Inside Iowa State for faculty and staff
Jan. 25, 2024
Inside news
Members of the campus community are invited to submit candidate nominations. Review of materials will begin immediately with the goal to bring finalists to campus between mid-April and early May.

Students, professional staff and faculty will participate in a hands-on practice exercise next week in Workday Student. It's part of the training planned to prepare would-be users for March, when they'll complete tasks in the platform for real.

Alumnus Paxton Williams' portrayal of the agricultural scientist will highlight the university's second annual observance of George Washington Carver Day in Iowa, Feb. 1.

The change would give the full Faculty Senate decision-making authority for all graduate faculty, graduate and professional students and postdocs. Senators will vote at their February meeting.

Staff and faculty have access to thousands of free training and personal development options in the year-old Learning app in Workday. Find some that work for you.

Beginning July 1, university customers will pay a nominal room fee for eight meeting spaces they'll customize. Another eight rooms will remain free to departments in a standard furniture setup.
Our impactful colleagues
This week the Inside team completed another edition of Inside Impact, this time a collection of features about dedicated employees whose responsibilities are (mostly!) unreplicated elsewhere on campus. Due to an email snarl Tuesday, we are sharing those features again. Read about:
  • Hoa Chi, makerspace manager in Sukup Hall
  • Ann Lelis, paralegal in the university counsel's office
  • Deb Lewis, curator of the Ada Hayden Herbarium in Bessey Hall
  • Nathan Meyers, farm manager at the Ag Engineering/Agronomy Farm
  • Doris Nash, costume shop supervisor in the music and theatre department
Announcements
The following announcements were added this week:
  • Water damage forces ASB employees to relocate temporarily
  • Register in advance for February personal finance workshops
  • Library's Catalyst hosts data visualization contest for students
  • Iowa State receives five more years as innovation/economic prosperity designee
  • Host families sought for four-week summer homestay for Japanese youth
  • Purchase "Science Friday" tickets by Feb. 26
  • Employee W-2 forms are available in Workday
Around campus
Ann Gansemer-Topf, professor in the School of Education, has been named director of the school and Frances S. and Arthur L. Wallace Professor in the College of Human Sciences, effective July 1.

The finalists will interview on campus this week and next, and their schedules will include an open forum with the campus community.

Donor support helped the student health and wellness team provide meals for students when construction and stormy weather earlier this month quashed the usual plans for providing food.

The European Academy of Sciences and Arts elected Valery Levitas, Anson Marston Distinguished Professor in Engineering and the Murray Harpole Chair in Engineering, to membership in its technical and environmental sciences division. He's considered a founder of a research field that assesses changes to materials under high pressure.
Receptions
This week
  • Retirement, Marce Bruhn, Team Pine, finance service delivery, Jan. 25 (4-5 p.m., Financial Services Building, 1015 Haber Rd.)

Next week
  • Reception, Jody Fox, survey research services, Center for Survey Statistics and Methodology, Jan. 29 (1-2:30 p.m., 115 Office and Lab Building), post well wishes to Jody's Kudoboard
Open forums
All open forums are 11 a.m.-noon in the MU.
  • Brad Hill, Memorial Union, Iowa State University, Jan. 25, Room 3580
  • Chad Garland, University Center, University of Colorado, Jan. 26, Cardinal Room
  • J.J. O'Toole-Curran, Kansas Memorial Union, University of Kansas, Jan. 30, Campanile Room
Arts and events
The annual MLK Jr. lecture, "Reimagining a New American Democracy,' is Thursday, Jan. 25 (6 p.m., MU Sun Room). Civil rights lawyer and scholar Sherrilyn Ifill and Catt Center director Karen Kedrowski will have a conversation about civil rights, race and the challenges facing American democracy. Recipients of the university's Advancing One Community Awards will be honored prior to the lecture.

The university's second annual Health and Well-being Symposium is Friday, Feb. 2 (9 a.m.-3 p.m., Memorial Union). It's free for students, faculty and staff, but registration is requested. The day includes breakout sessions, a keynote address and lunch.

University museums will screen an Iowa-made documentary, "Standing Strong: Elizabeth Catlett," on Sunday, Jan. 28 (2 p.m., Brunnier Art Museum, Scheman). Director Kevin Kelley and producer Marie Wilkes will lead a Q&A afterwards. The free event is in conjunction with a current exhibition on the 20th century artist at the Brunnier.

The 50th anniversary tour of the Broadway musical, "Jesus Christ Superstar," stops at Stephens Tuesday, Jan. 30 (7:30 p.m.). Tickets ($50-$70) are still available.
Learning opportunities
Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT) programming
Register online.

WorkCyte Phase II programming
Workday Wednesday webinars, focusing on highlights of Workday Student functions, register online.
Previous Inside coverage
About us
Inside Update is published Thursday mornings by Strategic Relations and Communications. Questions may be directed to 515-294-7065.