Iowa Stater Spring 2025

ACRES OF ART

Iowa State’s art collection is fully integrated into campus and curriculum

THE ART OF SCIENCE

Iowa State’s scientific illustration program continues to draw attention

HEART OF A WARRIOR

To honor a late Navy SEAL, one alum attempts to break a world record

ILLUSTRATION BY TODD BUCK

Inspiring Iowa Staters

When our team is working through a magazine’s creation, I’ll often get asked, “What’s the theme?”

Typically, my answer is:

“There is no theme.” We have such a range of stories we can share in each magazine that I don’t want to limit us to any one topic. But don’t hold me to that if I ever change my mind! And while that answer is still true for this spring issue, as the first drafts appeared in my inbox, I found myself seeing that –– while unintended –– there is a theme, a theme of perseverance, endurance, and determination.

It shows cover to cover: in our main feature (how Lynette Pohlman has helped lead and shape Iowa State’s renowned art collection), in a story about AnswerLine (how one graduate student’s problem-solving led to a 50-year resource), most certainly in our Cyclones Everywhere feature (on record-breaking runner Nels Matson),

and in our Cyclone Power Q&A (how Sarah Van Berkum helped launch the successful Luno brand).

Whether the feat is physical, mental, emotional, or a combination of all those and more, Iowa Staters never fail to fascinate and inspire me. Matson’s story landed on my desk a couple of weeks before New Year’s, which is the only reasonable explanation I can have for why I’ve decided to try and run a 5K this year, despite having not run at all — in any capacity — for at least a decade.

As you read this spring’s Iowa Stater, I hope you also find inspiration and connection with the stories of your fellow Iowa Staters.

Iowa Stater

Editor Kirsten Kraklio

Assistant Editor Caleb Grizzle

Designer Jenny Witte

Photographers Christopher Gannon, Matt Van Winkle, Ryan Riley

Creative Consultant

2communiqué

Editorial Board

Kirsten Kraklio, Director of Communications, ISU Alumni Association

Brian Meyer, Associate Director for Strategic Communications, Iowa State University

Sherry Speikers, Director of Editorial Services, ISU Foundation

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ivybusiness.iastate.edu busgrad@iastate.edu 515-294-8118

For Caroly Coronado-Vargas (‘24), Iowa State University’s master of business analytics program offered the perfect blend of hands-on experience and academic rigor.

“I was eager to deepen my understanding of business operations and how data drives decisionmaking.”

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

“When I read the fall 2024 Iowa Stater magazine, my focus was on the article, Foundation for the Future, which I have read several times. It brought back memories of my childhood because I attended the Child Development Lab in the late 1940s. I was born in 1944, and I suspect I was three or four years old when I was in the lab. There were a couple of reunions held in the Child Development Lab. It’s from those visits that I remember the screened room

FOLLOW AND CONNECT WITH US: @ISUALUM

The production of our next annual calendar is underway! Do you need a change to your mailing address, or are you unsure if your membership needs to be renewed? Email alumrec@iastate.edu or call 515-294-6525 to make sure your information is updated before the next issue and calendar mails in July.

at the back of the lab where student observers sat. My mother, Ruth Mosher Brown (’40), was an Iowa State graduate. In the later 1950s, she taught child development part time at Iowa State. She went on to teach kindergarten and later first grade at Meeker Elementary School.”

Regards,

Email iowastater@iastate.edu. Your submission may be shared in print or online.

Fifty years ago, John Fischer (’75) received plaid pants as part of his Cyclone Aide uniform, as seen in the group’s photo in 1974 (left). A few decades later, John’s son, Daniel (’09), wore the same trousers while a student at ISU (middle).

The beloved pants have now been passed to a third generation: John’s grandson and future Cyclone Connor Brummett (right).

KENDRICK (KEN) BROWN (‘66) CYTINGS

MOMENT

Cyclone Pawer

Provost Jason Keith congratulates Windsor, Aliya Warth’s service animal, after Warth (’24) received her diploma during the fall commencement at Hilton Coliseum.

Image by Christopher Gannon

ISU Researchers Honored for Work in Science, Engineering

Three Iowa State researchers were honored earlier this year with the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE). Iowa State’s winners are all being recognized for their work supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation.

SOUMIK SARKAR, PROFESSOR OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING AND DIRECTOR OF IOWA STATE’S TRANSLATIONAL AI CENTER

Sarkar’s research vision is to build artificial intelligence tools for safe, sustainable, high-performing cyber-physical systems, with applications spanning energy, transportation, manufacturing, and agriculture.

DIPALI SASHITAL, PROFESSOR IN THE ROY J. CARVER DEPARTMENT OF BIOCHEMISTRY, BIOPHYSICS AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY

Sashital’s lab studies bacterial defense systems that have been adapted for genome editing. The goal is to discover

the fundamental mechanisms underlying how bacteria acquire and maintain immunity, and to ensure that CRISPR genomeediting tools can be used safely and effectively.

ZENGYI

SHAO, THE HERSHEL B. WHITNEY

PROFESSOR,

GLOBAL INITIATIVES IN CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL ENGINEERING

Shao’s research group is delving into the functional genomics of high-performing microbial species possessing distinctive biochemical and biomedical potentials. Leveraging these rapidly proliferating testbeds, the group aspires to unravel essential cellular processes and unveil fundamental mechanisms employing synthetic biology strategies.

The PECASE is the government’s highest honor for scientists and engineers who are early in their careers; nearly 400 researchers were honored with the award this year.

IOWA STATE SELECTED FOR NEW RESILIENT FOOD SYSTEM INITIATIVE IN AFRICA

Iowa State was selected to participate in an international collaborative effort to train African plant breeders to improve the genetics of traditional and indigenous food crops and to help boost farm productivity.

Walter Suza, George Washington Carver Endowed Chair and adjunct associate professor in agronomy, was instrumental in getting Iowa State designated as a support entity in the U.S. Department of State Office of Global Food Security’s Feed the Future Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils (VACS) Capacity Activity. The VACS Movement, launched in February 2023 in collaboration with the African Union and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, aims to diversify the types of “opportunity” crops grown, improve nutrition, build healthy soils, and empower researchers, all in an effort to establish a more resilient food system.

“I firmly believe that education can lift people and nations out of food insecurity,” Suza says.

SELF-CARE AT THE LIBRARY

Tucked away in a multipurpose space at Parks Library, six barbers from the Des Moines area completed haircuts for more than 50 Iowa State students on the first of four haircut fest events last semester. ClipDart, a national nonprofit started by a Grinnell College alumnus, provides free haircuts –– mostly for college students and older adults –– as a mental wellness service.

The event also launched a collaboration between the division of student affairs’ Cyclone Support programming and University Library’s Cyclone Support Central, a physical hub on the library’s main level. The venue also hosted flu shot clinics and drop-in wellness activities throughout the semester, reflecting an emerging trend nationally for academic libraries to offer spaces for student wellness.

Faculty Recognized by National Academy of Inventors

Two Iowa State University innovators –– with a combined 141 patents to their credit –– have been selected by the National Academy of Inventors (NAI) for its 2024 Class of Fellows. Matt Darr, the John Deere Endowed Chair in Ag Innovation and Professor of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, and Eric Cochran, the Mary Jane Skogen Hagenson and Randy L. Hagenson Professor in Chemical and Biological Engineering, join a class of individuals tackling real-world issues and creating solutions for the future. The NAI Fellowship is the highest professional distinction awarded solely to inventors.

As a ‘Forever True’ Iowa Stater, I strongly believe that communications and relationshipbuilding are critical to our mission. We must always seek out better ways for us to work together as ‘one university’ to strengthen and sustain the relationships we have, and to forge new ones.”

— PRESIDENT WENDY WINTERSEEN, SPEAKING

AT AN ISU COMMUNICATIONS AND

MARKETING

RETREAT LAST NOVEMBER

Charging Toward Greener Chemicals

BY MIKE KRAPFL

JEAN-PHILIPPE TESSONNIER SHIFTS HIS OFFICE computer to show an illustration of a greener future.

In the upper left corner, a farmer drives a combine through a cornfield. That farmer’s harvest heads to the right to be processed by a fermentation plant powered by wind turbines and solar panels. The resulting fermentation broth of water and salts with yeast or bacteria (imagine the aroma of a yeasty wheat beer) moves to the middle of the illustration where an electrobiorefinery zaps it with a little electricity.

That electricity is the catalyst for a reaction that produces molecules –– molecules that are the basis of nylons and plastics we use daily in products.

“This combination of biology and electricity is unique to Iowa State,” says Tessonnier, the Richard C. Seagrave Pro-

fessor in Chemical and Biological Engineering. “I don’t know anybody else in the U.S. who’s doing this.”

Combining bio-based reactions with electricity-driven reactions could be a step toward transforming chemical manufacturing to a greener industry that’s less dependent on petroleum-based materials and the need to process them with high energies, temperatures, and emissions, Tessonnier says.

But it’s not going to be easy.

“The decarbonization of the chemical manufacturing industry remains a Sisyphean endeavor,” writes Tessonnier in Chem Catalysis, a chemistry journal. “Technological progress is often thwarted by economic viability and fierce competition with conventional fossil-derived chemicals.”

To help move that transformation along, Tessonnier is

leading a four-year, $2 million project dubbed ChaRGE (Chemicals from Renewables through Green Electrochemistry).

The project, supported by the National Science Foundation, is all about demonstrating that a combination of bioand electro-technologies can efficiently and cleanly produce molecules that are valuable to industry.

The project also goes a long way toward educating a biomanufacturing workforce for Iowa and beyond. While Iowa State offers a class in electrochemical engineering, Tessonnier says the three undergraduates and seven graduate students in his research group are also learning important lessons in the Biorenewables Research Laboratory.

“At the end of the day, this workforce will need to be as

broad as possible in terms of education and experience,” Tessonnier says.

So, the students in his lab are working with biomass conversion, biological process, reaction engineering, product development, supply chain management, manufacturing systems as well as electrochemistry.

That kind of workforce, one that integrates these new ideas in biosynthesis and electrosynthesis, could do all kinds of things: decarbonize the U.S. chemical industry, advance American leadership in chemical manufacturing, and improve rural economies.

As Tessonnier writes in a summary of ChaRGE, “The outcomes of the project are transformative at multiple levels.”

Left: Devanshi Mistry, left, works with Macgregor Catanag inside Jean-Philippe Tessonnier’s laboratory. Above: Jean-Philippe Tessonnier, left, speaks with Mehdi Mosayebi and Jugal Patel. Tessonnier’s students work with biomass conversion, biological processes, biochemical engineering, product development, supply chain management, manufacturing systems as well as electrochemistry to help prepare them for the future workforce.

Parks Library Celebrates 100 Years

THE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY has been the heart of Iowa State since it first welcomed students in 1869, and students have been the pulse of Parks Library from its opening day on Jan. 6, 1925. Iowa Staters in every generation have adapted library facilities and services to meet emerging needs and advance with technology creating a research and learning powerhouse that welcomes 6,000 daily visitors — and as many as 10,000 visitors a day during prep and finals week.

In celebration of 100 years of discovery, exploration, and collaboration, Parks Library will host several events throughout the year. Visit lib.iastate.edu for details.

EXPERIENCE

Launchpad for the Future

BY SARAH BERNICK, JUNIOR, PUBLIC RELATIONS

LAST AUGUST, THE SPACEX FALCON 9 ROCKET launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida carrying nearly 8,200 pounds of supplies to the International Space Station. Included in the cargo was a CubeSat –– a class of research spacecraft called nanosatellites –– entirely designed and built by Iowa State University students.

The CubeSat, Cy SAT-1, is designed to measure soil moisture using a software-defined radiometer. Its mission includes providing crucial data for agricultural and environmental research.

The launch marked a major achievement for Iowa State’s Make to Innovate program, involving students from aerospace, mechanical, and electrical engineering, as well as computer science, biology, and meteorology majors.

“This was an incredible opportunity,” says Matthew Nelson, faculty advisor for the project. “Normally, students don’t get to design, build, and fly space

hardware. Other schools focus mainly on payloads, but this satellite was built entirely by our students.”

Alexis Locati (’24), who served as project manager from 2022 to 2024 and now works as a project engineer at Orbion Space Technology, played a key role in bringing Cy SAT-1 to flight readiness.

“I created detailed schedules and plans for the project and team, and ensured everyone followed the plan,” Locati says. “With the team’s help, we got the satellite to a flight-ready state.”

In May 2024, Locati and the team traveled to Houston to deliver Cy SAT-1 for integration with the launch vehicle. There, the satellite was fitted into a capsule known as a “P-Pod.” The team then attended the launch in Florida.

“Once on the International Space Station, astronauts deployed the satellite; it will follow the orbit of the station until its orbit decays,” Locati says. “It

was an honor to be the final person to handle Cy SAT-1 before it went to space.”

Despite the technical challenges and complexity of building a satellite, the project has been a success. About 10 students were involved each semester, and Nelson says it was rewarding to see their growth throughout the process.

Looking ahead, the project will serve as a launchpad for future space initiatives at Iowa State.

“This shows how our students take these experiences with them beyond graduation,” Nelson says. “There are a lot of things we do in space that can impact our state.”

For the students involved, the Cy SAT-1 mission has provided invaluable hands-on experience.

“It was a great accomplishment from an educational and professional standpoint,” Locati says.

Left: The Northrop Grumman Cygnus spacecraft was used to deliver Cy SAT-1 into space.

Above: Steven Scheuermann, Max Mayer-Mader, Henry Shires, Anthony Vareberg, Abhushan Pradhan, Zachary Anderson, Manas Mathur, Sarah DeMatteis, Elizabeth Janson, Alexis Locati, and Vanessa Whitehead helped design and build Cy SAT-1.

COMPETITOR

Cardinal and Golf

CYCLONE SOPHOMORE KEELEY MARX MAKES HER MARK ON AND OFF THE COURSE BY

CALEB GRIZZLE

LAST MAY, Keeley Marx found herself doing everything she could to avoid looking at the leaderboard; the Australian native was only a few holes away from qualifying for the U.S. Open.

“I didn’t want to look at the scores; I really had no idea who the leader was, but I knew I was playing well,” Marx says.

Lightning and rain foiled Marx’s plan as she ventured to the clubhouse to wait out the weather delay.

“I was on the golf buggy on the way in, and the driver asks, ‘Did you know the leader is at two under? How great is that?’”

Marx smiled — she was three under par. Marx navigated the mounting stress and secured her spot in the U.S. Open, becoming the 12th Cyclone to do so.

Marx’s success in high-pressure moments started around age 11. She traveled the Asia-Pacific, competing in tournaments, and during high school, she ranked 105th in the World Amateur Golf Rankings and won the 2022 IMG Academy Junior World Championship in San Diego. When it came time to visit colleges, Marx knew within a few minutes of connecting with Iowa State Golf head coach Christie Martens that ISU was the perfect place for her.

“Martens was the first coach I spoke to, and she treated me like family,” Marx says. “I knew I wasn’t just an extra number on her team. Every time I spoke to a coach from another school, it never met the expectations that I had after speaking to coach Martens. It made my decision a lot easier.”

With Marx’s smooth acclimation into the cardinal and gold family, success on the golf course quickly followed. Marx added career-best finishes in multiple tournaments, including tying for 13th at the NCAA Bryan Regional. At the U.S. Open, Marx finished 135th overall and 13th out of the 22 amateurs in the field.

Marx’s impact in golf has extended off the course with her fundraising and advocacy efforts as an official ambassador for Challenge, a nonprofit organization that supports children and families living with cancer. She began her advocacy work at 14, creating an influential hashtag, #DoingItForJarrod, that helped raise over $10,000 in honor of the late Australian golfer Jarrod Lyle.

Marx hopes to turn pro after graduation, but before she leaves Iowa State, what’s next for the rising Cyclone golfer?

“I want to get coach a Big 12 Championship.”

95%

GRADUATION RATE

• ISU student athletes’ 10th straight year of schoolrecord graduation rates

• ISU ranked No. 2 in Big 12 Conference

• Eight ISU teams led Big 12 in graduation rates

CYTOWN MASTER SERVICES AGREEMENT APPROVED

THE IOWA BOARD OF REGENTS APPROVED a 30-year development agreement that allows Iowa State University, Goldenrod Companies, and the Iowa State University Research Park to move forward with the CyTown multi-use district.

“CyTown will bring new opportunities and excitement to central Iowa, Ames, and Iowa State,” says ISU Director of Athletics Jamie Pollard. “Additionally, revenue from the development will allow the university to continue its ongoing investment in the revitalization of the Iowa State Center, which includes the vastly improved parking lots, renovations to the Scheman Building, and improvements to Stephens Auditorium.”

RUNNER-UP FINISH AT NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS

THE IOWA STATE MEN are NCAA Cross Country runners-up for the second time in four years. All seven Iowa State runners finished in the top 100, while Said Mechaal, Sanele Masondo, Joash Ruto, and Robin Kwemoi Bera earned All-America honors, the most since 1994.

Iowa State Wraps Up Record-Setting Season

RALLYING FROM A 10-POINT SECOND-HALF DEFICIT, No. 18 Iowa State outlasted No. 15 Miami, 42-41, in a high-scoring Pop-Tarts Bowl to wrap up the 2024 season with a school record 11 wins. The victory gave Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell a school-record three bowl wins, and it was the 13th win over a ranked team in the last eight years. Rocco Becht was named Pop-Tarts Bowl MVP after throwing for 270 yards and three touchdowns.

J.R. Singleton, left, and Jaylin Noel celebrate during the Pop-Tarts Bowl trophy ceremony.

Robin Kwemoi Bera competes at the NCAA Cross Country Championships.

(Men’s golf, women’s basketball, women’s golf, gymnastics, softball, swimming & diving, tennis, and women’s track & field/cross country)

Signs of Spring

Iowa State’s campus is home to over 13,000 trees, with various types — including the

— helping show off the

each year.

crabapple trees outside the Black Engineering Building

beautiful colors of the changing seasons

Image by Ryan Riley

POSTCARD FROM CAMPUS

ART ACRES OF

Where would you begin a public tour of Iowa State Art on Campus? The university is home to two art museums, a National Historic Landmark site, a public art collection, the library’s 17-foot Grant Wood murals, and a growing sculpture garden.

Try the Food Sciences Building.

Though that choice might seem strange, follow docent Rae Reilly past research and production laboratories into the courtyard and you will encounter one of the jewels of the campus collection. Here, terra cotta bas reliefs created by longtime Iowa State College (now University) artist-in-residence

Christian Petersen depict the modernization of dairying technology.

“What do you notice?” Reilly asks the small crowd of lunch-break art tourists. People point to the symmetry of figures and the fountain’s storytelling elements.

Reilly explains how Grant Wood himself invited Petersen to Iowa to participate in the Public Works of Art Project in 1934. That federal New Deal work-relief program spurred an exciting era of aesthetic investments on campus. During the Great Depression, Wood and his contemporaries created an impressive array of art and design for public buildings at Iowa State and elsewhere.

The “History of Dairying” mural (Christian Petersen, 1934) is one of the largest remaining sculptural works of art in the Midwest produced under the federal Public Works of Art Project. In 2015, the Food Sciences Building courtyard also featured a temporary exhibit entitled “Rashomon” by sculptor Chuck Ginnever. In the Art on Campus Collection, University Museums, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa.

While a guided tour will illuminate treasures and the tales behind them, simply stepping foot on campus is all it takes to notice how aesthetics are embedded in Iowa State’s landscape, architecture, and public art. In “Campus Beautiful,” a collection of essays discussing Iowa State’s aesthetic identity, art historian Lea Rosson DeLong writes: “From the first president forward, its leaders have wanted lowa State to be an environment where good design and distinguished works of art flourished alongside laboratories and clinics.”

Iowa State’s first museum opened in 1872, soon after Iowa State’s founding. Since then, university leaders, faculty, and staff have worked not only to ensure Iowa State’s education is accessible to all –– a central tenant of the Morrill Act of 1862 ––but that its art is too, even as the collection has grown exponentially.

Rosson DeLong continues: “When lowa State acquired works of art, the institution almost always made sure that these were placed in public spaces, where they could be easily viewed by anyone on campus.”

University Museums, which is celebrating 50 years during the 2024-25 year, carries on a tradition and seeds the future for art on campus.

ART AND THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE

Essentially, Art on Campus exists to enhance student outcomes. Monet Butler is inspired to help her peers grow in “visual literacy,” a concept championed by mentor Lynette Pohlman (’72, ’76), University Museums director and chief curator.

“I think [my fellow students] just don’t realize that all the sculptures and the public art we have on campus are unusual for a university,” says Butler, the 2024-2025 Pohlman Research Fellow. “People are like: ‘Of course, there’s this giant sculpture here. This is just how Iowa State is.’ We don’t know how lucky we are.”

Butler cites an artist-commissioned light installation –– “Interface” by Catherine Widgery (2021) –– on the third floor of the Student Innovation Center as an example of a stunning work of art hidden in plain sight. That building, like Food Sciences before it, is one of the newest examples of how extensively art is interwoven into the campus. In fact, Iowa State enjoys one of the largest campus public art collections in the country.

“The more engaging and beautiful and interactive and inspiring your environment, the better you will learn,” Pohlman says. Her career on campus has spanned and shaped University Museums, beginning with the restoration of the Farm House Museum as a graduate project in 1971.

“The growth of our campus museums has been organic, but it has also been focused,” Pohlman says. “Where’s the University Museums? It’s in 393 buildings, covers 1,900 acres and includes 30,000 objects –– all administered by one unit, so we can more efficiently and effectively educate with it.”

The Art on Campus Collection and Program, formalized in 1980, includes acquisition, care, and maintenance in addition to scholarship and educational programming. The University Museums team partners with faculty experts to commission new works, ensuring the public art successfully relates to the discipline it is intended to serve. The Molecular Biology

Left: Made of bamboo, “Undulation” (2020) was constructed as a temporary installation by Marcia Borel (’78) and four floral artists specializing in Japanese design. Right: “Gene Pool” (1991), a tile mosaic by Andrew Leicester, can be found in the Molecular Biology Building. In the Art on Campus Collection, University Museums, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa.

Where’s the University Museums? It’s in 393 buildings, covers 1,900 acres, and includes 30,000 objects.”

“Interface” (Catherine Widgery, 2021) is an integrated public art work at the Student Innovation Center. In the Art on Campus Collection, University Museums, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa.

— UNIVERSITY MUSEUMS DIRECTOR AND CHIEF CURATOR LYNETTE POHLMAN

Building, for example, features 54 public works of art that reflect the art, science, and ethics of genetic engineering. After the art is installed, it’s the department’s responsibility to use it within education in their curriculum.

“Education continues to make [an artwork] relevant to multi-generations,” Pohlman says. “Some of our best visual learners on campus are scientists.”

She sees how people working and studying in the Department of Animal Science or Department of Agronomy, for instance, must visually interpret the health of an animal or plants.

“Visual literacy approaches a work of art with the same depth that a scientist would take,” she says. “First, you observe. Then you interpret. And then you get to the point of evaluation.”

PLACEMAKING THROUGH PUBLIC ART

Conservation is another critical component of University Museums’ work. Recognizable sculptures, like the recently restored “Fountain of the Four Seasons” (originally designed by Christian Petersen, 1941), create a unique sense of place and hold profound sentimental value for students and alumni alike. They stand like old friends, even after the students and faculty you knew have graduated or retired.

In her remarks at the fountain’s rededication, ISU President Wendy

Wintersteen (’88) echoed former ISU President Martin Jischke, saying, “This fountain represents why President Hughes brought Christian Petersen to this campus and why we continue to use the arts today. The arts remain an essential component of Iowa State’s culture and curriculum, adding value and dimension to the educational experience, inspiring creativity and innovation across all programs of study. Students have often observed that the ‘Fountain of the Four Seasons’ represents their four years here at Iowa State, symbolizing their own personal growth and development.”

GENEROSITY BEAUTIFIES CAMPUS

University Museums is headquartered on the upper level of the Scheman Building, next to the Brunnier Art Museum. Named after its benefactors, Henry J. Brunnier (1904) and his wife Ann, the museum was founded in 1975, when the Iowa State Center –– which includes the Scheman Building, C.Y. Stephens Auditorium, Fisher Theater, and Hilton Coliseum –– was being developed.

Senior Vice President for Business and Finance Emeritus Warren Madden (’61) recalls the Brunnier Art Collection arriving by truckload. “These collections showed up, and nobody really knew what the Brunniers had,” he says.

Pohlman was among the team that unpacked more than 4,000 fine objects including ceramics, glass, ivory, jade, enameled metals, and more. Most of University Museums’ collection acquisitions, facilities expansion, programs, exhibitions and publications are privately funded and executed with a small staff.

“Lynette has done an outstanding job nurturing the University Museums program with relatively modest budgets,” Madden says. “I would tell her, ‘We just don’t have the money to go do what you’re trying to do.’ She’d think about it and come back with a modified plan or a different way to get there. Over the years, Lynette has developed close relationships with donors who have a real interest in the museum program.”

Although she isn’t sure what the next 50 years will bring for University Museums, Pohlman says philanthropy will make it possible. A recent estate gift from Joyce Tomlinson Brewer (’53), an art teacher and avid collector, included an endowment to acquire art like the “Met Chandeliers” (designed by Hans Harald Rath for Lobmeyer, 2019) that hang in the newly renovated Scheman Building.

“University Museums is driven by philanthropy,” Pohlman says. “Brewer’s gift, and gifts from other patrons, are transformative for the future of University Museums.”

Left: Iowa State’s iconic maidens in the “Fountain of the Four Seasons” (Christian Petersen, 1941) were restored and rededicated last fall. In the Christian Petersen Art Collection, Art on Campus Collection, University Museums, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa. Right: “When Tillage Begins, Other Arts Will Follow” (designed by Grant Wood, 1934) includes eight staircase panels that depict 1930s technology and represent the major divisions of Iowa State College at the time: Agriculture, Engineering, and Home Economics. In the Art on Campus Collection, University Museums, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa.

PERSONAL FAVORITES

We asked the people we spoke with for this story to share which artwork from Iowa State’s expansive art collection they feel most connected to.

1. Wendy Wintersteen: “Do You Know What’s Inside This Flower? George Washington Carver Mentors a Young Henry A. Wallace,” (Rose Frantzen, 2015)

Marcia (’78) and Jim Borel (’78) provided a gift to commission a painting by Rose Frantzen to honor the Iowa State connection between Henry Wallace (1910, 1920) and George Washington Carver (1894, 1896). For President Wendy Wintersteen, who at that time was serving as dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, it was a magical experience to watch Rose bring the relationship of Henry and George alive in her painting –– the mentoring of a child by a young man who came to study at Iowa State University. The two walked in nearby prairies and talked about plants. Later, both became experts in the science of plants and changed the world through their insights and leadership. The painting is in the Dean’s Conference Room in Curtiss Hall. Commissioned by the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and University Museums with funds provided by Jim and Marcia Henderson Borel.

2. Lynette Pohlman: “Stellar Discs Suite,” (Josh Simpson, 2024)

As leader of University Museums, Pohlman says her favorite work of art changes depending on the day. She selected Simpson’s sculptures for sentimental reasons. The suite was commissioned to celebrate the 50th anniversary of University Museums. Pohlman says she’s drawn to the combination of art, science, and fantasy Simpson conveys through his work. He is married to former NASA astronaut Cady Coleman, and his planetary-inspired sculptures demonstrate exceptional technical expertise and visionary aesthetics. (Simpson also created a work to honor University Museum’s 25th anniversary.) Commissioned by University Museums for the Faces of Iowa State project. Funded by the Joyce Tomlinson Brewer Fund for Art Acquisition.

3. Warren Madden: “Glass Garden” [Beardshear Hall dome and rotunda], (Marty Grund, 1906, 2003)

In the early 2000s, then-ISU Vice President Warren Madden, alongside his wife, Career Services Director Beverly Madden (’60), and former ISU Vice President George Christensen, donated to support the restoration of the dome and leaded glass installation that encourages everyone who enters Beardshear Hall to look up. “Every day, I got to see that and be part of it when I walked to my office,” Madden says. “In all the construction projects at Iowa State I was around, the preservation guys at Beardshear were the only crew that played classical music while they were doing their work.” Commissioned by the Iowa Art in State Buildings Project with additional financial support from George Christensen, and Beverly and Warren Madden.

4. Rae Reilly: “Janus Agri Altar,” (Beverly Pepper, 1986)

This monumental sculpture in the shape of a double-sided spade has a backstory. The artist, Beverly Pepper, was becoming well-known and had recently been commissioned to create works for the Barcelona Olympics. “She came here as a courtesy,” Reilly explains, with the intention of apologizing in-person to the committee, telling them she couldn’t complete their request. “Lynette brought her [to the Agronomy Hall South Courtyard] late in the afternoon on a beautiful day. At that time, there was an oval of enormous trees. It was just beautiful. And after a little bit, Beverly Pepper started sketching.” The resulting sculpture is part of a body of work that spans the globe. Commissioned by the Iowa Art in State Buildings Program for the Agronomy Building with support from Sevde Transfer.

5. Monet Butler: “Portrait of Zenobia Brumbaugh Ness,” (Rose Frantzen, 2024)

As part of her fellowship, Butler was involved in commissioning a painted portrait to honor Zenobia Brumbaugh Ness within the Faces of Iowa State Collection. Ness was instrumental in advancing art at Iowa State during the Depression. “I was sitting with [curator] Alison Ranniger and Lynette [Pohlman], debating which of three sketches should move forward when I had this moment of ‘Oh my gosh, I’m in the art world right now,’” Butler says. “They’re trusting me to help pick out something that’s going to be in the library installations for the extended future.” Commissioned by University Museums with funding provided by Art Klein.

THE ART OF SCIENCE

STORY BY STEVE SULLIVAN

IOWA STATE’S SCIENTIFIC ILLUSTRATION PROGRAM CONTINUES TO DRAW ATTENTION

When Joan Kozel (’76) transferred to Iowa State, she asked her advisor, Harry (Jack) Horner (now professor emeritus), if she could combine art and science for a degree program.

and jointly administered with the College of Design, the program has recently been renamed Scientific Illustration and Visualization, or SCI VIZ.

Horner made it happen and, by doing so, gave birth to the Biological Pre-Medical Illustration (BPMI) program. It began in 1974 as an independent-study course and, in 1984, became an official Iowa State major.

BPMI majors create visually engaging work for science journals, textbooks, magazine covers, advertising, and more.

Based in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

“SCI VIZ will continue to represent the interdisciplinary and illustration components of the degree while encapsulating new tools, technology, and techniques taught in the major,” says Kimberly Moss, assistant professor of art and visual culture and director of the program.

Three graduates of the program –– Grace Herzberg, Todd Buck, and Kristen Larson Keil –– illustrate its lasting impact.

ART WITH EMPATHY

Grace Herzberg’s (’20) interest in scientific illustration goes back millions of years.

In a high school biology class, she watched a documentary about “Lucy,” a 3.2-million-year-old skeleton discovered in 1974.

“Scientists and illustrators got together and used Lucy’s skeleton to come up with what she might have looked like, and I thought that was so cool,” Herzberg says.

Aware of Herzberg’s habit of drawing in class (she admits to getting in trouble for that in middle school) and interest in science (she used to check out field guides from the library before she could read), her biology teacher pointed her toward the BPMI program at Iowa State.

Going through the BPMI program “was a wonderful time,” she says. “It was really hard but very inspiring. My professor (Kimberly Moss) pushed me to improve my skills in art and science and pursue graduate school.”

She did her graduate studies at Johns Hopkins University, taking classes alongside medical school students and doing sketches as they all observed surgeries. She also learned computer code for her thesis.

“I developed an interactive puzzle game to help radiology residents learn about MRI

pulse sequencing when studying for their board exams,” says Herzberg, who now works with veterinarians as a medical illustrator at the University of Georgia’s College of Veterinary Medicine.

For Herzberg, empathy is as important to a medical illustrator as artistic ability and a love of science.

“You want to have respect for the anatomy and the body,” she says. “Because of the importance of the topic matter, you want to hone a sensitivity when creating your illustrations because you want people to feel safe and calm.”

Empathy extends to the doctors with whom she works.

“It’s important for medical illustrators to have professional contacts with doctors, to understand their language, and where they’re coming from and what they are going through,” she says.

Herzberg also stresses the need to be grounded in traditional art forms, while staying current with new technologies, whether it be artificial intelligence (AI) or some cool new Adobe program.

“You have to be somewhat of a chameleon, melding your style to the purpose of the work and the needs of the client,” she says. “My style started forming at Iowa State, where I did a lot of traditional work, water color studies, and tons of figure drawing.”

Herzberg continues to develop her computer programming skills, including the use of virtual reality, to create interactive media for veterinary students.

Still, less complex projects can bring her a lot of satisfaction. A small side project finds her doing illustrations focused on the dangers that rodent poisons pose for wildlife.

“I love drawing woodland creatures, so this project means a lot to me,” she says.

GRACE HERZBERG

DRAWN TO SCIENCE

A visually minded student, Todd Buck (’87) used to “draw” his notes in his Iowa State classes because it helped him remember information for exams. During a biology class, somebody noticed Buck sketching and told him he could do it for a living.

It was well-timed advice, as Iowa State had recently made BPMI an official major.

Buck looked into the program and “it immediately made sense to my brain,” he says. “I wanted to do art or science, and this allowed me to do both. It’s one of the best undergraduate programs for studying scientific illustration.”

At Iowa State, he created 60 illustrations for a zoology lab manual and had a part-time job in the College of Veterinary Medicine’s Department of Biomedical Sciences. These early experiences gave him the confidence to start his own studio practice, and later attend the University of Illinois at Chicago, where he earned his graduate degree in medical illustration.

“After graduate school, most people work for a company, hospital, or a research institute for a few years before attempting to freelance,” Buck says. “I wanted to freelance right away, so in 1990 I started my own company.”

In his first year after graduate school, he landed a huge project to illustrate an Atlas of Liver Surgery for the University of Chicago. He was one of the first to create illustrations focusing on living donor liver transplant surgery, which

found him in operating rooms observing procedures.

Buck sees himself as a liaison between medical experts and their intended audience.

“I take complex content and summarize it in visual form,” he says. “Visuals intended to educate other medical experts, such as surgeons and physicians, will be quite different and more complex than visuals intended for patient education. When visuals help a patient understand what is going on in their own body, they are more inclined to follow a treatment regimen in the best interest of their own health and wellness. My goal is to elucidate concepts and clarify information while also captivating the audience with beautiful imagery.”

After years of creating beautiful imagery in near isolation, doing award-winning work for pharmaceutical companies, medical journals, and textbooks, and even Google, Buck decided to add teaching to his list of professional activities. He recently stepped down as illustration professor at Northern Illinois University after 20 years.

Like the “you can do that for a living” advice he got as an undergraduate, the most important lesson he conveys to students is a simple one.

“You have to love science,” he says. “People good at this are science nerds and want to translate information visually. Your illustrations are only as good as your understanding of the science.”

TODD BUCK

ILLUSTRATING THE BRAIN

Kristen Larson Keil (’04) has spent her career illustrating the brain and its complex components.

“This is a great field,” she says. “We’ve figured out most of the body, but much of the brain is still a mystery. There are discoveries still to be made, and to be at the front end of that is exciting.”

Growing up in Kearney, Nebraska, Larson Keil took a lot of science classes and was really into art. She considered becoming a doctor until an art teacher told her about the field of medical illustration. For Larson Keil, it sounded like the perfect combination of everything she loved. She researched programs and discovered that the closest was at Iowa State.

After graduating from Iowa State, she went on to earn a master of science degree in medical illustration from the Medical College of Georgia (now Augusta University). Then she took a position working in Neuroscience Publications at Barrow Neurological Institute, an international leader in treatment, research, and education of brain and spinal conditions.

Larson Keil creates illustrations of the brain and spine for medical journals, textbooks, and other publications. For the past three years, she has served as manager of Neuroscience

Publications at Barrow, overseeing the work of a staff of 22 while continuing her own work.

She is currently working on a major book project that looks at cavernous malformations, which are abnormal clusters of closely packed, thin-walled blood vessels. The book project, a result of a series of journal articles by Barrow surgeons, takes a closer look at these lesions in the brain, how they affect patients, and the nuances of their surgical approaches.

“Medical illustration is an outlet that helps people,” Larson Keil says. “I know the illustrations I’m creating are helping physicians have a better understanding of the brain’s anatomy so they can perform their surgeries better and serve patients with better outcomes.”

Successful medical illustrators need to be creative, curious, and flexible, she says. This means keeping up with new technologies, not only in the medical field but also in the world of illustration. Right now, the hottest topic is AI.

“AI can’t do medical illustration,” Larson Keil says. “It isn’t accurate enough, but it’s only going to get better. We need to figure out how to use AI to make us better and faster, but there will always be a need for our expertise and underlying knowledge.”

KRISTEN LARSON KEIL

Keeping profits in Ames

ISUAA TRADITIONS TEES

A TRADITION UNLIKE ANY OTHER

The Traditions Tee is back! We’ve designed a brand new, exclusive, members-only T-shirt for April Membership Appreciation Month. This T-shirt is only available to ISU Alumni Association members. To preorder your 2025 Traditions Tee, visit www.ISUalum.org/TraditionsTee beginning April 1. Don’t miss out! This limited-edition member design will be locked away in the Traditions Vault at midnight on April 30, 2025. Shirts will be delivered in late May.

We appreciate you, members!

Drum major Emma Mostek leads Cyclone spirit with an Iowa State crowd at the Pop-Tarts Bowl Pep Rally in Orlando, Florida, before the Cyclones defeated the Miami Hurricanes 42-41.

Image

Legacy Matters

DEAR MEMBERS:

At an Iowa State men’s basketball game earlier this season, Zach Christensen (’02) stopped by my seat at Hilton Coliseum to share his and his wife, Azure’s (’01), appreciation for the Iowa State video acceptance message that their son Maddox had received, the role I played in the video, and the exciting news that Maddox will be attending Iowa State next fall.

Our conversation led us down memory lane: I had the privilege of meeting Maddox at his first visit to Hilton when he was about 13 weeks old (Iowa State vs. North Dakota State; we won 67-54!). We snapped a photo of the moment then in 2006, and recreated it this year to celebrate Maddox’s decision to continue his Cyclone journey.

While Maddox will become an official Cyclone next fall, he has been an Iowa Stater his whole life. In fact,

Maddox holds the distinction of being the youngest life member ever of the ISU Alumni Association. His maternal grandparents, Steve (’68) and Karen Eddy, purchased Maddox a membership when he was only 4 months old. The Eddy family’s history and legacy at Iowa State University is long, rich, and proud. Maddox’s great grandparents, the late Bob (’40) and Barbara (’40) Eddy, served on the association’s board of directors, and were association life members, Order of The Knoll members, athletic season ticket holders, donors, and so on. All their children, Robert, Steve (’68), Donald (’73) and Mary Wolf (’78), have supported Iowa State over the years with gifts or engagement as alumni association lifetime members. Journeying down memory lane with Zach and Maddox was a special moment for me. It reminded me of how

many Iowa Staters I’ve had the honor to meet, know, and see grow over my 25 years here. It also was a reminder of the legacy which we leave for ourselves and others. What’s your or your family’s Iowa State legacy story? How did you start or how are you planning to start your child(ren) or grandchild(ren) down the Iowa State legaCY path? I’d love to hear, and have the ISU Alumni Association be a part of, your story!

JEFF JOHNSON, PHD ‘14 HIGHER EDUCATION, LORA AND RUSS TALBOT ENDOWED PRESIDENT AND CEO

Rachel Geilenfeld

(’07); MEMBER OF THE ISU ALUMNI ASSOCIATION’S BOARD OF DIRECTORS;

How did your Iowa State education help guide your career?

I was a political science major at Iowa State and one of the courses I took was called The Politics of Big Oil. At that time, I had no idea how that would so directly impact my future work. I was also heavily involved in an organization called ISU Ambassadors, which allowed me to experience hands-on advocacy at the state capital. We advocated for issues that impacted students at ISU and the other state universities. That was really my first experience with lobbying and fast-forward almost 20 years, that’s still what I do on a day-to-day basis.

What is your favorite ISU tradition?

Basketball is my favorite sport as a spectator; I really love when we play the extended version of the fight song and the student runs around the upper level of Hilton with the flag trying to run the entire circle before the song is over. I don’t know why it’s my favorite; I just think that it’s fun. The student is selected from Cyclone Alley and it’s been neat to see more female students getting to do the run.

What’s your oddest or most beloved object in your office?

Earlier in my career, I worked on political campaigns and one of the must-have items when you’re working on a political campaign is a map. Iowa DOT makes a six-foot version of the state of Iowa map. I have one on the wall in my office –– it’s 12 years old and I’ve moved it everywhere I’ve lived. The corners are completely tattered because I’ve hung it up on a lot of walls in a lot of different offices. It’s fun to look at a map that big. I have a running list of all the counties I visited, which is 76 so far. I will get to the 99th someday.

Beloved Bird

“I enjoyed the photos of the original Cy [in the fall issue of Iowa Stater magazine]! My dad, Mel Campbell (’59), went to Iowa State on the GI Bill in the Mechanical Engineering Department from 1955-1959. He and my mom had me as well and we lived in Pammel Court. A good friend of my dad’s gave me this stuffed Cy when I was about 2, and I still have it! You can see that it says ISC. It made me wonder how many of these beloved Cys are still out there!”

— JANET CAMPBELL

(‘76)

Like Father, Like Son

Connor Becker was just 8 when he realized what he wanted to be when he grew up.

And for years, his father, Dr. Khristian Becker (’97), was anxiously waiting to be a part of Connor’s Iowa State journey to becoming a veterinarian.

Those dreams came true last August.

Connor’s dream began when he accompanied his father, the owner of Becker Veterinary Clinic in Maquoketa, Iowa, on a farm call to vaccinate and precondition cattle. Young Connor’s “job” was to load vaccination syringes.

“I watched in awe,” Connor says. “After we finished, my dad told me he could not have done it without me. Helping my dad for the past 14 years has given me the confidence that I can make a difference in the veterinary profession.”

Connor’s first steps into the field came when he, and 130 other Iowa State first-year veterinary students, participated in the annual White Coat Ceremony. The event symbolizes the beginning of a student’s academic journey to become a veterinarian.

At the ceremony, each student is “coated” by a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM). In Connor’s case, that DVM was his dad, a dream come true for Khristian.

“I have had the honor of being a white coat mentor for four students who are now veterinarians, and I always hoped one day I would be at the White Coat Ceremony with Connor,” Khristian says. “Presenting my son with a white coat was one of the most special days of my life.”

Connor feels the same way.

“My dad has always been my role model, hero, and inspiration,” he says. “Having my dad ‘coat’ me was a special moment filled with mutual pride and love. I have learned from the very best and am blessed to have the opportunity to share the rewards and challenges of the veterinary profession with my dad.”

There’s a good chance that the White Coat ceremony won’t be the last time these two work together.

“I’m a solo practitioner, so the thought of having Connor join me has always been my dream,” Khristian says. “It is extremely rewarding to know that after working with me for all these years, Connor plans to follow in my footsteps.”

Connor says, “I can’t image anything but life as a rural, mixed animal practice veterinarian working alongside my dad.”

— DAVE GIESEKE

CYCLONE STORIES: DR. KHRISTIAN BECKER (’97) AND CONNOR BECKER / MAQUOKETA, IOWA

Future Cyclones

1. Gracyn, Kase, and Harlow: Submitted by Shayla and Jared (’04) Auten

2. Tripp: Submitted by Gina Kahler

3. Natalie and Nora: Submitted by Rex (’01) and Rachel De Bruin

4. Mason: Submitted by Alicia (Stearns) Ford (‘15) and Bennett Ford (‘17)

5. Eisley: Submitted by Matt Van Winkle (’13)

The ISU Alumni Association connects Cyclones everywhere of all ages with age-appropriate programming, member benefits, and family-friendly events all year round! With the ISU Alumni Association, future cyclones can always be engaged with the magic of Iowa State. Visit isualum.org/Legacy to learn more.

IF YOU’RE HEADED TO ...

Cincinnati

ISUAA CINCINNATI GAME WATCH COORDINATOR AND HOST SAM STROTMAN (’86) HIGHLIGHTS HIS FAVORITE PLACES

TO EAT, EXPLORE, AND ENJOY NEW ADVENTURES.

 Spend a day in Over-the-Rhine, Cincinnati’s vibrant, eclectic downtown neighborhood. Start with breakfast at Taste of Belgium, followed by a morning of shopping, then head to Findlay Market for lunch and more shopping. In the evening, grab a drink at Rhinehaus, where the Iowa State flag flies proudly over the door.

 Enjoy the great outdoors by taking a walk along the Ohio River in Smale Riverfront Park; cross the river to Devou Park in northern Kentucky and explore walking trails and stunning views of downtown Cincinnati. For the thrill seekers: head to Kings Island in Mason to ride the roller coasters.

 Make sure to sample the iconic Cincinnati chili: Yes, it’s on spaghetti and, yes, you have to try it. Skyline Chili is a go-to spot with multiple locations, but locals are eating it at Camp Washington Chili or at Dixie Chili (nearby in northern Kentucky).

To submit a photo of your future Cyclone, email iowastater@iastate.edu or tag @ISUAlum on Facebook or X.

No matter what brings you to town, connect with Sam Strotman and other ISU alumni through the Iowa State Alumni of Cincinnati Facebook group or on X (@ISUAlumsofCincy) to help you plan a great visit.

5.

HEART OF A

Nels Matson laced up his sneakers at 3 a.m. on a September morning near the Pacific Ocean shore of San Francisco. The Iowa State alum was about to take the first step on a 46-day, 17-hour, 26-minute, 12-state journey in an attempt to set a world record for the fastest run across the United States.

The world record was a goal, but there was a more important aim: to honor the wish of a fallen Navy SEAL.

WARRIOR

STORY BY MATT VAN WINKLE ILLUSTRATIONS BY JENNY WITTE

Nels Matson received support from friends and strangers throughout his journey. Consistently by his side was his road crew, including his wife, Denise “Zolla” PizzoMatson; Ruth Kohstall; Paul Nielsen; and Kerrie Rideout.

PROJECT CAMPBELL’S CALL

Matson (’06), an Ames native who now calls Florida home, never met Chris Campbell.

Campbell was a Navy SEAL who was killed, along with 30 American soldiers, in a helicopter crash on a mission in Afghanistan in 2011. Matson worked with Campbell’s sister, Cindy, who first shared her brother’s story with him through the book “Among Heroes,” written by one of Chris’ friends, Brandon Webb.

At the end of the audiobook version, Cindy shared Chris’ mission that he wanted to have 100,000 people come together to donate to the Wounded Warrior Project to help his brothers and sisters who didn’t make it home.

When he learned about the life Campbell had led and his final wish, Matson couldn’t get the story out of his head. That’s the moment the seed was planted: Matson had his mind set on his next big challenge.

“I wanted to find a way to get the word out about Chris,” Matson says.

Project Campbell’s Call was underway.

FROM THE HEART

Matson admits long-distance running isn’t something he does for fun.

“I enjoy the process of mapping out how to get something like this done,” he says.

A former wrestler at Iowa State, Matson owes the sport for giving him the drive to compete and set lofty challenges. And those challenges have always been part of his life.

“I was born with three out of four pulmonary veins going the wrong way, and a hole in my heart,” Matson says. “I had heart surgery just before I was 3 years old.”

Forty years later, he is putting that healed heart to good use –– and is on a mission to give back through feats of physical endurance. He’s run from Florida to Washington, D.C. to help fund heart surgeries for children in Cambodia. He’s cycled across the U.S. on two different occasions to raise support for The Children’s Heart Foundation.

“I think during these endurance events, it puts me in the mindset of the heroes who I’m trying to bring more attention to,” Matson says. “I think, in a way, it represents the journey

that a lot of these heroes have gone through.”

While Matson was not new to feats of endurance, Project Campbell’s Call — the 3,063-mile transcontinental journey that stood before him last September — turned out to be more grueling than anything he’d experienced.

A JOURNEY BEGUN

His sneakers laced, Matson set out from San Francisco, headed for New York City on Sept. 8, 2024.

Running across the country takes years of planning and a dedicated team. More than a dozen friends and family volunteered to assist Matson along the way.

“They put their lives aside and were all in on what we were doing –– both spreading Chris’ legacy and getting me from point A to point B,” Matson says.

They supplied him with food, drinks, and even new running shoes.

“I went through 14 pairs,” he laughs.

Matson averaged about 66 road miles each day — the equivalent of almost two and a half marathons.

Matson averaged about 66 road miles each day — the equivalent of almost two and a half marathons. When physical exhaustion and mental fatigue set in, Matson would break the days into hour intervals and focus on Chris’ sacrifice.

“I would run 16 hours per day,” he says. “And then the last week, I put in 18-hour days.”

Physical exhaustion and mental fatigue set in quickly as Matson traversed through the desolate desert of Nevada into the extreme elevation of the Rocky Mountains. He soon learned that breaking the days into hour intervals helped him get through those long stretches.

“Chris was a lot of my focus,” he says. “When I got a little banged up and didn’t feel so good, it was easy to think about Chris. He paid the ultimate sacrifice. What I was doing was chosen. This was nothing compared to the sacrifices of those who served.”

CYCLONE CONNECTIONS

From start to finish, Matson had the support of fellow Iowa Staters.

“Reggie Reyes, a former wrestler, joined me for the first 31 miles,” Matson says. “Coming into Ames, there were people I grew up with and haven’t seen for 20 years … showing up on the side of the road. It was really neat.”

As Matson passed small towns throughout the country, he was welcomed with signs of support. Even strangers would run with him for a mile or more.

“It kind of represented that old-fashioned messenger,” he says. “As I saw people in person, they could grasp our mission a little bit better and spread the message.”

A LASTING IMPACT

Along the way, veterans who couldn’t join Matson in person ran virtual miles to show support.

Andrew Coughlan, alumni regional director for Wounded Warriors Project’s West region, accompanied Matson at the ceremonial start of his journey.

“Knowing the reasons he was doing this –– his heart behind it, his motivation –– it inspired me,” Coughlan says.

Wounded Warrior Project provides life-saving services and programs to veterans and service members who served in the military on or after Sept. 11, 2001, and incurred a physical or mental injury, illness, or wound during or after service.

“Our programs focus on the pillars of physical health and

wellness, mental health, connection, and economic empowerment,” Coughlan says. “What Nels did raises awareness for the needs of warriors and their families. He touched a lot of lives.”

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

On Oct. 24, 2024, Matson reached New York City. His recorded time represented the third-fastest run across the United States –– joining an elite class with fellow Iowa State alum Pete Kostelnick (’09), who set the first-place record in 2016.

While he may not have set the world record, Matson is proud to say that Campell’s wish was fulfilled in 2024 with more than 130,000 donations made in his honor.

“I’m amazed by the selflessness of the people that helped with this,” Matson says. “I think it’s just amazing that a group of us came together and we crossed America on foot.”

Chris Campbell’s impact has been exponential, Matson says. “It’s amazing the impact one person can have, and the ripple effect he continues to have after he’s not here.”

On Oct. 24, 2024, Matson reached New York City, making him the thirdfastest runner to cross the United States. The same year, Campbell's wish was fulfilled with more than 130,000 donations made in his honor.

RECORD RUNS

Nels Matson is among good company with his third-fastest run across the U.S. Iowa State alum Pete Kostelnick holds the firstplace spot after running 3,067 miles in 42 days, 6 hours, and 30 minutes in 2016, breaking the previous cross-country record by four days. Below are some facts about their journeys.

NELS MATSON

 Born and raised in Ames, Iowa

 Earned a degree in Russian studies from Iowa State

 14: Pairs of shoes he wore in his run across America

 Preferred drink while running: half water, half soda

 10,000 calories consumed per day during run across America

PETE KOSTELNICK

 Born and raised in Boone, Iowa

 Earned degrees in international business and finance from Iowa State

 8: Pairs of shoes he wore in his run across America

 His guilty pleasure: Ice cream

 5,000 calories consumed each day during training, 10,000+ calories consumed during run across America

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BEFORE ALEXA, THERE WAS MARY

Fifty years ago, graduate student Mary Jo Williams (’78) saw an opportunity to help consumers get answers to their household-related questions quickly, and help reduce the workload of local extension offices that were fielding the calls. Williams soon became the first operator of Iowa State University Extension and Outreach’s AnswerLine. Half a century later, five staff now work to answer the 16,000-18,000 questions they receive each year (via phone, email, website, blog, and social media) with unbiased, research-based information.

From left: Marlene Geiger, Jennie Savits, and Rachel Sweeney field questions into Iowa State University Extension and Outreach’s AnswerLine. Beth Marrs (’84) and Carol Van Waardhuizen (’79,’89) also help answer the 16,000-18,000 questions AnswerLine receives each year.

STORY BY KIRSTEN KRAKLIO IMAGES BY MATT VAN WINKLE

AnswerLine coordinator Rachel Sweeney (’11) says staff members answer questions on a variety of home and family-related topics. “Sixty percent of our calls are food related (food preservation, food safety, recipe substitutions/ modifications), and we also answer calls on cleaning, stain removal, textiles, and household appliances,” she says. “We also field questions related to disaster recovery (what to do if your power goes out, cleaning up flood water, etc.), entomology, and horticulture.”

In the early days of AnswerLine, operators had four filing cabinets with cards that contained answers to commonly asked questions. When calls came in, operators took advantage of their long phone cords and good memories to help consumers. As the digital age arrived, AnswerLine began transferring the information from those cards into a database. Today, the operators use a blend of resources –– from digital documents to binders stuffed with resources dedicated to holiday meats –– to accurately answer callers’ inquiries.

With internet search engines so readily available, what is the value in contacting AnswerLine rather than taking a question to Google? The human connection, says AnswerLine staff member Jennie Savits (’09, ’14).

“I know we have AI, and technology is so important and we can utilize it, but I don't think that it would ever be good to get away from personal connection,” Savits says.

Oftentimes, callers aren’t asking just one question either. They’re coming to AnswerLine with a question that has multiple variables to take into consideration.

Top 5 Most-Asked Questions

“For example,” Sweeney explains, “‘I canned these green beans and halfway through, the canner pressure drops, so then I decided to open it up and restart it.’ When you plug that into a computer, it’s not going be able to pull out an answer or give you what your options are. We can provide that human touch.”

They provide that human touch with the expertise and support of Iowa State staff and researchers. Each AnswerLine staff member attends trainings to further their specialty areas: Sweeney builds on her knowledge as a registered dietitian by staying in contact with researchers and other professional organizations; Marlene Geiger, who has been a 4-H judge for 30 years, meets with industry leaders to talk about new canning technology; and Savits brings in knowledge and connection of food sciences from her work with the Midwest Grape and Wine Industry Institute for more than a decade.

While staff members stay on top of learning to be able to answer callers’ questions, they know they won’t have an immediate answer for everything. Tackling new questions is part of the fun.

“I learn something new every day,” Savits says. “Any time someone asks me something I don’t know, I say ‘I don’t know, but we’ll find it out together.’ I love this job because it’s so different every day –– I never know what to expect when I answer the phone. I love being able to connect research to folks who are using it. Feeling like you can help people get the information that they need to help improve their lives or answer their questions is very satisfying.”

1. I just found expired [item] in my cupboard, is it still safe to eat?

2. What are the steps for correctly pressure canning my [vegetables], and how do I operate a pressure canner I found at a garage sale?

3. How do I modify my favorite cookie recipe to be gluten-free?

4. How can I ensure my 4-H project is safe to exhibit?

5. I spilled red wine on my favorite blouse and white carpet. How do I get this stain out?!

To find the answers to these questions and learn more, visit iowastater.iastate.edu or contact AnswerLine directly at 1-800-262-3804.

A Leap of Faith

Darryl Hill didn’t know Carver from Curtiss Hall. He’d not walked by Marston Water Tower, or listened to the Campanile chime.

“I had never heard of Ames, Iowa,” Hill (’85) says. “I just wanted to be different from my high school colleagues who were going to the University of Michigan or Michigan State.”

Taking the Leap

It was the fall of 1980. The son of a military family from Detroit, Hill had passed through Cass Technical High School with high marks and an ROTC

safety on the advice of a trusted professor. Surpassed only by the acceptance of Christ into his life and his proposal to his wife, changing his major would be –– in Hill’s description –– the best decision he would ever make.

Following a Call

From that moment to now, Hill has used his Iowa State degree daily. He works as senior vice president of safety and security at First Student, Inc., the leading school transportation solutions provider in North America.

“First Student transports more passengers daily than all U.S. airlines combined,” he says. But the responsibility goes beyond just transportation –– technological advances allow parents to keep track of their child’s trip and,

“I want to help the university that has helped me.”

drivers are trained on interacting with students with special needs, to name a couple.

“I probably don’t sleep much, because I have to always think about the challenges, the heavy burden,” Hill says. “It is a huge commitment, when you transport passengers.”

scholarship. School counselors knew their student would have an aptitude for Iowa State’s rigorous engineering program. On top of that, Hill had just earned a spot in a Visiting Scholars Program. It was a big leap of faith.

“As I was looking at my parents driving off in the distance, it dawned on me, ‘I know no one on campus, you know?” Hill remembers. “I thought, ‘What did I get myself into?’”

Hill launched himself into studies and campus activities, including as Towers Residence Hall intramural chair and in Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. Critically, he changed his major from industrial engineering to occupational

Hill has earned a list of degrees, from educational leadership to biblical studies. He is involved in countless safety organizations and teaches at Oakland University. In addition to guest lecturing at ISU, Hill serves on the alumni association board of directors. For Hill, it’s a calling. He recently visited campus for only the second time since graduating. Many things have changed. The call, however, is strong as ever.

“If it wasn’t for Iowa State, I wouldn’t be in the position that I am now,” Hill says. “I’m very grateful for that, so I want to help the university that has helped me.”

CYCLONE STORIES: DARRYL HILL (’85) / SOUTHFIELD, MICHIGAN

2025 DISTINGUISHED AWARDS CELEBRATION

Iowa State University’s highest awards administered by the ISU Alumni Association and the ISU Foundation will be presented to the following alumni and friends at the 2025 Distinguished Awards Celebration on Friday, May 2. The ceremony will take place in the Sukup End Zone Club at 2 p.m. Cyclones everywhere are invited to share in these recognitions.

AWARDS ADMINISTERED BY THE ISU ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD

Thomas Hoenig

(MS ’72 ECONOMICS, PHD ’74)

Distinguished senior fellow, Mercatus Center, and former president, Federal Reserve Bank Kansas City, Missouri

Lori J. Ryerkerk

(’83 CHEMICAL ENGINEERING)

Retired chairman, CEO and president, Celanese Winnie, Texas

Kirt A. Walker

(’85 MANAGEMENT)

CEO, Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company Columbus, Ohio

HONORARY ALUMNI AWARD

John Milford Graether, MD, MS

Retired ophthalmologist, Wolfe Eye Clinic Ames, Iowa

Judith H. Hoefle

Registered nurse Ames, Iowa

AWARDS ADMINISTERED BY THE ISU FOUNDATION

ORDER OF THE KNOLL CAMPANILE AWARD

Lynn A. and Diane Engh Anderson

Lynn: (’69 INDUSTRIAL ADMINISTRATION)

Retired senior vice president marketing for Cedar American Rail Holdings, Inc.

Diane: (’71 INTERIOR DESIGN)

Retired interior designer Naples, Florida

ORDER OF THE KNOLL CARDINAL & GOLD AWARD

Lloyd A. Bettis

(’70 AGRICULTURAL JOURNALISM)

Retired chairman, National Bureau of Property Administration Inc. Naples, Florida

ORDER OF THE KNOLL FACULTY AND STAFF AWARD

Cynthia Jeffrey

(MS ‘79 INDUSTRIAL ADMINISTRATION SCIENCES, ’72 ENGLISH) RMS fellow in accounting, Ivy College of Business Ames, Iowa

ORDER OF THE KNOLL CORPORATION AND FOUNDATION AWARD

Farm Credit Services of America Omaha, Nebraska

YOU’RE INVITED TO ATTEND THE 2025 DISTINGUISHED AWARDS CEREMONY

Friday, May 2, 2025, 2 p.m., Sukup End Zone Club Reception to follow ceremony.

Nominate alumni and friends for spring 2026 awards by Aug. 15, 2025, at www.ISUalum.org/DistinguishedAlumni.

Let us help you find volunteer opportunities near you!

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SUSTAINING CYCLONES

Thanks to new and continuing sustaining donors who made gifts in 2024*. The ISUAA Sustaining Donor program is a voluntary way for association members and ISU alumni to provide additional tax-deductible annual support to the ISU Alumni Association. This is the 21st year of the program, and dollars donated by life members have helped provide additional support for the association’s programs and services.

Make your 2025 gift online at www.ISUalum.org/Sustaining.

*Information is provided from the ISU constituent database. If you have information that needs to be updated or corrected, please notify alumni@iastate.edu.

21-YEAR DONORS

Jacque (’74) and James Andrew

Julie (’78) and Mark Blake (’77)

Douglas Bosworth (’62)

Winton Boyd (’66)

Martha (’76) and Doug Brown (’76)

Robert Carlson (’74)

Janice Coy (’54)

Gary Flander (’80)

Jon Fleming (’75)

Barb (’71) and Craig Foss (’71)

Joanne Frederiksen

Vicki Grimes

John (’67) and Barbara Hagie

Ronald (’71) and Pamela Hallenbeck (’71)

Kyle Harms (’89)

Peter (’77) and Pamela Hemken

Liz (’76) and Randy Hertz (’76)

Clara (’64) and Harold Hoover (’65)

Gregory (’82) and Elizabeth Hora (’82)

Richard Horton (’62)

John Hunt (’64)

Peggy and Jeff Johnson (’14)

Dale (’67) and Jane Kiser (’67)

Thomas (’82) and Nancy Macklin (’78)

William Moran (’73)

Steven (’67) and Michelle Mores

James Myers (’58)

Vicki (’78) and Gary Owens (’78)

Dennis Puffer (’68)

Carol (’75) and Marlin Reimer (’75)

Richard (’73) and Sharon Rodine (’71)

Darlene and Charles Schmidt (’58)

Ryan (’95) and Meg Schon (’98)

Michael Sinclair (’80)

Lora (’17) and Russ (’17) Talbot

Roy (’57) and Sandra Uelner (’58)

Dwayne (’93) and Lori Vande Krol (’93)

Mike (’79) and Maria Westfall (’77)

Thomas Whitson (’63)

Eric Wittrock (’92)

Mary (’78) and Tim Wolf (’76)

Don (’60) and Carolyn Zuck

20-YEAR DONORS

JaNelle (’69) and Lloyd Anderson (’57)

Mary (’86) and Charles Bendgen (’87)

Roger Benning (’63)

Paul (’63) and Shirley Dana (’63)

Kevin (’83) and Jeanne Drury

Donald (’59) and Glenda Eggerling (’60)

Elaine (’85) and Brian Gifford

Roger Hansen (’65)

Joseph Huber (’89)

Gerald (’68) and Gwen Johnson

John (’66) and M. Susan Viking-Kueck

Jane Lohnes

Donald (’55) and Carol Olson (’56)

Sonia Porter (’60)

Roger Reimers (’82)

Mary (’83) and Raymond Scheve

Sandy Searl (’87)

Charles (’68) and Carolyn Sidebottom (’69)

Norma Snyder (’60)

Kevin (’87) and Shelley Stow (’87)

Franklin Townsend

Jay (’59) and Sally Van Wert (’71)

19-YEAR DONORS

James (’65) and Cathryn Ahrenholz

Peggy Allen (’67)

Jean (’70) and Jeffrey Anliker (’70)

Kevin (’80) and Christine Brooks

Melissa Brush (’91)

Douglas Caffrey (’72)

Curt Clifton (’92)

Linda Glantz Ward (’70) and Doug Ward (’67)

Craig Griffin (’83)

Maynard (’66) and Anne Hogberg

Maryl Johnson (’73)

Richard (’57) and Joanne Liddy (’59)

William Millen (’70)

Walter (’69) and Deanna Nodean (’64)

Fred Peitzman (’61)

Victor Pierrot (’63)

Carl (’67) and Valerie Rausch

Michael Steffenson (’59)

Omar Stoutner (’70)

Neal Suess (’84)

Dennis Thomas (’70)

Dale Weber (’52)

Michael (’77) and Pamela Weston (’77)

Gerald Wheelock (’61)

Lorraine (’78) and David Whitney (’79)

Tom Wilson (’84)

18-YEAR DONORS

Matthew (’90) and Susan Bravard (’86)

Janice and Jeffrey Breitman

John (’82) and Kim Carlson

Denny (’65) and Marcy Chaussee

Cheryl and Thomas Grinna

Cheryl and John Kingland (’70)

Daniel (’59) and Sharon Krieger

Joel Leininger (’72)

John (’63) and Kay Mortimer

James Myers (’58)

Edward (’82) and Carolyn Ottesen

Nancy (’83) and Douglas Pringnitz (’83)

William (’56) and Mary Lou Snyder (’56)

Marcia (’85) and Steve Stahly

Jim (’76) and Pamela Swales

17-YEAR DONORS

Claire Andreasen

Mark Batchelder (’95)

Marianne Berhow

Beverly Bucklin

Richard (’72) and Nancy Naeve Degner (’72)

Daniel (’68) and Mari Gannon

Gary (’61) and Donna Hoover

Lyla (’71) and Thomas Maynard

Janis Scharingson (’71)

Ronald (’66) and Patricia Vansteenburg (’66)

16-YEAR DONORS

Carol Anderson (’76)

Richard Boettcher (’61)

Craig Claussen (’69)

Larry (’62) and Barbara Ebbers

Don Francois (’84)

William (’70) and Katherine Gilbert (’70)

Thomas (’69) and Colleen Good

Bill (’72) and Lindy Good (’68)

David Hahn (’80)

Dale (’60) and Janice Johnson (’62)

Deanna (’93) and Patrick Kueter (’94)

Kent Lage (’86)

Willis Ryan (’62)

Jeffery (’81) and Deborah Schebler (’83)

15-YEAR DONORS

Douglas (’72) and Joan Carlson

Marilyn (’75) and Dwight Conover (’74)

Kent (’78) and Sara Johnson

Alice Keene-Mason (’05)

David (’77) and Diane Larson

Angie Lookingbill (’93)

Keith Naeve (’60)

Jack (’85) and Susan Robbins (’78)

Diane (’79) and Allan Roderick ('83)

Samuel (’67) and Carol Wise

14-YEAR DONORS

John Albright (’76)

Edwin Bartine (’64)

Karey (’88) and Todd Bishop (’88)

Carl Carlson (’71)

Donald Cook ('74)

Joe (’58) and Patricia Cunning

Dianne and Donald Draper (’66)

Gayle (’87) and Jeffry Farrell (’86)

Kathy Rhode (’82)

Doug (’59) and Clarita Vandermyde (’59)

Jeffrey (’81) and Lynnette Witt (’82)

David (’72) and Jane Wombacher (’77)

13-YEAR DONORS

Howard (’88) and Ann Anderson (’87)

William (’69) and Jane Edwards (’88)

Ana Hays (’84) and Edward McCracken (’66)

Robert (’58) and Nancy Lindemeyer

David (’61) and Jeanne O'Melia (’62)

Richard Roepke (’70)

Shirley Smith (’09)

Becky Stadlman (’74)

Lynn Vorbrich (’60)

Diana (’78) and Mark Weber

12-YEAR DONORS

Paul (’71) and Marlene Armbrecht (’68)

Todd (’84) and Margaret Barker (’85)

Robert Callahan (’61)

Keith (’59) and Carol Clement (’60)

Jeffrey Couch (’77)

Darrell Cox (’83)

Sharon Drendel

Rudy (’73) and Deborah Herrmann

Lori (’02) and Daniel Kartman (’00)

Julie (’84) and John Larson (’77)

Allan Mattke (’60)

Thomas McIntosh (’67)

Marc Mores (’95)

Steffan Paul (’91)

Jamie and Ellen Pollard

Jennifer (’82) and Randy Ramundt (’81)

Richard Rickert (’68)

Lou Ann (’70) and Kent Sandburg (’70)

Mark (’76) and Sherry Schmidt (’75)

Robert (’78) and Shawn Simonsen

Amy (’91) and Brian Tetmeyer (’91)

Maureen and Terrence Tobin (’79)

Janet Wachs (’60)

Christine Wehrman (’70)

Tara Whitmire (’01)

11-YEAR DONORS

Stuart Anderson (’91)

Judith Baird (’80)

Jan (’72) and J. D. Beatty (’64)

Scott (’80) and Patricia Benesh (’81)

James (’70) and Mary Ann Black

Susan (’81) and Douglas Boden (’81)

Stewart Burger (’72)

Eric (’97) and Brenda Burrough

Christy (’00) and Justin Doornink (’01)

Carol Elliott (’72)

Roger Grundmeier (’72)

Fred Heinz (’78)

John Hoper (’62)

David Johnson (’70)

Lester (’62) and Shirley Juon (’62)

Jeffrey Kemink (’81)

Tracy Kolosik (’81)

Dennis (’73) and Susan Martin

Douglas Meyers (’88)

Steven (’72) and Nancy Myers

R. Ted Payseur (’72)

Steven Petska

Myrna (’82) and Ronald Powers (’57)

Brooke (’03) and Richard Prestegard (’02)

Janet and Thomas Putnam (’69)

Sybil (’67) and Noel Rasmussen (’66)

Richard (’64) and Sharon Richman (’64)

Kay Runge (’69)

Jennifer Scharff (’98)

Bryan (’08) and Nicole Schmidt (’09)

Ruth Ann (’73) and Brock Seney (’73)

Norma Speer (’57)

Martha Jean and Robert Watson

10-YEAR DONORS

Jolee (’78) and Steven Belzung (’77)

Michael Bowman (’65)

Mike Budworth (’94)

James Christensen (’78)

Robert Dierks (’56)

Debra Dotzler Pfeifer (’86) and Dennis Pfeifer (’86)

Diane (’69) and Jerry Eilers (’73)

Kathleen (’80) and Charles Ritts (’70)

Marilynn Forsberg

Don Goering (’58)

Brenda Greaves (’83)

Johnie Hanson (’73)

James Harris (’74)

Larissa (’93) and Richard Hautekeete (’91)

James (’86) and Kim Heise (’85)

Steven Jargo (’70)

Lee Johnson (’73)

Patty (’87) and Mike King (’84)

Gerald (’62) and Karen Kolschowsky

Timothy Kuntz (’88)

Ruth Larson (’52)

Roger (’71) and Marilyn Mahr

Gary (’73) and Sydney McConeghey (’75)

Jayden Montgomery (’97)

Norman Petermeier (’63)

Rita (’77) and Dale Peters (’77)

Miriam Satern (’73)

David (’91) and Christine Slump (’91)

Thomas (’68) and Evonne Smith (’68)

Chelon Stanzel (’61)

Deborah (’81) and William Stearns (’81)

Judith Timan (’62)

Steven (’84) and Lori Uelner

Peri Van Tassel (’84)

Aaron Vansteenburg (’95)

Debra Yankey (’79)

9-YEAR DONORS

Sally (’69) and Mark Adrian (’69)

J. Thomas Andreesen (’89)

Peg (’81) and Gregory Gustafson (’80)

Curtis Bakker (’89)

Elizabeth (’86) and Scott Benjamin (’84)

Arnel Citurs (’88)

Rebecca (’77) and Joel Coats

Jeffrey (’84) and Meg Courter (’84)

Matthew (’00) and Sarah Craft

Pattie Erps (’84)

John Faaborg (’71)

Mark (’70) and Laurel Fleming

Luan Hammell (’71)

Ruth Harris

Jan (’65) and Sharon Haugen (’65)

Dennis Helmke (’67)

Myron Hinrichs (’66)

Barbara Janson (’65)

Steven (’77) and Mary Korrect

Rodney McElvain (’71)

Marlene (’73) and Lonnie Miller (’73)

Shelli (’84) and Erik Munn (’81)

David Munson (’64)

Doris Jean Newlin (’53)

James (’66) and Diane Patton (’68)

Cuong Pham (’77)

Linda (’67) and Mark Podhajsky (’67)

Keith Rolston (’64)

Richard Schmidgall (’83)

Mitchell Stock (’69)

Janet Tryon

Mark White (’92)

Dean Wolf (’61)

8-YEAR

DONORS

Lynda Adams (’64)

David Bippus (’71)

Daleen Brown (’95)

Regina Brown Fineran (’57)

Barbara (’61) and James Bunning (’60)

Richard Caputo (’72)

Burton Cooper (’72)

Kevin Dittmar (’85)

Albert (’67) and Suzanne Duroe

Duane Fisher (’73)

Jean (’69) and William Giddings (’68)

Robert (’88) and Becci Hamilton (’89)

Donald (’63) and Mary Hoy (’64)

Carol Jensen (’88)

Donald Johnson (’57)

Gary Laabs (’74)

Barbara Lemmer (’82)

Barbara and Joseph Leonard (’56)

Patrice (’73) and Mark Lortz (’73)

Gerald Lutkenhaus (’70)

Margaret Main (’67)

Sandra May (’59)

Jeffrey (’75) and Jayne Myhre (’76)

Diana Nevins (’85)

Paula Norby (’78)

Ronald (’68) and Dea Oleson (’69)

Merle Oleson (’59)

Robert (’62) and Jeanette Pedersen

Gerald (’58) and Margaret Pint

Timothy Quick (’01)

Amanda (’06) and Richard Tait (’99)

Ronald Scharnweber (’68)

Kristin (’76) and F. Dean Seiber

Maury Smith (’84)

Margaret Sohm (’72)

Donna (’81) and Bill Steckel (’80)

Alumni across the country and world gather together to cheer on their beloved Cyclones for game watches and other festivities through alumni association-supported regional clubs.

Ruby Trice (’87)

John (’86) and Elizabeth Van Diest (’87)

Stephen (’68) and Kay Wessman

Billie (’75) and Norbert Wilson (’76)

7-YEAR DONORS

Donald (’64) and Marylou Ahrens (’70)

Melvin Bancroft (’77)

Gary Belzer (’67)

Randy Borg (’81)

Joel Cerwick (’66)

Loren Christian (’57)

Thomas (’76) and Lisa Connop

Katharine Cross (’75)

George (’88) and Ann Deery

Heather (’06) and Jason Duncan (’08)

William Farr (’76)

Colin Finn (’06)

Sheri Floyd (’86)

Curtis (’90) and Teri Ford (’90)

Anthony Germann (’60)

Bret (’84) and Leah Gilliland (’88)

James Howe (’73)

Susan Jacobi (’82)

Kellie Jo Kilberg (’89)

Cynthia Leigh (’76)

Keith Leitich (’90)

Michele (’87) and Joseph Lucas (’83)

Jay (’73) and Sue Merryman (’77)

Brian (’85) and Kathy Meyer

Teresa Nece (’74)

Carl Neifert (’70)

Jon Radabaugh (’61)

Melanie (’00) and Karl Reichenberger

Julie (’78) and Scott Rosin (’79)

Neil Schraeder (’81)

Troy Senter (’84)

David (’84) and Jeanene

Skarshaug (’83)

Bob Suominen

David Trauger (’64)

Janice Twinam

Allyn Weber (’70)

Marc (’74) and Beth Weinbrenner

Cynthia Welter (’76)

Deaven Yuska (’88)

6-YEAR DONORS

Alvin Barden (’55)

Verna (’57) and William Boland

Craig Bonestroo (’76)

Gary Brandt (’79)

Jeffrey (’84) and Karen Bump (’85)

Jean (’63) and Frederick Dyer

Sally (’68) and Paul Erdmann (’68)

Evan Evans (’72)

Janet Finer-Moore (’78)

Janet Goss (’86)

Debra and Robert Guetzlaff (’76)

Gregory Hansen (’85)

Dale (’93) and Kathleen Heinrichs (’77)

Linda Hiniker (’76)

Douglas Judge (’94)

Mary and William Lanphere (’56)

William (’56) and Mary Lanphere

Stanley Laures (’62)

Amy Miller (’90)

John (’68) and Helen Olson (’72)

William Patton (’53)

Coey (’79) and Thomas Podraza

Monica (’69) and Max Porter (’65)

Brian Schaeffer (’82)

Christine (’79) and Daniel Schmidt

Dean (’58) and Shirley Skaugstad

Richard Snyder (’72)

Gregory Thiel (’70)

Ellen Twinam (’88)

Lois Wergeland (’71)

5-YEAR DONORS

Henry Allen (’72)

Jean Baack (’59)

Roger Bagbey (’81)

Steven Benson (’76)

Emily Burton (’76)

Frank (’76) and Kathy Comito

Eric (’77) and Roberta Simpson-Dolbeare (’76)

Kristie (’88) and Joel Elmquist (’92)

Shannon (’90) and Alan Foote

Timothy (’71) and Mary Frank (’73)

Jennifer Garrels (’84)

Virginia and James Tobin (’78)

Michael (’85) and Mary Herrick

J. Elaine Hieber

Darryl Hill (’85)

David (’76) and Gail Huser

Robyn (’93) and DeRionne Pollard (’93)

Jean Loup (’63)

Sean (’89) and Julie McMurray (’90)

Jon (’94) and Amy Nolting (’93)

Bradley Novacek (’82)

Mark (’90) and Gia Paris (’91)

Jan Payer (’52)

Kathy (’95) and Timothy Peterson (’95)

George Puffett (’83)

Gary (’70) and Shirley Pullen (’72)

Margaret Quayle

Amy (’01) and Jon Schmidt (’00)

Duane Seehusen (’74)

Robin Shepard (’85)

Norma Sisson (’80)

Martha Smith (’04)

Christopher Stephen (’93)

Paul Van Roekel (’80)

Keith Vollstedt

Judith Walrod (’66)

Jeremy Wingerter (’96)

Richard Wynne (’76)

4-YEAR

DONORS

Betty (’73) and Tom Barton

Swen Berger

Dody Boat (’55)

Samantha Boge (’70)

Catherine Breed

Dan (’95) and Angelia Buhr

Kenneth (’85) and Pamela Carel

Carmen and Wayne Craney (’62)

Elizabeth Cothron (’78)

Mary DeVore (’70)

David Emmert (’89)

John Graham (’71)

Thomas Hinga (’82)

Vincent Hoellerich (’79)

Douglas (’87) and Jeanette Hyde

Lynn Jenison (’71)

Korlin Kazimour (’85)

Kathleen Koenig (’73)

Kandace (’73) and Curtis Martin (’76)

Vincent (’74) and Marva McCarty (’73)

Jon Mullarky (’61)

Jo and Homer Neemann (’69)

Kevin Neeson (’85)

Donald Pruitt (’79)

Diana and Mark Rettig

Lorene (’69) and John Rexwinkel (’70)

Michelle Schneider (’83)

I. Sue Shepard-Simmons (’61)

Allen (’65) and Judith Soltow

Dean Teslow (’72)

Ronald Thompson (’76)

James Vancura (’73)

Craig (’93) and Sara Vander Leest (’91)

Richard Von Langen (’72)

Roberta (’68) and Floyd Waddle (’68)

Janet Walkup (’59)

Henry Walter Arnulfo Ybarra

3-YEAR DONORS

Bryan Anderson (’92)

Janardhana Baliga (’67)

Robert (’96) and Amy Bannister (’96)

Dean and Linda Boettcher

Rosalind (’71) and Robert Brand (’73)

Diann (’93) and John Burright (’84)

Hunter Crawford (’22)

Gary Dannenbring (’70)

Don Drake (’88)

Stephen (’86) and Debra Dullard (’83)

Walter Grant (’72)

Roger Hamm (’67)

Chad Harris (’01)

Kathryn Hesse (’84)

Scott Hudson (’84)

Julie LeVake (’84)

Philip (’66) and Lousanne Lofgren

Tonya (’93) and Jason Maxwell (’96)

Jon McCarty (’69)

Jessica (’02) and Todd McKenney

Ashok Nariboli (’76)

David Peterson (’84)

Jane (’93) and Jeffrey Putzier

Thomas (’71) and Kathryn Roti (’71)

Andrew Schon (’22)

Marc Sequeira (’83)

Barbara Smith

Karen Speicher (’84)

Richard Stauffer (’63)

Richard Tadsen

Colleen and Dennis Tasler (’62)

Michael Tomlinson (’72)

Brian (’79) and Julie Tuttle (’80)

Dennis Underwood (’67)

Steven (’78) and Michele Whitty (’79)

2-YEAR DONORS

Kyla (’90) and Joel Berkland (’90)

Shirley Bierbaum

Thomas Bluth (’89)

Cassidy Bock (’03)

Nancy Bowe (’77)

Thomas Clausen (’88)

Karen and Roger DeLay (’67)

Tim Downing (’91)

Lora Duncan (’94)

John Dybalski (’77)

Lance (’72) and Kathy Ehmcke

James Engle (’76)

Martha Evans (’67)

Charles Fitzgerald (’95)

Leigh Foster (’76)

Allan Frevert (’62)

Steven (’00) and Kristi Knight (’00)

Sally (’76) and Daniel Hartley

Sallie Haugen DeReus (’61)

JoAnn Higgins (’55)

Daniel Hillmann (’65)

Jeffrey (’83) and Cynthia Hunt (’82)

Paul (’76) and Melinda Huting (’76)

Bruce King (’85)

Marlan Logan (’74)

Mary Markland (’85)

Mark Neppel

Larry Prohaska (’89)

M. Elaine Prom (’64)

Ronald and Mary Pullin

Carolyn Rosberg (’61)

Clarence Sakamoto (’65)

Steven Schuster (’85)

Melanie (’96) and Jamie Smith (’95)

Susan Souder (’77)

Florine Swanson (’64)

Janet von Sternberg (’74) )

1-YEAR DONORS

Craig (’96) and Ann Adamson

Benjamin (’00) and Colette Amey

Mary Braucht (’80)

Kenneth Everding (’85)

Charles Felton (’73)

Janis Frahm (’80)

Jack Frus (’67)

Charles (’80) and Laurel Greif

Monica Hayes (’83)

Norman Heald (’61)

Mickey Holmes

Brian (’69) and Barbara Johnsen (’70)

Mary (’67) and Carl Kiefer

Jon Krieger (’76)

Dennis Kushlak (’65)

Peggy Lickiss (’91)

Daryl Long (’62)

Dean Loumbas (’75)

Ronald Marek (’66)

Jeffrey McClenathan (’82)

James McConnell (’17)

Patricia McGranahan (’68)

Margaret Northey (’56)

Jerry (’62) and Cynthia Thompson (’59)

Carol Reynolds (’92)

Harry Schaller (’92)

William Serbousek (’71)

Marcus Smoot (’93)

Graham (’70) and Sandra Spanier

Steven Stolte (’69)

Andrew Townsend (’88)

Richard Veenstra (’77)

Susanna Wendler (’82)

Patricia Wightman-Fisk (’63)

Douglas Williamson (’88)

Ross Wirth (’03)

Wendy (’84) and Jon Yanney (’83)

With support provided by the alumni association, Cyclones everywhere are invited to join together for fun through organized events in their communities.

ISU ALUMNI ASSOCIATION MEMBER INDEX

ANNUAL

Nels Matson pg. 2

Jason Keith pg. 5

Steven Scheuermann pg. 12

LIFE

Lynette Pohlman pg. 2

John Fischer pg. 4

Ken Brown pg. 4

Matt Darr pg. 7

Marcia Borel pg. 20

Wendy Wintersteen pg. 20

Martin Jischke pg. 22

Warren Madden pg. 22

Jim Borel pg. 23

Beverly Madden pg. 23

Harry Horner pg. 24

Zach Christensen pg. 30

Azure Christensen pg. 30

Maddox Christensen pg. 30

Steve Eddy pg. 30

Karen Eddy pg. 30

Donald Eddy pg. 30

Mary Wolf pg. 30

Jeff Johnson p.30

Rachel Geilenfeld pg. 31

Matt Van Winkle pg. 33

Sam Strotman pg. 33

Beth Marrs pg. 40

Darryl Hill pg. 42

Lori Ryerkerk pg. 43

Kirt Walker pg. 43

Judith Hoefle pg. 43

Lynn A. Anderson pg. 43

Diane Engh Anderson pg. 43

Lloyd Bettis pg. 43

Cynthia Jeffrey pg. 43

INVEST IN STORIES WITH PURPOSE

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Fall

The back cover of the fall 2024 issue of Iowa Stater magazine featured “Fields of Endeavor,” a mural created by Iowa artist Rose Frantzen (2021), that can be found in the Lynn A. and Diane Engh Anderson Family Gallery on the main floor of the Gerdin Business Building.

Sarah Van Berkum

Co-founder and Chief Brand Officer at Luno

Born and raised in northwest Iowa by two proud Cyclones, Sarah Van Berkum jokes that she came out of the womb being told she’d one day attend Iowa State. And while Van Berkum (’16) had dreams of attending art school in New York City, she decided to stay closer to home. “Everything happens for a reason, and it ended up being the best decision,” she says.

Van Berkum quickly fell in love with her design program, and over the next few years, she connected with great mentors and lifelong friends. It was at Iowa State that she met Peter Ducato (’14), with whom she’d go on to lead Luno, a company that designs and sells vehicle-based camping gear.

She shares more about her experience as an entrepreneur and her love of ISU.

When you co-founded Luno, you didn’t have a lot of resources for marketing; how do you think that impacted your success?

I believe there’s no one right way to do something; you can always bring your unique perspective to any situation, and that’s totally what Peter and I did. It was a lot of trial and error, and we had that young grit and hustle. In the beginning, we saw every email that came through, every social media

comment, and every product review, so it was fun to listen to our customers and learn on the fly.

What did it mean to be recognized with the 2024 Great Companies International Women Entrepreneur award?

It was huge because I’m so tunnel-visioned in my day-to-day at work and can struggle with imposter syndrome a bit. It’s very important to me to try to be a role model for the women in my life, especially for my female employees, so having the award be specific to women entrepreneurs was cool. I started this path when I was in my early 20s; to put in all that hard work, for seven years at this point, and receive recognition for that effort, it really meant a lot.

You’ve employed several Iowa Staters; why is that important to you?

We post our internships and openings on the job board because we love hiring people from ISU. We feel confident in the quality of people that are applying. Staying involved means so much to me and Peter –– Iowa State was such a monumental influence in forming who we are as professional human beings today, and we truly believe in Iowa State and the programs that it offers.

— KIRSTEN KRAKLIO

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Image by Christopher Gannon