Inside Iowa State for faculty and staff

March 6, 2025

Inside news

Valuable voluntary benefits are here

The Everyday Marketplace portal features offerings that begin to respond to three expressed priorities from Iowa State employees: increase their financial wellness, reduce financial stress and access benefits that meet their current needs.


Five questions with our extension leader

Vice president Jason Henderson discusses ISU Extension and Outreach's impact in Iowa and its future.


Alumnus named acting leader of alumni association

Effective March 1, Jeff Johnson is on a temporary medical leave of absence to address treatment plans and manage his recent Parkinson's disease diagnosis. Kurt Tjaden is serving as the ISU Alumni Association's acting Lora and Russ Talbot president and CEO.


Regents approve revised strategic plan, more changes may follow

Other items from the Iowa Board of Regents' February meeting: Two spring honorary degrees, building renovations, a new board committee, final green light for another ISU degree of the future and first reads of parking permit and student housing rates for fall.


Bookstore, library leaders discuss student savings with senators

Instructors can help by submitting course material requests as early as possible and taking advantage of options such as course reserves and open educational resources.


New health sciences degree addresses state need

Unlike traditional pre-health majors, the program focuses on health and wellness from multiple angles, with classes in life sciences, behavior and social sciences, data sciences and the humanities. Enrollment opens this fall.

View Inside Iowa State

Announcements

The following announcements were added this week:

  • Reminder: Daylight saving time starts Sunday
  • Departments, offices invited to be part of fall Cyclone Family Weekend
  • Nominations sought for youth program annual awards
  • Grad Mixer Wednesdays partners with colleges this spring
  • P&S classification, compensation structures are focus of March seminar
View all announcements

Around campus

Cyclones at the state capitol

A contingent of faculty, staff and students set up in the capitol's rotunda Tuesday morning, visiting with leaders and legislators about Iowa State programs that demonstrate how the university's innovation serves Iowans -- and having a little fun in the process.


Brown elected to national academy

Robert C. Brown, Anson Marston Distinguished Professor in Engineering and the Gary and Donna Hoover Chair in Mechanical Engineering, has been elected a member of the National Academy of Engineering. Academy members are among the world's most accomplished engineers from business, academia and government.


Reiman Gardens shares plans to celebrate 30 years

The staff at Iowa State's public gardens have planned a year filled with signature events and educational programs to showcase the gardens' landscapes, exhibits and community spirit. Here's a quarterly summary of what to expect during this anniversary year.


Nitrogen fertilizer use continues to rise

Agronomy professor Michael Castellano co-authored a study that found the amount of nitrogen fertilizer needed to maximize the profitability of corn production in the Midwest has been increasing by about 1.2% per year for the past three decades, a trend driven by higher yields and wetter springs.

Appointments

Retirements and farewells

Employees, their colleagues or supervisors are invited to submit retirements and departures to inside@iastate.edu. Inside doesn't receive this information from a central source.


Upcoming

  • Farewell, Curtis Brundy, scholarly communication and collections, university library, March 28 (no public event)
  • Retirement, Dianne Brotherson, endpoint services, IT Services, March 31 (2-4 p.m., Extension 4-H Youth Building)
  • Retirements, Karen Zunkel and Nadine Dobbe, institutional research, March 31 (2-4 p.m., MU Campanile Room)

Arts and events

Statesmen sing Sunday afternoon

The Iowa Statesmen, a tenor and bass student choir, will present a concert Sunday, March 9 (1:30 p.m., Tye Recital Hall, Estes Music Building). Tickets are $5 at the door.


Artist and engineer share a lecture

Glass artist Josh Simpson, whose work currently is in the university museums exhibition, "Imaginative Journeys in Space and Sea," is joined by retired astronaut Cady Coleman for a lecture (2 p.m.) and reception (3 p.m.) Sunday, March 9 (Brunnier Art Museum, Scheman). From two perspectives, they'll discuss the influences of art and science on their lives. Admission is free.

View events calendar

Learning opportunities

Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT) programming

Register online.


Digital accessibility programming

  • Siteimprove webinar series, Making Sense of Accessibility: Mastering WCAG Principle 3 for Understandable Design, March 13 (10-10:30 a.m.)

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Inside Update, the companion email to Inside Iowa State, is sent Thursday mornings during the academic year by Strategic Relations and Communications. Questions may be directed to 515-294-7065.

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