expertise in graphene-based biosensors to develop quick, inexpensive and sensitive saliva tests for the virus that causes COVID-19. Federal agencies are supporting the research with the goal of tests that can be mass produced and widely distributed. 

Two research teams exploring novel health treatments each received $50,000 in funding through the Presidential Interdisciplinary Research Seed Grant Program. One team will investigate causes of blood clotting and lung inflammation in COVID-19. The other will explore creation of a nanotechnology platform for targeted gene editing.

'Boots in the Barn,' a three-part series designed for women beef and dairy producers, focuses on sire selection, vaccine management and assisting animals at calving time.
Retirements
This week
  • Christine Meraz, Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, March 25
  • Greg Yeakel, pharmacy, Thielen Student Health Center, reception: March 25 (2-4 p.m., 1308 Beyer)
  • Julie Lelonek, ISU Startup Factory/Pappajohn Center, March 26, share wishes on her Kudoboard

Next week
  • Colleen Johnson, finance service delivery, March 31
  • Norio Nakagawa, Center for Nondestructive Evaluation, March 31
  • Charlene Shaw, Graduate College office, March 31, share wishes on her Kudoboard
  • Dr. Kent Schwartz, veterinary diagnostic and production animal medicine, April 1
  • Jeff Mattson, central stores, April 2
  • Dr. Gregory Stevenson, veterinary diagnostic and production animal medicine, April 2

Upcoming
  • Jim Oberender, power plant, facilities planning and management, April 5
  • Patrick Foley, power plant, facilities planning and management, April 9

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.
Open forums
Forums will be held 3-4 p.m. via Webex. Candidates will be announced one day prior.
  • March 25, Bella Karr Gerlich, Texas Tech University, Lubbock 
  • March 29
  • April 1
  • April 5
  • April 9
Arts and events
"Facing Our Truth" is a series of short plays that revolve around racial biases, stereotypes, loss and enlightenment. They're directed by College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Dean’s Artist-in-Residence Tiffany Johnson. The streamed performance opens March 25.
Learning opportunities
Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT) programming

Center for Communication Excellence programming
Previous Inside coverage
About us
Inside Update is published Thursday mornings by Strategic Relations and Communications. Questions may be directed to 515-294-7065.