VISIONS Magazine: Winter 2016 Issue by Iowa State University Alumni Association

T H E M A G A Z I N E F O R M E M B E R S O F T H E I O WA S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y A L U M N I A S S O C I AT I O N |

HILTON

MAGIC!

Winter 2016

G E TTI NG START ED BY Carole Gieseke

CGIESEKE@IASTATE.EDU

Iowa State fans do love their teams

n the world of collegiate athletics, I have to think that Iowa State has some of the most supportive fans around. Even when I lived in Kansas City and had no connection to ISU, I knew that the Cyclone fans were the loudest, proudest, happiest – you choose the positive description and they were it – and that they were always the ones having the most fun at the Big 12 basketball tournament every March. They were everywhere! I moved to Ames in 1997, and one of the most shocking and delightful experiences I had during my first year here was driving by Jack Trice Stadium and its adjacent parking lots on the first football gameday that fall. I’ve never seen anything like it. The atmosphere surrounding Jack Trice is nothing like I’d seen at Arrowhead or Kauffman stadiums in Kansas City, even though those are professional sports stadiums. The atmosphere here is just…wow. You know what I’m talking about, right? Even if you’re not a sports fan, you’ve probably tailgated in these parking lots with your friends. Even after all these years, the elaborate

tailgate set-ups and sheer volume of humanity in those parking lots still blow my mind. Our fan support for football seems to be unwavering, no matter how the season is going. Even with the expanded endzone seating, the first two games of this past season sold out. That’s 61,500 seats. And even a chilly night game on Oct. 17 packed the stadium with 52,480 fans. It’s one thing to support football and men’s basketball (see our Hilton Magic story for all the details on how ISU fans enthusiastically rally around the men’s basketball team) and quite another to support the other sports. But Iowa Staters love them all. Iowa State fans are crazy for Cyclone volleyball. It’s not the least bit unusual to get caught in a traffic jam before a volleyball game. And gymnastics and wrestling? More than 7,700 fans showed up last February to watch gymnastics paired with a wrestling meet, billed as “Beauty and the Beast.” Women’s basketball is another case in point. During head coach Bill Fennelly’s 20-year tenure at Iowa

State, the fan base has grown from an average of 733 per game to nearly 10,000 per game, ranking Iowa State’s women’s basketball attendance second nationally behind Tennessee. Our women’s basketball fans are loud, proud, and loyal, just like the men’s fans. In fact, fans of the two teams converged on Oct. 16. A Hilton Madness fanfest drew 9,000 people to watch a men’s and women’s pre-season basketball dunk contest, 3-point shootout, and skills competition. It wasn’t even a real game, and our fans filled the place! The event also happened to feature former Cyclone greats Marcus Fizer and Stacy Frese (L)(’00 mkt/ mgmt), both of whom were inducted into the ISU Athletics Hall of Fame the night before. It was a total love-fest. I’ll have to be honest with you. I had never been a big men’s basketball fan. But I became one when Fred Hoiberg (L)(’95 finance) became the head coach five seasons ago. So I was more than a little disappointed when Fred left to coach the Bulls. I was in denial about it for a long time; I was SO SURE he would never leave us. When he did, it left me a little shellshocked. And sad. But the team is still here! I still love these guys. And we have a new coach, so I’m super excited for the season to start. As I write this, there are 14 days until the season opener. Not that I am counting. 

WINTER 2016 WWW.ISUALUM.ORG VISIONS

JIM HEEMSTRA

COVER STORY

FEATURES

• Women’s head coach Bill Fennelly: The Iowa State way

26 32 34 36 42

• Jadda Buckley: A magical dream becomes reality

DEPARTMENTS

Here’s to Hilton Magic • New men’s head coach Steve Prohm: Making more magic • Georges Niang and Naz Mitrou-Long: Part of the Cyclone family • Photo gallery: Scenes from a magic show

• Behind the scenes in Hilton Coliseum: Making the magic

On the cover: Hilton Magic at its best! Exuberant Cyclone fans rush the floor of Hilton Coliseum after the Cyclones defeated 7th-ranked University of Michigan 77-70 on Nov. 17, 2013. PHOTO BY BLAKE LANSER

2 4 6 28 30 39 46

Amy Popillion: Full circle The yin and yang of an Iowan’s career in China ABCs of accounting 2014-2015 Annual Report Distinguished Awards Celebration

Getting Started Letters to the Editor Around Campus Diversions Newsmakers Association News Calendar

Watch the magic of this win on YouTube: http://www.isualum.org/hiltonmagic

VISIONS WWW.ISUALUM.ORG WINTER 2016

2015-2016 ISU ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Kari A. (Ditsworth) Hensen* ’96 Sociology, MS ’98 Higher Ed., PhD ’05 Ankeny, Iowa

OFFICERS Alan E. Krysan** Chair ’87 Ag. Business Lakeville, Minn.

Erin Herbold-Swalwell* ’03 Liberal Studies Altoona, Iowa

Melanie J. Reichenberger** Chair-elect ’00 Indust. Engr. Mequon, Wis.

Ana McCracken** ’84 Fashion Merch. San Fransciso, Calif. #

Thea “Ted” H. Oberlander** Immediate Past Chair ’77 Industrial Admin. Des Moines, Iowa

Trent L. Preszler** ’98 Interdisc. Studies Cutchogue, N.Y.

Kenneth R. Bonus** Vice Chair of Finance ’85 Const. Engr. West Des Moines, Iowa Joy Wiegman Boruff** Vice Chair of Records ’76 Home Ec. Journ. Moline, Ill.

Warren R. Madden** University Treasurer ’61 Industrial Engr. Ex-officio/voting Ames, Iowa

Julie Rodgers Rosin** ’78 Home Ec. Ed., MS ’81 Ankeny, Iowa Darryl V. Samuels** ’88 Pol. Sci., MPA ’90 Comm. & Reg. Plan. / Public Admin. Pearland, Texas

Letters 

WE’D LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU Let us know what you think about

stories in this issue – or about other topics of interest to VISIONS readers. Email your letters to: CGIESEKE@IASTATE.EDU.

I was deeply disappointed in the letters chosen to publish in your fall 2015 issue of VISIONS concerning the science of climate change (“The science of weather,” summer 2015). By any measure this is proven science and should be embraced by graduates of a science-based university such as ISU. The selection of the letters to print and the content of the letters clearly show a lack of support for critical science with respect to this global issue. John Lawyer*

Jeffery W. Johnson** Talbot Endowed President & CEO Ex-officio/non-voting Ames, Iowa

Nicole M. (Bell) Schmidt** ’09 Const. Engr., MS ’13 Ankeny, Iowa Deborah Renee (Verschoor) Stearns** ’81 Journ. & Mass Comm. Altoona, Iowa

ELECTED DIRECTORS

Kurt Alan Tjaden** ’85 Accounting Bettendorf, Iowa

Mark D. Aljets** ’79 Indust. Admin. West Des Moines, Iowa

Ryan M. York** ’95 Marketing, MBA ’03 Urbandale, Iowa

Timothy C. Becker** ’94 Const. Engr. Glenwood, Iowa

APPOINTED DIRECTORS

Lawrence Cunningham** ’02 Liberal Studies Ames, Iowa

Kim McDonough** ’02 Jlsm. & Mass Comm., MS ’04 College Representative Ames, Iowa

Wendell L. Davis** ’75 DVM Overland Park, Kan.

Feedback from the fall 2015 issue of VISIONS from our online survey: •

Evan Fritz*** Senior, Kinesiology/ Health Student Alumni Leadership Council Representative Northwood, Iowa

Geoffrey C. Grimes** ’69 Architecture Waterloo, Iowa

Katherine E. Hallenbeck** ’02 Finance / MIS Ankeny, Iowa #

Duane A. Halverson** ’67 Ag. Business, MS ’69 New Brighton, Minn. #

Membership Key: *Annual member **Life member # 2015 Sustaining Life donor ***Student member

•

I thought the balance of this issue was way heavy on philanthropy.

•

Very impressed with the Talbots; they are “giving” people. Also pleased to catch up with Jeff Johnson and see his good marks with the alumni. So glad to hear Jamie Pollard’s story; he is a good man.

•

This issue … seemed to have professional appeal versus general appeal.

•

I wasn’t aware of Jamie’s medical situation, so it was a very good story to read.

•

Inspiring. Makes me proud to be an Iowa Stater.

Letters express the views of the readers and not Iowa State University nor the ISU Alumni Association. Send letters to VISIONS Editor, ISU Alumni Center, 420 Beach Ave., Ames, IA 50011-1430.

Carole Gieseke Kate Bruns PHOTOGRAPHY: Jim Heemstra DESIGN: Scott Thornton / www.designgrid.com EDITOR:

Excellent article about the Talbots’ journey to ISU Alumni and Jeff. I was very interested in that article.

The stories were all very interesting and compelling. I appreciated the opportunity to learn more about Jeff Johnson (”Leo’s boy”)

Lora L. Talbot** Non-alumni Representative Belmond, Iowa

Craig K. Denny** ’71 Civil Engr., MS ’73 Lenexa, Kan.

•

Iowa State University values communication with alumni and other audiences, and VISIONS welcomes letters from readers about topics in the magazine. Letters must be signed and include address and daytime phone number. Letters chosen for publication may be edited for length and clarity. The editor may decide to publish a representative sample of letters on a subject or limit the number of issues devoted to a particular topic. While universities are places of open discussion, letters deemed potentially libelous or that malign a person or group will not be published.

Miles Lackey* Chief of staff to the ISU President Office of the President Representative Ames, Iowa

Eric Burrough** ’97 DVM, PhD ’11 Vet. Path. Ames, Iowa

I’m inspired by the Talbots’ generosity (”A philanthropic journey”). I’ve always been curious about Jeff’s background as he seems so passionate for helping ISU succeed when it’s not something he grew up with.

*Annual member, **Life member

•

’68 ag engineering Plains, Mont.

and Jamie Pollard (”Where the heart is”), in particular.

THE SCIENCE OF WEATHER

ASSOCIATE EDITOR:

WINTER 2016 / VOLUME 28 / NO. 4

294-6525 1-877-ISU-ALUM (478-2586) www.isualum.org

LOCAL PHONE TOLL-FREE WEBSITE

VISIONS (ISSN 1071-5886) is published quarterly for members of the Iowa State University Alumni Association by the ISU Alumni Association, 420 Beach Avenue, Ames, IA 50011-1430, (515) 294-6525, FAX (515) 294-9402. Periodicals postage paid at Ames, Iowa, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to VISIONS, ISU Alumni Center, 420 Beach Avenue, Ames, IA 50011-1430. For ad rates please call 515-294-6560. Copyright 2015 by the ISU Alumni Association, Jeffery W. Johnson, Talbot Endowed President and CEO and publisher.

The ISU Alumni Association mission: To facilitate the lifetime connection of alumni, students, and friends with the university and each other. Iowa State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, ethnicity, religion, national origin, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a U.S. veteran. Inquiries can be directed to the Office of Equal Opportunity and Compliance, 3280 Beardshear Hall, (515) 294-7612.

Printed with soy ink on recycled and recyclable paper.

WINTER 2016 WWW.ISUALUM.ORG VISIONS

ENHANCE THE VALUE OF YOUR ALUMNI ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP

The new “Iowa State Alumni” app is a perfect addition to your smartphone! Features: • Digital membership card – Never get caught without your membership card again • Discount list – Take full advantage of all of your member discounts • Alumni Directory – Find other alumni located near you, or get in touch with old friends • Event calendar – Get up-to-date information for all Iowa State alumni events • ISUAA social media stream – All your favorites conveniently located in one place

AVAILABLE NOW for Apple and Android devices

Download the Iowa State Alumni App on the iTunes Store or the Google Play store (search for “Iowa State Alumni”) Install and login: After you download and install the app, click the “Login” tile, and enter your last name and your 9-digit member ID to authenticate. Be sure to turn on location services to keep up with the latest news and events!

NOMINATE! Nominate noteworthy alumni, faculty, staff, and friends for these ISU Alumni Association Awards to be presented at Homecoming 2016: • Alumni Medal • Alumni Merit Award • Outstanding Young Alumni Award • James A. Hopson Volunteer Award • Impact Award • Alumni Service Award

VISIONS WWW.ISUALUM.ORG WINTER 2016

Nominations are due Feb. 15 For award criteria and nomination forms, go to www.isualum.org/awards

Distinguished professor joins National Academy of Medicine

Around Campus

Diane Birt (A), a distinguished professor of food science and human nutrition, has been inducted into the National Academy of Medicine – one of the nation’s highest honors in the fields of health and medicine. In her 40-year career, Birt has investigated plant components that help prevent cancer and studied the health benefits and adverse effects of botanical supplements. The former chair of ISU’s Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition has authored or co-authored

more than 130 peer-reviewed research publications and has served as an advisor to the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the National Institutes of Health. Birt joins former College of Agriculture and Life Sciences dean and current USDA Undersecretary Catherine Woteki (1998) as the only two ISU faculty members ever inducted into the prestigious academy. NAM’s current active membership is 1,826. Formerly known as the Institute of Medicine, NAM works alongside the National

Academy of Sciences and National Academy of Engineering to provide independent, objective analysis on national public policy issues and decisions. Coupled with the April election of Catherine Kling to the National Academy of Sciences, Iowa State has had two faculty members elected to the National Academies in the past year; in total, 23 ISU faculty members have been elected to the National Academies since 1945.

Enrollment tops

36,000 for first time in history

owa State’s 2015-2016 student enrollment has just about everyone claiming “I’m the one.” That’s because this year’s record-breaking number is the somewhat unusual 36,001. (“Who’s the one?” President Steven Leath (L) says everyone keeps asking him. The question got so popular that cardinal-colored “I am the one” T-shirts were sold at University Book Store this fall, with proceeds going to Leath’s Moving Students Forward scholarship fund.)

Iowa State has set an enrollment record now for seven consecutive years, with overall enrollment growing by 40 percent over the last decade. This year’s student body represents every Iowa county, every U.S. state, and 118 countries. “Our enrollment is demanddriven,” Leath says. “Students are choosing Iowa State because of our renowned faculty, our supportive culture, and because we offer the programs that are driving our economy.”

JIM HEEMSTRA

This year’s student body also set records in the categories of international enrollment (4,041), diversity (8,366), U.S. multicultural enrollment (4,325), Iowa resident enrollment (21,064), and U.S. nonresident enrollment (10,609). “We’re proud to continue to educate more Iowa students than any other institution in the world,” Leath added. “Our enrollment strategy has remained the same, and that is our steadfast commitment to our land-grant mission.” WINTER 2016 WWW.ISUALUM.ORG VISIONS

Class act

CHRISTOPHER GANNON

One of Katie Baumgarn’s favorite instruction spaces on campus is Troxel Hall’s 400-seat auditorium, one of about 212 classroom spaces at Iowa State.

The university’s fall enrollment is the largest in school history. In the last decade, overall enrollment has grown 40 percent. The impact of this growth has been felt from residence halls to dining centers, but nowhere is the pressure to accommodate the growing student body more intense than the competition for general university classroom space. Katie White Baumgarn (L)(’83 home ec ed, MS ’95 curriculum & inst) is Iowa State’s coordinator of instructional facilities. Baumgarn has been scheduling rooms on campus for 23 years. She and her two-person staff scheduled 12,784 instructional meeting hours this fall in classrooms as large as 431 seats (in Hoover Hall) and as small as 12 seats (in Sweeney). Most of the work is done through a computer program, but there are still classes each semester that have to be scheduled by hand. Q: How has the increase in student enrollment affected your job? A: Before the semester begins, we look at high-demand freshman-level courses – like chemistry, biology, English, physics, and math – and project what space we’ll need.

VISIONS WWW.ISUALUM.ORG WINTER 2016

If we’re short a certain number of seats, we look at increasing class sizes or adding sections. We have to ask ourselves how we can help a class that’s always been offered Monday/Wednesday/Friday at 10 a.m. and the class limit is 70 – but now it needs to be 100. There’s a lot of negotiating and partnering that we need to do with folks to figure out what we can do to make sure we have enough seats. We need to realize we’re here for the students. We need to do what we can to help them be successful and to complete their education here at Iowa State. It’s a four-year goal, and that’s what we should all be striving for. Back in the day, classes were typically held from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. What does the schedule look like now? Prime time really used to be anything taught between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. Now we’ve expanded that to 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. – that’s when faculty want to teach; that’s when students want to take classes. But because of the enrollment, we have a lot more classes at 8 a.m., and we’re seeing more classes that have to go to that 3:10 and 4:10 time. There are also more night labs. There’s actually been a big push by biology to offer labs from 7:30 in the morning to 10:30 at night. We also schedule exams, review sessions, tutoring, and supplemental instruction in

classrooms at night. Are we getting to the point where we can’t take on any more students? We can. We just all need to be creative in how we move forward in offering courses. What would people be surprised to learn about your job? Besides scheduling classes I’m also responsible for the renovation of the general university classrooms, and I’m part of the design team for new classroom spaces and auditoriums. One exciting challenge we have is team-based learning courses. That’s where the instructor has the students break into teams of four to seven students. For example, Troxel Hall was designed with swivel seating, so if an instructor wants to do team-based learning, they can. I think people would also be surprised to learn that general university classrooms only take up 4 percent of the total space on campus. (Departmental teaching labs take up another 9 percent of the total space.) It’s a lot to squish in to such a small percentage of space.

“I am unbelievably loyal. I wanted to accomplish at Iowa State what had never been done before. I wanted more. I would like to thank our players, past and present, who have given their all for the Cardinal and Gold.” — Paul Rhoads (A), speaking at an emotional press conference Nov. 23 following the announcement that ISU’s Nov. 28 contest at West Virginia would be his last as head coach of the Cyclone football team. Iowa State competed in three bowl games, constructed the Bergstrom Football Complex, and bowled in the south endzone of Jack Trice Stadium during the Iowa native’s seven-year tenure.

Around Campus

Campus sexual assault: Starting with understanding Last year, Iowa State University was one of 26 Association of American Universities (AAU) members – and the only state university – to voluntarily participate in a campus climate survey aimed at understanding the prevalence and impact of sexual assault and misconduct on college campuses. During a three-week period in April 2015, more than 5,200 ISU students completed the AAU’s web-based survey. The results found that ISU students have been victims of sexual assault and sexual misconduct less

than the higher education average. However, President Steven Leath says Iowa State must make addressing these problems a priority, as 9.7 percent of ISU students who participated in the survey reported

being victims of sexual misconduct or assault. “These survey results provide us with valuable information on student experiences, their awareness, and their perceptions,” Leath said. “We have done a lot to address the problems of sexual assault, misconduct, and harassment on our campus, but these findings will help guide us as we identify areas for continued improvement.”

Stewart joins ISU administration as VP for diversity and inclusion On Dec. 1, Reginald Stewart began his duties on campus as Iowa State’s first-ever vice president for diversity and inclusion. The new position was created to advise ISU’s senior leadership on diversity planning efforts, develop initiatives to increase institutional diversity, and advocate for diversity and inclusion across campus and around the state. Stewart, a graduate of San Francisco State University and the University of Nevada-Reno who has 15 years of student affairs 8

experience, has served as NevadaReno’s chief diversity officer for the past four years, concurrently serving as a diversity consultant for the city of Reno and Reno police department. “The key thing about diversity and inclusion work is social capital,” Stewart said. “That is the most important thing. It’s your ability to work with people, and that only comes from being sincere, honest, and taking the time to engage people.”

WINTER 2016 WWW.ISUALUM.ORG VISIONS

Three administrators announce retirements

Pam White

Thomas Hill

Paul Tanaka

College of Human Sciences Dean Pam White (A)(PhD ’81 food technology), a university professor in food science and human nutrition, has announced that she will retire in July 2016 after 40 years of service to Iowa State. White has served as dean since 2009 and has overseen a 52 percent growth in the college’s enrollment over the past 10 years. “Pam White is a tremendous scientist, educator, and leader,” President Steven Leath said. “She has guided the college through record growth, enhanced the reputation of our academic programs, and set a very high bar for her successor.”

Senior vice president for student affairs Thomas Hill (A) retired in December. Hill, who came to ISU in 1997, oversaw the functions of the dean of students’ office, housing and dining, student activities, student health, financial aid, and admissions, among others. “Tom has been a true champion for the Iowa State brand,” Leath told the Iowa State Daily in September. “He’s probably the most recognizable face, maybe other than mine, on campus because he’s with students everywhere. He’s their mentor, advisor, advocate, friend, cheerleader; he’s really what embodies the Iowa State brand.”

University counsel Paul Tanaka has announced plans to retire this spring after 22 years practicing law at the university. In his role, Tanaka has overseen business transactions, lease agreements, regulations for research, student disciplinary policies, and other university legal matters.

5 cool things you should know and share about ISU

1: Iowa State is living the good life. Ames, Iowa comes in at No. 35 on Livability.com’s 2016 list of “Top 100 Places to Live.” Ames Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development CEO Dan Culhane (L) (’93 comm & reg planning) said it’s great to see Ames on the list for the third-straight year. “Our world-class employers continue to provide meaningful employment opportunities, and economic development opportunities are popping up all over Ames.”

institution of higher education.

2: Iowa State is still going for gold. The uni-

5: Iowa State students are learning with

versity has earned its 10th and 11th LEED® Gold certifications for campus construction projects, both in Curtiss Hall. The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences’ student services mall on the ground floor and Harl Commons below the auditorium have each been recognized by the U.S. Green Building Council. Of the 50 registered LEED projects in Iowa higher ed, half are located at ISU.

purpose. The team of ISU landscape architecture students who have worked to transform the landscape at the Iowa Correctional Institution for Women in Mitchellville, Iowa, has been recognized by the American Society of Landscape Architects as winner of the 2015 Community Service Award of Excellence. “This significant recognition acknowledges the great work our students are doing with underserved people in our state,” assistant professor Julie Stevens said, “and illustrates the profession’s commitment to environmental justice, advocacy, and student learning.”

3: Iowa is the Cyclone State. Iowa State has more

than 100,000 alumni living and working in the state. A total of 100,223 ISU alumni now reside in Iowa, making it the highest number of alumni living in the state from any

VISIONS WWW.ISUALUM.ORG WINTER 2016 2016

4: Iowa State is building tradition. The

Jacobson Athletic Building is now home to the Louis Menze Hall of Fame, which opened in September and shares the story of Iowa State’s 160 (and growing) athletics hall-of-famers. The space is open to the public at no cost, and officials say it is soon to become a “must-see” campus stop.

Here’s to

HILTON After the Iowa State men’s basketball team stunned thirdranked Missouri on its home court in 1989, Des Moines Register sportswriter Buck Turnbull penned an article headlined “Hilton Magic Spells ‘Upset’ One More Time,” describing the seemingly magical effect the home Iowa State crowd had on its exciting, Johnny Orr-coached squad. Then, two decades ago, a man named Bill Fennelly took over the Cyclone women’s program with the hopes of growing its meager attendance numbers. In the last 15 seasons, Iowa State’s attendance has ranked in the top 11 nationally. Years have passed, and coaches and players have come and gone, but Hilton Magic has remained constant. It’s stuff of college basketball lore, and it’s a bona fide tradition at Iowa State.

MAGIC!

Stories by Kate Bruns, Carole Gieseke and Coreen Robinson Photos by Jim Heemstra and Blake Lanser

MAKING MORE

ilton Magic didn’t start with Fred Hoiberg, and it won’t end with him, either. The Mayor has certainly played an integral role in developing Iowa State’s nationally recognized home atmosphere as both a player (1991-1995) and head coach (2010-2015), but the legacy of the late Johnny Orr has benefitted countless players and coaches over the past four decades – and it’s a big part of what attracted ISU’s newest head coach to Ames last summer. Forty-year-old Steve Prohm, who earned conference championships, broke school records, and even met his wife during a fruitful nine-year coaching stint at Murray State (including four years as head coach), knew he wanted to make a jump to the next level of his profession. But he also knew he wouldn’t go just anywhere; his next stop had to be somewhere special. “Iowa State University has a lot of the values that I’m all about,” says Prohm, who was introduced as ISU’s 20th head coach June 8. “It’s a small college town and a safe environment where they love college basketball. It parallels a lot of the things I loved about Murray State but on a larger scale.” And even though Prohm had never set foot in Hilton Coliseum before he took the job, he knew he was taking a great next step. “It goes back a long time – through Iowa State’s great teams and their average teams and through the amazing job Fred did,” Prohm says. “The fan base never wavers. The fan base has always been passionate, and it’s the toughest place in the league to play. That was the one thing that always resonated, and

you can see it even on TV – the passion the fans have and the fun the kids have playing in that arena.” Prohm says one of his strongest assets as a head coach is his ability to be passionate about where he works, and Iowa State makes that passion easy to develop. “I’ll always have allegiance to Murray, Ky., and Murray State,” Prohm says. “You can’t be somewhere for 10 years and not get invested. And now I want to get invested here in Ames, get invested in Iowa State, and 10 years from now have that same passion for Iowa State that I’ve had for Murray. I’m looking forward to getting to know the former players, getting them back around, and just getting the opportunity to meet the former players and coaches and people in the community who have built this program – because that’s who you’re doing it all for. You’re not doing it for yourself – you’re doing it for all the people that played here and all the people who support this university.” Among those individuals is, of course, Hoiberg (L)(’95 finance) – who made the tough decision to leave his alma mater and fulfill his NBA coaching dream with the Chicago Bulls. Prohm says it’s a unique situation to replace a coach who is also an alumnus and something of a legend, but he has embraced it. “Fred’s been great,” he says. “He’s an icon here, and you have to embrace that. Fred has gone out of his way since day one, and I know he’s always there as a resource and to bounce questions off of or ask for advice. I always want him back and around the program, and I think he knows that.” Prohm’s ability to build relationships – not just with alumni and fans but especially with his players – was what earned

“You’re not doing it for yourself – you’re doing it for all the people that played here and all the people who support this university.” — STEVE PROHM

WINTER 2016 WWW.ISUALUM.ORG VISIONS

MAGIC

JIM HEEMSTRA

him distinction as one of the nation’s top young coaches during his four years at the helm of the Racer program, where he compiled a 104-29 record. He was twice the Ohio Valley Conference Coach of the Year and the 2012 Basketball Times National Coach of the Year, and his most famous pupil at MSU was All-American Isaiah Canaan, who is now playing for the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers. “It’s a player’s game,” Prohm says. “It’s about the players. Just investing in those kids and seeing them grow is really just what it’s about. The relationship with those guys means more to me than anything.” As he takes on his new challenge at Iowa State, Prohm says he is focused on getting his players to believe in him and trust one another implicitly. The magic, he believes, will flow from there. “I’ve talked to our players about how we’re not where we were when the season ended last year,” Prohm says. “We’ve got to start all over again. I understand that, and I embrace that. Put the pressure on me and let me deal with all the expectations that are out there. The pressure should never be on the players; those guys should just go play and have fun.” Fun: It’s something that plays a major role in Iowa State’s basketball success, and Prohm says experiencing the atmosphere at Hilton Coliseum is something he’s been anticipating all summer and fall. “I just really can’t wait,” he says, “to get out there and be a part of Cyclone Nation.” KB

Athletics director Jamie Pollard (L) introduced Steve Prohm June 8 as “the best fit” to succeed Fred Hoiberg as Iowa State’s head men’s basketball coach, citing his personality, style of play, sideline demeanor, and recruiting ability. “Find me a winner, and they’ll win again,” Pollard said. “Steve’s a winner.”

VISIONS WWW.ISUALUM.ORG WINTER 2016

fan approaches and asks to take a picture to share with his grandson. Two girls a few tables over sneakily snap pictures on their iPhones. Drivers passing by on the street tap their brakes and twist their necks for a view. All of this activity centers on two young men sitting at a café table, but they’re not at all distracted. This is just a normal morning in Ames. Iowa State men’s basketball seniors Georges Niang and Nazareth MitrouLong have embraced their celebrity status as Cyclones. Both are four-year Iowa State veterans whose bios in the roster are followed by long lists of awards, honors, and impressive career statistics. But off the court, these two players have capitalized on their local prominence, using it as an avenue for interaction and a way of giving back to the community they say has given everything to them. “They do a great job of being ambassadors for the university, and I think that’s a responsibility you have if you’re going to play at a school like Iowa State,” head coach Steve Prohm says. “Guys like Georges, guys like Naz, they really embrace that.” And for every interaction they have with fans, Niang and Mitrou-Long feel that they get something back. “The fans here care for us as whole individuals,” Niang says, explaining that fans ask about their families and studies almost as often as they ask about Cyclone basketball. “They don’t realize how much that motivates our drive to get up every day and be better, not just for ourselves, but for them. The best thing we’ve experienced is seeing the happiness from the fans with us winning and with how we conduct ourselves. We never want to let them down.” “There aren’t any professional teams in Iowa, so we kind of get treated like that. Love is the word,” Mitrou-Long adds. “It is wholehearted love and people will never truly understand what their support means.”

Cyclone seniors Naz Mitrou-Long and Georges Niang are gaining likes not just for their selfies, but for their involvement in the ISU community.

“The best thing we’ve experienced is seeing the happiness from the fans with us winning and with how we conduct ourselves. We never want to let them down.” — GEORGES NIANG

PART OF THE

CYCLONE WINTER 2016 WWW.ISUALUM.ORG VISIONS

JIM HEEMSTRA

Niang and Mitrou-Long consider it a part of their duties to help spread that Cyclone love. Both regularly volunteer their time at events in the Ames community and beyond. If you spot them between classes, eating dinner or roaming the aisles of a supermarket, odds are they will be patiently fielding requests from fans with smiles and selfies. Niang and Mitrou-Long make an effort to interact with fans through social media as well. Their Twitter accounts are used for behindthe-scenes glimpses into their daily routines and as a way to interact with fans far beyond the borders of Iowa. More than a few selfies find their way onto those pages, too. No matter the setting, the guys enjoy interacting with the fans. “We love activities where we can be active,” Niang says. “We’re all competitive, so when we can participate, it’s the coolest thing. We can interact with fans or people that look up to you in a game setting – like playing softball. That really brings out who they see, and who we are on the court.” But the community atmosphere isn’t the only thing that makes Ames a special place for Niang and Mitrou-Long. They thrive on the unique atmosphere of Hilton Coliseum as well. “When you think about it, when we’re down is really when Hilton is the loudest, or when we’re going on a crazy run,” Mitrou-Long says. “I don’t think many places have an atmosphere like that.” Niang says the crowd support often wanes for other home teams when Iowa State builds big-point leads on their

FAMILY VISIONS WWW.ISUALUM.ORG WINTER 2016

courts. “But our fans really rally around us in that situation. They’re the only fans that I know where if I get scored on three times in a row, they’re cheering to me even louder,” he says. “The passion they have is second to none, and the world is just starting to realize what we’ve had the blessing to experience for four years.” The sensation of fan support hit fullforce for Mitrou-Long during one of his first games as a Cyclone. “I remember being so nervous and looking around thinking, ‘Wow, this place is packed, this is more people than I’ve ever played in front of.’ The thing is, once I made my first shot, all the nerves just went away. It was a sigh of relief; it was great,” he says. That feeling is something that both players share with new recruits. “I tell them you’re not going to find another place like this where good or bad, rain or sunshine, the fans are going to be right there with you. You won’t find a better place than this with a more family-oriented feel,” Niang says. And although their time at Iowa State is quickly drawing to a close, Niang and Mitrou-Long don’t plan to leave the Iowa State community behind altogether. “It gives us something to cherish for the rest of our lives,” Niang says. “All those special moments that we’ve had together, as a team and with people in the community.” “The people out here treat us like family. We’ve spent four years of our lives here and it’s been surreal,” Mitrou-Long says. “It’s crazy to think that it’s coming to an end soon, but Georges and I will always have an attachment to Ames. We want to be able to come back here and look up to the banners in Hilton and say that we’ve done things that will be remembered in this place forever.” CR

SCENES FROM A

MAGIC SHOW H

M JI PHOTOS BY

Emotions are high during the 40-minute frenzy we call gameday at Hilton Coliseum â&#x20AC;&#x201C; in every corner and cranny of the arena. Here are some of our favorite views of Home Sweet Hilton. M

AND BLAKE

THE IOWA

ill Fennelly saved the box score from the first game he ever coached at Iowa State. The official attendance was (drumroll, please): 310. “It was pretty quiet,” Mary Pink, associate athletics director for marketing, says of that game. “There were not a lot of fans there, not a lot of atmosphere. I think they included the scorer’s table workers in that box score.” The year was 1995, and Fennelly had just been hired as the women’s basketball team’s new, young head coach. He’d left a job he loved at the University of Toledo and took a pay cut to come back to the state of Iowa, where he and his wife, Deb, grew up. “Honestly, we came thinking if it didn’t work out, I could go tend bar for my brother in Davenport,” Fennelly says, laughing. “We really didn’t know what we were getting into.” This fall, Fennelly began his 21st year with the Iowa State women’s basketball program. “If I would have told people [in 1995] that this is where we were going to be 21 years from now, no one would have believed it. No one.”

Building a fan base

In the year before Fennelly arrived, the women’s basketball program’s average attendance was 733 fans per game. Last season’s average was nearly 10,000, ranking second nationally behind Tennessee. Today’s Cyclone fans are a devoted bunch, and the growth in their numbers has been nothing short of remarkable. But it didn’t happen overnight; there was no magic bullet to create Hilton Magic for the women’s program. “I get asked all the time to speak at marketing conventions, and people want

to know how did this happen and how did that happen, but there was no secret to it. It’s not like we came up with this master plan,” Fennelly says. Fennelly had told then-athletics director Gene Smith in his interview that his number-one goal was to come out and sit on the bench and look up and have at least one person sitting in the balcony. “I said that not really realizing how big Hilton was,” Fennelly says, chuckling.

“I tell the kids when I recruit them: ‘You’re going to hear a lot about all the great things that are going to happen at Hilton, but the greatest thing that’s going to happen at Hilton is to walk across the stage as an Iowa State graduate. That’s where the magic is.’” — BILL FENNELLY

The growth of the fan base began as a grassroots effort, with the Fennellys meeting as many people in the community as they could. The coach played golf with Cyclone Club members all over the state. “I always had tickets in my pocket so that if I went somewhere and someone would say, ‘Hey, Coach, how are you?’ I could say, ‘Here’s two tickets.’ It was one day at a time, one person at a time.” But it was two groups at opposite ends of the age demographic that made a huge difference in the growth of the women’s basketball fan base: little kids (with their parents) and the retirement

community. Both of these groups appreciate the price point of the women’s games and enjoy the family-friendly atmosphere in Hilton Coliseum. It started with Fellows Elementary School, which the Fennelly children attended. Fennelly looked at those students and asked himself, “How do you get the kids to come to the games? They can’t drive themselves.” So he created a program – The Lil’ Clone Club (now called Jr. Cyclone Club) – where the kids got in free, but the parents had to buy a seat to bring them to the games. Fennelly’s goal was always to make a women’s basketball outing less expensive than going to a movie. And then there was Green Hills Retirement Community in Ames. Longtime women’s basketball fan and Green Hills resident Kathryn Engel was so dedicated to the program that she would buy tickets and give them away to other residents so that they could fill a Green Hills bus and get convenient transportation to the games. Then it became two busloads, and Fennelly and his players grew more and more connected to the residents. Today the team still visits Green Hills annually to sign posters and chat with the residents.

The ABCs

Fennelly’s coaching philosophy focuses on academics, athletics, and character. Those tenants strengthen not only the student-athletes, but also the fan base. “When we recruit kids, we talk about ABC: You’re going to get a great academic environment, you’re going to get a great basketball environment, and you’re going to get a community environment that’s connected,” Fennelly explains. “I want [to recruit] student-athletes who understand how privileged they are to go to this school, to wear the jersey. I want

WINTER 2016 WWW.ISUALUM.ORG VISIONS

JIM HEEMSTRA

STATE WAY Head Cyclone women’s basketball coach Bill Fennelly is in his 21st season at Iowa State. Here’s one of his cardinal rules: He never talks to the media without thanking the fans.

somebody’s birthday or one of our former players had a baby. People love that.” But even with all the grassroots fan growth and personal touches and social media, ISU women’s basketball would not be a national leader in attendance if not for one important thing: winning teams. In 20 seasons, Fennelly has averaged 22 wins per season (434-206). He’s guided the Cyclones to an unprecedented nine-straight NCAA appearances, one of just 10 schools to do so. “Bottom line, you want that feel-good attitude of a winner,” associate head coach Jodi Steyer says. “I hate to say it, but it’s huge. You can be great people, but if you don’t show results it’s not going to be fun. When those wins come, it’s a great environment.”

The dean

our fans to feel that they’re proud to say they’re rooting for that young person.” The tradition of the program is important to Fennelly. Every day, he emphasizes “the Iowa State way” of doing things. Every day, he talks to his players about their academics and about how important it is to be appreciative and interact with fans. “This is a small town. [I tell the players] if you’re at Coldstone ice cream and a little girl wants to talk to you, you better talk to her. You can’t just be, ‘I don’t have time for that.’ That’s not how we do things.” Every student-athlete who has completed her eligibility under Fennelly has graduated from Iowa State with a degree. That’s the expectation; that’s the way it’s supposed to be. “I tell the kids when I recruit them: ‘You’re going to hear a lot about all the great things that are going to happen at Hilton, but the greatest thing that’s going

VISIONS WWW.ISUALUM.ORG WINTER 2016

to happen at Hilton is to walk across the stage as an Iowa State graduate. That’s where the magic is.’” A new game

Social media has changed the way Cyclone athletics has communicated with its fans. And Fennelly is a master. His Twitter account has more than 12,000 followers. The Cyclone women’s basketball program has 13,500 Twitter followers and more than 10,000 Facebook likes. “On Twitter, you see Coach Fennelly’s personality,” Pink says. “You really see who he is as a person and how much he really appreciates our fan base. He’s a marketer’s dream, to be honest.” Fennelly sees social media as one more way to connect with and thank the fans. “I’m on Twitter a lot,” he says. “It’s been a really good thing for us. Even the little stuff, like I’ll tweet out that it’s

Fred Hoiberg may have been the Mayor, but Bill Fennelly is the Dean of the Big 12 women’s basketball coaches. “I’m the old guy,” he says. “I think I may be the only coach on the staff that Jamie [Pollard] didn’t hire.” Fennelly has been through six men’s basketball coaches, three athletic directors, and three university presidents. He’s seen the university’s enrollment go from 24,400 students in 1995 to 36,000 in 2015. He’s endured throat cancer that required him to stop speaking – which was really hard on everyone, he said. But the fan support during his treatment, he says, was “incredible.” Fennelly says the past 20 years have been amazing. “Iowa State University is like a big, beautiful state-fair-winning pie. We’re a very, very, very little piece of that, but I think we’ve added something.” CG

A MAGICAL DREAM BECOMES REALITY Cyclone point guard Jadda Buckley has seen Hilton Magic from every angle. The Mason City, Iowa, native has attended ISU men’s games since she was in elementary school and women’s games since high school.

WINTER 2016 WWW.ISUALUM.ORG VISIONS

JIM HEEMSTRA

adda Buckley was just a little girl when she was first introduced to Hilton Magic. Her best friend’s grandparents had season tickets to Iowa State men’s basketball games, so Buckley ley would often go along – cheering on the team, eating Clone Cones, watching Cy roam the court, and slowly falling in love with a magical kingdom called Hilton Coliseum. “It was always loud and exciting and the fans were all great,” she remembers. “Here were these two little girls who probably had no idea what was going on on the court, but the older fans were talking to us and getting us involved in cheers. It was just, overall, so great.” While Buckley became a Cyclone fan early in life, it took some time before she realized she could someday be the player little girls like her were screaming for. “My parents never played basketball, and growing up I was more of a men’s fan because I wasn’t familiar yet with women’s basketball,” says Buckley – who today wears No. 11 because she says her first hoops idol was former Cyclone Will Blalock. “Then I met Lyndsey Medders Fennelly; when she was playing in college she would come and help our AAU team and that’s when I started to think [I could someday play in Hilton].” The 5-foot, 8-inch guard went on to become a prep standout at Mason City (Iowa) High School, garnering top-50 national accolades and recognition as the 20122013 MaxPreps.com Player of the Year. She was courted by college programs such as Kansas, Iowa, Northern Iowa, and Ohio State but ultimately knew where she belonged.

VISIONS WWW.ISUALUM.ORG WINTER 2016

“I just knew I wanted to put on an Iowa State jersey one day,” Buckley says. “That stemmed not just from Hilton and the community but also Coach [Bill] Fennelly. He’s the kind of person you want to surround yourself with – someone who wants you to be the best you can be, who wants to challenge you and who cares about you. He has a 100 percent graduation rate with his players

“When I see little kids cheering at our games, I want them to have fun. But someday it may hit them, like it hit me, that playing for the Cyclones is a dream.” — JADDA BUCKLEY and he’s so good with the fans. He says thank you to every single fan that goes through the line. That’s a simple thing, but it’s pretty remarkable. “Coach Fennelly started with 300 fans and one win, and now there are ten thousand fans and I don’t want to disappoint him. He’s worked so hard to get where he’s at, the least I can do is bust my butt for three hours in practice.” Buckley knows she and her teammates owe the home-court advantage they enjoy today not only to the hard work of their head coach, but also to the steadfast support of Cyclone fans and the Ames community. “We’re ranked in the top five in attendance in college women’s basketball, and after you go and play at another school that has 300 fans, you come back to Hilton and you just want to stand on the court and shout thank you,” Buckley

says. “We’re so thankful for the people who come and watch us.” For Buckley, connecting with those fans who support her isn’t just important from a team standpoint, but a personal one as well. She sees herself in every kid in the Hilton stands. “When I see little kids cheering at our games, I want them to have fun,” she says, “but someday it may hit them, like it hit me, that playing for the Cyclones is a dream. I took a fun, babysitting kind of day and turned it into a dream that I’m now making a reality. I want to be a resource to those little kids like Lyndsey was to me; I want to be available for kids like that.” Buckley, who is now playing in her second sophomore campaign after being sidelined with a foot injury and earning a medical redshirt last season, says that unexpected return to fandom last year was a low point in her career. She’d definitely, she says, prefer to save her cheering role for after graduation. “It was terrible,” she admits. “At first I felt like I couldn’t help the team out, but I figured out a role encouraging my teammates and really knowing the scouting report. You learn a lot about yourself in the game of basketball; every season has its ups and downs. It took me a while, but I’ve accepted that.” And, she says, having a year off has made Buckley thirst even more for Hilton Magic. “I’m so ready to walk out in Hilton and hear the people screaming,” she said before the season began. “Anywhere else, it’s 40 minutes of basketball. There’s a lot more meaning to a game here.” KB

MAKING

THE MAGIC Getting in gear

RYAN ZLUTIKY is in his fifth season as equipment manager for Cyclone men’s and women’s basketball. There’s no storage at Hilton, so Zlutiky typically makes about three runs per game to and from the Sukup Basketball Complex with uniforms, socks, towels, and other supplies. His favorite thing about gameday: “Every game at Hilton is packed and loud and the fans are into it. It is definitely a home-court advantage.”

Just push play

JIM HEEMSTRA

BRYAN PERRY

is in his eighth season as producer of the Hilton Coliseum video board. He’s in charge of everything fans see on the video boards and ribbon boards, from intro videos to instant replays to sponsor promotions. He loves seeing how a single replay or piece of video can fire up the crowd. “As long as we keep the crowd engaged,” he says, “we have a chance to see a special moment happen on the floor.”

Being the bird

TYLER TWEETEN,

a junior in finance and management, is one of four mascot squad members for 2015-2016, along with junior Colby Abrams, senior Megan McDonald, and senior Traer Schon. As for Cy’s gameday duties, they’re fairly

WINTER 2016 WWW.ISUALUM.ORG VISIONS

What goes into creating one of college basketball’s most intimidating home-court basketball environments? It doesn’t all just happen by magic. Holding court

MIKE HOVEY and MATT MCLEOD have worked for the athletics department in event management since the university took over operation of Hilton eight years ago. They lay the ﬂoor, make sure the shot clocks and scoreboard interface are operational, and troubleshoot almost everything in the coliseum, overseeing a crew of 25-30 student workers. Hovey says his favorite thing about gameday is “seeing all the work we do before the game turn into a successful event.”

Rallying the troops obvious. “Seeing the joy Cy brings to the people during basketball games is the most rewarding feeling,” Tweeten says. “My favorite part of game day is interacting with a variety of Cyclone fans from all generations.”

VISIONS WWW.ISUALUM.ORG WINTER 2016

MCKENZIE LEE,

a junior in event management, is co-chair of the Cyclone Alley Central Committee along with senior Kiersten Savoie. In addition to taking responsibility for making sure students show up on gameday, Lee and Savoie do anything and everything they can to create organized chaos in the student section. Lee’s favorite thing about gameday: “The energy right before tipoff!”

Experience an Iowa State Un

The Alumni Association an Dedicated to Students

Gallery Hallway a

Enrollment

Educa

Visiting Ames? mAke A reserVAtion when Visiting

isU!

Your Gateway Hotel and Conference Center is Dedicated to Bleeding the Colors and the Passion for Iowa State to Support the Missions of Iowa State University. Amesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; only full-service hotel located at the intersection of University Boulevard and U.S. Highway 30, just West of Interstate I35, the Gateway to the Iowa State University campus. With 22 acres of natural beauty and 1.5 miles of walking trails centered in a beautiful park, see why Gateway Hotel is delivering more than expected.

A foundatio

Employment

n for

Making Connections. Enjoying the Adventure.

has ma

niversity Lifelong Adventure

nd ISU Foundation’s Work s, Alumni, and Friends

at Gateway Hotel

Entertainment

ation

any, many o

ptions...

Lifelong Connection

2100 Green Hills Dr, Ames, IA 50014 GatewayAmes.com • 800-FOR-AMES (800-367-2637)

FULLcircle A chance meeting on campus allowed Amy Popillion to reconnect to the mentor who changed her life

he future that Amy Popillion envisioned as a kid growing up in small town Iowa could not be more different than the life she is living today. The senior lecturer of human development and family studies at Iowa State never could have imagined pursuing a career in academia. Her aspirations as a child did not reflect an expectation to go to college, so she saw herself graduating from high school and working as a waitress or secretary. College just wasn’t part of the equation. It’s not that Popillion lacked confidence in what she could achieve, but an environment of abuse and alcoholism severely limited her view. Popillion credits a handful of people – including a favorite high school teacher – for helping her see that her vision of the future did not need to become her reality. Today, Popillion (’94 sociology, MS ’97

human development and family studies, earning her master’s and PhD. Her classes taught her about family dynamics and challenges and a lot about herself. “My classes always felt very personal, because I could see myself in those classes,” she said. In that same vein, she encourages students, many who are aspiring teachers, in her children’s literature course to develop teaching methods and tools that will help their future students grow as individuals. “I always tell my students that books are tools to reach children in a variety of ways. I talk a lot about the importance of children being able to see themselves through the books that teachers share. Part of that requires teachers to have a personal connection to the students in their class,” Popillion said. Peeling back the layers

BY ANGIE HUNT

human development and family studies, PhD ’00) strives to be that same positive influence for her students – a way to pay it forward. It’s a personal and professional philosophy that is a testament to the challenges she has overcome as well as a tribute to those who have made a difference in her life. Making Iowa State home

The path to teaching at Iowa State started with Popillion’s decision to transfer here as an undergrad. A first-generation student, she still remembers the feeling of moving from a community of 500 to a campus with then 25,000 students. It was overwhelming, but exciting to shed the skin of her small town. “For me, coming to college from a small town really gave me a chance to start over,” Popillion said. “I had a desire to do something different; I just struggled a little bit to get there.” Popillion thrived in her new environment. When it came time to graduate, she applied to graduate school and never left ISU. She found a natural fit in the field of

Popillion didn’t have a personal connection with a lot of her teachers, and she understands why. She did well academically, but she had a bad attitude, acted out in class, and hung around a group of friends that often found trouble. Popillion says most teachers in middle and high school labeled her as a problem. In fact, she clearly remembers being told, “You will not make it in college with your behavior.” But one teacher was willing to look past the rough exterior. “Mrs. Bachman upheld that idea of what I see as a teacher’s responsibility to look past the surface and really see the individual needs of a student,” Popillion said. “She was very accessible to students. She was very respectful, but would also joke around with students. She really had her finger on the pulse with what was going on in the lives of her students.” And for Popillion there was a lot going on in her life that Joyce Bachman, a high school history teacher, didn’t judge. Home didn’t always provide the structure or stability that Popillion needed during her formative years. Growing up she witnessed a lot of violence and experienced physical and psychological abuse. Popillion started smoking and drinking to cope with the ugliness in her life. She found herself in a lot of negative relationships and developed an eating disorder. WINTER 2016 WWW.ISUALUM.ORG VISIONS

CHRISTOPHER GANNON

It’s part of her life that she shares in class or when speaking to student groups, not as an excuse or for sympathy, but because she wants others to see the positive that can come from poor choices and bad situations in life. Time and therapy has helped Popillion heal, but that wouldn’t have been possible without people, such as her grandmother and Bachman, helping her find direction. “When you peel back the layers, you find students are dealing with a lot of different issues and yet they’re navigating their way and going to school at the same time,” Popillion said. “I always try to find ways to use my experience to help others. It’s important for me to give back and connect with my students on a personal level.” Popillion credits Bachman for challenging her, seeing through her “don’t-messwith-me” attitude and holding Popillion accountable for her actions. Bachman helped Popillion realize college was a path to a better life, while at the same time making it clear that Popillion had to change if she wanted to be successful in

“When you peel back the layers, you find students are dealing with a lot of different issues and yet they’re navigating their way and going to school at the same time. I always try to find ways to use my experience to help others.” college. It was the structure and support that Popillion needed. “I think there were some people in my life who didn’t know what to do with me. Mrs. Bachman didn’t let me walk all over her, but at the same time she didn’t hold it against me,” Popillion said. “At difficult points in my life, she was someone I could turn to for support, advice, and encouragement.” A chance meeting brings it all full circle

Popillion regrets never having the chance to truly thank Bachman for her guidance. Bachman died in 1998, at age 58, from VISIONS WWW.ISUALUM.ORG WINTER 2016

Amy Popillion wants her students to see the positive that can come from poor choices and bad situations in life.

cancer. But Popillion has since found another way to thank her mentor that might not have been possible without a little divine intervention. Two years ago, Popillion was walking across campus when she stopped outside of Lagomarcino Hall to introduce herself to a prospective student and her mother. It’s something Popillion has always done to make students feel welcome and create a connection, especially if one of those students might one day walk into her class. On this particular summer day, that prospective student was Claire Denniston. When Denniston mentioned that she was visiting from a town not far from where Popillion grew up, it didn’t take long to piece together that she was Bachman’s granddaughter. “I think I immediately started crying. I got choked up and teary eyed. I may have even hugged her,” Popillion said, recalling that moment that still stirs emotions and gives her chills. Through her tears, Popillion expressed her gratitude for the impact Bachman had on her life. It’s a moment that Denniston also remembers well. “I never dreamed that I would meet anyone who had known my grandmother, let alone had such a strong relationship with her,” Denniston said. “I’ve heard about my grandmother as I’ve grown up, but hearing from Amy about my grandmother put her in a different light.”

After that initial meeting on campus, the two reconnected last fall when Denniston, an elementary education major who plans to follow in her grandmother’s footsteps, took Popillion’s children’s literature class. Outside of class they would meet so Denniston, who was just four years old when her grandmother died, could hear more stories. “I’ve always heard that my grandmother was an unselfish and giving woman, but hearing it from family could have been biased. Hearing how she helped Amy solidified my grandmother’s persona in my mind. Because I don’t have strong memories of my grandmother, it is great to hear positive things about her and strive to become as giving as my grandmother was,” Denniston said. Getting to know Denniston has brought Popillion’s relationship with Bachman full circle and given her the chance to say thank you in a way she never thought possible. “Mrs. Bachman gave me so much. Getting to teach her granddaughter and share memories with her is really important to me,” Popillion said. “I just feel it’s a way to honor Mrs. Bachman and honor her memory. Even though she’s not here today to see, I just feel like she knows.”  Angie Hunt is a communication specialist for Iowa State’s News Service

Diversions A GUIDE TO ISU ALUMNI ASSOCIATION EVENTS

Homecoming 2015 STATEment! Thousands of Iowa State alumni and friends joined students to “Make a STATEment” during the 103rd Homecoming celebration on campus Oct. 25-31. Here’s a look at this year’s Homecoming celebration by the numbers: • 24 points were scored by ISU against Texas during the Homecoming football game. ISU won 24-0. • 40 award recipients were honored during the Honors & Awards Ceremony. • 100 alumni attended the Greek Alumni reception held at the ISU Alumni Center. • 150 trick-or-treat bags were handed out throughout the weekend. • 270 members of the ISU Alumni Marching Band attended their 35th

reunion and marched on the field at halftime of the football game. • 500 meals were served at the Cyclone Central Tailgate held at the ISU Alumni Center on Saturday. • 1,000 students, alumni, and friends attended the Friday evening Homecoming Celebration and Pep Rally • 1,551 students participated in Yell-Like-Hell. • 4,600 Homecoming buttons were sold. • 10,500 meals were served throughout the week to those who purchased a Homecoming button. Check out more photos from Homecoming 2015 on our Facebook page www.facebook.com/isualum. We hope to see you at next year’s Homecoming!

Clockwise from top left: The Cyclones defeated the Texas Longhorns 24-0 in the Homecoming game; alumni and fans pull out all the stops for their Homecoming tailgates; about 1,000 students, alumni, and friends turned out for Friday evening’s Pep Rally outside the ISU Alumni Center; the annual Homecoming Cyclone Central featured food, games, a silent auction, and a performance by the ISU Cyclone Football ‘Varsity’ Marching Band; four food trucks supplied meal offerings for hungry Pep Rally attendees on Friday night. Center: Alumni enjoy the Alumni Center’s Homecoming Hub.

WINTER 2016 WWW.ISUALUM.ORG VISIONS

PHOTOS BY JIM HEEMSTRA

Celebrating five years of the Cardinal & Gold Gala

Clockwise from top: Yell-Like-Hell finals took place Friday night at the Pep Rally; Zoe Hildreth (a senior biology major) and Austin Javellana (landscape architecture senior) were named the 2015 Cardinal Court queen and king; retired NASA astronaut Clayton Anderson (L)(MS ’83 aero engr) was on hand during the Homecoming Cyclone Central to sign copies of his new book, The Ordinary Spaceman; the ISU Alumni Band, with twirler Sandra Gorowsky Huber (A) (’78 home ec ed) performed on the field during halftime. Center: Visitors enjoy the ISUAA Homecoming Hub.

MARCH MADNESS

Big 12 Basketball Tournaments Women’s: March 4-7, Oklahoma City, Okla. Men’s: March 9-12, Sprint Center, Kansas City, Mo. Each year the ISU Alumni Association is at the center of the action at the annual Phillips 66 Big 12 Conference

Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournaments, with spirit rallies, gathering Cytes, and lots of cardinal and gold spirit! Go to www.isualum.org/big12 for more details as these events approach.

Basketball Gamewatches Cytes Don’t miss a single game! To find Gamewatch Cytes in your area all season long, go to www.isualum. org/clubs

Honorary Gala co-chairs Becky (’74) and Evan (’74) Stadlman (L) and Cynthia Thorland (L) (’84) and Fritz Weitz (L) invite you to put a Mardi Gras spin on your Valentine's Day weekend and help us celebrate our fifthannual Cardinal & Gold Gala on Friday, Feb. 12, 2016 in Des Moines. This annual event brings Cyclones together for a night of fun and for two great causes: alumni programming and first-generation scholarships for ISU students. The event will feature live entertainment, food stations, exciting auction items, and plenty of time to mingle with fellow Iowa Staters. Register by noon on Feb. 3 at www.isualum.org/gala.

Cy’S DAYs OF sERVICE Cy’s Days of Service Cy’s Days of Service unites alumni everywhere in community service during the month of April. This fifth-annual alumni service project is a great opportunity to help show the pride alumni have in Iowa State University and show how ISU alumni can change the world, one community at a time. Last year, 459 participants donated a total of 3,878 volunteer hours in 28 states. Go out and break the record, Cyclones! And don’t forget to dress in your cardinal and gold!

KEEP UP WITH ALUMNI EVENTS AT WWW.ISUALUM.ORG/CALENDAR AND FOLLOW US ON isualum.org/blog VISIONS WWW.ISUALUM.ORG WINTER 2016

Newsmakers I O WA S TAT E A L U M N I I N T H E N E W S

Lisa Wasco DeVetter meets with Mercy Kabahuma, an ISU PhD student from Uganda

Lisa Wasko DeVetter: ‘The people of Iowa State…draw me back to Ames’ Growing up in Iowa, Lisa Wasko DeVetter (’07 biology and horticulture, MS ’10) knew she was going to get two choices of where to attend college: Iowa or Iowa State. “My dad was a Cyclone,” she says, “so I was indoctrinated early with Cyclone fever.” She chose Iowa State. “My reverence for Iowa State came after being here that first semester and that first year being in the biology department and horticulture department,” said the two-time ISU graduate. DeVetter got involved with the university’s service learning program in the Kamuli district of Uganda, spending four years coordinating the program’s school garden project, which was aimed at teaching local youth the importance of agriculture, health, and nutrition. Even today, DeVetter – now an assistant professor of small fruit horticulture at Washington State University – continues to sponsor an orphaned child in the district. DeVetter recently returned to Ames to accept the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences’ 2015 Outstanding Young Professional Award, and DeVetter says she will always be drawn back to campus for one simple reason. “Hands down, the people,” she says. — Blake Lanser (S), ISUAA communications intern

 American Eagle Outfitters

acquires ISU alumnus’s fashion brand

In early November, American Eagle Outfitters announced an acquisition that had the fashion industry buzzing: AE acquired the label Todd Snyder, which includes the menswear line Todd Snyder New York and the popular Tailgate Clothing brand, for $11 million in cash and stock. Moving forward, the recently slumping AE hopes to open as many as 200 Tailgate stores nationwide and will sell American Eagle jeans alongside Tailgate’s retro tees and sweatshirts. Snyder (L)(’92 apparel design) started Tailgate Clothing in his father’s basement in Huxley, Iowa, in 1997. He launched Todd Snyder New York in 2011. In his new role, Snyder will be a sounding board for AE’s design and marketing departments with hopes of helping the 30

 Gannon’s tenacity helps honor

Vietnam veteran

Forty years after his death caused by enemy fire during the Vietnam War, Doug Petersen’s sacrifice was finally honored in Iowa. And alumnus Dan Gannon (L)(’68 farm operation) played a key role in making it happen. Gannon was featured in a Des Moines Register feature on May 6 for his determination to get Petersen’s name listed on the Iowa Vietnam War Monument at the Iowa State Capitol Grounds in Des Moines. Petersen had joined the military in 1969 and was wounded just a few months later. He became a paraplegic, and he fought for his life for five years before his death in 1975 at the age of 25. When Gannon – a Vietnam veteran who fought in the war at roughly the same time but did not personally know Petersen – learned that Petersen’s name was not on the wall, he took it upon himself to see that the oversight was corrected. He traveled to Washington, D.C., found his name on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, examined Petersen’s military and medical records, and submitted a report to Iowa officials. Petersen’s name was engraved on the Iowa wall in May. Looking at the wall, Gannon told the Register, “I see comrades who gave their life. It’s a living wall to me because of the names on it.” Gannon is retired after a 30-year career with UPS. He lives in Ankeny.  Helping entrepreneurs with

investments

brand widen its appeal beyond the teenage market. Snyder recently spoke about the deal with GQ magazine. Read the full interview at www.gq.com/story/todd-snyderamerican-eagle-outfitters-interview

Mark Reichter (’99 marketing and finance) was featured recently in the Kansas City Business Journal. A senior vice president for Q10 Triad Capital Advisors, Inc., Reichter often serves as a “matchmaker,” helping entrepreneurs WINTER 2016 WWW.ISUALUM.ORG VISIONS

find the right equity investors to help them make a profit. “We represent probably 50 different sources of capital,” Reichter told the newspaper. He works in the regional mortgage banking firm’s Kansas City office. A LU MNI BO O KSH EL F

• Chris Luley (PhD ’86 plant pathology) of Naples, N.Y., is the recipient of the International Society of Arborculture’s R.W. Harris Author’s Citation Award. The award is given to authors who consistently publish works providing information on research in the field of arborculture. Luley is vice president and pathologist for Urban Forestry LLC in Naples. • In recognition of his commitment to mentoring bovine veterinary students and young veterinarians, Merck Animal Health and the American Association of Bovine Practitioners have presented Dean Christianson (DVM ’84) with the Mentor of the Year award. Christianson owns and operates the Ashley Veterinary Clinic in Ashley, N.D.

• Terry Rich (L)(’74 speech communication) has published a book, Dare to Dream, Dare to Act, an unconventional biography filled with stories of creativity, innovation, risk, and success. Rich, who lives in Des Moines, is the president and CEO of the Iowa Lottery. In his book, he shares the method behind developing innovative ideas into successful actions throughout his professional career. A LU MNI HO NO RS

• Dan (’08 JLMC) and Alex Hemberger (’08 graphic design) McClanahan have earned a top spot in the Professional Photographers of America’s 2015 International Photographic Competition. The couple founded McClanahan Studio in Ames in 2009. Alex received a Photographer of the Year bronze medal, and Dan was named a diamond medalist. Their work is on display at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Ga. • Terry Allers (L)(’70 architecture) has been elected secretary of the National Councils of Architectural Registration Boards. He is founder and president of Allers Associates Architects, PC, a full-service architectural firm in Fort Dodge, Iowa.

VISIONS WWW.ISUALUM.ORG WINTER 2016

• William Elliot (’71 agricultural engineering, PhD ’88), a research engineer for the USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station in Moscow, Idaho, has been named an American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers Fellow. He was honored for his outstanding leadership in education and erosion prediction science and for his contributions to soil and water conservation engineering. TO P J O B S

• Courtney Surls (’89 music) is the new vice president for development and alumni relations at the American University in Washington, D.C. Surls is the former senior VP for development at the Newseum, also in Washington, D.C. • Mark Shanda, professor of theatre design and technology and former dean of arts and humanities at The Ohio State University, has begun a three-year term as president of the United States Institute for Theatre Technology. Shanda is known for his expertise in theatre technology and is co-author of two books. • David Williams (PhD ’72 animal science) is the co-founder of Excel Equine, a company that produces premium feed blends

for horses. The company is one of just a few feed makers in the country that is medication-free. Williams grew up in Kentucky and has been a leader in Kentucky agricultural associations. He lives on a horse farm near Danville, Ky.  Former volleyball player

memorialized

Last August, the Kansas City Star published a special tribute to Iowa State alumna Janice Ninemire Van Gorp (’92 English) of Olathe, Kan. Van Gorp died Aug. 18 at age 46 after suffering a brain aneurysm. She

had been a volleyball coach at Shawnee Mission North High School and later an English teacher and volleyball coach at Heritage Christian Academy. Van Gorp was well known for her encouragement of young student-athletes. One of them was Deanna Martin, a former Shawnee Mission North star who played volleyball at Virginia and flew in from Maine for Van Gorp’s funeral. “She just blew wind into my sails, and I just have been driven by that my entire life,” Martin said. “Every time I achieved something, I surprised myself a little bit. And she was never surprised.” Van Gorp was a member of the Iowa State volleyball team for four years, from 1987 to 1991. She is survived by her husband, Mark Van Gorp, and two children, Rachel and Andrew.

(A) = ISU Alumni Association annual member (L) = ISU Alumni Association life member

Alumni Profile

Polly Murphy’s career has taken her — with her husband and sons — to Beijing.

The yin and yang of an Iowan’s career in China

SUBMITTED PHOTOS

BY BRIAN E. CLARK

rowing up on an Iowa farm, the idea of becoming a veterinarian was a realistic career goal for Polly (Knaack) Murphy (L)(DVM ’89, PhD ’94 veterinary pathology). After all, Murphy – Reinbeck High School class of 1982 valedictorian – was good at science and liked animals. But heading strategy and business development for Pfizer, a multinational pharmaceutical corporation, in China? That would have been a stretch, she acknowledges. However, that’s exactly what Murphy has done for the past two years – following a bi-coastal American career. “I’ve always liked challenges,” said Murphy. “Always sought out opportunities that looked fun. Still, I had no idea I’d end up in Beijing, population 20 million.” Reinbeck, by contrast, has 1,700 residents. After Murphy earned her doctor of veterinary medicine at Iowa State, she only practiced for a short time before working as a pathologist for a drug company. She made the move to the business side of that industry, in part, because a project was cut when “people on the business side decided it wasn’t worth the expense because it lacked market value. We scientists said, ‘If they really understood this, they’d support it.’” That new career path eventually led her to China with her family, which includes her husband, Marc, and two high-school age sons. Her spouse was enthusiastic about the move. The boys? 32

Not as much. But they’ve adapted and grown to appreciate the experience. “It’s hard to describe what it’s like to live in China,” she said. “In some ways, our lives seem totally ordinary as we go to work, school, shopping, and do other normal, everyday life activities.” She said they live in a gated community, similar to neighborhoods in California or Florida – with a mix of expatriate families and Chinese. Their home is about the same size as ones they had in the U.S., though not as nice. “Our boys go to an international school (about 80 percent of the students are Asian) across the street from our home,” she said. They ride their bikes to school. “I find it ironic that the lives we live here are more like the one I was raised with in Iowa than anywhere else we’ve lived,” she said. As in the Midwest, the school is the community center, and much smaller than the ones her kids attended in California and Pennsylvania, with K-12 under the same roof. “The general area where we live and shop is small enough that you almost always see someone you know, which is not something we have had in the U.S.,” Murphy said. She said she found it a bit odd that residents prepay for their utilities using a card and then load credits into a meter for each of water, gas and electricity. “Since my husband is very diligent

about this, we haven’t had the experience I’ve heard from other expats of unexpectedly having no water/gas/electricity. When this happens, you have to wait until business hours to replenish.” Because Pfizer is a multi-national company, the official language is English. However, below the senior levels in Beijing, there are many people who don’t speak English. She said her management team was led by someone who didn’t speak Mandarin for more than 10 years, so her team speaks English relatively well. “I like to learn, and China presents an endless flow of opportunities to learn both business and culture. After two years in China, I feel like I have at least some understanding of the culture and industry here. Without being able to read and speak Mandarin fluently, there’s always a sense that whatever I think I know is only the tip of the iceberg.” Murphy said her Beijing commute takes between 45 minutes and two hours depending on the traffic. Fortunately, she’s provided a car and driver because of her senior position, so she can work en route. The family car is a tuktuk, a 3-wheeled electric vehicle “that is really a metal box on a motorized tricycle. “We use it to get around our neighborhood, although Marc does have a license and we can use the company car on weekends. Still, driving here is an elaborate game of chicken, so he doesn’t like to go too far from home with the car.” WINTER 2016 WWW.ISUALUM.ORG VISIONS

“I’ve always liked challenges. Still, I had no idea I’d end up in Beijing, population 20 million.” –– POLLY MURPHY Murphy said her husband – a native of Wisconsin – is thriving. He plays hockey and will be starting a job this fall at a private hospital as a psychologist. She said Beijing’s smog can be a problem. But it’s manageable for her and her family because their home, school, and her workplace all have air filters. On bad days, they wear masks. No fan of the wind in Iowa, she now views it as a blessing because it blows away the polluted air. Though many things seem normal and mundane about China, she said there are constant reminders – both physical and cultural – that they are far from home. “My way of framing it is that it’s as if we all look at the world through a triangular prism,” she said. “The U.S. sees VISIONS WWW.ISUALUM.ORG WINTER 2016

the flat side and the Chinese look at the point.” Communications can be a challenge. “In the States, there is effectively one truth, but in China you can see two different things at once and both are true (think yin/yang). When I first got here I sometimes felt like I was losing my mind, because I’d sit in a meeting and we would all agree that ‘the sky is blue.’ And the next day I’d be in a meeting with my boss and someone would say ‘the sky is green.’ Huh? Didn’t we all align yesterday that the sky is blue? It felt like people were being dishonest. “What I’ve come to understand is that Chinese is a contextual language. If there are no context words, then what a Westerner sees as ‘reality’ can shift

based on what context is later added. The consequence of working in this culture means I ask more questions than I ever thought possible. The beauty of this shift in my behavior is that asking more and better questions is a skill that is helpful in any culture, including back in the U.S.” Murphy values her family’s China experience. “As I tell the boys, one of the things I like about living in China is that it turns everyday life into an adventure.”  Brian Clark is a freelance writer from Madison, Wis.

Accounting professor Sue Ravenscroft stresses writing and the arts to her students in the College of Business.

ABCs of accounting By Avery Amensen

sk students who influenced their ability to express themselves in writing, and most would not say their accounting professor. “I know if we can educate the whole student and not focus narrowly on technical content, we are getting closer to the broader goal of education: to enrich our citizens and make them more likely to be active and responsible in a wide range of civic activities,” says Sue Ravenscroft, professor of accounting at Iowa State and holder of the Roger P. Murphy Professorship in Accounting. Ravenscroft acts on this philosophy in a unique way. She reinvests her professorship funding in the university, supporting various art and cultural programs, and other areas that broaden students’ education. She has supported a scholarship fund for undergraduate accounting students, as

well as Reiman Gardens and the Opera Studio in the Department of Music. In addition, Ravenscroft has donated to the art committee of the Gerdin Business Building and gives her managerial accounting students an extra credit project based on art in Gerdin. Students observe the art, think about the costs and benefits of having these works of art on campus, and consider the overall effect of their presence in Gerdin. Ravenscroft also helped establish the communication center within the College of Business, which benefits students by developing their writing and speaking skills. “Employers stress the need for strong communication and interpersonal skills in addition to technical expertise,” she says. “Our students definitely gain from the help they get in creating presentations and writing at the center.” In her own classroom, Ravenscroft

assigns her students writing projects to give them practice. Her latest idea involves students composing letters to the editor that they must submit to a local newspaper. “Students learn the valuable but difficult lesson that writing briefly can be more difficult than writing verbosely,” she said. “The assignment also encourages students to recognize that their opinions can play a role in shaping and informing the opinions of others, and it teaches them how to do that in a responsible, respectful, and articulate manner.” With her well-rounded approach, business students emerge from Ravenscroft’s accounting class with more refined writing skills and an affinity to be active members of their communities. “All of these programs, I believe, directly or indirectly develop our students into more complete citizens,” Ravenscroft said.  WINTER 2016 WWW.ISUALUM.ORG VISIONS

 IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

2014-2015 ANNUAL REPORT

283 156 233

3,619 543

502

15,909

1,894 746

336

624

6,927

10,822 4,138

853

2,315

2,475

5,093

752

1,298

5,648

1,535

99,985 15,354

3,860 992

8,605

5,357

2,376

1,884

2,609 155

708

2,462

1,383

871

817 489

2,865

119 697 1,274 239 1,957 315

279

598

2,071

4,405

334

345

Total alumni living in the U.S.: 230,348 Alumni living outside the U.S.: 6,912

JULY 1, 2014 TO JUNE 30, 2015

‘Meet me at the Center’ Total number of events held in the ISU Alumni Center: 451 • 151 university events, including 63 departmental meetings and 5 holiday parties • 126 ISUAA events for the public, including Winter Bridal ExCYtement and Chamber Business After Hours • 114 public events, including 2 fiftieth wedding anniversary celebrations, 5 tailgate/ pregame parties, and 3 holiday parties • 60 student events, including 31 sorority chapter meetings and 8 banquets Named by the Ames Tribune as the “BEST Wedding Venue in Story County” In 2014-2015, 28 wedding receptions were held, and 12 couples tied the knot at the Alumni Center

$3 million

Private dollars raised to support ISU Alumni Association programs

Total ISUAA members: 52,804

STAY CONNECTED! 12,400 Facebook likes 5,200 Twitter followers 1,013 unique emails sent 40 ISU News Flash e-newsletters sent 4 issues of VISIONS magazines produced

THE CARDINAL & GOLD GALA Netted $75,000 from 370 generous attendees at the fourth-annual gala event held April 10 in Des Moines

Provided

31 scholarships 9 to first-generation college students

1,727 The number of meals served at 7 Cyclone Centrals in fall 2014

Wall of Alumni and Friends • 143 new plaques added in 2014-2015 • 4,641 total plaques • Only 1,300 plaques still available

The Sustaining Life program $243,400 raised for student and alumni programs 1,292 donors 36

Life: 24,882

Annual: 22,067

Student: 5,855

The FIRST ANNUAL Quad Cities Cylebration raised $21,079 from 61 attendees

3,878 The number of hours that 459 volunteers spent during the fourth annual Cy’s Days of Service in April 2015

Number of alumni, students, and friends honored with ISU Alumni Association awards in FY15 WINTER 2016 WWW.ISUALUM.ORG VISIONS

2015 ALUMNI DIRECTORY 4,058 directories sold 98,567 record updates

Fun Facts about Homecoming 2014

• Students consumed nearly 12,000 meals at Food on Campus • More than 5,000 Homecoming buttons were sold • More than 4,000 people viewed Yell Like Hell first cuts on YouTube • 2,500 Cy’s birthday cupcakes were served • Nearly 1,000 people signed Cy’s 60th birthday card – in 7 languages • 27 offices participated in office decorating competition

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI at ISU)

BY THE NUMBERS • • • •

1,345 class spaces filled 681 members 153 active volunteers 72 classes offered in 3 sessions • 9 members-only lectures • 4 trips

First in the nation Jeff Johnson (right) was named the Lora and Russ Talbot Iowa State University Alumni Association Endowed President and Chief Executive Officer in April 2015, the first endowed alumni association leadership position in the country and the first non-academic endowed position on campus. The $2.5 million gift is made even more remarkable because neither Lora nor Russ Talbot attended Iowa State.

OUR STUDENT PROGRAMS

‘Alumni in residence’ Student Alumni Association: • 5,855 members • Largest student organization on campus • One of largest in the nation Student Alumni Leadership Council: • 65 members • Five active committees: Ambassadors, Cyclone Alley Central, Homecoming Central, Senior Class Council, Executive Council

27 Active alumni clubs

• Additional Gamewatch Cytes: 16 • Number of club events: 91 • Number of gamewatches: 473 • VISIONS Across America events: Twin Cities, Kansas City, Omaha, Denver

VISIONS WWW.ISUALUM.ORG WINTER 2016

Where in the world?

389 alumni and friends traveled on 35 ISUAA-sponsored trips in 2014-15; 85 were first-time travelers with the Association.

ISUAA leadership Jeffery W. Johnson, Talbot endowed president and CEO and Thea “Ted” H. Oberlander, 2014-15 ISUAA Board of Directors chair Meet the Board: www.isualum.org/ about/board

“The ISUAA values diversity and inclusion.

The ISUAA welcomes all, recognizes and values differences, and seeks alternative perspectives in all it does.” – CULTURE STATEMENT APPROVED BY THE ISUA A BOARD OF DIRECTORS 37

ASSOCIATION N EWS

It’s time to show and tell …about the wonders of Iowa State Dear Alumni Association Members: I enjoyed the days in elementary school when we got to do “show and tell.” I got to share things about my family, church, and community. I got to let others know about where I was from and how my family lived. We came to recognize some of our youthful biases and misperceptions. We learned so much about ourselves and others when we got to participate in this activity. Well, here’s a grown-up “show and tell” activity for you: You and I know how beautiful the Iowa State campus is. We know a number of the “fun facts” and the wonderful history and traditions of Iowa State. But, believe me, I still think we are too humble when it comes to showcasing this place to others. And that’s why I’m hoping you’ll purchase and SHARE the ISU Alumni Association’s new coffee-table book, Seasons of Iowa State University. Because who among us hasn’t experienced the deer-in-the-headlights look when you tell someone you went to college in Iowa? They confuse “Iowa” with “Ohio.” Or “Idaho” (“Oh, you grow potatoes there, right?”) Or they just say, “Where’s Iowa?” We produced this book so members of the Iowa State family could expose the rest of the world to our beloved university through pictures, alumni expressions, and stories. This book’s photos by Jim Heemstra truly showcase the year-round beauty of this 490-acre campus, especially the 20-acre Central Campus. Stories and reminiscences throughout the book give readers a glimpse into some of Iowa State’s history and facts and truly make this book as special as the campus it VISIONS WWW.ISUALUM.ORG WINTER 2016

showcases – like the story of Jack Trice, Carrie Chapman Catt, George Washington Carver, the Morrill Act, and Christian Petersen. You also learn about Iowa State’s Art on Campus program and about Iowa State’s traditions. And, finally, you read a special message from our project donors, Charlie and Phyllis Poppen Ricketts and Chuck (’58 ag ed) and Darlene Schmidt. Without the financial support

We produced [Seasons of Iowa State University] so members of the Iowa State family could expose the rest of the world to our beloved university through pictures, alumni expressions, and stories. of these two donor couples, this special book would not have been possible. I thank both couples every chance I get for helping us make this project happen. I encourage you to do the same. Both couples reside here in Ames, can be seen at Iowa State athletics and other university events, and sport their cardinal and gold with immense pride. Plus, both couples are life members of the Association! So here’s what I’d like our members to do: I’d like each of you to consider buying three of these books! I’d like for you to prominently display one in your own home. I’d like to see you place another one in your place of work, a school in your town, or your local library. And then, I’d like for you to give the final one as a gift – preferably to a non-Iowa Stater or to a prospective student. Why? I want you to help others come to know about this wonderful place called Iowa State

University. Let them, too, fall in love with a place we already love and treasure. So whether it is a future student, employee, parent, business, or new acquaintance, I believe we all play a role in helping others see our state, community, and campus for what it really is: a place of beauty, serenity, and excellence. Seasons of Iowa State University is a perfect tool for us to tell, as Paul Harvey would say, “the rest of the story.” You can buy the books online at www.isualum.org/buyseasons. Or call in your order at 264-6525 (locally) or 877-ISU ALUM (toll free). Get your copies while the supply lasts. (Regular price is $39 per book. As a member, your cost is $33 per book. Yes, membership has its privileges…and benefits!) Thanks for helping us show and tell the Iowa State story! Yours for Iowa State –

Jeff Johnson Talbot Endowed President and CEO PhD ’14 education

P.S. Thank you to everyone who has shared kind words with me and my family about the Talbot Endowment and the story of my life that appeared in the last issue of VISIONS. I have been humbled by your kindness and thoughtfulness. You are our Iowa State family. Go, State!

ASSO C I ATI ON N EWS

Career Corner Have you visited the Career Services page (www.isu alum.org/career) on our website recently? You should! Not only will you find some of the typical things you would expect (resume reviews, tips on networking and interviewing, online job board link, etc.), you might find some resources you weren’t expecting (like a suggested reading list and our wellbeing webinar series). We also have two new resources we think you might be interested in:

• Virtual online networking events: Connect with Iowa

Staters from the comfort of your home or office with these free, online events. During the hour-long events, you’ll pair with randomly selected alums to chat on a variety of topics. Some of the categories include career tips, ISU sports, industry trends, memories from ISU/Ames, favorite things to do where you live, etc. No camera/microphone needed. Chats are text-based (only a keyboard is needed). This is a mobile-friendly platform. Visit our website to see the list of upcoming virtual events.

• Career Coach/Life Coach Directory: Are you

interested in a more in-depth consultation in the areas of conducting a successful job search, how to live a more balanced life, or how to become a better leader? This directory lists ISU alumni and/or ISU Alumni Association members who are career or life coaches from across the country. Cyclones helping Cyclones! There will be a fee for this type of consultation that will be determined by each individual coach. Also, if YOU are a career or life coach and would like to be listed in the directory, contact Katie Lickteig at kbruxvoo@iastate.edu.

If you have questions on any of the career resources offered by the ISU Alumni Association, contact Katie Lickteig at kbruxvoo@iastate.edu.

Fairy tales begin at the ISU Alumni Center

Contact the Events Staff to help plan your engagement party, rehearsal dinner, ceremony, reception, or brunch.

BECKY JENSEN PHOTOGRAPHY

420 Beach Avenue • Ames, Iowa (515) 294-4625 / alumnicenter@iastate.edu www.isualumnicenter.org

WINTER 2016 WWW.ISUALUM.ORG VISIONS

CYCLONE MADNESS 4. 1.

1. I-State Autograph Basketball by Nike. $35.00 (80649142644).

2. I-State Autograph Hilton Magic Basketball by Game Master. $35.00 (2023320).

3. Cardinal Cyclones Hooded Sweatshirt by Gear For Sports. 100% Cotton. $42.99 (2030853).

4. Women’s Cardinal and Gold Plaid I-State Embroidered Scarf. $20.00 (75866769927). 5. Women’s Cardinal Long Sleeve Shirt. Striped Sleeves. 65% Polyester, 35% Rayon. $30.00 (2030449).

FRONT CHEST

6. Iowa State Mini Basketball by Nike. $12.00 (88669924405).

7. Iowa State Ball and Hoop set by Baden. Backboard is about 8.5x11 inches. $15.99 (05212503087).

8. White Long Sleeve T-Shirt by Summit Sportswear. 100% Cotton. $30.00 (2032739).

13.

10.

9. Cardinal Cy Basketball Eddy Bottle by Camelbak. 750mL. $22.99 (05012217110).

14.

12.

10. I-State Engraved Wine Bottle Stopper by Classic Artisans Style. $19.99 (2032915).

15.

11.

11. Women’s Charcoal Gray 1/4 Zip Crew Neck Sweatshirt by Tribute. $50.00 (2030451). 12. Cardinal 1/4 Zip I-State Crew Neck Sweatshirt by Tribute. $35.00 (2030440).

13. Grey Crew Neck Iowa State Sweatshirt by Nike. 80% Cottom. 20% Polyester. $60.00 (2029674).

17.

18.

18. Cardinal Cyclones Soup Bowl Mug with Handle. $10.00 (70519912483).

16. 15. I-State Engraved Bottle Opener Set by Classic Artisan Style. $30.00 (2028754).

14. White and Cardinal Hilton Magic Mug with Basketball Floor. $13.99 (05012217134).

17. Cardinal I-State Striped Polo by Champion. 91% Polyester, 9% Spandex. $46.99 (2031004). 16. White and Red I-State Coasters. Set of four. $40.00 (2031890).

For more selection, shop in-store or visit our website! — ISU Alumni Association members save 15% at UBS! VISIONS WWW.ISUALUM.ORG WINTER 2016

2016 Distinguished Awards Celebration Congratulations to the recipients of Iowa State University’s highest awards administered by the ISU Alumni Association and the ISU Foundation

Awards administered by the Iowa State University Alumni Association

Awards administered by the Iowa State University Foundation

DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD

CAMPANILE AWARD

D.L. “Hank” Harris**

Donald F. and Sharon M. Greenwood**

DVM ’67, PhD ’70 veterinary microbiology Founder and president, Harrisvaccines, Inc., and retired professor in the ISU Colleges of Veterinary Medicine and Agriculture and Life Sciences Ames, Iowa

Don:

’76 civil engineering Past president, construction, Burns & McDonnell Sharon: ’75 family environment Inside sales, electronic components; Midtec Associates Olathe, Kan.

Charles Lettow* ’62 chemical engineering Justice, United State Court of Federal Claims McClean, Va.

Long Vo Nguyen**

CARDINAL AND GOLD AWARD Craig K. Denny and the late Terry M. Denny** Craig:

PhD ’75 computer science Founder and CEO, Pragmatics, Inc. McClean, Va. Terry:

’71 civil engineering, MS ’73 civil engineering Senior principal and senior consultant, Terracon Consultants, Inc. Lenexa, Kan. ’71 elementary education Retired paraprofessional, Shawnee Mission Schools

HONORARY ALUMNI AWARD Ruth M. Harpole**

CORPORATE AND FOUNDATION AWARD

Philanthropist and volunteer Oak Park, Minn.

Union Pacific Corporation Omaha, Neb.

Janice Marie Harpole Jessen** Retired teacher and administrator Mendota Heights, Minn.

FACULTY AND STAFF AWARD David G. Topel and Jay-Lin Jane-Topel* David:

You are invited to attend

2016 Distinguished Awards Ceremony Friday, April 15, 2016 1:30 p.m. Great Hall, Memorial Union Reception to follow ceremony For more information: www.isualum.org/dac Nominate alumni and friends for spring 2017 ISUAA awards Distinguished Alumni Award / Honorary Alumni Award Nomination deadline is Aug. 1, 2016 For information, go to www.isualum.org/awards

Dean and director, College of Agriculture, emeritus and M. E. Ensminger Endowed Chair emeritus, ISU Animal Science Department Jay-Lin: PhD ’84 biochemistry and biophysics Distinguished professor, food science and human nutrition, ISU College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Ames, Iowa

* ISU Alumni Association annual member ** ISU Alumni Association life member Note: Only ISU degrees are listed

WINTER 2016 WWW.ISUALUM.ORG VISIONS

WITH YOU, THE ARTS COME TO LIFE! Invest in the arts with a sponsorship or donation. Donations bring great performances to Ames with wonderful benefits for donors and sponsors.

GIVE TO THE ARTS TODAY!

FEBRUARY 11

APRIL 5

VISIONS WWW.ISUALUM.ORG WINTER 2016

Benefits include (varies by level): • Highest priority seating • VIP parking • Meet-the-Artist receptions

APRIL 19 & 20

Give online at center.iastate.edu/makeagift or pcotter@iastate.edu

PUBLISHERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S STATEMENT 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15.

Publication Title: VISIONS Publication Number: 1071-5886 Filing Date: 9/24/15 Issue Frequency: Quarterly Number of Issues Published Annually: 4 Annual Subscription Rate: Annual membership dues ($57) Mailing Address of Known Office of Publication: Iowa State University Alumni Association, 420 Beach Ave., Ames, IA 50011-1430. Mailing Address of Headquarters or General Business Office of Publisher: Same as No. 7 above Full Names and Complete Mailing Addresses of Publisher, Editor, and Managing Editor: Jeffery W. Johnson, Publisher; Carole Gieseke, Editor; Kate Bruns, Managing Editor / 420 Beach Ave. / Ames, IA 50011-1430 Owner: Iowa State University Alumni Association (same address as No. 9 above) Known Bondholders, Mortages, and Other Security Holders Owning 1 Percent or More of Total Amount of Bonds, Mortgages, or Other Securities: None Tax Status: The purpose, function, and nonprofit status of this organization and the exempt status for federal income tax purposes has not changed during the preceding 12 months Publication Title: VISIONS Issue Date for Circulation Data Below: Fall 201 5 Extent and Nature of Circulation: Average No. Copies Each Issue No. Copies of Single Issue During Preceding 12 Months Published Nearest to Filing Date a. Total Number of Copies: 35,034 34,869 b. Legitimate Paid and/or Requested Distribution (1) Outside County Paid/Requested Mail Subscribers: 33,334 33,002 (2) In-county Paid/Requested Mail Subscribers: 0 0 (3) Sales Through Dealers and Carriers, Street Vendors, Counter Sales, and Other Paid or Requested Distribution Outside USPS: 0 0 (4) Requested Copies Distributed by Other Mail Classes Through the USPS: 275 260 c. Total Paid and/or Requested Circulation: 33,609 33,262 d. Nonrequested Distribution (1) Outside County Nonrequested Copies: 0 0 (2) In-County Nonrequested Copies: 0 0 (3) Nonrequested Copies Distributed Through the USPS by Other Classes of Mail: 0 0 (4) Nonrequested Copies Distributed Outside the Mail: 540 540 e. Total Nonrequested Distribution: 540 540 f. Total Distribution: 34,149 33,802 g. Copies not Distributed: 885 1,067 h. Total: 35,034 34,869 i. Percent Paid and/or Requested Circulation: 98.4% 98.4%

WINTER 2016 WWW.ISUALUM.ORG VISIONS

CIVIL ENGINEER ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER ROADWAY DESIGNER BRIDGE DESIGNER TRANSPORTATION ENGINEER AIRPORT ENGINEER CIVIL ENGINEER ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER ROADWAY DESIGNER BRIDGE DESIGNER TRANSPORTATION ENGINEER AIRPORT ENGINEER CIVIL ENGINEER ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER ROADWAY DESIGNER BRIDGE DESIGNER TRANSPORTATION www.msa-ps.com ENGINEER AIRPORT ENGINEER CIVIL ENGINEER ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER ROADWAY DESIGNER BRIDGE DESIGNER TRANSPORTATION ENGINEER AIRPORT ENGINEER CIVIL ENGINEER ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER ROADWAY DESIGNER BRIDGE DESIGNER TRANSPORTATION ENGINEER AIRPORT ENGINEER CIVIL ENGINEER ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER ROADWAY DESIGNER BRIDGE DESIGNER TRANSPORTATION ENGINEER AIRPORT ENGINEER CIVIL ENGINEER ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER ROADWAY DESIGNER BRIDGE ARCHITECTURE DESIGNER |TRANSPORTATION ENGINEER AIRPORT ENGINEER CIVIL ENGINEER ENGINEERING | ENVIRONMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER ROADWAY DESIGNER BRIDGE DESIGNER FUNDING | PLANNING | SURVEYINGTRANSPORTATION ENGINEER AIRPORT ENGINEER CIVIL ENGINEER ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER ROADWAY DESIGNER BRIDGE DESIGNER TRANSPORTATION ENGINEER AIRPORT CIVIL ENGINEER ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER ROADWAY DESIGNER BRIDGE DESIGNER TRANSPORTATION ENGINEER

NOW HIRING INNOVATORS

TO POSITIVELY IMPACT THE LIVES OF OTHERS

JOIN OUR GROWING TEAM! WE’RE HIRING: AIRPORT ENGINEERS | CIVIL ENGINEERS | TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERS | WASTEWATER ENGINEERS

Ph.D. Program in Business & Technology Specializations in: • Information Systems • Management • Marketing • Supply Chain Management

Full tuition scholarships, attractive stipends, and health insurance! Apply online by January 15, 2017 for Fall 2017 admission

Contact us: 515-294-2474 / businessPhD@iastate.edu Visit our website: www.business.iastate.edu/PhD VISIONS WWW.ISUALUM.ORG WINTER 2016

Calendar  Alumni Events Feb. 12: Cardinal & Gold Gala, Des Moines April: Cy’s Days of Service, all month April 15: ISU Distinguished Awards Celebration April 22: Young Alumni Council meeting

Cy’S DAYs VICE OF sEREvents in the

ISU Alumni Center

 Alumni travel Traveling Cyclones 2016 tours are here! To request a catalog or view a complete list of the 2016 Traveling Cyclones tours, go to www.isualum.org/travel

 Lifelong learning

Feb. 12-13: ISUAA Board of Directors winter meeting

Jan. 12: OLLI at ISU first day of winter classes March 14: OLLI at ISU first day of spring classes

 Career resources

 Arts and entertainment

Feb. 10: Spring Business, Industry & Technology Career Fair

Jan. 15-16: Madrigal Dinner, Memorial Union Jan. 22: Moscow Festival Ballet presents Sleeping Beauty, Stephens Feb. 1 1: Celtic Nights, Stephens Feb. 18: Ragtime, Stephens March 1: Polish Baltic Philharmonic Orchestra, Stephens March 3: Bullets Over Broadway, Stephens March 25: Brunnier in Bloom, Brunnier Art Museum April 5: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Stephens April 19-20: Blue Man Group, Stephens

 On campus Jan. 22: Dance Marathon March 14-18: Spring Break April 9: ISU Fashion Show

 Cyclone Athletics March 4-7: Women’s Big 12 Basketball Tournament in Oklahoma City, with ISUAA spirit rallies March 9-12: Men’s Big 12 Basketball Tournament in Kansas City, with ISUAA spirit rallies For all Cyclone sports schedules, go to www.cyclones.com

 Awards Feb. 15: Homecoming 2016 awards nomination deadline* April 15: ISU Distinguished Awards Celebration April 22: Wallace E. Barron Award Recognition

 Find more events online Campus Calendar: http://event.iastate.edu/ ISU Alumni Association: www.isualum.org/calendar Cyclone Athletics: www.cyclones.com Department of Music and ISU Theatre: www.las.iastate.edu/newnews/arts/isuarts. shtml Reiman Gardens: www.reimangardens.com Iowa State Center: www.center.iastate.edu University Museums: www.museums.iastate.edu Lectures: www.lectures.iastate.edu/

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

WINTER 2016 WWW.ISUALUM.ORG VISIONS

Iowa State University Alumni Center 420 Beach Avenue Ames, Iowa 50011-1430

$100

cash rewards bonus offer*

1 % 2 3% %

cash back on purchases everywhere, every time

cash back at grocery stores

The BankAmericard Cash Rewards™ credit card for the Iowa State University Alumni Association

cash back on gas

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

To apply for a credit card, visit www.newcardonline.com and enter Priority Code VACHR4.

For information about the rates, fees, other costs and benefits associated with the use of this Rewards card, or to apply, go to the website listed above or write to P.O. Box 15020, Wilmington, DE 19850. *You will qualify for $100 bonus cash rewards if you use your new credit card account to make any combination of Purchase transactions totaling at least $500 (exclusive of any fees, returns and adjustments) that post to your account within 90 days of the account open date. Limit one (1) bonus cash rewards offer per new account. This one-time promotion is limited to new customers opening an account in response to 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 2% cash back on grocery store purchases and 3% cash back on gas purchases applies to the first $1,500 in combined purchases in these categories each quarter. After that the base 1% earn rate applies to those purchases. By opening and/or using these products from Bank of America, you’ll be providing valuable financial support to the 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. BankAmericard Cash Rewards is a trademark and Bank of America and the Bank of America logo are registered trademarks of Bank of America Corporation. ©2015 Bank of America Corporation ARPH45XW-05132015 AD-06-15-0544