Inside Iowa State for faculty and staff
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Lake LaVerne improvements are slated for summer
Work to drain, then dredge Lake LaVerne to deepen it will begin in mid-May and wrap up next fall. The project also will reshape and stabilize the shoreline and add a north side seating area and multipurpose plaza in the southeast corner.
Apparel faculty create special gift for President Wintersteen
A team in the department of apparel, events and hospitality management spent weeks designing a custom wool jacket for President Wendy Wintersteen in honor of her upcoming retirement.
Lessons learned from AI literacy project
Artificial intelligence literacy is the foundation of using it effectively. Knowing how to write successful prompts and where AI looks for information compels users to consider AI's ability to perform a task, its bias and the possibility it could provide false or made-up information.
P&S Council uses podcasts to connect
The series, which will pull in a different council member each time, is about "making the university a smaller place for those who work here," according to its hosts.
Photo gallery
Enjoy several of university photographer Chris Gannon's images from last week's reception honoring President Wendy Wintersteen and her husband, Robert Waggoner.
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The following announcements were added this week:
- Former faculty member Aili Mu has died
- Dec. 18 is last Inside edition of fall semester
- Exhibition highlights coliseum history
- Saturday's lights event at Reiman Gardens canceled due to cold
- General classrooms reserved for evening study Dec. 8-12
- ISU wine and hard cider holiday pre-sale continues
- Sign up to judge the State Science & Technology Fair of Iowa in March
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Welcome, Coach Rogers
Jimmy Rogers, who has coached at Washington State and South Dakota State, was introduced Dec. 8 as the Cyclones' next head football coach.
Measuring enzyme activity done faster and easier
A startup company called Zymosense is developing and marketing nanosensors invented in Stanley Chair in Interdisciplinary Engineering Nigel Reuel's Iowa State lab. The new tools will help industries track and improve the enzymes used in biotechnology, medicine, drug development, food production and other industrial and everyday applications.
Outreach to young researchers
A young partnership between the University Library and the National History Day program in Iowa is helping middle and high school students build college-ready research skills, gain confidence with historical sources and experience our university campus.
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Michael Persia, Virginia Tech University, to director of the Egg Industry Center, effective June 1, 2026
| | Retirements and farewells | | |
Employees, their colleagues or supervisors are invited to use our online form to submit retirements, departures and receptions. Inside doesn't receive this information from a central source.
This week
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Retirement, Nora Hudson, recreation services, Dec. 12 (2-4 p.m., remarks at 2:30 p.m., 0185 State Gym)
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Farewell, Sharron Evans, dean of students office, Dec. 12 (3-5 p.m., program at 3:30 p.m., MU South Ballroom)
Next week
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Retirement, Fran Sobotka, kinesiology and health, Dec. 17 (2-4 p.m., 0213 Forker), retiring Jan. 2, 2026
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Retirement, Angela Powers, Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication, Dec. 20 (no public event)
Upcoming
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Retirement, Jo Min, industrial and manufacturing systems engineering, Dec. 31 (no public event)
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Retirement, Tammy Michel, office of the president, Jan. 2, 2026 (no public event)
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Retirement, Deb Jennings, IT Services administration, Jan. 5 (no public event)
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Retirement, Anna Rovid Spickler, Center for Food Security and Public Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jan. 7 (no public event)
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Indoor home opener for track teams
The Iowa State men's and women's track teams open their indoor season home schedule with the ISU Holiday Invite on Friday, Dec. 12 (noon-4:15 p.m., Lied Recreation Center). Admission is free. Schedule of events (PDF).
Holiday shows at the center
Celebrate the winter holidays by attending a performance at Stephens Auditorium. Several are scheduled over the next two weeks, including central Iowa's dance tradition, the Nutcracker Ballet featuring mostly local dancers, with professionals in the two principal roles. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster or the Stephens box office (11 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 90 minutes prior to curtain).
- Nutcracker Ballet, Dec. 13 (1 p.m., 7:30 p.m.), Dec. 14 (1 p.m.)
- Dolly Parton's Smoky Mountain Christmas Carol, Dec. 15 (7 p.m.)
- A Magical Cirque Christmas, Dec. 17 (7 p.m.)
- Mannheim Steamroller, Dec. 22 (7:30 p.m.)
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About us
Inside Update, the companion email to Inside Iowa State, is sent Thursday mornings during the academic year by University Marketing and Communications. Questions may be directed to 515-294-7065.
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