STATEMENT MAKERS 2020 Meet the 2020 class of Iowa STATEment Makers: Ten young alumni who are spearheading change in education and health and working toward social good. The STATEment Makers award is sponsored by the ISU Alumni Association and recognizes the early personal and professional achievements of alumni age 32 years and under.
Haitham Alabsi
Haitham Alabsi (’08 biochemistry) is a clinical fellow at Massachusetts General Hospital/Brigham and Women’s Hospital whose research focuses on leveraging automated bedside data to provide more accurate prognostication and data-driven clinical decision-making. Alabsi has a degree in osteopathic medicine from Des Moines University.
Heidi Becker
Heidi Becker’s life came to a standstill on Jan. 19, 2017. On that day, Becker (’08 meteorology) and her husband Josh lost their 2-year-old son Drew to a year-long battle with neuroblastoma. In memory of their son, the couple founded Warrior Wagons, Inc., a nonprofit organization that gives newly diagnosed pediatric cancer patients and their families a wagon filled with practical and comfort items.
Marquis Hamilton
Marquis Hamilton (’09 com studies) is a learning specialist at Noble Network of Charter Schools in Chicago, Ill., where he provides one-to-one instruction of students with disabilities and collaborates with teachers and parents to implement support for overall success. He also founded the nonprofit UP.Mentoring, which provides opportunities to youth from underserved communities in Chicago.
“[My favorite college memory was] skipping class to cover the 2016 election, which really confirmed for me that, yes, this is actually what I wanted to do with my life.”
Kayla Flyckt
Kayla Flyckt (’14 biology, MS ’16) feels most at home in her research lab. She began working for Corteva Agriscience in Johnston, Iowa, after completing her master’s degree research on plant lipids. Since joining the trait discovery department at Corteva as a senior research associate, Kayla has continued to specialize in plant lipids – specifically soybean oil.
Kelly Howard
Kelly Howard (A)(’08 journalism) is the CEO of Los Angeles-based EightSixtySouth, an agency that focuses on strategic communications for a diverse roster of clients in the lifestyle and wellness space. She was named communicator of the year during PR Couture’s 2018 Bespoke Communication Awards and has presented at WWDMagic, Simply Stylist, BOSS Talks, and NerdyGirl Academy.
“Being an international student at ISU inspired cultural humility within me.” – AKSHI MOHL A
– LISSANDRA VILL A
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