Ellie Field zaps disease

Ellie Field zaps disease By Lindsey Giardino

Ellie Field never gave much thought to the insects around her as a child. Now, as a doctoral student in entomology at Iowa State, she’s definitely “the odd one out in the field,” she said, because of her childhood indifference. But she was always curious about pathogen transmission and disease ecology – two lofty areas for an adolescent – which helped her unearth a passion for public health. After earning her bachelor’s degree in biology from Washington College in 2014, Field was in the midst of her master’s program in global health at Georgetown University when she conducted research on dengue, a mosquito-borne viral disease, in India. “I loved working with mosquitoes, learning how to identify them and find their breeding habitats,” Field said. “It wasn’t until my coursework at Iowa State that I was exposed to true entomology and developed a respect and love of insects beyond mosquitoes.” Her future career goal couldn’t be more timely: She hopes to eventually work for the Centers for Disease Control or the World Health Organization, helping to create and train surveillance teams around the world, work with mosquito control districts, and respond to outbreaks, which are on the rise around the world due to warming temperatures. “Working for one of these organizations would enable me to better understand mosquitoes and the risks some pose to human health, ultimately reducing disease and improving human lives,” Field said. A recipient of the Wayne A. Rowley Scholarship in Entomology, Field benefitted from the financial freedom the fund provided this past spring (prior to the pandemic) as she traveled to a mosquito identification workshop in Florida. There, she made professional connections and focused on mosquito taxonomy and ecology. “Florida has such diverse mosquito populations and many active mosquito control districts, “I loved working with mosquitoes, learning how to identify them and find their breeding habitats.

It wasn’t until my coursework at

Iowa State that I was exposed to true entomology and developed a respect and love of insects beyond mosquitoes.”

— Ellie Field

so it was really vital to have this experience,” Field said. Armed with the knowledge she gained at the workshop, Field continues to work on her dissertation on the Culex pipiens mosquito. This requires her to maintain a colony of mosquitoes under different conditions, conduct research in Iowa State’s Medical Entomology Lab and help with general surveillance efforts, among other tasks. The lab provides Field with a unique learning opportunity, as it partners with the Iowa Department of Public Health to set mosquito traps across the state and identify and record samples. “A subset of these samples are sent off for

Ellie Field

viral testing so that we can monitor what species are carrying what pathogens, and when we start to see these infections and how that relates to human infections,” Field explained. “I have been given a very well-rounded exposure to my field!” Moving forward, Field plans to continue participating in science communication – she currently serves as an administrator for two of the largest science-based entomology groups on Facebook – and working to eradicate mosquito-borne diseases. “Resources may be heavily concentrated on the recently-emerged infectious disease, but malaria, dengue, West Nile virus, and others are still very real dangers,” Field warned. “It is critical that vector species and disease monitoring continues, as lapses in these programs result in lost data, which hampers the ability to understand long-term population trends.” If there is anyone up to such a tall task, it’s Ellie Field. 

Lindsey Giardino (’17 journ/mass comm & English) is a writer for donor relations and communications at the Iowa State University Foundation

Honors& Awards Celebrate these extraordinary alumni and friends who enhance our pride in Iowa State

This year’s awards ceremony has been postponed until 2021.

NOMINATE Iowa State University alumni for Homecoming 2021 awards! Deadline is Feb. 15.

www.isualum.org/honorsandawards

ISU ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

Alumni Medal

George Burnet** and Martha Anderson**

George: ’48, MS ’49, PhD ’51 chem engr; retired ISU Anson Marston Distinguished Professor Martha: ’48 home management Ames, Iowa

Ruby Trice**

’87 management Chief of staff / future experience officer, National GeospatialIntelligence Agency Maryland Heights, Mo.

COLLEGE AWA R DS

AGR ICU LTU R E A ND LIFE SCIENCES

Floyd Andre Award Jeff Plagge**

’78 ag business Superintendent of banking, Iowa Division of Banking; COO, Northwest Financial Corp Spirit Lake, Iowa

George Washington Carver Distinguished Service Award Dewayne Goldmon

PhD ’91 agronomy Diversity outreach / university relationship manager, Bayer; exec director, National Black Growers Association Pine Bluff, Ark.

Alumni Humanitarian Award (formerly Alumni Merit Award) T. Robert Bashara

DVM ’63 veterinary medicine Veterinarian, Mapleview Animal Clinic Bennington, Neb.

Outstanding Young Alumni Award Kelly Howard*

’08 journalism & mass comm CEO, EightSixtySouth Los Angeles, Calif.

Alumni Service Award Barry Peterson**

’90 industrial ed & technology Principal engineer, Verizon McKinney, Texas

Henry A. Wallace Award Roger Carlsson

’78 ag business Chairman, FCT Group of Companies London, United Kingdom

Betsy Freese**

’84 ag journalism Executive editor, Meredith Agrimedia Indianola, Iowa

Outstanding Young Professional Award Colin Hurd

’13 ag studies Business dev mgr, Raven Autonomy Ames, Iowa

James A. Hopson Alumni Volunteer Award Bryan Schmidt*

’13 architecture Associate, architecture / designer III, Populous Overland Park, Kan.

Impact Award Tin-Shi Tam

Charles T. & Ivadelle Cobb Cownie professor of music / university carillonneur, Iowa State University Ankeny, Iowa

Iowa State Daily

Ames, Iowa

IVY BUSINESS

John D. DeVries Service Award Sheri Bandle**

’78 accounting Hedge room manager, Cargill, Inc. Eden Prairie, Minn.

Citation of Achievement Craig Hart*

’78 accounting Chief financial officer, PSSI Food Service Solutions Peosta, Iowa

Tina Freese Decker**

’00 finance President & CEO, Spectrum Health Grand Rapids, Mich.

Paula Norby**

’78 accounting Owner / controller, Norby Distributing Co. Dubuque, Iowa

Russ and Ann Gerdin Award Dean Hunziker*

Ames, Iowa

DESIGN

Christian Petersen Design Award Ann and King Au

Ann: ’81 craft design; jewelry designer/gallery owner, 2 AU Limited King: ’82 architecture, MArch ’85; photographer/owner, Studio AU Inc. Des Moines, Iowa

Design Achievement Award Susan Hoffman**

’73 interior design Lead designer/owner, Susan Hoffman Interior Design (DBA: DESIGNS!) Wayzata, Minn.

Rod Kruse** ’74 architecture Principal, BNIM Des Moines, Iowa

Outstanding Young Professional Award Johnny G. Alcivar

’10 pol sci & intl studies; ’14 master of comm & reg planning Director of workforce programs, Proteus, Inc Des Moines, Iowa

Adrienne Nelson

’09 interior design, MArch ’13 Associate, Pickard Chilton New Haven, Conn.

ENGINEERING

Marston Medal Lori Ryerkerk**

’83 chem engr CEO, Celanese Corporation Dallas, Texas

Za-Chieh Moh*

MS ’55 civil engr Chair and co-founder, MAA Group Taipei, Taiwan

Professional Achievement Citation in Engineering (PACE) Edward Maginn**

’87 chem engr Chemical engr professor / dept chair, University of Notre Dame South Bend, Ind.

Jeff Ver Heul

’80 comp engr Senior VP, Micron Technology Austin, Texas

Young Alumni Award Gretchen Kinsella

’02 constr engr Business unit leader, DPR Construction Phoenix, Ariz.

HUMAN SCIENCES

Alumni Achievement Award Marsha A. Goetting

PhD ’96 human dev & family studies Professor / extension family economics specialist, Montana State University Bozeman, Mont.

Theron J. Schutte*

PhD ’03 education Superintendent of Schools, Marshalltown Community School District Marshalltown, Iowa

Outstanding Young Professional Award Jennifer J. Suchan

PhD ’16 education University registrar, Iowa State University Ankeny, Iowa

Virgil S. Lagomarcino Laureate Award Shouan Pann*

PhD ’93 education Chancellor, Seattle Colleges Seattle, Wash.

Helen LeBaron Hilton Award Nancy Rygg Armbrust**

’73 food & nutrition Retired VP, education and community relations, Schreiber Foods, Inc. Green Bay, Wisc.

LIBERAL ARTS & SCIENCES

Citation of Merit Award Lynette S. Hornung**

’93 political science, MA ’97, MS ’04 information assurance Principle security & privacy architect, Dell Technologies Annapolis, Md.

Carrie Chapman Catt Public Engagement Award David C. Wheelock**

’82 economics Group VP / deputy director of research, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis Clayton, Mo.

Distinguished Young Alumni Award Justin K. Hines*

’82 economics Group VP / deputy director of research, / Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis Clayton, Mo.

Distinguished Service Award Richard R. Phillips

’78 journ & mass comm Retired chief comm officer, Nationwide Mutual Insurance Des Moines, Iowa

John V. Atanasoff Discovery Award Carla M. Koehler**

’86 biochemistry, MS ’89, PhD ’95 Professor, University of California, Los Angeles Los Angeles, Calif.

VETERINARY MEDICINE

William P. Switzer Award in Veterinary Medicine Charles Lemme**

DVM ’75 Retired veterinarian Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Stange Award for Meritorious Service Gary L. Borkowski**

’83 dairy science / agricultural & life sciences ed, DVM ’87 Global director, AAALAC International Wildwood, Mo.

Laura Molgaard

’88 distributed studies, DVM ’91 Interim dean, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota St. Paul, Minn.

Outstanding Young Alumni Award Sherry Johnson

’08 Spanish & animal science, DVM ’12 Co-founder/partner, Equine Core, Inc.; partner, Equine Sports Medicine & Rehab Ft. Collins, Colo.

Lorraine J. Hoffman Graduate Alumni Award Michael Roof**

’87 microbiology, MS ’89, PhD ’91 Exec dir Bio-R&D, Boehringer Ingelheim Ames, Iowa

MEMORIAL UNION

Harold Pride Service Medallion Kathy Svec*

’70 art education Retired marketing coordinator, Memorial Union Ames, Iowa

FROM THE PRESIDENT

The 19 women who influenced my life – Part 2

In the summer 2020 issue of VISIONS, I introduced you to the first 10 of the 19 women who have influenced my personal and professional growth as part of our nation’s centennial celebration of the 19th Amendment. Here is the second part:

Tara Odom and I worked as colleagues at my undergraduate alma mater, the University of Southern Mississippi (USM). She exemplified the power of collaboration. As a female colleague in a profession, at the time, dominated by white males, Tara never refused the opportunity to draw people in. She collaborated even when she could have done it alone. To do our best work, she believed we needed partners. And Tara found and engaged those collaborators. Collaboration fueled Tara, it inspired us as coworkers, and it has been transitioned into my life ever since.

Many of you know that my wife, Peggy, and I love to entertain by sharing food, our home, our financial resources, and our gardens. Mrs. Bobbie Anderson, our office manager at the USM Office of Recruitment where I used to work, always felt every space, every person, every event, and every opportunity deserved a special, personal touch and never at a cost to the organization. I unknowingly picked up that trait. Mrs. Anderson spent her money to serve and honor us and our patrons without ever asking for recognition or repayment. And by the way, her husband, Harold, supported her spoiling all of us at their expense. I’ve adopted Mrs. Anderson’s trait of special, personal touches, and Peggy has ghosted Harold’s attitude of quiet support. I really believe that Mrs. Anderson saw her work as an extension of her personal self. She never left her authentic self at home. I liked that about her.

Things don’t define a person; one’s roots

do. Peggy and I were blessed during our time at the University of Kansas (KU) to build a relationship with Dru Sampson and her husband, Bill. The Sampsons were KU donors, and Peggy and I were from the other side of town. But for whatever reason, a special friendship was forged out of service to KU and the Lawrence community. We’re still friends today. I later learned that Dru grew up in Malvern, Iowa. I call our friendship destiny, as I now reflect on Dru’s character. She embodies that Iowa humility defined by grace and work ethic, not belongings. Befriending Dru in Kansas was my first introduction (unknowingly) to a true Iowan!

Mary Liay entered my life in 1996 when I left KU to become the campus alumni director at the University of Illinois. She taught me to respect my spouse’s independence. She was not her husband Lou’s property, she was his partner. Lou was the rah-rah University of Illinois Alumni Association president and CEO. She was a housewife, community volunteer, and “alumni anointed” first lady of the association. Peggy and I saw our lives turning into that of CEO and spouse. It really scared us, as neither of us came from such backgrounds. We couldn’t afford for Peggy to be a stay-at-home mom, nor did we know it could be done for a Black family. Mary, who, by the way, is white, never set out to inform or change our limited views. She was just Mary…consistently. Many unspoken lessons and insights found their way into our spirits and eventually into our new way of life.

Coming to Iowa State in September 1999 involved a number of people, lots of research, and weeks of soul searching. One takeaway from the search process was the involvement of ISU alumna Ann Jennings of Des Moines. Ann taught me that you sometimes need to speak to the elephant in the room. I encourage all readers to not take this in the wrong way, as it was defining for me. I can still hear the question Ann asked during the public forum of my interview: “Jeff, you are young. You are Black. You are not a Midwesterner. And, you are not a graduate of Iowa State University. What makes you feel you can do this job?” Some may find my response here strange, but Ann, to me, showed courage. Her question could have been on the minds of many others in the room. In asking it, the elephant was unveiled and addressed. Thanks, Ann. (P.S. That next year, Ann was elected as a director to the ISUAA Board!) She and her husband Al, to this day, are among our best friends and supporters.

All of us, at some point in our lives, will be called upon to give a little extra. Jamie Lucas Elliot and Martha Gleason (along with ISUAA Board officer colleagues Les Omotani and Glen Mente) were called on to give an additional year of service to the Association as officers, as a result of the leadership transition – from Jim Hopson’s leadership to mine. Neither blinked an eye. The loyalty, commitment, and selflessness they exhibited sticks with me to this day. They became the organization’s new foundation. We have built on that foundation ever since.

Affirming others isn’t required, but it’s important. Carole Gieseke, current editor of VISIONS and the Association’s assistant vice president for communications, will forever hold a special place in my heart as someone who affirmed something in me that I’ve deeply feared and never revealed. You see, my great English teachers – Mrs. McCann and Mrs. Barnes – loved making us write essays and weekly citizenship reports. I was a speaker, not a writer. One day, here at the Association, Carole convinced me that I was a good writer. She told me that I wrote the same way I spoke. While folksy, it was endearing, authentic, and engaging, she said. Now, with her assistance and encouragement, I have penned more than 80 VISIONS columns and countless speeches, letters, recognitions, etc. Thanks for slaying that fear in me, Carole, by being affirming!

Last, but surely not least, is my granddaughter, Emmy Marie Martin. Emmy, who will turn 2 on Oct. 22 (along with her big brother, Tony Wayne Martin, who turned 5 in July), is teaching me the true meaning of every day is a new day. This little girl doesn’t define today by what happened yesterday, good or bad, or what could happen tomorrow. She is truly living in the moment. She’s about love, grace, playfulness, learning, discovering, appreciation, and, OK, sneaking a snack! When do we lose that innocence? When do we start taking ourselves too seriously? When do we see others’ differences and make those differences qualifiers? Emmy has awakened a new sense of peace, rest, and hopefulness in me.

Thanks again for journeying with me through this wonderful opportunity of reflection, gratitude, and growth. I’ve enjoyed sharing the names and stories of these 19 special women and the impacts they’ve had on my life.

Please continue to stay safe and healthy. I can’t wait to see you at future events.

Yours for Iowa State,

Jeff Johnson

Lora and Russ Talbot ISUAA Endowed President and CEO PhD ’14 education

ISUAA CAMPAIGN PRIORITIES

As part of the university’s $1.5 billion Forever True, For Iowa State historic campaign, the Iowa State University Alumni Association is nearing its goal of $12.5 million.

Before the campaign ends on June 30, 2021, the Alumni Association needs to secure $2.5 million. “With your help, we can do this, Association members,” Jeff Johnson (L)(PhD ’14), Lora and Russ Talbot ISU Alumni Association Endowed President and CEO, said.

A gift to the Alumni Association makes the following possible: • Helps increase the Association’s innovation as new programs are created and existing program adapted to an ever-changing environment, especially in the areas designed to support student leadership and new graduates/young alumni outreach and programming. • Extends the Association’s reach and strengthen its ability to share information and opportunities to help Iowa State and its alumni, students, faculty, staff, and friends make Iowa, their communities, and the world a better place.

To show their personal commitment to the Forever True, For Iowa State campaign, Peggy and Jeff Johnson are pledging annual cash gifts to the following four Association endowments: VISIONS Magazine Endowment, Student Leadership Programs Endowment, Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives

Forever True, For Iowa State campaign gifts have made notable impacts on the Alumni Association and the constituents it serves. Here are a few:

• The Lora and Russ Talbot Endowment has supported professional development opportunities for Jeff Johnson and his staff. • The Talbot Endowment has allowed the Association to hire and invest in students through the Talbot Intern and Talbot Fellows programs to directly provide students with practical opportunities related to their majors. • The Don and Glenda Eggerling Endowment has ensured staff development opportunities

Jeff and Peggy Johnson

“It is time, NOW, for us to rally together to support the many Iowa State programs that may be a passion for you and of benefit to others. ”

Endowment, and LegaCY Club Endowment. They also have signed on to further their commitment by documenting with the ISU Foundation an estate gift to the Association.

“As members of the Cyclone family for more than 20 years now, this is one more way we are demonstrating how much you – our alumni, students, and friends – have made an impact on our lives,” Johnson said. “We’re thrilled to be in a position to make these cash gifts and this estate commitment.”

Today, Peggy and Jeff ask you to join them and all no longer are on the chopping block when budget dollars just aren’t there. • The Bev and Warren Madden Technology

Endowment has ensured new and existing technology upgrades, replacements, and new purchases are now an option. • Last fall, the Student Alumni Leadership

Council’s Homecoming Committee was able to produce one of the best Homecoming celebrations to date, themed “Cy’s the Limit.”

With more than 3,000 attending the pep rally and 8,800 people taking advantage of the food on campus program, 32 student leaders led the work that made it possible for all events and current Association donors in this giving opportunity to invest in your Alumni Association and its priorities. Johnson said, “It is time, NOW, for us to rally together to support the many Iowa State programs that may be a passion for you and of benefit to others.”

Jamie Stowe (L)(’97 exercise & sport sci, MEd ’05), ISUAA director of development, echoed Johnson’s request. “Please consider making an impactful gift to the Association, or other areas of the university in which you are passionate, in this last year of the campaign,” he said. “If you would like to utilize a payment plan to amplify your impact, as Peggy and Jeff did, we can help you design such a plan.”

Jamie Stowe

TO MAKE A GIFT:

Make your gift today! To make a gift, discuss your estate plans, or to have a gifting conversation, please call Jamie Stowe, ISUAA director of development, toll-free at 1-877-ISU-ALUM (478-2586) or locally at 294-7441, email jstowe@foundation.iastate. edu, or go to www.foundation.iastate.edu/ givetoisu. For Iowa State campaign priori

Campaign gifts support your Association

ties at isualum.org/giving

activities to run smoothly. • Resources were invested in a staff member who has since been certified as a Career

Services Coach and is gearing up to offer much-needed career services to alumni this fall. • Support has also helped the Association remain active during the current pandemic. In support of families, for example, the LegaCY Club had a record number of participants last year and was able to provide Iowa State-related activities for kids and parents during stay-athome directives.

NEWSMAKERS

ALUMNI HONORS

Eric Chadwick (’91 indust engr) has been recognized as a top patent practitioner for 2020. Chadwick works for the law firm DeWitt LLP in Minnesota.

Registered dietitian nutritionist Linda Thoennes Farr (L)(’73 dietetics) has been elected president of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the world’s largest organization of food and nutrition professionals. Farr is the owner of Nutrition Associates of San Antonio; she is a certified specialist in obesity and weight management, providing medical nutrition therapy to teens and adults. Denise Drake (’85 psychology) has been recognized as one of Kansas City Business Journal’s top 25 businesswomen through induction into its 2020 class of “Women Who Mean Business.” Drake is chair of Polsinelli law firm’s Labor & Employment Department.

Seth Serhienko (’15 accounting) was one of just 30 CPAs honored by the American Institute of CPAs as a member of the Leadership Academy’s 12th graduating class. Serhienko is a manager of the audit department of Widmer Roel, a public accounting and business advisory firm in Fargo, N.D.

Sharon Juon (L)(’69 sociology) was honored at the 2020 OVATION unveiling ceremony for the Cedar Falls/Waterloo area. OVATION provides a way to pay tribute to women and girls. Each year, the publication contains personal tributes to outstanding women and girls from around Iowa, sponsored by family members, friends, colleagues, or community members. Other ISU alumnae honored at the event were Kristen Corey (’05 sociology/environ studies, MS ’07 sustain ag/rural soc), Deborah Huffman (’79 dairy sci/animal sci), Karla McHenry (L)(’80 psychology), and Carol Rowland (’91 business admin, MS ’93 trans log).

George Everett (’72 zoology) has been named governor of the Florida Chapter of the American College of Physicians, the national organization of internists. Dr. Everett is the founding program director and the current academic chair of the Internal Medicine Residency Program at AdventHealth Hospital in Orlando.

TOP JOBS

Deborah Turner (L)(’73 distributed studies) is the 20th national board president of the League of Women Voters of the United States and chair of the Board of Trustees of the League of Women Voters Educational Fund. Turner practiced gynecological oncology for 35 years.

Joel Montalbano: Three ... two ... one!

When you think of NASA’s International Space Station Program, think permanent human residency in space, spaceflight, and global cooperation. And of course, remember the Cyclone engineer at the helm. Joel Montalbano (’88 aerospace eng) was recently named acting manager of NASA’s International Space Station Program. Montalbano has served as deputy program manager since 2012. Prior to becoming deputy program manager, he was the director of NASA’s Human Space Flight Program in Russia from 2008 to 2012. He was a NASA flight director from 2000 to 2008. Montalbano began his career at NASA in January 1989, after earning his degree from Iowa State. Montalbano has earned multiple NASA awards, including the Distinguished Service and Exceptional Service medals. He also was awarded the Astronauts’ Silver Snoopy Award and the American Astronomical Society’s Advancement of International Cooperation Award.

READ MORE CYCLONE STORIES AT ISUALUM.ORG/ CYCLONESEVERYWHERE

JOEL MONTALBANO

Houston, Texas

#CyclonesEverywhere

NEWSMAKERS

She has participated in a dozen medical missions to Tanzania and holds a juris doctorate from Drake University.

Stephen H. Kolison, Jr. (A) (MS ’86 forestry, PhD ’90) has been named president of the State University of New York at Fredonia. He is the former executive vice president and provost at the University of Indianapolis. Matthew Thompson (A)(’03 history, PhD ’10 ed leadership) has been named president of Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa, Iowa. In recognition of early career achievements, Thompson was named an Iowa STATEment Maker by the ISU Alumni Association in 2010 and an Outstanding Young Professional by the College of Human Sciences in 2013. He had served as dean of students and executive director of institutional advancement at Southwestern Community College in Creston before joining Indian Hills, where he has been executive vice president.

ALUMNI BOOKSHELF

“More than a game” takes on a new meaning when you're speaking to Austin McBeth (’12 psychology). The former Iowa State student-athlete coaches basketball at Truman State University. He also has some words for fellow coaches when it comes to treating players with respect on and off the field or court. It’s all summed up in his latest book, The Sweet Sixteen: A Coach’s Guide to Leadership.

John Heithoff (A) (’77 psychology) has published a children’s book, Heather Boots, about two sisters playing dress-up in their mother’s closet. Heithoff lives in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

Ruki Neuhold-Ravikumar:

Supporting education in new ways…at the Smithsonian

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit the U.S., temporarily making in-person schooling a thing of the past, Ruki Neuhold-Ravikumar (MFA ’03 graphic design) sprang into action. NeuholdRavikumar is the acting undersecretary for education at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., where she’s responsible for defining the Smithsonian’s educational priorities. “Teachers were overwhelmed and needed a lot of support for teaching in new ways to connect to their students from afar,” NeuholdRavikumar told the ISUAA’s Matt Van Winkle on his LIVE from Cy’s Lounge program this summer. “We had parents who were turning dining room tables into home offices and schools and didn’t really feel equipped to be teaching full time. As time passed, we found that people got past the binge-watching habits and really wanted to do something more productive with their time. And what better place to learn with than the Smithsonian?” Neuhold-Ravikumar previously served as the Smithsonian’s interim associate provost for education and access. Prior to that, she was director of education at the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum in New York, where she continues to contribute to the museum’s education program. NeuholdRavikumar draws from her international experiences as a designer and educator to inform her human-centered approach to reimagining education at the Smithsonian. A native of Chennai, India, NeuholdRavikumar came to the U.S. to study graphic design at Iowa State. Her parents were creative, she said. “I grew up in a household exposed to arts and creative thinking and looking at the world in interesting ways. I really have an amazing job. My playground and my workplace are the same thing.”

RUKI NEUHOLD-RAVIKUMAR

Harrison, N.J.

#CyclonesEverywhere

READ MORE CYCLONE STORIES AT ISUALUM.ORG/CYCLONESEVERYWHERE

Exclusive savings for your love of rewards side.

As part of Iowa State University Alumni Association, you may be eligible for a discount on your insurance.

We appreciate groups that bring people together over common values and interests. That’s why we’re proud to offer you exclusive discounts on your insurance. Plus, we offer up to 20% savings when you bundle your home and auto insurance.*

With more than 90 years of experience and expertise, Nationwide can help you protect what matters today and plan for what comes tomorrow.

See how we can help protect your life’s many sides.

Visit nationwide.com/ISU or call 1-855-550-9215 for more information.

NEWSMAKERS

Tina Akinyi: Education is emancipation

Tina Akinyi (’16 chem engr, ME ’19 mechanical engr) knows that there is power in a degree. That's why helping students – all students – attain a college education is so important to her, and why she's dedicating herself to decreasing the gap between those who have easy access to educational opportunities and those who don’t. ”A college degree should not be something that is reserved only for white, middle-class Americans,” Akinyi says. “We should prioritize diversity in higher ed. Research shows that family stability, economic success, social connections, and holistic wellbeing are strongly correlated to the presence of a college education.” Akinyi is the Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) Coordinator for GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) Iowa. In her role, she helps students build academic skills, encourages scholarship, tailors advising to students’ needs, checks in on physical and emotional wellbeing, and acts as an advocate. When people ask her to describe her role as DMACC’s GEAR UP Iowa coordinator, Akinyi doesn’t blink. “It is honestly my dream job!” she says.

READ MORE CYCLONE STORIES AT ISUALUM.ORG/ CYCLONESEVERYWHERE

TINA AKINYI

Des Moines, Iowa

#CyclonesEverywhere

CYCLONES ON THE FRONT LINES OF COVID-19

Paul Mundy (MS ’89 journ/mass comm) reached out to Iowa State back in May to let us know that he is running a coronavirus news service for refugees in Kürten, Germany. He distributes information in simple German via Whatsapp to a list of 254 refugees. Topics include health advice, government restrictions, places to get help, food resources, and government service. The news also goes to the volunteers in Kürten and nearby Bergisch Gladbach. He challenges fellow alumni to “think of a group of people near you that you can help with reliable, easily understood information, then work out how you can reach them.”

Sam Schulte (’17 biochemistry) is in year 4 of the prestigious 8-year medical scientist training program at UCLA-Caltech, where he has received a grant to develop a rapid test for COVID-19. Schulte comes from a long line of Cyclones, including his mom, Kari Schulte (L)(’85 marketing), his dad, Rich Schulte (L)(’86 mech engr, MS ’90), and his sister, Kelli Schulte (’18 event mgmt).

SEE YOU AT THE ALUMNI CENTER!

Are you ready to plan an event, but don’t know where to begin? Let the ISU Alumni Center events team assist with all the details! Our event coordinators have been working diligently to provide a healthy and safe environment for you and your guests. We have implemented new health and safety-related measures aimed at reducing the transmission of COVID-19, including enhanced cleaning and disinfecting, physical distancing and face covering requirements, and partnerships with caterers to provide safe food service options.

Whether you are planning a retirement gathering, business meeting, holiday party, or

wedding, the ISU Alumni Center staff can help! For more information or to make a reservation, please call 515-294-4625 or email alumnicenter@iastate.edu.

TELL YOUR CYCLONE STORY

Iowa State University Alumni Association 2021 oral history publication

Share YOUR stories with Cyclones everywhere! The Iowa State University Alumni Association has partnered with Publishing Concepts, Inc. to collect stories from alumni to create a unique oral history archive.

The CYCLONE STORIES publication will unite Iowa State alumni across generations, careers, geography, and life experiences. By sharing memories of how your ISU degree has helped make Iowa, your community, or the world a better place, you’ll ensure that the rich history of Iowa State will be preserved for generations to come.

Publishing Concepts, Inc. will soon be contacting you by mail, phone, and email asking you to participate. Thanks for telling your Cyclone stories!

WRITE A BRIGHT FUTURE

When you’re a Cyclone for life, the adventure never ends

Make every school year an Iowa State adventure for the future Cyclones in your life. The ISU LegaCY Club is designed to connect children of all ages to Iowa State and keep them dreaming of what their futures could be with an Iowa State education. If you’re an ISU Alumni Association member, treating the special child in your family to regular gifts, annual birthday cards, and exclusive opportunities is just one $35 enrollment away. Enroll your child, grandchild, niece, or nephew for a one-time fee and continue the Iowa State tradition in your family! Learn more and enroll today: www.isualum.org/legaCY

SHOW YOUR CYCLONE SPIRIT –SUPPORT THESE CYCLONE-FRIENDLY ISUAA BUSINESS MEMBERS

Roseland, Mackey, Harris Architects, PC

Sam’s Club

Sleep Inn & Suites

Story City Dental

STUDIO192

Tailgate Clothing, Co.

Technology Association of Iowa

The Café

The Foundry

Ubreakifi x

University Bookstore

US Bank

Vermeer Corporation Whatcha Smokin’ BBQ+Brew

Wilbur-Ellis Company

WPS Health Insurance

1+1 Restaurant & Tea

Accord Architecture Company

Accura Healthcare of Ames

AES Corporation

AmericInn Hotel & Suites

Ames Convention and Visitors Bureau

Ames Economic Development Commission

Ankeny Chamber of Commerce Barefoot Campus Outfi tter

Best Western University Inn & Suites

Bethany Life Communities

Burchland Manufacturing, Inc.

For more information on these businesses or to become a business member, go to www.isualum.org/ business

ASSOCIATION NEWS AND EVENTS

Welcome, Tyler

Tyler Weig (A)(’05 community health education) joined the Alumni Association staff in July 2020 as the new membership and business partnership manager. He leads the Association’s life membership initiatives and business partner relationships. Prior to joining the Association, Tyler worked with non-profit organizations such as the YMCA, Everybody Wins! Iowa, and the American Cancer Society. He also served on the College of Human Sciences’ Dean’s Advisory Council from 2015-2018.

Tell your Cyclone story

ISU Alumni Association has partnered with Publishing Concepts, Inc. (PCI) to collect stories from alumni to create a unique oral history archive titled Cyclone Stories. PCI will soon be contacting you by mail, phone, and email asking you to participate in the project, as well as updating your contact information. By sharing memories of how your ISU degree has helped make Iowa, your community, or the world a better place, you’ll ensure that the rich history of Iowa State will be preserved for generations to come. Thanks for

telling your Cyclone stories!

Cyclones mean business

The ISUAA has created an online business directory for alumni to find businesses owned or managed by Iowa State alumni and friends and for those businesses to promote themselves. To search the directory, go to www.isualum. org/businessdirectory. If you would like your business information shared, fill out the form at www.isualum.org/businessdirectorysignup.

Homecoming 2020: Bold changes

In a fall semester that’s anything but normal, Iowa State’s Homecoming will be nothing like you’ve seen before. Many of ISU’s most beloved Homecoming traditions will not take place this year. But, there’s good news, too: Cyclones EVERYWHERE will have an opportunity to take part in new, virtual events and activities. Here’s a quick look of what’s

in store for Homecoming 2020:

• A new date! Homecoming Saturday is Oct. 10, with a football game vs. Texas Tech • Week-long virtual events starting Oct. 1 • Homecoming bingo, played online • Homecoming digital downloads for your phone and desktop • Coloring pages of the “Cardinal & Bold” Homecoming logo for kids • Homecoming buttons, shipped directly to you • A virtual “Homecoming Power Hour” with Jeff Johnson • “Painting Victory Lane” competition, the home version for kids and adults • Special “LIVE From Cy’s Lounge” Homecoming edition • 2020 Cyclone Sweethearts chosen (recognized virtually this year and in person at Homecoming 2021) – apply now at www.isualum.org/sweethearts • Cheers to 50 years: A virtual 1970 class reunion

To get involved:

• Download the Iowa State Alumni app from the App Store or Google Play • Get all the details at www.isualum.org/homecoming

Cardinal & Gold Gala

The Cardinal & Gold Gala is taking on a new look for 2021, and Cyclones everywhere will be able to help the ISU Alumni Association raise critical funds for student and alumni programming and first-generation student support. Stay tuned as more details are released!

Become an InCYde Influencer

Want to make a difference while helping your fellow Cyclones connect? Become an InCYde Influencer today! New this year, InCYde Influencers is a group of young alumni who assist the ISUAA in determining young alumni programming through feedback provided in interactive online surveys. All young alumni ages 34 and under may participate in InCYde Influencers. Sign up today at www.isualum.org/incyde influencers.

CY2K:

BY KATE BRUNS

Looking back 20 years at what remains one of the greatest years ever to be a Cyclone fan

On the eve of Jan. 1, 2000, the world braced for shutdown. Some feared the advent of the once-scarysounding year “Y2K” could cause a technological collapse of epic proportions. None of that happened, of course, and life kept humming along. It would be 20 years before the world would experience any chaos-causing acronym as scary as “Y2K.”

So now we have a few COVID-19 moments to pause, look back, and remember Y2K as the year that ushered in a new Cyclone century with style. It was a time when everyone everywhere was talking about Beyonce, Tiger, and Brennifer – and Cyclones everywhere could describe their biggest stars with names that were just as iconic: Cael. Megan. Sage. Marcus.

In March of that year, the Cyclone who would go on to become the greatest collegiate wrestler in history, Cael Sanderson (L)(’01 art & design), finished his second-straight national championship season. The Iowa State men’s basketball team won the Big 12’s regular season and tournament titles before the “blarge” heard ‘round the world stopped them just short of a Final Four. The Cyclone women swept both league championships, too, and advanced to a second-straight Sweet 16. Powered by All-American Betsy Hamm, the Cyclones snapped

Nebraska’s streak of Big 12 gymnastics titles and qualified for their first-ever national championship. The university was in between presidents and, that summer, lost its athletics director as well. A beloved chemistry professor named Richard Seagrave (L) (MS ’59 chem engr, PhD ’61) was serving as the university’s interim president when athletics director Gene Smith (L) announced his departure from Iowa State for Arizona State in July. A few months later, Seagrave and the Cyclone football team would end up in Tempe, too, as Iowa State qualified for its first bowl in 22 years.

“It was a great year to be a Cyclone,” says Ben Golding (L)(’01 const engr), who served as Iowa State’s student body president throughout 2000. “We were dealing with some [controversy] like the naming of Catt Hall and challenges with VEISHEA. There were a lot of things that made it hard for people to come together, but nothing brought students together like sports. There, we were all on the same team.”

Men’s basketball standout Stevie Johnson (’01 liberal studies) remembers the era as one when student-athletes supported one another. His best friend was football player Reggie Hayward, who along with then-ISU assistant coaches Paul Rhoads (A) and Tony Alford helped recruit Johnson to take one of the craziest leaps of faith of his lifetime: Using his

fifth year of eligibility at Iowa State to walk onto the Cyclone football team. In the end, Johnson became part of Iowa State’s first-ever Sweet 16 win and first-ever bowl win – both in the same year.

“It was honestly a privilege to be part of that [football] team,” Johnson says of joining a Cyclone team that finished 9-3 and defeated Pittsburgh in the 2000 Insight.com Bowl. “Those seniors had been there forever, and they went through the worst times. It was their time now, and I was just lucky enough to be part of it.”

“When I first got to Iowa State [in 1997] the sports were segregated,” Hayward remembers. “I think the sports became more of a family in part because [Stevie and I] bridged that gap.”

Legendary Cyclone point guard Stacy Frese Huber (L)(’00 mkt/mgmt) agrees that there was camaraderie between the 2000 teams, but admits some of it may have been more of a reflection of the lower budgets and shared facilities that were the norm 20 years ago.

“Cael Sanderson would always be in the weight room and talk to us,” Frese Huber says. “We didn’t even have a strength and conditioning coach half the time. We just did our own thing. Today they have trainers, a financial person, a dietitian, a psychologist, a movie room. It’s crazy.”

Times have definitely changed – that’s one thing

upon which Johnson, Hayward, and Frese Huber all agree. But the three also agree that they can’t believe it has been 20 years since their remarkable senior seasons.

1999-2000 Cyclone Women’s Basketball

Heading into the season, the 1999-2000 ISU women’s basketball team had its sights set on a Final Four. “We had high hopes, for sure,” Frese Huber remembers. The Cyclones had been the talk of March Madness a year earlier when they upset top-seeded Connecticut in the Sweet 16. And with a returning trio of seniors that included Frese, Desiree Francis, and Monica Huelman, combined with legends-to-be Megan Taylor (’02) and Angie Welle, Iowa State was a respected contender on the national scene.

In only his fifth season on the job, head coach Bill Fennelly (L) became the winningest coach in ISU history as the 1999-2000 Cyclones went 27-6 overall and 13-3 in conference play. Iowa State tied for first place in the Big 12 regular-season and hoisted the league tourney trophy in Kansas City with a win over Texas.

“Coach Fennelly did a great job of putting the puzzle pieces together,” Frese Huber says. “In my mind, that’s how you build a great team. I think we all knew we weren’t the most athletic, or the quickest, or the tallest…but we worked hard and we pushed each other at practice. That’s what made us hard to beat.”

Spirits were high as the Cyclones advanced to a Sweet 16 date with Penn State in Kansas City, where an upset on the other side of the bracket made a win likely tantamount to a punched Final Four ticket. But the Cyclones came up short by a single point. Frese Huber doesn’t remember beating Texas in the Big 12 championship game that year, she admits, but she certainly remembers losing to Penn State in the Big Dance.

“When you lose a game you should have won, you always remember that,” she says.

1999-2000 Cyclone Men’s Basketball

While the Cyclone women were favored to win their league, the doubts about the Cyclone men started in the preseason polls and lingered even as the Cyclones found themselves in first place late in the season. The highest they had been picked in any preseason poll was seventh, but on March 4 they clinched their first regular-season conference title since 1945. Then they joined the Cyclone women as Big 12 tourney champs in KC.

“As we got going along we realized we could beat anybody,” Johnson remembers. “But even with two weeks left in the season everyone was like, ‘Oh, Texas is gonna do this.’ It felt like they weren’t giving us the respect we deserved, so we had a chip on our shoulders. We just wanted to prove everybody wrong.”

With a team that included Marcus Fizer, Paul Shirley (’00), Kantrail Horton, Brandon Hawkins, Mike Nurse, and a newcomer named Jamaal Tinsley, the Cyclones were well-equipped to punch back against low expectations.

The Big 12 champs went on to win their firstever Sweet 16 game on March 23 – an 80-56 dismantling of sixth-seeded UCLA that set up a chance at the Final Four against top-seeded Michigan State in a packed arena just 80 miles from the Spartans’ campus.

And like Frese Huber, Johnson says he barely remembers the thrilling wins of his senior season. But he will never forget the infamous Michigan State game with its bizarre “block/charge” call and Larry Eustachy (L) ejection that ended his Cyclone career at the Palace of Auburn Hills on March 25.

The Michigan State game will always haunt Johnson, he admits. But with the benefit of time, he can put into perspective the remarkable success and milestones achieved in 2000.

“You couldn’t enjoy it at the time because you were working,” he says. “But 20 years later, I can enjoy.”

2000 Cyclone Football

By 2000, if there was one sport in which Iowa State’s brushes with success had been sparing it was certainly the highest-profile one of all. But as Dan McCarney (L) entered his sixth season at the helm of Cyclone football, a feeling of optimism hung over the program. Momentum started building in 1998 with the snapping of a 15-year losing streak against Iowa. The 2000 Cyclones proudly hoisted their third-straight Cy-Hawk Trophy on Sept. 16, but the long-frustrated seniors wanted more and knew they had what it took to get it.

“We were still hungry,” Hayward remembers. “We were never truly satisfied. It was never enough for us. We had such amazing talent on that team, and all we were lacking was confidence. It just all had to be about belief.”

The Cyclones won three Big 12 road games in 2000 – something that had never been done before and wouldn’t be done again until Matt Campbell (A) arrived in Ames. The team finished the regular season 8-3 with a school-record five conference victories, but without a spot in the nation’s top 25.

On Dec. 3, the Cyclones learned they would get one more chance to prove themselves on a national stage: They had earned an invitation to the Insight. com Bowl against Pittsburgh in Tempe, Ariz. – the first Iowa State bowl appearance since 1978, the same year most of the 2000 seniors were born.

“I wouldn’t say there was pressure on us, but it was intense,” Hayward recalls. “Everyone was super focused.”

That focus translated into success for the Cyclones, who were cheered by a mostly Cardinalclad crowd of 41,813 at Bank One Ballpark. Freshman JaMaine Billups sealed the game for the Cyclones with a 72-yard punt return for a touchdown.

With a 9-3 record, the 2000 Cyclones have gone down in history, not just as the first-ever bowl victors but also as the winningest team ever. 

Kate Bruns (L)(’99 journalism & mass comm) is a freelance writer living in Neenah, Wis.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

REGGIE HAYWARD is a full-time father in Jacksonville, Fla., who retired after 10 seasons in the National Football League. He was drafted in the third round by Denver in 2001 and finished his career in Jacksonville.

STEVIE JOHNSON retired from professional basketball in 2015 and now works in the insurance industry in Hollywood, Calif.

STACY FRESE HUBER was a WNBA third-round draft pick in 2000 and played 21 games with the Utah Starzz. She is now a commercial real-estate professional and mom who lives in her hometown of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Calendar

NOTE: Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, all events are subject to postponement, cancellation, or format changes.

 Cyclones Everywhere

Please note that there are currently no club events, nor gamewatches planned this fall

Oct. 4-10: National 4-H Week

 At the ISU Alumni Center

Please note that no Cyclone Central Tailgates will be held this fall

Oct. 15-16: ISUAA Board of Directors fall meeting  Homecoming 2020 Oct. 1-9: Virtual Homecoming activities (see page 42) Oct. 10: Cyclone football vs. Texas Tech  On campus & Sept. 18: CCEE 150th Anniversary Golf Tournament Oct. 15: CCEE Reunion (virtual) Nov. 28: Virtual commencement ceremonies  Cyclone Athletics Oct. 3: Football vs. Oklahoma Oct. 10: Football vs. Texas Tech Oct. 24: Football at Oklahoma State Oct. 31: Football at Kansas Nov. 7: Football vs. Baylor Oct. 10: Football vs. Kansas State Oct. 24: Football at Texas Oct. 31: Football vs. West Virginia

For all Cyclone sports schedules, go to

www.cyclones.com

 Alumni Travel

Nov. 3-11: Cosmopolitan Havens

around Ames

Dec. 11-19: Holiday Markets

Jan. 18-30: Awe Inspiring Antarctica Jan. 18 – Feb. 2: Wondrous Wildlife of Africa Jan. 31 – Feb. 16: Tales of the Tasman

It’s time to start dreaming of new adventures with the Traveling Cyclones! For information on upcoming trips, go to www.isualum.org/travel. All tours are subject to change.

 Arts & Entertainment

Through Oct. 9: “FOCUS: Critical Conversations with Art,” Christian Petersen Art Museum Through Nov. 25: “Who Am I?” exhibit, Petersen Art Museum Through Dec. 20: “A New World: 600 BCE – 600 CE” exhibit, Brunnier Art Museum Through Dec. 20: “Contemplate Japan,” Brunnier Art Museum

 Awards

Dec. 1: Faculty-Staff Inspiration, Iowa STATEment Makers, and Wallace E. Barron All-University Senior Awards Nominations due

For criteria and to submit a nomination for ISUAA awards: www.isualum.org/awards

 Lifelong learning

Sept. 14: First day of fall OLLI classes (online only)

 Careers

Sept. 15-16: Engineering Fall Career Fairs (virtual) Sept. 30: Fall Business, Industry & Technology Career Fair (virtual) Sept. 29: People to People Fall Career Fair (virtual) Oct. 13-14: CALS Fall Career Day (virtual)

 Lectures

Oct. 1: Bearing Witness: Latina Feminist Counterdiscourse in the Dispora – Lorgia Garcia Pena Oct. 2: Innovation in Strategic Growth – Tony Sardella Oct. 9: Innovation Through Industry Transformation – Thomas Stuemer Oct. 16: Innovation and Inclusion – Alaina Money-Garman Oct. 20: Early Epidemics at Iowa State, 1877-1920 – Douglas Biggs Oct. 22: Coloring the Conservation Conversation – Drew Lanham Oct. 23: Innovation in Aviation – Dennis Muilenburg Oct. 28: Defund the Police? Reinventing Policing as a Public Good – Tracey L. Meares Oct. 30: Innovation in Agriculture – Bill Christiansen Nov. 5: White Mansions, Black Bodies: Jordan Peele’s “Get Out” and the New Age Slave Plantation – Novotny Lawrence Nov. 6: Innovation at the Intersection of Technology and Society – David Slump Nov. 13: Innovation in Education – Stacy Coles Nov. 20: Innovation in Business and Finance – James Altamirano

Most lectures are virtual, available on WebEx or YouTube. (Go to www.lectures.iastate.edu for details)

 Find more events online

Campus Calendar: http://event.iastate.edu/

ISU Alumni Association:

www.isualum.org/calendar Cyclone Athletics: www.cyclones.com Reiman Gardens: www.reimangardens.com Iowa State Center: www.center.iastate.edu University Museums: www.museums.iastate.edu Lectures: www.lectures.iastate.edu/ Homecoming: www.isualum.org/homecoming Around Ames: https://web.ameschamber.com/ events.

Iowa State University Alumni Center 429 Alumni Lane Ames, Iowa 50011-1403

VISIONS magazine is published four times a year by the Iowa State University Alumni Association, which serves more than 268,000 living alumni as well as ISU students and friends. VISIONS reaches nearly 46,000 Alumni Association members and is just one benefit of membership; details can be found at isualum.org/join.

$200 cash back bonus offer*

Iowa State University Alumni Association Cash Rewards credit card from Bank of America

Maximize your cash back by choosing how you earn rewards

Carry the only card that helps support Iowa State University Alumni Association

• Get a $200 cash back bonus if you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening* • Choose which category you want to earn 3% cash back in: gas, online shopping, dining, travel, drug stores, or home improvement/furnishings

Go to the Mobile Banking app 1 or to Online Banking to change your choice category for future purchases once each calendar month, or make no change and it stays the same

To apply for a credit card, please visit go.bofa.com/Cyclone

Up to $2,500 in combined choice category/ grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases

For information about the rates, fees, other costs and benefits associated with the use of this card or to apply, please visit go.bofa.com/Cyclone Residents of the US and its territories only. See full disclosure for details. *Bonus Cash Rewards Offer. You will qualify for $200 bonus cash rewards if you use your new credit card account to make any combination of Purchase transactions totaling at least $1,000 (exclusive of any fees, returns and adjustments) that post to your account within 90 days of the account open date. Limit 1 bonus cash rewards offer per new account. This one-time promotion is limited to customers opening a new account in response to this offer and will not apply to requests to convert existing accounts. Your account must be open with 1 active charging privileges in order to receive this offer. Other advertised promotional bonus cash rewards offers can vary from this promotion and may not be substituted. Allow 8–12 weeks from qualifying for the bonus cash rewards to post to your rewards balance. The value of this reward may constitute taxable income to you. You may be issued an Internal Revenue Service Form 1099 (or other appropriate form) that reflects the value of such reward. Please consult your tax advisor, as neither we, nor our affiliates, provide tax advice. 1 Mobile Banking. Mobile Banking requires that you download the Mobile Banking app and is only available for select mobile devices. Message and data rates may apply. By opening and/or using these products from Bank of America, you’ll be providing valuable financial support to Iowa State University Alumni Association. This credit card program is issued and administered by Bank of America, N.A. Visa and Visa Signature are registered trademarks of Visa International Service Association, and are used by the issuer pursuant to license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. Bank of America and the Bank of America logo are registered trademarks of Bank of America Corporation. ©2020 Bank of America Corporation ARVPPCQF AD-09-19-0553.A