Inside Iowa State for faculty and staff

April 23, 2026

Inside news

Faculty promotions cross the finish line

Promotions for 76 faculty cleared their final hurdles and were posted on the provost's website today. They include advancement for 30 term faculty and promotions for 46 tenured or tenure-track faculty. Congratulations!


Three university librarian finalists will visit campus

Two-day campus visits are scheduled between April 23 and May 5, and will include a public forum in Parks Library on the first day of each candidate's visit.


Proposed actions for low-enrolled programs go to regents

Each of Iowa State's 47 degree programs was placed in one of four action categories: close, consolidate with other programs, exempt or grant a time extension. In other board action, the regents approved a new online master's degree in user experience design, parking permit rates for July 1 and student housing and meal plan rates for fall.


Employee capstone teams share successes, struggles

Teams from the Emerging Leaders Academy took on four projects this year that focused on access to graduation regalia, first-generation students, connecting with alumni and expanding faculty and staff use of the Student Innovation Center.


Helping Iowans adopt innovation

ISU Extension and Outreach connects Iowans with opportunities to innovate: Youth get a hands-on education in using AI responsibly, food entrepreneurs try a mobile produce processing cart and farmers explore livestock tech that boosts efficiency. Read about these advances in this fifth installment of news services' spring series, "Innovation at Work."

Announcements

The following announcements were added this week:

  • Classrooms reserved for evening study during prep week
  • Sunday (May 3) volunteers still needed for Cy's Finals Frenzy
  • Compliance deadline for digital accessibility extended a year
  • Antique tractor show is Saturday
  • Marketing director Custer to retire in May
  • Graduate fellowship announced for digital research
  • Former ISU First Lady Kathy Geoffroy has died

Around campus

Campus food drive runs April 27-May 7

Faculty, staff and students can bring food and non-food items to a campus location or make a financial contribution online to the annual United Way of Story County food drive. Campus donations will go to campus food pantries.


Looking to get outside? There are options

Recreation services' Adventure Program provides trips, equipment rentals and other ways staff and faculty can take advantage of the warmer weather.


ISU adds women's wrestling as 18th varsity sport

Women's wrestling will debut as the Cyclones' 18th intercollegiate athletics program during the 2027-28 academic year. Two-time World Wrestling Championships silver medalist Alli (Ragan) St. John will serve as the inaugural head coach.

Appointments

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

  • Arne Hallam, economics and LAS College administration, April 25 (2-4 p.m., Hunziker House, Reiman Gardens)
  • George Work, music and theatre, April 26 (4:30-6 p.m., lobby, Simon Estes Music Hall), following 3 p.m. concert by the Ames Piano Quartet


Next week

  • Jay Bjerke, office of innovation commercialization and the ISU Research Foundation, May 1, no public event
  • Anne Krapfl, Inside Iowa State, university marketing and communications, May 1, no public event
  • Craig Rannells, IT Services, May 1 (11 a.m.-2 p.m., WOW Center, Extension 4-H Building)


Upcoming

  • Hilary Seo, Colonel Gary G. Swenson Ph.D. Dean of Library Services, Friday, May 8 (4-6 p.m., presentation by library staff at 4:30 p.m., Parks Library rotunda)
  • Brenda Jones, art and visual culture, May 13 (11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., remarks at noon, MU Campanile Room), RSVP by April 30, submit photos, video or comments for a tribute by April 30

Open forums

University librarian finalists

Each forum begins at 3 p.m. in 198 Parks Library:

  • Ryan Litsey, Texas Tech University, Thursday, April 23
  • Candidate 2, Monday, April 27
  • Candidate 3, Monday, May 4

Events

An audio-visual performance by the Wind Ensemble

In conjunction with Earth Day this week, the ISU Wind Ensemble will perform Symphony No. 6, "The Blue Marble," on Friday, April 24 (7:30 p.m., Tye Hall, Simon Estes Music Hall). Composer Julie Giroux's symphony comes with accompanying video focused on planet Earth. Admission is $10 at the door.


Prevent, raise awareness of suicide this weekend

The annual Shine Light into the Darkness wellness connection and Out of the Darkness suicide awareness walk will be held on Saturday, April 25, all on the campanile south lawn. Wellness activities begin at 8 a.m., with a suicide awareness program starting at 10 a.m. followed by a walk on central campus sidewalks. The program will remember alumnus Griffin Meyer and a new ISU Creamery flavor, "Griffin's Ripples of Hope," will debut after the walk. Meyer worked at the creamery as a student and for Hudsonville Ice Cream after graduation. The event is free and open to the public.


Saturday Cyclone football practice is open

Coach Jimmy Rogers' first spring football showcase, conducted as a practice, is April 25 (10:30 a.m., Jack Trice Stadium, northeast and southeast gates only open at 10 a.m.). Admission is free; spectators should sit on the east side of the stadium. 


Double up on art

Celebrate National Poetry Month during a guided art walk on Monday, April 27 (noon-1 p.m.) that features readings inspired by the Art on Campus collection and commissioned by university museums. Join English faculty member Debra Marquart, the former Poet Laureate of the State of Iowa (2019-24), as she highlights decades of poets responding to campus artworks. The walk starts in the second-floor rotunda in Parks Library and includes outdoor stops, weather permitting.

Learning opportunities

Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT) programming

Register in advance.

Previous Inside coverage

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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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