Inside Iowa State for faculty and staff
April 22, 2021
Inside news
The plan for summer is to prepare the campus community for a fall semester that more closely resembles 2019 than 2020. Learn more during an April 29 town hall.

Vaccination appointments currently are available Tuesday-Thursday, April 27-29, with second doses to follow on May 18-20. Anyone securing an appointment must be able to receive both doses on campus.

For the past two years, a reprieve from academic dismissal due to extenuating circumstances has come with placement in SMART Steps, a holistic intervention designed to identify and remove barriers impacting students' academic performance.

Senior vice president and provost Jonathan Wickert's annual report to the Faculty Senate on faculty advancement included term and tenure-eligible faculty updates. 
Announcements
The following announcements were added this week:
  • Faculty member Hector Avalos dies
  • Central campus tent use extended through May 13
  • Extension offers remote work certificate program
  • United Way food drive is April 26-May 6
  • Exhibitor applications open for Destination Iowa State picnic
  • Submit course reserves requests now for summer and fall
Around campus
Associate professor of veterinary clinical sciences Jessica Ward loves animals and dance. Both have informed her approach as she pushes to make improvements -- such as expanding the use of ultrasound in her college -- while respecting tradition.

In a Q&A for The Conversation, philosophy associate professor Kate Padgett-Walsh discusses the impact large amounts of student debt can have on a person's physical, mental and emotional well-being.
 
Sarah Ryan's industrial engineering students, initially planning a hypothetical vaccination clinic, developed a queueing network model they shared with the emergency management team supporting the clinic in State Gym.

Gustavo MacIntosh, professor of biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology, was part of a big project: a comprehensive guide that helps plant scientists talk about their work. Outreach is critical if plant science is to meet the demands of climate change and population growth.
Appointments
Retirements
Next week
  • Mark Turner, Memorial Union, April 27 (noon-2 p.m., MU Maintenance Shop)
  • Cate Clark, study abroad center, April 29 (3:30-5 p.m., central campus lawn tent)
  • Ron Leibold, kinesiology, April 30, send congratulations to his Kudoboard
  • Donald Simonson, music and theatre, April 30 (4-6 p.m., program at 4:30 p.m., Simon Estes Music Hall courtyard)

Upcoming
  • Sandy Peterson, administration services, university library, May 3
  • Martha Royer, conference services, residence department, May 3
  • Julie Wilson, scholarship office, student financial aid, May 3
  • Phil Caffrey, admissions, May 5, send congratulations to his Kudoboard
  • Lisa Larson, psychology, May 10 (4-6 p.m., program at 4:30 p.m., Garden Room, Reiman Gardens), contact hmerfeld@iastate.edu for the optional Zoom link

Retiring employees, their colleagues or supervisors are invited to submit retirements and departures to inside@iastate.edu for publication. University human resources doesn't provide them.
Seminars and conferences
  • Workshop, Smart Start, starting a business, May 1 (9 a.m.-noon and 1-4 p.m., Gerdin Business Building), register for one session or both by April 28, free, hosts: Ames Chamber of Commerce, ISU Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship and America's Small Business Development Center at Iowa State
Open forums
Arts and events
Fourteen ISU students who prevailed in a preliminary round will compete to become the next "Cyclone Voice" Friday, April 23 (7 p.m., Stephens Auditorium, doors open at 6:30 p.m.). Pop/hip-hop musician Gnash will host the singing competition and perform a set while the judges deliberate. Admission is free.

The ISU Symphony Orchestra's second annual concert to recognize underrepresented composers and musicians will commemorate the Tulsa race massacre, which happened 100 years ago next month. The performance will be livestreamed Saturday, April 24 (7:30-8:30 p.m.), and archived for viewing through June 1.

ISU Theatre's spring musical, "Songs for a New World," focuses on new beginnings with joy. The production includes 14 soloists and can be livestreamed beginning April 22.
Learning opportunities
Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT) 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.