Inside Iowa State for faculty and staff

Feb. 12, 2026

Inside news

Anonymous gift endows athletics director post

A $5 million gift from an alumni couple has created an endowed leadership position that's named for and honors athletics director Jamie Pollard and his wife, Ellen, for their service, vision and enduring impact on Cyclone athletics.


With new course, Vet Med addresses a service need early on

Large animal veterinarians are difficult to find in Iowa and across the nation, but the College of Veterinary Medicine is trying to change that with a new mandatory course this spring. "Large Animal Clinical Skills" introduces all 140 first-year vet students to sheep, cattle, hogs and horses. 


Senators receive accreditation update

The Faculty Senate learned about the timeline for the Higher Learning Commission's reaffirmation visit. Commission members' March 30-31 campus visit will include three open forums organized by topic.


P&S Council will fill 24 vacancies in March election

Nominations are being accepted now. Also during the council's Feb. 5 meeting, senior vice president for student affairs Toyia Younger shared an overview of Cyclone Support. What began as a website of resources has expanded into other strategies and tools.

Announcements

The following announcements were added this week:

  • Reminder: Regents' free speech survey closes Feb. 13
  • Suicide prevention training offered multiple times this semester
  • Kick-off meeting is March 3 for fall Cyclone Family Weekend 
  • Nomination window opens for P&S Council seats
  • Workshop hosts sought for 4-H Youth summer conference
  • Apply for 2026-27 Undergrad Research Assistantship program
  • Athletics leaders cancel remainder of gymnastics season

Around campus

Soy-based pavement replaces, renews 24 miles of rural roadways

Soy pavement technology developed by Iowa State engineers helped fix 24 miles of rural roads in northeast Iowa's Clayton and Fayette counties and the town of Volga last summer. The "soy roads" used 12,000 to 15,000 bushels of soybeans and eliminated the need for 40,000 barrels of crude oil.


2026 'impactful women' calendar poster is available

The 20th anniversary edition of the Catt Center's annual "Women Impacting Iowa State" calendar features women who completed their years as a student or employee before 2007, the year of the first calendar. Free copies may be picked up at several campus locations.


Taking vitamins also is good for cattle

Shoki Hirano, a graduate student in animal science, studied the impact of vitamin supplements fed to cattle under increased stress. Cattle receiving the vitamins required less medical treatment and had improved overall health, compared to the control group.

Appointments

  • Chris Cornelius, the Dr. Thomas D. McGee and Dr. Ick-Jhin Rick Yoon Department Chair in Materials Science and Engineering, to a second five-year term (2026-31)

Retirements

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

  • Kim Wyatt, Thielen Student Health Center, Feb. 10 (2-4 p.m., Patterson Library, Thielen Student Health Center)
  • Brenda Martin, Center for Industrial Research and Service, Feb. 12 (no public event)


Upcoming

  • Pete Lelonek, Molecular Biology Building research administrator, vice president for research, Feb. 24 (3:30-4:30 p.m., atrium, Molecular Biology Building), post well wishes to his Kudoboard
  • Rosalyn Branaman, Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, March 2 (no public event)

Events

Friday concert is at the intersection of visual and performance arts

Artist Beth Lipman's Hive Mind sculpture in the Anderson Sculpture Garden inspired music faculty member and composer Michael Golemo to create a three-movement concerto, to be premiered by the ISU Wind Ensemble on Friday, Feb. 13 (7:30 p.m., Tye Recital Hall, Simon Estes Music Hall). Experience how bronze transforms into brass, glass becomes triangles and flutes, and the collaborative spirit of Iowa State research comes alive through music. Admission is free.


Grapplers host pair of Big 12 foes

The fourth-ranked Iowa State wrestling team hosts a pair of duals at Hilton Coliseum this weekend. On Friday (7 p.m.) the Cyclones welcome West Virginia, and Northern Iowa comes to Ames on Sunday (7 p.m.). Friday's dual is part of the annual CyCans food drive: Fans are asked to bring nonperishable food or monetary donations for SHOP, the campus student food pantry.


Cyclone Support resource fair is Tuesday afternoon

This student-focused event highlights some of the campus resources from Iowa State's "culture of care" that can help students succeed. Drop in Feb. 17 (1-4 p.m., 140 Parks Library).

Learning opportunities

Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CELT) programming

Register in advance.


ISU WellBeing programming

Register in advance.

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