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Farewell and Congratulations on Your Retirement, President Wintersteen! The Iowa State University Division of Student Affairs is deeply grateful for your leadership and the incredible impact you’ve made on thousands of students, faculty, and staff during the last eight years as our University President. You embody what it means to be a Cyclone. Your dedicated service, creative spirit, and profound grace inspire others to lead with purpose and to make a difference. Your legacy will inspire generations to come. Under your leadership, we’ve launched innovative programs and initiatives that opened new doors for students and strengthened the Cyclone experience. You’ve been a steady and unwavering leader through challenging times, always prioritizing the wellbeing and success of others. We are forever thankful that our paths crossed at Iowa State University. We wish you and Robert the very best as you embark on new adventures in retirement. With gratitude, The Division of Student Affairs

Division of Student Affairs

To Serve The Presidency of Wendy Wintersteen as told through the events that shaped her tenure

Table of Contents

An Interview with President Wintersteen _____________________________________________ 1 Chapter I: Arrival & Ambition_______________________________________________________ 6 Chapter II: Trial by Crisis_________________________________________________________ 28 Chapter III: Resurgence & Impact___________________________________________________ 42 Chapter IV: Legacy & Handover____________________________________________________ 66

Editors

Art Director

Design

Brayton Kohl, Editor-in-Chief

Dasha Gaydayenko

Claire Cosier, Managing Editor

Isaiah Johnson

Isaac Heng, Managing Editor

BY MALLORY PRESCOTT

Wintersteen reflects on Iowa State presidency & legacy AFTER EIGHT YEARS leading Iowa State University, President Wendy Wintersteen is preparing to step down this January, leaving behind a legacy defined by service, innovation and a deep commitment to students. Wintersteen, the university’s first female president, has spent 46 years at Iowa State, beginning her journey in 1979 with the Iowa State University Extension Service, according to Iowa State. Reflecting on her tenure, Wintersteen said her greatest pride comes from the students she has served. “I am really proud of the big number of students that graduated while I served as president… over 57,000 students,” Wintersteen said. “We know from

different metrics that our students have strong job placement and starting salaries. I am thankful that Iowa State plays a role in their lives.” Wintersteen has watched the university grow and evolve during her decades-long career. “Campus has grown… our curriculum has advanced to meet workforce needs, and our commitment to students remains at the heart of everything we do,” Wintersteen said. She highlighted how alumni support has shaped the campus, citing the development of the new industrial engineering building and updates to the College of Health and Human Sciences. “These changes reflect the ways our alums care about us, because they had extraordinary experiences

here as students,” Wintersteen said. Her leadership journey began with the extension service, where she learned the value of listening and two-way communication. “I found a family in my first years. I learned how to bring knowledge from the field back to scientists on campus so our work could be more meaningful to Iowans,” Wintersteen said. She later rose through the academic ranks, serving 11 years as dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences before becoming president. “Being chosen as president was an extraordinary honor; to be the face of Iowa State University is humbling,” Wintersteen said. Wintersteen said her presidency focused on preparing students for a rapidly changing

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COLBY SCHWANTES / IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY

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I will forever be true to Iowa State University,” Wintersteen said. “This has been an extraordinary honor,

world. She championed innovation and entrepreneurship across the university, spearheading initiatives such as the Student Innovation Center. “By helping our students learn creativity and innovation, they will be prepared no matter where they go,” Wintersteen said. “Having courses and facilities focused on innovation gives our undergraduate students a special opportunity to be better prepared for the future.” Leading during the COVID-19 pandemic presented unprecedented challenges, she said, teaching lessons in collaboration and trust. “From every corner of this campus, we were able to make sure our students were where they needed to be… Our faculty responded in an incredible way, and we came through these challenges stronger,” Wintersteen said. As she steps down, Wintersteen hopes to be remembered as a servant leader. “Servant leadership is about being useful to your team… It’s about listening, helping others have the resources to do their job and serving as best you can,” Wintersteen said. Being Iowa State’s first female president was particularly meaningful.

and I am grateful for every student, faculty member and community member who has been part of this journey.” “It was incredible to be in rooms where grandmothers would introduce me to their granddaughters as the president… ‘You too can be the president of Iowa State University,’” Wintersteen said. “It’s important for young women to see themselves in these roles and know they can achieve anything if they work hard and develop the necessary skills.” Looking ahead, Wintersteen is focused on preparing the university for its next leader while reflecting on a deeply personal career. “I will forever be true to Iowa State University,” Wintersteen said. “This has been an extraordinary honor, and I am grateful for every student, faculty member and community member who has been part of this journey.”

CHAPTER I

Arrival & Ambition The presidency begins with optimism, partnership and the promise of innovation

BY TALON DELANEY | FIRST PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER 21, 2018

Day One:

’ ≈To Serve, To Lead, To Excel Wintersteen’s PRESIDENT WENDY WINTERSTEEN traded her signature red jacket for a cardinal red and gold robe during her installation ceremony Friday morning. Nearly 2,000 students, faculty and alumni filled Stephens Auditorium to witness Wintersteen’s installation as Iowa State’s 16th president. During her installation speech, Wintersteen made clear her goals to continue Iowa State’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, as well as expand the school’s entrepreneurial roots. “I want the spirit of entrepreneurship to be part of the Iowa State brand, and something that moves us forward,” Wintersteen said. “Iowa State must be different, must stand out from the pack and must be better than the rest.” She referenced Iowa State’s many achievements, such as the agricultural innovations ushered in by George Washington Carver and the invention of the computer in the 1930s and 40s. “We never patented the computer,” Wintersteen said, and then added with a chuckle, “Imagine the possibilities.” Wintersteen also alluded to the mission of Iowa State as a land-grant university, and the inherent

Reflections

I felt deeply honored to be the first woman president of Iowa State University and to serve as a role model for what is possible when you take chances, lean in, and say yes to opportunities. I remember being at an event shortly after I was named president, and I was talking to women of all ages who were so glad to see a woman selected as president. One individual gave me a hug and told me she was so happy I could be a role model for her granddaughter. I have been blessed to work with a strong team of senior administrators, staff members and faculty, and I want to recognize that through this teamwork, many activities and accomplishments have been realized to support the mission of Iowa State University. As someone who began working for Iowa State University 46 years ago, I am grateful for each person’s contributions to this excellent university. responsibilities it has to its community. “Being welcoming and inclusive is built into the DNA of this university from its very beginning

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KATLYN CAMPBELL / IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY

Wendy Wintersteen is officially installed as the first woman president of Iowa State University by president emeritus Gregory L. Geoffroy (left) and the president of the Board of Regents, State of Iowa Michael Richards (right) at Stephens Auditorium.

moments,” Wintersteen said. “Together, we’re creating a welcoming and inclusive environment where anyone who is willing to work hard will achieve.” Gov. Kim Reynolds, Mayor John Haila and Student Body President Julian Neely all attended the ceremony. Reynolds and Neely both participated in the greeting ceremonies. “I’m glad you have a focus on creating an inclusive and more engaged campus, and I look forward to playing a role,” Neely said. He then led the auditorium in an applause on behalf of the student body. Reynolds took the stage to voice her support of Wintersteen’s presidential vision. “Together we’re working to improve Iowa’s innovation ecosystem to transform Iowa’s economy for the better,” Reynolds said. “As president, you clearly understand Iowa State’s role in innovation and creativity. Moving forward, I have no doubt your influence will continue to serve as a catalyst for human achievement.” The audience erupted in a minute-long standing ovation as Wintersteen donned the ceremonial Chain of Office. Gregory Geoffroy gave Wintersteen’s introduction. He appointed Wintersteen to Senior Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences in 2006, when he presided as Iowa State’s 14th president. “I first met Wendy 17 years ago on campus,”

Geoffroy said. “The more I interacted with her, the more I learned she had a number of great leadership qualities. I was delighted to appoint her to her first senior position, and I was even more delighted when I heard she was appointed president.” Geoffroy also said Wintersteen “is exactly the right person to be at Iowa State’s helm at this point in history,” and Iowa State will remain “an excellent steward to the community under her leadership.” Also in attendance were the many student and faculty delegates, together representing every college the university hosts, as well as Iowa State’s many sororities and fraternities, the Alumni Association and student and faculty senates. Norin Chaudhry, graduate student in biochemistry and president of the Graduate and Professional Student Senate, spoke on behalf of graduate students. “Center to the graduate university is its diversity and cultures that make its academics rich,” Chaudhry said. “We are from Iowa, America and all other parts of the world. We vow to be a forefront of progress for our community and the world.” Senior Vice President of Student Affairs Martino Harmon gave speech before the greeting ceremony, and led the auditorium in a moment of silence to honor the passing of Celia Barquin Arozamena. “She was a champion and a brilliant ambassador to our community,” Harmon said. “Our hearts go out to her friends and family, and as Cyclones we grieve this loss.”

FIRST PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER 21, 2018

The Installation at Stephens

KATLYN CAMPBELL / IOWA STATE DAILY

Newly installed President Wintersteen waves to the crowd at Stephens Auditorium on September 21 during her presidential installation ceremony.

KATLYN CAMPBELL / IOWA STATE DAILY

L: Newly installed President Wintersteen addresses the crowd; R: Simon Estes, bass-baritone, sings The Star-Spangled Banner during the installation ceremony.

BY MADELYN OSTENDORF | FIRST PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER 27, 2018

From Student to Steward NEWLY INSTALLED PRESIDENT Wendy Wintersteen presented “Working My Way Up the Ranks” at the Ames Public Library on Thursday. As the first female president of Iowa State Wintersteen focused her story telling on the opportunities she seized and her intentions moving forward as Iowa State’s president. “You get to have a lot of fun in the field when you are one of the only women working in agriculture,” Wintersteen said. Wintersteen stressed how fortunate she was to have the experiences that she did, as well as the importance of finding new opportunities and taking initiative. She credits her colleagues, her mentors and the farm families that she worked with for helping her find opportunities that allowed her to boost up in the world. “That’s what I tell our students,” Wintersteen said. “When the door opens, when somebody asks you to come forward and to take on a new opportunity that you don’t believe that you are prepared for, walk through the door. Work hard and show them that you bring a set of talents and skills.” Wintersteen emphasized how honored she is, not only to serve as the president of Iowa State, but also to be an inspiration to young girls and Iowa State Alumni from all over the world. “It’s been an incredible experience, such an honor to represent Iowa State University,” Wintersteen said. “It doesn’t matter where I go now, I can be standing in the Detroit Airport, I can be in D.C. National Airport, I can be almost anywhere, and I will have

IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY

a woman come up to me, and they will tell me that they are an ISU alumni and that they are proud. I get to hear that, I get to hear the good news about Iowa State University.” Wintersteen said she takes her responsibility as a role model very seriously and works to show every new person and student that she meets there is a purpose for them. She sees Iowa State as a place where every person can come and find what they are meant to do. “We are built on the foundation of inclusivity,” Wintersteen said. “That is what we have always been

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IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY

Wendy Wintersteen with Farmers Field Day Extension

about, and it is what we will always be in the future. That is what we are going to do. When other colleges, other land grant universities decide that you can only come if you have an ‘A’ as your grade point average, if you had this score on your ACT, we are going to welcome you if you perform and you are willing to work hard.” Despite Iowa State’s strides to maintain the diversity and openness that Wintersteen is proud of, she says that there is still room to improve. Wintersteen said Iowa State has work to do as a university to improve its climate. While she said this is something all universities, businesses and organizations need to improve, it is something she hopes can improve so everyone at Iowa State can feel involved.

As a part of improving the campus climate, President Wintersteen held some listening meetings, where she sat down to listen to the stories of students, especially the international students. “Just the unending stories about how we were not doing a very good job of welcoming all of our students, but first you begin by listening,” Wintersteen said. President Wintersteen concluded her presentation, assuring the audience that her plan for her presidency was to work to make all students welcome and make Iowa State as accessible as possible.

Industry at the Front Door DEERE & COMPANY will be constructing a new facility in the Iowa State Research Park, to be completed by summer 2019. The new 33,000-square-foot facility will be a design and test lab for agricultural spraying and applications technology. This facility comes after the 2017 opening of a John Deere strategic technology innovation center in the Research Park. “As a leader in precision agriculture, John Deere is focused on providing customers with innovative, high quality products and services,” Aaron Wetzel, Deere’s vice president of the global crop care platform, said in a news release. “Our customers will benefit from this investment as the spray lab is expected to enhance product design and improve our development cycle.” The completion of the facility by summer 2019 is dependent on “final due diligence” and “required

Wintersteen’s

Reflections

John Deere’s new facility is a prime example of how we’ve made the ISU Research Park a magnet for business and industry as well as startups and entrepreneurs. Over the past eight years, the Park’s remarkable growth reflects companies’ confidence in the value of close proximity to Iowa State – to access our expertise, research, innovation, and talent pipeline. I’m proud of the collaborative, innovative environment we’ve created – bringing together the right elements to make Iowa companies more competitive and drive the state’s economy forward.

14 BY TRISTAN WADE | FIRST PUBLISHED APRIL 25, 2018 TO SERVE

JOSEPH /DICKLIN / IOWA STATE DAILY JOSEPH DICKLIN IOWA STATE DAILY

The Economic Development Core Facility is located at 1805 Collaboration Pl. and is part of Iowa State University’s Research Park, September 30, 2024.

approvals and incentives that are typically available for projects of this nature,” according to a news release about the investment. “We are thrilled that John Deere continues to recognize Iowa State’s exceptional return on investment,” Iowa State President Wendy Wintersteen said in the release. “The plans announced today for the

ISU Research Park will enhance John Deere’s access to our expertise, research and development opportunities and to ISU’s student workforce.” John Deere is an international company, founded in 1837, delivering “products and services to support those linked to the land,” according to their website.

BY TALON DELANEY | FIRST PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER 21, 2018

A University in Mourning:

Remembering Celia Barquín Arozamena Wintersteen’s SEPT. 17, 2018, is a day that won’t be forgotten for the foreseeable future in Iowa State history, both athletically and legally. The murder of Celia Barquín Arozamena threw Iowa State into a state of shock, one so strong that the following Saturday felt much more like a celebration of the stricken golfer than a football game. The marching band played a touching tribute and a video made by John Walters and Cyclones. tv honored the former Cyclone golfer, who was chasing her dream of playing on the LPGA Tour while finishing her degree. At the time of her death she was 22 years old, and while she had exhausted her playing eligibility, she was ever-present with the Iowa State women’s golf team, practicing with them constantly and serving a mentor role with her fellow “Cyclonitas,” as she liked to call them. Jamie Pollard helped organize the tributes to Barquín Arozamena on the Akron game day, having been at the front of the situation since the beginning, when he gave a tearful press conference at Hilton Coliseum detailing what happened the day of her death. He said he wanted the celebrations of Barquín Arozamena during the Akron game to be the first step in healing for the Iowa State community.

Reflections

The loss of Celia Barquin Arozamena was a terrible tragedy and devastating for our community. In that dark time, I was heartened by the many ways our Cyclone Family came together to support each other with kindness and care and lift up Celia’s memory. “This situation, it cuts at the very core of our community, of this institution and of this athletics program,” Pollard said at the presser. “I know there are many questions, and far few answers. Her legacy is yet to be still defined.” In the year since then, the Iowa State athletic department has made steps to ensure Barquín Arozamena will not be forgotten at any time. The most notable honor came in May, when Pollard and the athletic department announced that the university’s Female Athlete of the Year award would be named in honor of Barquín Arozamena from this year forward. “We felt this gesture was a significant way to honor forever the amazing legacies — as students

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SARAH HENRY / IOWA STATE DAILY

Before the football game against University of Akron on September 22, 2019, a video tribute was shown honoring Celia Barquin Arozamena. Members of the audience participated in a moment of silence to remember the Cyclone golf athlete at Jack Trice Stadium. The crowd was filled with yellow, as that was Barquin Arozamena’s favorite color.

KATLYN CAMPBELL / IOWA STATE DAILY

The Iowa State football team put a sticker with the initials “CBA” on their helmets to honor the Celia Barquín Arozamena.

and athletes — of two of the brightest stars in Iowa State history,” Pollard said in a press release announcing the award name changes. “Our staff felt it was appropriate and timely to recognize one of our favorite sons and one of our favorite daughters in the Cyclone family.” Barquín Arozamena was set to be the recipient of the award in 2018, but her death occurred a few days before she was scheduled to be formally honored during the Akron football game on Sept. 22. “It is a wonderful tribute to one of the most beautiful persons and best representatives this school has ever had,” said women’s golf coach Christie Martens in the May press release. “Iowa State was such a special place to Celia and her family was extremely appreciative of this way to celebrate her amazing legacy.” Her legacy was felt by more than just the women’s golf team — Iowa State legend Gary Thompson said when the names for the awards were announced that “to have my name mentioned with Celia is really special.”

The tributes for Barquín Arozamena were widespread in the sporting community for her impact on the world of golf. Her golfing hero as a child, 2017 Masters champion Sergio Garcia, said before the 2018 Ryder Cup the European team would be playing for Celia. Both teams wore yellow ribbons in honor of Barquín Arozamena, with Garcia telling reporters in France at the time that, “I guess the only thing we can do is pay a great tribute to her and make sure her family feels proud of us.” The European team then won the Cup by a score of 17.5 to 10.5, and Garcia set the all-time individual points record with 25.5. The tributes have continued throughout this year — one of the most decorated athletes in Iowa State history, Bridget Carleton, was named the 2019 recipient of the award bearing Barquín Arozamena’s name in June, a fitting tribute to an athlete the Cyclones will never forget.

FIRST PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER 19, 2018

Vigil held to honor Celia Barquín Arozamena

MIKINNA KERNS / IOWA STATE DAILY

Members of the Northwestern women’s golf team hug Iowa State golfers before the start of the candlelight vigil for Celia Barquín Arozamena. The team arrived in Ames following their tournament to show their support for fellow golfers.

CHRIS JORGENSEN / IOWA STATE DAILY

Friends, family and community members gathered on central campus Wednesday night to remember Celia Barquin Arozamena. Several close friends of Celia’s spoke, including her boyfriend at the time of her death. The event was open to the public and had a turnout of over 1,000.

BY JACOB SMITH | FIRST PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER 21, 2019

Student Innovation Center:

Blueprint for a New ISU SLATED FOR A JANUARY 2020 OPENING, the Student Innovation Center will provide students and faculty with an opportunity to test out new teaching methods, interact with members from other colleges and collaborate with each other. The project has been in development since 2015 when architect firms KieranTimberlake and Substance Architecture were selected. It then took almost all of 2016 for stakeholder input to be gathered and a program conceptualized and approved by the Board of Regents. In the spring of 2017, the site was demolished, and it began construction in the fall of 2017. Now the building is almost finished and students and faculty will soon be able to Iowa State’s center of student innovation and entrepreneurship on campus. The Student Innovation Center will have three above-ground floors and one below-ground floor, including everything from a student-run cafe and a gaming lab to student organization offices inside of it. Now in its final stages, the Student Innovation Center’s programs and facility are almost all put together. James Oliver, the director of the Student Innovation Center, now oversees the development of the facility and is excited to open it to students and faculty.

Wintersteen’s

Reflections

At my installation, I said that we needed to make innovation and entrepreneurship a significant and defining part of the Iowa State brand – one of the special things that set us apart from others – and something that every college across campus would emphasize. Step by step, our master brand strategy, Innovate at Iowa State, has been lifting up innovation as a defining characteristic and national differentiator for an ISU education. With the opening of the Student Innovation Center, we created a central hub for students of every major to engage in interdisciplinary collaboration, project-based learning and entrepreneurship activities. I recall talking to one ISU student who told me, “Before I might be on campus and notice a problem and get upset by it. But now I see the problem as an opportunity for innovation and a potential business. It’s completely changed how I respond to things.” Oliver is a university professor and serves as the Larry and Pam Pithan Professor of Mechanical Engineering. Previously, he was the director of Iowa State University’s Virtual Reality Applications Center

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CAITLIN YAMADA / IOWA STATE DAILY

An advanced look at the progress of the new Student Innovation Center as of September 17. The building is planned to open in January.

CAITLIN YAMADA / IOWA STATE DAILY

James Oliver, director of the student innovation center, leads a tour showing the progress of the new Student Innovation Center.

— an interdepartmental research center that focuses on emerging interface technologies. “It’s everything that we do from teaching and learning to research, economic development [and] community outreach — all of those things,” Oliver said. “So, [a] very exciting and unique mission for any university, but certainly a great opportunity for us here at Iowa State.” James Oliver entered his role as the director of the Student Innovation Center at the start of 2019, but he began working on the project long before his appointment. “I joined advisory committees I believe in the spring of 2016, but it had been already in planning stages before that,” Oliver said. “[T]he long story short is it was in planning stages

probably close to eight years ago and it was jump-started by a gift to Iowa State by an anonymous donor with the stipulation that the facility served the entire university, not just one or two colleges. But that really got the ball rolling.” One anonymous donor put upward of $30 million toward the Student Innovation Center with just one request — the building serves the whole university. “As fundraising continued, that donor, the anonymous donor, put an additional 10 million — total 30 million — dollars from one donor if you can believe that,” Oliver said. “The total building is about half supported by state funds and half from gift funds from alumni and donors, and the mission was really formulated or, well, motivated by that major

donor that we use this facility to innovate across all aspects of the university’s land grant mission and serve the entire university.” Overall, the Student Innovation Center ended up costing $84 million, the expected cost of the project. Programs within the facility will be widespread and include groups from every college. Oliver described four pillars of which activities in the facility will demonstrate — interdisciplinary scopes, experiential learning, entrepreneurial mindsets and global perspectives. “If your activity, whatever it is — again it could be a club, could be a course — if it demonstrates some coverage of those four pillars it has a great chance of being welcomed into the center,” Oliver said. “But, it’s welcomed to everybody.” The diversity of students and faculty working at the Student Innovation Center will also stretch over all majors and draw from minds all across campus. “My hope is that as students pass through, even if they’re trying to get out of the weather, they’re gonna run into people they wouldn’t normally run into,” Oliver said. “And from those ad hoc interactions come new ways of learning, new ways of thinking and students will be much better prepared for success as they

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experience it at the innovation center.” However, with the Student Innovation Center not belonging to any singular college, decisions about what goes in the facility have not been the easiest. “Like any big construction project, there’s probably more great ideas than we can accommodate,” Oliver said. “[B]ut the unique thing about the building is [that] in almost any university a building has a kind of allocated purpose, usually with a college or a program. For this building, 60 percent of the space is shared, which means it is not permanently allocated to any particular program, it is allocated on a rotating basis.” By rotating out based on needs and ideas, Oliver said the facility will always be fostering innovations and entrepreneurship. Oliver said that this uniqueness is something unlike Iowa State, and even other colleges, has ever seen. “It’s really never been done here at Iowa State, and I doubt at any other university where it’s that flexible by design,” Oliver said. The Student Innovation Center is on track for opening in January, Oliver said, and there have not been any major setbacks, so the project has stayed exactly on budget over three years of construction, but they continue to fundraise for additional facilities and equipment. “Fundraising is always a priority and I’ve helped with that,” Oliver said. “It’s been a really exciting process with a lot of buy-in certainly by the entire administration, but also colleagues, and students and student organizations.” Once the building is open, Oliver said the Student Innovation Center will provide tremendous resources to student organizations with competitive project-based activities, allowing them to be more competitive at higher level national and international competitions. The facility will be able to energize entrepreneurship and innovation at student and

CAITLIN YAMADA / IOWA STATE DAILY

recent-graduate levels, Oliver said. “We have great resources here on campus to foster start-ups and entrepreneurial activity and that activity, some of it will be housed in the innovation center,” Oliver said. “So, we have great facilities at the Research Park, but now we have sorta a foot-onthe-ground for that kind of activity here right in the central part of campus.”

BY AMBER MOHMAND | FIRST PUBLISHED APRIL 25, 2018

GILLIAN HOLTE / IOWA STATE DAILY

Iowa State students celebrated ISU Dining Day on central campus on April 10. The event featured booths from all the different ISU Dining departments as well as a culinary challenge between the ISU Dining locations.

Enrollment Crosswinds:

A Record Freshman Class IOWA STATE STUDENT ENROLLMENT for 2019 has 5,597 freshman, which is the largest freshman class in the state of Iowa, according to a press release. The 2019 enrollment contributes to a total of 33,991 students at Iowa State, coming from all 99 Iowa counties, 50 states and 115 countries as well as Washington D.C., Guam, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Mariana Islands. The 2019 freshman class had a record-setting high school rank average of 77.68, a GPA of 3.68 and 28.4% of the students were in the top 10% of their high school class. There are fewer international students this year with 3,189 students. There are 3,380 first-year students slightly more than 2018. Of the 33,391

students, 28,294 are undergraduate students — 16,865 of them from Iowa. Including graduate students, 18,341 students are from Iowa. The College of Engineering has 8,778 students, which makes it the largest college on campus while Liberal Arts and Sciences is close behind with 7,876 students. The College of Business has 4,820 students and College of Agriculture and Life Sciences has 4,821 students, making them close in enrollment numbers. The College of Human Sciences has 4,124 students while the College of Design has 1,905 students. The College of Veterinary Medicine has 149 graduate students and 599 professionals and there are 319 students who are undeclared graduate students or in interdepartmental units.

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RYAN BROHM / IOWA STATE DAILY

Carson Schenck, a freshman studying criminal justice, walks across a tightrope in Iowa State’s Central Campus.

Forever True:

The Start of a $1 Billion Campaign Wintersteen’s THROUGHOUT THIS WEEK, you may notice signs displayed throughout campus. Each sign says “I am here because of donors,” and they all serve the same purpose: to help people recognize the role that philanthropy has played at Iowa State. The Forever True, For Iowa State campaign by the Iowa State University Foundation was publicly launched in the fall of 2016. This campaign’s main goal is to raise $1.1 billion dollars for Iowa State University. Over the course of this week, signs will be displayed outside of buildings to show that it was funded in part by this campaign. Some faculty members will wear medallions to show that their position is donor funded as well, and student scholarship recipients will also be given buttons. According to Larissa Holtmyer Jones, president and CEO of the Iowa State University Foundation, they hope this week will help bring visibility to the campaign. “We were thinking about ways to both celebrate and communicate the Forever True, For Iowa State

Reflections

This historic campaign is a testament to the loyalty and generosity of our Cyclone community. It enables the university to dream bigger — to invest in life-changing student supports, cutting-edge researchand world-class facilities. It ensures Iowa State remains a leader in addressing global challenges, from food security to energy to health. Iowa State University has always been about the future. Each day, when I see students walk past my window in Beardshear, I know I am looking at the future and the incredible potential of each of these young people. campaign. We thought it was important for us to link it to anyone who would be impacted [by the campaign] and that certainly includes students and faculty,” Holtmyer Jones said. “So the idea came about that we do a week-long celebration to try to identify and talk more about some of the ways that philanthropy impacts campus.”

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AUGUST ANDERSON / IOWA STATE DAILY

In addition to the signs, buttons and medallions, the foundation will have locations set up to play games and win t-shirts or other prizes. Students or faculty will also be given the opportunity to write a thank you note to donors. “Whether you’re a scholarship recipient or you have fantastic faculty or you are in a building that enhances your educational opportunity, we are inviting students or faculty to say thank you,” Holtmyer Jones said. According to Holtmyer Jones, not only do alumni donate to the campaign, but ‘friends’ of the university as well. Donors have the opportunity to choose where their money is spent. Many donors choose to give a set amount which is awarded to students in the form of scholarships. Donors may also choose to invest in different departments to fund faculty, research or programatic support all around. “Every donor who invests in Iowa State has a different area of interest,” Holtmyer Jones said, “But one of the most common things we hear from people who are giving back to the university is that they

want to create opportunities for today’s students that were similar to the opportunities that were so meaningful and influential for them.” The campaign is set to conclude June 30, 2020, however, they are already ahead of schedule. So far, the Forever True campaign has raised nearly $950 million, only $50,000 away from the billion dollar mark. The phrase “Forever True” was chosen as the title for this campaign because of its familiarity. Those two words are heard in the fight song and have also been theme in the athletic program before. When asked what Forever True meant to her, Holtmyer Jones credited Iowa State University for her achievements. “I have two degrees from Iowa State so for me Forever True is really about finding ways to give back to this university in response to what it has given me,” she said. Holtmyer Jones believes it is important to thank and celebrate the hundreds of donors that help keep our university running.

Wintersteen’s

Reflections

Leading Iowa State University during the COVID19 pandemic will remain one of the most unexpected presidential challenges that I could have imagined. I felt great pride in leading our senior administrative team, faculty, staff and many others as they largely succeeded in responding to the difficulties caused by the pandemic with speed, agility and determination. I feel so grateful for each and every faculty and staff member who constructively contributed to this (hopefully) once-in-a-lifetime pandemic response. As president, I was proud that Iowa State demonstrated its ability to pull together with a spirit of teamwork in a time of crisis and severe challenge. It strengthened my belief that if we were able to successfully cope with an issue of this size and magnitude, we could face anything – together, as one university.

CHAPTER II

Trial by

Crisis

How Iowa State met a once-in-a-century disruption and rebuilt community life one policy, class and vaccine at a time IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY

BY SAGE SMITH | FIRST PUBLISHED MARCH 11, 2020

The Pivot:

≈After Spring Break,’ Everything Changed ALL IOWA STATE CLASSES will move online beginning March 23 and will continue through April 3, according to a statement from President Wendy Wintersteen. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 as a global pandemic, however Wintersteen said in her email there are no reported cases on Iowa State’s campus, in Ames or in Story County. For students traveling home for spring break, Wintersteen said they are strongly encouraged to remain home March 23 through April 3. Students can expect further information from instructors before March 23 about classes, assignments and exams. Through this time the university will remain open, continuing normal daily operations “to the extent possible,” according to Wintersteen’s email. More information and guidance for supervisors and employees will be shared Thursday along with the ‘Employee FAQ’ being updated. Those unable to return home must register with the Department of Residence through an online form by noon on March 18 to have access to their residence hall or campus apartment. Access cards will

be turned off by 8 a.m. March 23 if the form is not submitted by the deadline. Dining services will also be open but may be on a limited basis. Academic support services may be available in person or online or via phone, on a limited basis. Laboratories, studios, performance instruction, computer labs and other experiential learning sections will not take place March 23 through April 3. Services in Student Affairs such as Thielen Student Health Center, International Students and Scholars and Student Counseling Services will provide services via phone. Replacement assignments or make-up activities will occur at the discretion of the academic program. Iowa State will reassess during the week of March 30 to determine whether the duration of online instruction will be extended. University officials will be available to answer questions about the university’s plans to move to online classes from 3 to 3:30 p.m. in the Sun Room of the Memorial Room Wednesday. The officials will include Jonathan Wickert, senior vice president and provost, Michael Newton, ISU Police Department chief and Erin Baldwin, director of Thielen Student Health Center.

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30 FIRST PUBLISHED MARCH 11 2020

LYDIA WEDE / IOWA STATE DAILY

BY KYLEE HAUETER | FIRST PUBLISHED APRIL 25, 2021

Mass Vaccination:

Students Who Rolled Up Their Sleeves and Ran the Clinic IN ADDITION TO attending classes full time, a group of four undergraduate industrial engineering students helped plan the recent mass vaccination clinics taking place on campus. Tyler Brenza, Grace Nashleanas, Colton Richardson and Sam Schwierking, led by Ghazal Shah Abadi, project manager and graduate student, and Sarah Ryan, Joseph Walkup professor of industrial and manufacturing systems engineering, made up the team that planned the logistics of the mass vaccination clinics at State Gym. Industrial engineering students participated in the undergraduate research assistantship program, where faculty members proposed projects and recruited undergraduate students to work on the projects.

Wintersteen’s Reflections

The pandemic deepened our collaboration with our community partners and fellow regent institutions. The Iowa State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory provided crucial support and equipment to dramatically increase testing capacity at the State Hygienic Laboratory. This effort exemplifies our collective interest in helping the state at a critical time in history. Our Cyclones Care program showed a compassionate response to those who needed assistance. Ryan proposed the project of designing a mass vaccination clinic after discussions with Frank Peters, an associate professor in the industrial and manufacturing systems engineering department,

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IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY

back in January. Peters also serves as the chair of the COVID-19 university response team. “The main skills that the students were involved in were helping come up with possible layouts for the facilities,” Ryan said. “So they ended up doing it in State Gym, but originally they were thinking about possibly having it in Scheman or in Forker. So a couple of students worked on that.” The team also spent a couple of Friday mornings in March observing Iowa State’s smaller vaccination clinics and collected data such as how long it takes someone to wait in line, to register, to walk from one station to the next, to get vaccinated and to walk to the observation area. “We went and observed and took careful measurements of how long it took to do each operation and how the times between — the time intervals between people arriving,” she said. “All of those, all of that data is important for coming up with estimates of not only the time it takes, but the variability of the time it takes for each operation.” The data the students collected went into their queuing model they prepared. Collecting this data and planning is essential to make sure the clinic is dissuading wasted vaccine doses and long wait times.

The students were excited when presented with the project and when they started working on it. “[I was] really excited, just because it was one of the few projects that I saw through Iowa State that actually seemed like it was gonna make a difference,” Nashleanas, senior in industrial engineering, said. “I was also excited about the fact that it could make a difference not only at Iowa State, but if we found something that was useful, it could be used at other clinics and in the future as well.” Junior industrial engineering major Brenza said it was intimidating at first. “Obviously things changed a lot as we were working too,” Brenza said. “For me too, it’s just knowing that the work we would be doing might make a difference here and, you know, across the state maybe too.” Another junior industrial engineering major, Schwierking, said they were initially planning for the mass vaccination clinic to take place in the fall. “We were planning for the fall, and then all of a sudden vaccines started to become more and more available and it became something where, ‘oh, this has got to happen next week,’ so it kind of changed a lot over time,” he said. “It was definitely something that

we kind of needed to be on our toes with and be a little bit more flexible with for sure.” Nashleanas said that while the accelerated timeline didn’t necessarily increase the amount of work the students had to do, it changed the focus of their work. “I would say the biggest thing was just kind of figuring out what was most important. Like we were working on different things and stuff but kind of once everything got sped up we kind of just dropped some of the smaller aspects of our projects and focused on some of the more dire information,” she said. “So I wouldn’t say that it added any extra work, it more so just changed our focus and changed what was a priority at that moment.” Richardson, a sophomore in industrial engineering, said one of the most important things he learned from the process was how to think on his feet and be adaptable. “Everything is constantly changing in a real-world setting, which was very true for this,” he said. Richardson also said it was an interesting experience to see the clinic from both sides, as a student who received a vaccine from an Iowa State vaccine clinic. “There’s a lot that goes on that you don’t even have to — that

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you normally don’t think about. And it’s really weird because I’m someone who’s gone through the vaccine clinic,” Richardson said. “And it’s weird seeing it from the upper level versus what it’s like to just go through it [and] see the difference.” “It was kind of crazy to be kind of on what everybody’s talking about that’s like, nowadays a lot of people [are talking about] COVID-19 or school, that’s pretty much all like in general we talk about for the most part,” Schwierking said. “So to be a part and to be in the know and know that you’re doing something important and contributing to something that impacts everybody on campus is kind of a big deal.” Brenza said this opportunity provided a great learning experience both in his academic career and for his future professional career as well. “Just being able to kind of be versatile and adjust on the fly is huge,” Brenza said.

“This is my first semester doing research so just kind of working on a project of this scale was really cool too, that was a new experience for me,” he said. “I got to learn about the entire research process and, you know, working through a team with something this big was, I think it was just overall a great learning experience going forward with not only my academic career, but in my future and professional career as well.” Stephen Simpson, director of Emergency Management and Outreach, said this project provided an opportunity for students to get involved and help. “Our core missions are teaching research and outreach, and so we have — throughout the pandemic —tried to figure out ways to engage our students in our operation, so it was just a natural process for us,” Simpson said.

IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY

BY ANDREW HARRINGTON | FIRST PUBLISHED MAY 26, 2021

Full Capacity:

Jack Trice Reawakens AS VACCINATION RATES CONTINUE to increase, restrictions across the country begin to be lifted. Iowa State is starting to receive some of these rewards as mask requirements are being lifted, and Iowa State Athletic Director Jamie Pollard said he envisions Jack Trice Stadium being full next football season. Due to the pandemic, the football team started last season with no fans attending the home opener. Heading into the next game, Iowa State allowed a

limited number of fans to enter the stadium. This balancing act of protecting the fans and allowing them to come to the stadium continued for the rest of the season. During the highly anticipated Virtual Cyclone Tailgate Tour event May 19, Jamie Pollard discussed all things Iowa State Athletics. Pollard was fielding fan questions when he was asked whether or not the stadium would be full in the coming football season.

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36 FIRST PUBLISHED MARCH 11 2020

L: JACOB RICE | R: COLLIN MAGUIRE / IOWA STATE DAILY

L: Iowa State fans pack the stands at Jack Trice Stadium for the Cyclones’ 2021 season opener against Northern Iowa on September 4. R: Iowa State senior linebacker Jake Hummel gets ready for the next play against No.10 Iowa on September 11 in Jack Trice Stadium.

Pollard said not only would the stadium experience full capacity again, but there would be more people there than ever before. “We are going to have a full stadium this fall,” he said. “I just saw notice that came across today from [President Wendy] Wintersteen that we removed the mask restrictions on campus, and we are back to 100 percent capacity for any events that we are doing on campus.” This event came just after Wintersteen had

released the update that campus would begin its return to normalcy. Pollard continued to demonstrate his excitement by making one final remark. “Based on ticket sales, I think we are going to have more than 100 percent capacity. We’re going to find out how many people we can fit on those new grass hills,” he said. Many fans are experiencing the same feeling as Pollard. Cyclone Nation is ready to do their part in the stands during the coming season.

BY JACK MCCLELLAN | FIRST PUBLISHED AUGUST 22 2021

Town Hall:

Safety, Science and Trust AT IOWA STATE, classes are back in session and in-person despite concerns about COVID-19 and the delta variant. Life on campus has largely returned to normal, but concerns for spread of the virus remain. On Thursday, Iowa State’s President Wendy Wintersteen hosted a virtual town hall in which several panelists spoke on Iowa State’s COVID-19 response this fall. Among them was Dr. Dan Fulton, an infectious disease specialist from Ames’s McFarland Clinic. “June and July was blissful,” Fulton said. “We had almost no cases, over the past month we’ve seen an increase in cases both in our outpatient clinics and in the hospital.” “I think we should expect a similar process to what we went through last year, things got busiest in October and November, but time will tell,” he said. ”One thing that I hope we’ll see is different this year is that with the effectiveness of the vaccines, although numbers may go up, we will not see the same degree of hospitalized patients and people dying from the virus.” Rather than the university requiring masks indoors, the decision has been left up to students to decide whether or not to mask up and get vaccinated per the Iowa Board of Regents decision to not allow universities to impose mask requirements. Still, Iowa State strongly encourages both wearing masks and getting vaccinated to all students and staff. Students can get tested at Thielen Student Health

Wintersteen’s

Reflections

With the assistance of more than 150 individuals on a dozen campus teams, my leadership team and I implemented a multifaceted plan for campus operations and returning students while mitigating the risk of COVID-19 and maintaining academic excellence. Near the height of the pandemic, ISU’s Public Health Team conducted and processed 47,000 COVID19 tests and administered more than 10,000 vaccinations. Our responses were defined by the necessity of speed, the requirement of agility, the courage of our actions and the ever-present spark of innovation. Our responses were fueled by our shared determination to deliver on our mission. All of us should be rightfully proud of our performance. Center. Iowa State has also partnered with Test Iowa, who have provided at-home testing kits which are available on several locations on campus. For students who test positive for the virus, Linden Hall remains the designated quarantine dorm for students that live on-campus. Another speaker from the president’s town hall was Erin Baldwin, associate vice president of student health and wellness, as well as the director of Thielen Student Health Center.

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SCREENCAPTURE / YOUTUBE

President Wendy Wintersteen was joined by infectious disease expert Dr. Dan Fulton and others for a town hall discussing Iowa State’s fall COVID-19 plans.

“Getting vaccinated is definitely the very best thing we can do to protect ourselves and others,” Baldwin said. “The COVID-19 vaccines that were authorized in the United States continue to be remarkably effective in reducing severe disease, hospitalization and death even against the widely circulating delta variant.” Iowa State is offering a couple different vaccination clinics across campus. There will be clinics in room 3560 in the Memorial Union this Wednesday and Friday, as well as on Sept. 1, 3 and 10. More clinics will be held in room 140 at Parks Library on Sept. 15, 22 and 29; there will also be clinics held at

Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center on Sept. 2 and 23. The clinics offer both the Pfizer-BioNTech shot and the Johnson & Johnson shot. Immunocompromised individuals are also eligible for a third dose of the Pfizer and Moderna shots. “Our best advice is to give grace to others and be kind, everyone has different opinions and perspectives and personal circumstances so we want to avoid blaming and shaming others,” Baldwin said. Iowa State will continue to keep the most up-to-date-information on their COVID-19: Moving Forward website. The full town hall can be found on YouTube.

BY KYLEE HAUETER | FIRST PUBLISHED MARCH 12, 2021

Iowa State’s snow-covered campus, January 31, 2021.

OMAR WAHEED / IOWA STATE DAILY

The New Normal:

A Campus Reawakens IN AN EMAIL sent out Friday morning, Iowa State President Wendy Wintersteen announced a “new normal” to be expected for the 2021-2022 school year. Wintersteen said in the email that they are planning to return in-person classes, labs, studios, residence, dining, student activities and campus events to pre-pandemic levels. “As we move forward, the foundation of our “new normal” will be based on appropriate health practices, an assumption that vaccinations will be widely available, and our deep commitment to academic quality and supporting an excellent student experience,” she said in the email. Wintersteen said this is part of a progression of steps to return to normal, including the

announcement of an in-person commencement this spring and a recent Board of Regents decision to lift the ban on international travel. She also announced the formation of the “Moving Forward Committee,” a committee dedicated to establishing plans for the upcoming school year. This committee is chaired by Vice President for Extension and Outreach, John Lawrence. Wintersteen said the Moving Forward Committee will be working with the existing groups and committees including Academic Continuity, Workforce Protection, Research Continuity, Housing and Dining, Public Health and others to help bring the everyone back to campus in the fall.

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Together, these groups will create the framework for the upcoming year that will guide units and departments in making decisions locally,” the email said. “The committee will bring high level issues to senior leaders as needed.”

GWEN DAVIS / IOWA STATE DAILY

Members of the WiSE community meet on Central Campus during the fall of 2020.

CHAPTER III

Resurgence & Impact Renewed energy, historic milestones and the Cyclone spirit rediscovered

IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY

BY RORY MCDERMOTT | FIRST PUBLISHED APRIL 26, 2021

Lab to World:

Plastics Breakthrough at Ames Lab SOMETIMES THE BEST WAY TO solve a problem is to break it down into manageable pieces. Scientists at Ames Laboratory collaborated with Clemson University researchers to solve one of the biggest environmental problems of today — the excessive buildup of plastic waste. “Plastic waste is a major problem, particularly in developed countries,” Viktor Balema, senior scientist at the Ames Laboratory, said. “We wanted our research to focus on this issue, particularly with polystyrene.” Polystyrene is a standard plastic used in cooking materials, packaging and other situations. The material’s durability and quality make it a desirable substance for these purposes. However, polystyrene’s greatest strength has been its greatest downfall. “Polystyrene doesn’t easily degrade because it is designed that way,” Balema said. “The substance is very stable and does not fall apart under most circumstances.” The durability of plastic creates a very challenging disposal problem. Like other plastics, polystyrene builds up quickly in landfills and requires excessive amounts of time to decompose. It is frequently burned as an alternative, releasing carbon dioxide and harmful gases. A third possible solution is recycling. However, according to Ames Laboratory’s coverage article, “recycling of the vast majority of plastics is not

Wintersteen’s

Reflections

The Ames National Laboratory is a tremendous point of pride for Iowa State University. For more than 75 years, Iowa State has been the sole management and operating contractor for the laboratory, and we’re the only university in the country to have a Department of Energy national lab located on campus. Together, Iowa State and the Ames National Laboratory have produced scientific breakthroughs that have shaped history and addressed society’s most pressing challenges. economically feasible.” The reproduced plastic is “inferior” to the original material, while “sorting and separation are time and labor intensive.” Balema and his colleagues hoped to solve this problem through their research, and through their published article in mid-February, their findings point toward a promising future. The team tested an experimental process, ball milling, to break down polystyrene. “[Ball milling] is a rather simple process, although it is not as simple as it seems,” Balema said. “The execution of the chemical reaction is similar to other reactions where you take the substance, dissolve it

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February’s issue of the New Journal of Chemistry featured an illustration of the Ames research team’s work.

in a liquid and then add the material, temperature or condition change.” Balema continued, “With ball milling, you take two substances combined into a mill. You add ceramic or polymer balls into the combined liquid and shake or rotate the container to mill it.” The process could effectively solve the growing waste buildup problem. In their research, the scientists effectively broke down the plastic into a manageable byproduct. However, even more exciting was the potential for recycling. “The ball milling process significantly reduces hazardous waste during the breakdown process,” Balema said. “It also has an impact on recycling. Ball milling takes the long chain of the plastic and breaks it down into original small molecules. We can then convert the polymer into another material that is still very useful.”

Balema’s team featured polystyrene expert Igor Luzinov from Clemson University. Luzinov’s extensive background, combined with the team’s knowledge of the ball milling procedure, made the discovery possible. Balema is also happy to report the article’s success. “Depolymerization of polystyrene under ambient conditions” was featured in the New Journal of Chemistry’s February 2021 issue with front-page illustrations. The academic findings were translated into many languages and published on websites for global researchers. The ultimate goal from this group of researchers — these encouraging results can break down the plastic waste crisis, one piece at a time.

BY JACOB SMITH | FIRST PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER 4, 2023

Makers, Founders, Tinkerers:

The Innovation Culture Matures Wintersteen’s

IOWA STATE’S OWN STUDENT-OPERATED retail store, Innovate 1858, celebrated its third anniversary Thursday. Established in 2020, the store showcases a variety of student, staff and alumni created products at its store located in the Student Innovation Center. “Innovate 1858 was created to enhance the specialized entrepreneurship education available to students in the apparel, events and hospitality management department, specifically within the apparel, merchandising and design program,” said Emily Worrall, head manager and Iowa State alumna. Innovate 1858’s third birthday party took place at this year’s Student Innovation Center open house. The celebration was complete with birthday decorations and a backdrop for photo opportunities. Students and visitors could also try their luck at a spin-the-wheel game for a chance to win prizes and store merchandise. “I think we were able to make a lot of people aware of what Innovate is, and the event also helped us grow our following on social media,” said Iowa State junior and visual/events manager Keili Holt. Entering year three of operation, Innovate 1858 has come a long way since its establishment.

Reflections

It has been incredible to see how our students are embracing all of the opportunities at the Student Innovation Center – from cutting-edge technology and equipment to collaborative workspaces and applied learning spaces like Innovate 1858, where students learn to run a retail business and even sell their own products. Opening its doors in 2020, the store was faced with the challenge of getting started during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, with the support of students, staff and alumni the store has been able to grow and flourish over its three years of operation. “Since the launch in 2020, Innovate 1858 has collaborated with over 35 cyclone student and alumni makers and provided retail entrepreneurship experiences to 50 student employees,” Worrall said. In addition to providing students, staff and alumni with the opportunity to showcase and sell their products in-store, Innovate 1858 also provides work experience and career development skills to its

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JOSEPH DICKLIN / IOWA STATE DAILY

Innovate 1858 is one of the student-run stores located in the Student Innovation Center.

SYDNEY NOVAK / IOWA STATE DAILY

Innovate 1858 store display February 24, 2021.

student employees. “Working at Innovate over the past two years has been a great experience that I feel like has really prepared me for a career in merchandising,” Holt said. Students entering their first year working at Innovate 1858 are also enrolled in a three-credit course teaching merchandising skills through activities and

quizzes. Some of these activities are directly reflected at Innovate 1858, such as designing new merchandise to be sold in-store. “The course elevates the store beyond being just a part-time job for students, allowing them to take responsibility for all aspects of the business,” Worrall said. Holt began her time at Innovate 1858 as a part of the

e-commerce team and has been able to learn a variety of skills from working on multiple teams. “As a student-run store, we get to make the decisions on what to sell and how we present it, which I think is a great opportunity for us to learn and get experience independently,” Holt said. As a university and student-focused business, Innovate 1858 often collaborates alongside other student organizations on campus. Since its establishment, Innovate 1858 has worked with Iowa State’s The Fashion Show to promote and sell its merchandise in-store. The Fashion Show’s merchandise is sold exclusively at the Student Innovation Center store and helps to promote and grow both organizations. This year, Innovate 1858 will also be collaborating with TREND Magazine. The organizations will work together to host a tailgate at Iowa State’s football game against Oklahoma State on Sept. 23. The TREND takeover tailgate will be hosted on the balcony of the Alumni Center and will showcase a variety of products, with a portion of the proceeds helping fund TREND Magazine. In addition to its collaborative tailgates with other student organizations, Innovate 1858 will host a tailgate of its own at each of Iowa State’s home football games. The tailgates will all take

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place on the balcony of the Alumni Center and will have a variety of merchandise for sale. Stepping into a new year, Innovate 1858 has big plans to further improve and develop the store, said Camryn Mosty, Iowa State junior and multi-channel lead manager. Mosty said this year the store is looking to “continue to grow and improve its learning lab while also broadening our customer reach.” Innovate 1858 also has plans for a rebranding

process this year. The store will be seeking to incorporate a new logo as well as make improvements to its online webstore. As Innovate 1858 commences its third year of operation, the student-focused business continues to improve and provide opportunities to members of the Iowa State community, past and present, while embodying the principles of the university and its dedication to innovation.

JOSEPH DICKLIN / IOWA STATE DAILY

Iowa State’s new Cyclone clothing collection located in the Innovate 1858 store, Student Innovation Center, September 11, 2024.

On the Mat:

Carr and Johnson Lead a Program Surge LEE CHINYAMA / IOWA STATE DAILY

David Carr at the ISU vs. OSU wrestling meet on Jan. 29.

NO. 5 IOWA STATE WRESTLING finished third at the Big 12 Championships Sunday. The Cyclones earned two conference championships, with Marcus Coleman, Sam Schuyler and Zach Redding placing second individually. Iowa State senior David Carr recorded his fourth individual Big 12 Conference Championship, this time at 165-pounds. Carr topped highly ranked 165-pounder Keegan O’Toole for the second time this season in the final match of the final session Sunday night. Carr became the eleventh Big 12 wrestler in history to win four conference championships. Iowa State freshman Paniro Johnson completed his rematched Brock Mauller with a win in the finals. Johnson became the Big 12 Champion at 149-pounds with a late takedown to make the score 8-4 and seal the win. Johnson was pinned by Mauller in the first matchup of the wrestlers earlier this season. O’Toole’s Missouri Tigers took home the team title, scoring 148 team points. Missouri secured the Big 12 Conference team title for the fifth consecutive season. The Cyclones finished with 131 team points. Carr-O’Toole rematch Top-ranked 165-pounders David Carr and Keegan O’Toole capped off the night with their

Wintersteen’s

Reflections

Cyclone Athletics generates tremendous excitement and pride for our students, faculty, staff, alumni and fans. Under the leadership of Jamie Pollard, our athletics department has a long history of competing and winning with integrity. I am very proud of how our student-athletes conduct themselves in competition and in the classroom. highly anticipated rematch. This time, three periods were not enough to decide a Big 12 champion in the match between No. 1 and No. 2. David Carr scored the only takedown during regulation. He held a 3-2 lead in the third period when O’Toole forced a stall call against Carr to force the match to sudden victory. Carr remained the aggressor in the extra period. He earned a takedown and then pinned O’Toole to finish a fourth Big 12 Championship season. O’Toole and Carr have been on a crash course

BY JACK MCLELLAN | FIRST PUBLISHED JANUARY 17, 2022

all season since David Carr made the move up to 165-pounds. The senior for Iowa State and sophomore for Missouri crossed paths for the second time in less than a month. This time, Carr was ranked No. 1, and O’Toole was ranked No. 2 in the 165-weight class. The Cyclones traveled to Missouri for the final dual of the regular season Feb. 25. Entering that matchup between the top athletes at 165, O’Toole held bragging rights over Carr. O’Toole was No. 1 and Carr was No. 2. Still, Carr topped O’Toole by a 7-2 decision, capping off an undefeated regular season and stealing the No. 1 spot in the process. Carr now has two wins over O’Toole. The Missouri wrestler has lost just three times in his career. The two top wrestlers will most likely face one another yet again in the NCAA Championships on March 16-18. Both will be searching for a second national championship. O’Toole is the defending

DANIEL JACOBI II / IOWA STATE DAILY

Iowa State’s Paniro Johnson takes down California Baptist’s Chaz Hallmark during the match on Saturday Nov. 12, 2022.

NCAA Champion at 165-pounds. Five finalists Iowa State sent five wrestlers to the finals, the most since it sent six in the 2015 Big 12 Championships. Along with Big 12 Champions Johnson and Carr,

Schuyler, Coleman and Redding finished second in the conference. All the Iowa State runners-up faced the No. 1 seed in their bracket in the finals. At 285-pounds, Schuyler faced the defending champion, Wyatt Hendrickson. He fell 8-2 to the No. 1 seed from Air Force. Coleman became the runner-up at 184-pounds after losing to No. 1 seeded Parker Keckeisen. Coleman fell short of a Big 12 Championship once again. In his five-year career, Coleman has placed second, third, fourth and fifth place twice. The No. 3 seed Redding fell to No. 1 Daton Fix from Oklahoma State. Redding defeated No. 2 Kyle Biscoglia on Saturday to earn his way to the finals. Five wrestle-back to podium In session three, five Cyclones worked their ways through the consolation brackets to earn spots on the podium. Unseeded Casey Swiderski placed fourth to cap off an impressive overall weekend in Tulsa. Swiderski lost six of his last seven matches to finish the regular season after gaining impressive wins early in the year. The highly touted freshman fell from the national rankings while battling tough competition. Seven of Swiderski’s eight losses came to nationally-ranked wrestlers, including to No. 9 Cael Happel of Northern Iowa. Saturday, Swiderski defeated No. 3 seeded Happel for an upset win. Sunday, the Iowa State freshman advanced due to an injury forfeit then faced No. 5 Clay Carlson from South Dakota State for third place. Swiderski’s wrestle-back narrowly fell short, however. Swiderski tied the match 3-3 but allowed Carlson enough riding time to take the victory. Jason Kraisser earned his way to the third-place match in the 157-pound bracket. He faced Jacob Wright of Wyoming and lost 7-6 on account of a riding time point. Iowa State’s Yonger Bastida placed sixth in the 197-pound bracket while Corey Cabanban and Julien Broderson placed eighth in the bracket.

BY PAYNE BLAZEVICH | FIRST PUBLISHED MARCH 12, 2023

Big 12 Champions:

Joens, Fennelly and a Program's Signature Night KANSAS CITY, MO. — Iowa State’s Big 12 Tournament run was coronated with a conference title crown Sunday afternoon, as the Cyclones clinched their first Big 12 Championship since 2001. Star guard Ashley Joens capped an outstanding tournament performance with a third 20+ point game, leading the Cyclones in the 61-51 championship victory. Joens and her teammates faced a stifling Texas defense in the matchup, but key shots kept momentum on the team’s side. Iowa State was projected to finish first in the Big 12 by the media in the preseason. While the Cyclones couldn’t capitalize in the regular season, Iowa State earned its first-place finish in the conference tournament. “It’s amazing to see the smiles on our kids’ faces. It’s why you do this,” Iowa State head coach Bill Fennelly said after the win. “There’s a part of me that was thinking maybe it’d be a good time to quit and retire.” After being crowned Big 12 Player of the Year for the regular season, Joens put together a historic performance in the conference tournament. Joens’ point totals for her three games were as follows: 30, 22 and 28. She was the basis of Iowa State’s entire gameplan, and her ability to find points in crucial moments kept the Cyclones afloat. While Joens outscored her average of 21.3 points per game, no other Iowa State player reached double figures. Joens’ string of tournament performances earned her the Most Outstanding Player award, as well as a

spot on the All-Tournament team. “I got the opportunity to come back and to be able to play with this team, and to be able to do it with this team and these coaches is as good as it gets,” Joens said. Early in the game, offense from Joens was all Iowa State could rely on. The All-American found a way to put points on the board early, but the rest of her team was shut down by the Longhorns. The game was as physical a matchup as Iowa State has seen all season. The Cyclones were limited by Texas’ constant ball pressure, which held the team to 26 points in the first half. It took some shots from Joens, guards Lexi Donarski and Emily Ryan to fall before the Texas defense eased up and spread out. Once the Cyclones found a little scoring momentum, the team couldn’t be contained. “We had different people step up, which is what we needed,” Donarski said. “People hitting big shots or going in there and getting a huge rebound for us, which everyone was willing to do whatever they needed to do to get the win.” In the preseason, Iowa State was projected to finish No. 1 in the Big 12 after returning Joens, Donarski and Ryan, while adding two-time NAIA Player of the Year Stephanie Soares for size in the post. Once Soares suffered a season-ending ACL tear at the start of the conference schedule, the season’s

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JACOB RICE / IOWA STATE DAILY

Ashley Joens goes for a layup at the Big 12 women’s basketball championship game, Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, MO, March 12, 2023.

expectations shifted considerably. When Iowa State fell to the Longhorns in the Big 12 Championship semifinals in 2022, the Cyclones lacked the size and physicality to compete with Texas and Baylor. But even without the size, Iowa State found a way to win. The Cyclones beat both teams for the first time since 2020 during the regular season, and the team knocked off Texas and Baylor en route to the conference championship. “When you play them, you know that if you’re going to beat them, you better play well,” Fennelly said. “We talked a lot about fighting; fighting to finish and our kids have done that.”

Although the confetti rained down on the Cyclones in the postgame celebration, there is still more basketball to be played. Iowa State awaits its seed for the NCAA Tournament, where the team earned a berth to the Sweet 16 last season. Heading into the Big Dance, double-digit wins over three tournament teams, with a conference crown to boot, provides the Cyclones with more than enough momentum. “We have a group that’s very well-connected,” Fennelly said. “They really do have a lot of trust and faith in each other, and I think everyone’s role… they show up and they give us something.”

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TYLER COE / IOWA STATE DAILY

Iowa State players pose with their Big 12 Championship trophy after ISU’s Big 12 Championship win over Texas, 61-51. Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, MO, Mar. 12, 2023.

Jack Trice 100 Years On Wintersteen’s THE FOOTBALL TEAM, President Wendy Wintersteen, Vice President of Student Affairs Toyia Younger, members of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. and more gathered under the Campanile for the closing ceremony of a year-long commemoration marking 100 years since Jack Trice’s death. Younger, the chair of the committee that planned the year-long commemoration, called her experience a labor of love and one of the highlights of her professional career. “I must say it has truly been one of the highlights of my professional career to uplift the story of a young black man who broke barriers 100 years ago so that other black men, many of whom are sitting here today, could be right here,” Younger said Sunday during the ceremony on Central Campus. Sunday’s event, several pieces of art on campus, multiple lectures and more were all efforts by the Jack Trice 100-Year Commemoration Committee to honor the legacy of Iowa State’s first Black student-athlete, who died from injuries sustained during a 1923 football game against the University of Minnesota. Trice’s mother, Anna Trice, told former Iowa State University President Raymond A. Pearson shortly

Reflections

I charged the Jack Trice Commemoration Committee with developing and planning an initiative that would thoughtfully and appropriately honor Jack’s legacy and expand awareness of his story. The committee went above and beyond to fulfill this charge. I’ll never forget October 8, 2023, standing on stage at the Closing Ceremony. Hundreds of people filled central campus, including the entire Cyclone football team. The day before they had clinched a resounding victory against TCU in the Jack Trice Legacy Game. I presented Jack’s posthumous degree in animal husbandry to his cousin, George Trice, finally – and officially – making Jack Trice an Iowa State University alumnus. It was a moment of deep pride, a moment I will always treasure. after her son’s death that his death would not be in vain if students of color draw inspiration from Trice’s legacy. “My charge for all of us today is let’s not let Jack’s death be in vain,” Younger said.

BY JAY WAAGMEESTER FIRST PUBLISHED OCTOBER 8, 2023

IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY

Younger made a call to action to continue to learn from the life of Trice. “It is not lost on me that while Iowa State University allowed Jack to play as the first Black athlete, he still wasn’t able to live in the same living quarters or eat in the same restaurants as his teammates,” Younger said. “While his very presence on this campus indeed showed great progress, 100 years later, we still have work to do so that all students feel as though they belong here on campus, regardless of their background or their identities.” Jeff Johnson, president and CEO of the Iowa State Alumni Association, said the way the university accepted Trice gives him deeper faith in the university. Johnson said the celebration of Trice’s legacy revealed how steady Iowa State has been toward the university’s mission as a land

grant institution to be open to everyone, noting the difficulty of this in a state like Iowa that is predominantly white. “But yet, the university, in its own way, admitted Jack, gave Jack an opportunity to play here, to begin to pursue his education, when it very easy could have done what was done with many universities and kind of found reasons or ways to not admit him,” Johnson said. “So I think that it’s given me deeper faith in the university that it was doing what was right even when it was hard.” George Trice, the executive director of the Jack Trice Legacy Foundation and a relative of Jack Trice, spoke on Jack Trice’s legacy and the values promoted by the foundation: promoting education, doing more than his part and leading a selfless life. “He was more than just football,” George Trice said. “He was a student-athlete. Football was a part of him; track was a part of him. But he was here to do more than that—animal husbandry, going back down south teaching slaves how to share crop and make money to pay for their families… It wasn’t about him. It was a selfless act.” George Trice said the commemoration has been great, and he said he wants to “complete

the man” and recognize Jack Trice for his efforts on and off the field. “The university has been doing great things in Jack’s name,” George Trice said. “There’s a lot more that could be done. Athletics needs to do more outside of just athletics to partner with the university and do some things to honor him in different ways, again, completing the person, student-athlete.” Jack Trice is now officially a graduate of Iowa State. University officials gave Jack Trice a posthumous degree in animal husbandry during the ceremony, an honor the university started a year ago. Jack Trice studied animal husbandry at Iowa State in hopes of sharing his knowledge with farmers in the south, which speakers at the ceremony called a display of selflessness. Pearson spoke at a ceremony at the Campanile 100 years ago, hosting about 4,000 attendees, honoring the life of Jack Trice. With the permission of Jack Trice’s family, Pearson read Jack Trice’s “I Will” letter. At Sunday’s ceremony, Wintersteen did the same. “Those may be his final words, but they are certainly not the end of Jack Trice’s story. One-hundred years later, Jack’s legacy is more powerful than ever,” Wintersteen said.

JOSEPH DICKLIN / IOWA STATE DAILY

Fraternity Alpha Phi Alpha honors Jack Trice’s legacy by performing a ceremonial chant as part of the Jack Trice 100-Year Commemoration Closing Ceremony on October 8, 2023.

Wintersteen said Jack Trice’s story has made a nationwide impact. “It is heartening to see how the collective efforts of the past year have broadened awareness and appreciation of Jack’s impact not just here in Ames or across Iowa but throughout the country,” Wintersteen said. Younger said the goal of the committee was to teach people more about Jack Trice as a person, not just as an athlete. “It was a very emotional day, all day. Then when I glanced over and I saw the football team walking in, that’s when the tears came,” Younger said. “It was almost like the spirit of Jack kind of entered in. It was just a powerful moment, with the win yesterday of course but also just having a chance to talk to some of those guys on the team. They really understand the story of Jack Trice, and they know that it’s more than just football. That was the goal of the committee all along, was that people would know more about who he was as a person, as a student, as

a fraternity member, all those great things.” Members of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., the fraternity that Jack Trice was part of during his time at Iowa State, were present at the ceremony. Julian Neely, former student body president and chapter president of the alumni chapter Zeta Kappa Lambda chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Inc., said Jack Trice was a “phenomenal stakeholder in regards to pushing the mission forward of our fraternity which focuses on developing leaders, promoting academic excellence and also service and advocacy for our communities.” Gerry Vaughn, a graduate student in management and entrepreneurship and member of the football team, was awarded the Jack Trice Endowed Scholarship. The scholarship serves as a way to support student-athletes, highlight Jack Trices’ story and raise awareness of social justice issues.

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JOSEPH DICKLIN / IOWA STATE DAILY

President Wendy Wintersteen gives the opening remarks at the Jack Trice 100-Year Closing Ceremony on Sunday, October 8, 2023.

BY SOPHIA WYCKOFF | FIRST PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER 18, 2023

A $4 Million Strategic Plan NINETEEN TEAMS throughout Iowa State will share around $4 million in funding for the ISU 2022-2031 strategic plan. Approved by the Board of Regents in June 2022, the collaborative process involves more than 500 students, staff, faculty and community members. The funding aims to expand students’ learning services, provide internship opportunities and assistance to the Ames community, improve the university childcare facilities for students and staff and support research and testing. President Wendy Wintersteen and five other senior leaders reviewed over 70 project proposals. Of the 70 proposals, 19 will receive a combined $3.92 million in funding starting in 2024. The awards range from $13,000 to $550,000. Here are some of the projects chosen to support the university’s top priorities: Enhancing Student Academic Success in Gateway English Courses: More than $23,000 was provided to the English department to redesign two of its most pivotal courses, ENGL 150 and ENGL 250. Together, these classes serve about 5,200 students a year. “These foundational courses are vital stepping stones for academic and professional success,” Abram Anders, associate director of the Student Innovation Center, director of ISUComm Foundation Courses and associate professor of English said. “Improving these core courses will allow the university to enhance students’ communication skills, improve student retention rates and bolster academic success.” According to the Strat Plan Initiative news release, adding this extra support layer can help students feel

Wintersteen’s

Reflections

The 2022-2031 ISU Strategic Plan is an innovative document in the university’s history. Not only is it the first plan to span nine years and define what Iowa State aspires to be, but it’s also the first to dedicate funds for strategic initiatives proposed by faculty and staff to help us achieve our aspirational goals. In the first three years of the plan, we invested $16.5 million in projects that have enhanced student academic success, supported mental health and wellness, expanded interdisciplinary research, improved childcare facilities, and strengthened communities across Iowa. more comfortable as they experience the transition from college. Expanding Online Learning Across Iowa State’s 99-County Campus: In collaboration with Iowa State Online, ISU Extension and Outreach Lifelong Learning Online was provided $434,187. With the money, the programs will conduct more research to better understand virtual learning to reconstruct its online education staff from academic colleges into a single new unit, according to Sara Marcketti, an assistant provost and executive director for the Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching. “It’s about having a growth mindset. We want to serve new markets of students, expand the breadth of our online programs, increase online enrollments, and address Iowa’s workforce needs in ways that

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OWEN SCHREINER / IOWA STATE DAILY

simply weren’t possible before,” Marcketti said. According to Inside Iowa State For Faculty and Staff, Iowa State’s next steps will be interviewing staff, training and finalizing courses and projects by the spring semester. Catalyzing Innovative Research Teams to Address Critical Opportunities: Iowa State University Office of the Vice President awarded $300,000 to support additional interdisciplinary research teams to grow ISU’s funding portfolio. The funding is designed to support projects and help researchers

collaborate on research, collect data and build partnerships with other organizations. According to the Office of the Vice President for Research, around $50,000 in funding is designated for two teams selected to pursue high-risk and high-reward projects for a two-year period. Center for Student Educational Success: Dean of Students Office was given $253,088 to support students’ academic and personal needs. The program promotes impactful learning and empowers students to seek academic

support. Various services that will grow include tutoring, writing and communication consultations, academic skills coaching and supplemental instruction. Enhancing Student Learning through Visual Literacy: University Museums will partner with the Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching faculty to use over $13,000 to enhance critical thinking and communication skills by better integrating visual literacy into ISU student’s learning. According to ISU Curriculum Programs, “The ability to look

closely at visual material and use reasoning to make interpretations and evaluations from observation is a crucial skill needed to be an effective and adaptive learner at any age, critical thinker and ultimately to better understand our diverse cultural world.” University Museums offer comprehensive visual literacy programs for students, hoping to teach invaluable life skills by using works of art. Expanding Support for Individualized Student Success: To expand support, $81,615 will be used for neurodivergent students. Neurodivergent refers to the idea that a student’s brain functions slightly differently than a neurotypical student’s. As it comes in many forms, many might be familiar with ADHD, autism or sensory processing issues. According to the Academic Success Center these children’s brains process information differently than others — one-on-one learning and peer-led accountability groups. Maintaining High-quality Childcare Environments: Iowa State University oversees three campus childcare facilities: University Community Childcare, ISU Child Care Center at Veterinary Medicine and Child Development Laboratory School. Each childcare center

is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). Accreditation is voluntary and includes a rigorous review of all areas of an early learning program to ensure adherence to nationally recognized, research-based standards for quality care and education. Cris Broshar, Child Care & Family Services coordinator said “Fewer than 5% of the licensed child care centers in Iowa are currently accredited and ISU’s three child care centers are the only NAEYC-accredited programs in Ames.” $415,800 supports maintenance projects in Iowa State’s child care centers that enhance the physical environment for children of faculty, staff and students including, but not limited to replacement of flooring, countertops, kitchen and restroom repairs and more. Twelve other teams will be included in the share of the $3.9 million this year including Supporting Student Internships at Reiman Gardens, Next-generation Battery Technology Research and Education, Creating a Strategic Approach to Support Students’ Mental Health and more.

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JOSEPH DICKLIN / IOWA STATE DAILY

Out front of the Memorial Union showing the central campus water fountain and Campanile, July 10, 2024.

Entrepreneurial University of the Americas IOWA STATE WAS NAMED the Entrepreneurial University of the Year in the Americas by the Accreditation Council for Entrepreneurial and Engaged Universities, but the road to the award started long ago, according to Judi Eyles, director of CyBiz Lab and Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship. Iowa State has long been focused on cross-disciplinary innovation, and a recent branding campaign, Innovate at Iowa State, has played a major part in winning multiple awards for the university, according to Eyles. The award was up for grabs in a 33-country region, and Eyles said Iowa State won for its cross-disciplinary approach. “I think that’s how we won this award, is that engagement across disciplines and within our community,” Eyles said. Iowa State contributes to its regional community and the world, Eyles said, and staying true to the land-grant mission has paid off in the form of a growing entrepreneurship program and recognition. This award is the third award Iowa State has received in the last three years. “I do think it is that diversity of how we teach and share entrepreneurship,” Eyles said. “Not to

Wintersteen’s

Reflections

This award is wonderful recognition of the campus-wide commitment of our college deans and program leaders to create a vibrant ecosystem that encourages our students to develop an innovative and entrepreneurial mindset. Our success is affirmed by the number of representatives from other universities who come to Iowa State, see our energetic innovation environment and ask us: “How did you do this?” Some of these visits represent top schools who want to bring back new ideas from ISU’s innovation and entrepreneurship activity. mention how at Iowa State, I think it ties very much back to our land grant mission. We’re learning and creating stuff here that goes out into the world and I think that’s probably why we stood apart from a lot.” Eyles has been with the Pappajohn Center since 1996, when the center started. Eyles said the center has grown since then, and especially since President Wendy Wintersteen started as president in 2017.

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JOSEPH DICKLIN / IOWA STATE DAILY

JUDI EYLES

“Since President Wintersteen became president, that is where things have taken off in a more visible way,” Eyles said. Eyles recalled Wintersteen’s intention to cultivate entrepreneurship before she was president. Wintersteen engaged with the agriculture entrepreneurship program before taking office of the president, and promoted entrepreneurship at the next level, Eyles said. “When the President stands up at her inauguration and says ‘I want Iowa State to be one of the most

entrepreneurial and innovative universities,’ her staff, [and] her deans pay attention to that and support that,” Eyles said. Wintersteen’s dedication to innovation has increased staff and student engagement in programs across campus. “When you got somebody of that stature, with a megaphone on entrepreneurship, innovation and declaring that this is a strategic priorities university, it changes things,” Eyles said. Implementing a formal culture of innovation at Iowa State was easier, given the pieces of the puzzle have been around, Eyles said. “What made it easy for them and for everybody else, we already had so much going on.” According to Eyles, everything has changed since Iowa State started the “Innovate at Iowa State” brand campaign in 2020. “We’ve always had courses, we’ve always had experiences,” Eyles said. “But the branding, the Innovate at Iowa State and Start Something, branding the conversations, making it a more visible thing, I think has just changed everything. We’re as busy as ever. I’ve got 10 full-time people and we can’t keep up with all [that’s] going on.”

Triple E awards are meant to be a global recognition of efforts toward the quest for entrepreneurship and engagement in higher education, according to its website. The award rewards programs that engage communities and across disciplines. Iowa State won the Americas region, one of four regions, and received the award at a reception in Barcelona, Spain. Europe, Africa and Asia-Pacific make up the other three regions. The award, as well as the other awards Iowa State has brought back to Ames, provide validation to Iowa State’s image, Eyles said. “[The award] is a great validation, and it is a tremendous recruitment opportunity for students,” Eyles said. “So instead of selling this idea that ‘hey, maybe whatever you’re studying, this might be interesting to you,’ I think they come here and see that the culture is really anybody can tap this if you have an interest and desire to explore entrepreneurship.” Iowa State won the 2022 Nasdaq Center for Entrepreneurial Excellence Award and the 2021 United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship Model Program Award.

Entrepreneurship at Iowa State at a Glance Iowa State launched an entrepreneurship major in 2017 and offers a minor, master’s and doctoral degree in entrepreneurship. The Pappajohn Center hosts pitch competitions, venture competitions and resources for entrepreneurs. CyStarters, a summer accelerator for ISU students and recent graduates, gives funding and provides educational sessions for startups. Iowa State has made significant investments in entrepreneurship and innovation in recent years, including building the Student Innovation Center, an $84 million building, designed to engage majors from across the university. The Student Innovation Center hosts Innovate 1858, a student run retail store, a textiles studio, a digital media studio, a metal and wood shop and more. “People just rave about [the Student Innovation Center,]” Eyles said. “How cool is this? What a great building. It’s interdisciplinary.” Accessibility to interdisciplinary innovation is Iowa State’s style. “That’s what’s kind of appealing about entrepreneurship at Iowa State,” Eyles said. “It’s available to anybody in any way they personally want to access.”

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CHAPTER IV

Legacy & Handover A presidency draws to a close with celebration, reflection and a focus on what endures

IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY

The Cy-Hawk Flip:

Dethroning No. 21 Iowa IOWA CITY, IOWA — Iowa State headed into Iowa City to take on No. 21 Iowa in the 71st annual Cy-Hawk game on Saturday after taking down North Dakota at home. After a strong showing of resilience by the Cyclones in the second half, Iowa State was able to reclaim the Cy-Hawk trophy and defeated the Hawkeyes 20-19 on Saturday. Konrardy’s game-winning kick seals the deal for the Cyclones Perhaps the biggest moment in this game came down to Iowa State’s final offensive play, where the Cyclones had an opportunity to kick a game-winning field goal from the foot of redshirt freshman Kyle Konrardy with 9 seconds left in the fourth quarter. Prior to this kick, Konrardy attempted his firstever collegiate field goal in the waning moments of the first half. It had been a struggle for Iowa State to find itself within scoring position, so for the Cyclones to potentially have some points before the end of the half would have been crucial for momentum throughout the rest of the game. Konrardy lined up for the 41-yard kick and saw the ball heading towards the left upright, to which it bounced off of it and the field goal was no good. The Cyclones would be heading into halftime down 13-0.

Wintersteen’s

Reflections

Athletics is the front door to our university. When our student-athletes succeed, their achievements resonate far beyond the playing field, uplifting the entire Iowa State community here in Iowa and across the country. But for Konrardy, he wouldn’t let this missed opportunity ruin his mindset for a bigger kick that would be presented later on in the game. “It was not focusing on the mistakes, but focus on what’s next,” Konrardy said. “I just had to go out there and perform.” So when it came down for Konrardy to get his redemption back and successfully make his first ever collegiate field goal, he did not let that opportunity go to waste. His 54-yard kick in the fourth quarter would go on to be the game sealing points to give Iowa State the 20-19 win over No. 21 Iowa at Kinnick Stadium. “I told him right before he ran out there that it

68 BY PAVLE MARKOVIC TO SERVE | FIRST PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER 7, 2024

JOSEPH DICKLIN / IOWA STATE DAILY

Iowa State holds up the Cy-Hawk trophy after a victory over the University of Iowa, Kinnick Stadium.

was just like practice,” redshirt sophomore quarterback Rocco Becht said. “He makes those kicks all the time in practice, so I just tried to clear his mind and he got the job done.” Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell praised Konrardy for what he did for his team, especially knowing that his family was in the crowd watching him save the day for the Cyclones. “For that kid to step up in a critical moment for his dad and his mom, that’s what this sport is about,” Campbell said. Porter’s two-interception day provides spark for Iowa State Coming into Saturday’s game versus the Hawkeyes, Iowa State defensive back Darien Porter had been longing to nab his first career interception.

The redshirt senior was heading into his final season with Iowa State after going through a position change and the constant battle to make his impact known on this Cyclones team whether it be on any side of the ball. Porter had previously been recruited to Iowa State as a wide receiver, but had not found much usage in the receiving game for the Cyclones. So, he decided to make the change to defensive back, where he’d make an immediate impact. Primarily known for his play on the special teams unit, Porter had longed to make an impact in the group he transitioned to be in. Campbell preached Porter as the ultimate team player after going through so much trial and tribulations in his collegiate

career while still being one of the best players on the team. “The ultimate team player here for the last six years is the guy who makes the play to swing the tide,” Campbell said. “He’s the most selfless and incredible human being on our team.” On Saturday, his opportunity would present itself in more than one way, as Porter would collect his first interception early in the third quarter off of Iowa quarterback Cade McNamara that would ultimately turn the tide for not just the defense, but for the entire Iowa State squad. Defensive back Myles Purchase had long awaited for Porter to make a key impact like he did on the defensive side of the ball Saturday and praised the redshirt senior’s success.

“That’s my guy,” Purchase said. “My freshman year, I used to guard him at receiver and it was tough. So to see him do this in his senior year is something special.” The Cyclones would go on to score all 20 of their points in the second half while only limiting six second half points. Just when Porter thought his day was done by grabbing one interception, he would collect his second interception on the very last play of the game, where the Hawkeyes threw up a Hail Mary pass that would eventually land in his arms. “It’s a great feeling especially in a game like this,” Porter said. “It feels good to impact the game in multiple different ways.” Second-half offense turns the tide for the Cyclones After scoring 21 points and showing off the aggressiveness to push the ball down the field in Iowa State’s win over North Dakota last Saturday, it was expected that the same aggressiveness would be shown in the Cyclones upcoming bout against the Hawkeyes this Saturday. But for Iowa State, it did not turn out how they would’ve liked, as the Cyclones offense struggled immensely to push the ball down the field in the first half. Their first offensive first down wouldn’t come until the last six minutes of the second quarter. Through offensive penalties and an interception thrown by Becht late in the first quarter, the Iowa State offense knew they had to change its scheme to attempt to come back in this game. “I didn’t think anything of it,” Becht said. “I just kept my poise throughout the game and trusted my teammates and trusted the coaches to put myself in the best position possible.” Although the Cyclones’ opening drive of the new half would result in yet another punt, the tides turned following the Porter interception off of McNamara.

That drive following the interception resulted in Iowa State’s first touchdown of the game as Becht found wide receiver Jayden Higgins on the side of the end zone for a three-yard grab. Following the scoring drive by Iowa to answer the Cyclones’ scoring, the aggressiveness and big play ability shined once again as Becht launched a 75-yard touchdown to wide receiver Jaylin Noel to bring the game within one score. “We wanted to be more aggressive in the second half because we couldn’t get over those little humps [in the first half],” Becht said. Even though Iowa State had multiple attempts following to take the lead, they couldn’t seem to get in scoring range until the last drive of the game by the Cyclones, where Becht led a five play, 42-yard drive that got Iowa State in range to kick the game winning field goal. “The real win is when you see young men respond to adversity,” Campbell said. Iowa State’s run defense gets torched, but red zone defense holds strong Despite all the positives that came out of this game, one issue stayed evident throughout the whole game: stopping the run. Last week against North Dakota, Iowa State allowed 174 yards on the ground across five different runners. Even though the Cyclones won that game 21-3, it was still an issue that needed to be solved before heading to Iowa City on Saturday. But, that issue was still readily apparent as Iowa State struggled to contain the Hawkeyes running game, mainly coming from running back Kaleb Johnson who torched the Cyclones on Saturday. Johnson’s final stat line would be 25 carries for 187 yards and two touchdowns. Johnson was single handedly dragging Iowa’s offense to the success they had on Saturday. “They were doing a really great job within the boundary with the run game,” Campbell said.

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L:JOSEPH DICKLIN | R:TYLER COE / IOWA STATE DAILY

Left: Fans and players alike wave to the Stead Family Children’s Hospital to show their respect to the patients and families admitted there during the Cy-Hawk game on September 7, 2024, Kinnick Stadium. Right:Joey Peterson (52) and Jarrod Hufford (54) carry the Cy-Hawk trophy after Iowa State defeats Iowa 20-19 in the Cy-Hawk game at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa on September 7 2024.

“Credit to them for their really good scheme, but I thought our defensive staff did a really good job to adjust.” Clearly it was not enough to take down Iowa State, as the Cyclones held strong in the passing game and within the red zone. Iowa State’s defense only surrendered 99 passing yards and forced two interceptions thrown by McNamara that were both collected by Porter. “I’d say it was a collective effort,” Purchase said. “What we keep saying on defense is bend don’t break especially in the red zone so I feel like we did a good

job of that today.” Despite giving up two rushing touchdowns to Johnson, the Cyclones limited Iowa’s offense in the red zone, as they only gave up two other field goals that were both kicked inside the five-yard line. Even with the Hawkeyes’ gifted field position, they still couldn’t convert when they needed to most, hence Iowa State coming out on top. “The red zone is always a big part of our focus,” Porter said. “Our mindset is just to keep playing regardless where they are on the field.”

Campus Heritage Restored:

The Four Seasons Fountain Rededication AFTER TWO YEARS OF RESTORATION, the Fountain of the Four Seasons and the new maidens have been restored and rededicated and can be seen in front of the Memorial Union. “This project began with concrete falling into the historic pool and the fountain’s sculptures at risk of collapsing,” Martin Hursh, the president of Student Government, said. “80 years of Iowa weather had worn away the details of the original limestone and put the Fountain of the Four Seasons at risk, thus beginning a two-year project.” According to previous reporting from the Daily, the original Fountain of the Four Seasons, created by Christian Petersen, was a gift from VEISHEA and is seen as one of the hallmark Iowa State symbols.“The

Wintersteen’s

Reflections

Iowa State’s artistic heritage reaches all the way back to our founding in 1858. It was then declared that Iowa State would be ‘a beautiful campus to inspire learning.’ That vision has endured throughout the decades. Just as Iowa State was founded on the land-grant ideals of making higher education accessible to all, University Museums ensures that art is accessible to all – enriching our classrooms, campus, and community.

BY SOPHIA WYCKOFF | FIRST PUBLISHED OCTOBER 4, 2024

Today, as we celebrate the preservation and significance of the four maidens, we are reminded of the lasting impact on our campus,” Wintersteen said. “This marks the second time the foundation has been restored and rededicated.” JOSEPH DICKLIN / IOWA STATE DAILY

historic fountain is unquestionably the most iconic, most viewed work in Iowa State University’s public art collection,” President Wendy Wintersteen said. “The original reflecting pool dates back to 1937. Four years later, in 1941, Iowa State President Charles Friley commissioned Christian Petersen to create a sculpture to enhance the beauty of this sign.” According to the Iowa State Foundation, the Fountain of the Four Seasons is part of Art on Campus, one of the largest campus public art programs in the United States. Installed in 1941, the fountain features four Native American women representing summer, spring, fall and winter with each maiden facing north, east, south and west. Then-university president, William Woodman,

held the first rededication on June 6, 1998. “We continue to use the arts today, not only to make this campus more beautiful and enjoyable but to enhance the education of the students who come here to study,” Wintersteen said. “The art is to remain an essential component of Iowa State’s culture and curriculum.” In a previous interview with the Daily, Megan Moore, a marketing specialist for the Memorial Union, said, “When it was gone for 21 months, it was definitely missed. It used to be a full-on chain link fence, and so it looked like a construction zone. Now you can see it coming together, and so I think there’s a lot of excitement around that as well.” Hursh asked students not to throw coins into the fountain, as the copper and metals in the coins can damage the sculptures.

Record Research Funding:

A Decade in the Making Wintersteen’s IOWA STATE RESEARCHERS have reached new heights in research funding, bringing in a record amount for the third consecutive year. According to Iowa State University’s News Service, from fiscal years 2022 to 2024, researchers at Iowa State have received external funding of $284.2 million, $301.3 million and $346.2 million for various projects. The most recent funding total includes new record highs in both federal and non-federal support: $236.3 million in federal funding (surpassing the previous record of $206.9 million set in 2023) and $110 million in non-federal funding (exceeding the previous record of $94.5 million also set in 2023). This marks the third consecutive year of record research funding. In 2024, the total external funding for Iowa State increased to $544.6 million, which is over 2.7% higher than the prior year’s total. The community’s commitment to providing an environment for both inspiration and innovation is seen through these ongoing records, the press release said. It also reflects that sponsors share this vision,

Reflections

Our faculty and staff researchers excel at securing competitive funds to address complex challenges, innovate solutions for business and industry and generate economic opportunities that benefit all Iowans. Their work continues to strengthen Iowa State University as a national research powerhouse and leading land-grant university allowing faculty to lead research and develop solutions for societal challenges. The funding ranges in supporting areas such as research projects, academia, scholarships and facility developments. It includes awards and agreements from federal, state and local governments, along with contributions from individuals, corporations, nonprofits and other various sources. External funding covers research operating expenses but does not address costs associated with the university’s educational mission, according to the press release.

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Examples of Iowa State Projects in 2024: A national team led by Partha Sarkar will plan a center to research windstorms and their impact on infrastructure. This project has been supported for four years by the National Science Foundation. The research of agrivoltaics, led by Ajay Nair, involves cultivating fruits and vegetables and raising bees. This project will be funded by the U.S. Department of Energy for four years. Lisa Schulte Moore is leading a project aimed at encouraging farmers to plant cover crops and perennial prairie grass, as the harvested results may be converted into renewable natural gas. Roeslein Alternative Energy is supporting the research with an award. Manimaran Govindarasu is establishing a new cybersecurity center at Iowa State, with hopes to safeguard wind, solar farms and microgrids from cyberattacks. This project is being funded with a two-year grant from the U.S. Department of Energy.

JACOB RICE / IOWA STATE DAILY

Biorenewables Research Building, Iowa State University

Building Tomorrow:

CyTown and the Campus-City Bet WITH A HARMONIOUS SHOUT of “CyTown!” a line-up of key figures dug their gold-clad shovels into the ground, ceremoniously breaking ground for McFarland Clinic’s new 78,000-square-foot facility on Tuesday. The clinic is the first structure to begin construction on the CyTown site and is expected to be completed in December 2026. According to the Daily’s previous reporting, the clinic will house family medicine, pediatrics, sports medicine, occupational medicine, pain management, urgent care and physical therapy. “This is a really exciting day for Iowa State University,” Wendy Wintersteen, university president, said. “CyTown is an extraordinary project … so this is the beginning.” Wintersteen noted the multitude of partnerships needed to make this vision a reality and expressed her gratitude for all involved. “This location is perfect … for all of the students at Iowa State University,” Wintersteen said. “CyTown really represents the bold, innovative spirit of Iowa State University, and it also represents the strength of the town and gown relationship Iowa State has.” Jamie Weydert, physician as well as president and

Wintersteen’s

Reflections

CyTown will re-energize the Iowa State Center as a destination for cultural and performing arts, athletics and entertainment along with ISU Research Park innovators who wish to be closer to campus. The multi-use development will bring new restaurants and businesses to this area, resulting in a revenue stream to address deferred maintenance issues in the Iowa State Center (i.e., Stephens, Fisher Theater, Scheman) and improve facilities for the cultural and performing arts and athletics. It will also provide an opportunity for the Research Park to extend its footprint to meet demand for more space for entrepreneurial and innovative businesses who want to be closer to campus. chair of McFarland’s board of directors, described the groundbreaking as a “momentous occasion.” Weydert said that the lead up to this day took several years of work, and extended his gratitude. “I want to give my gratitude to the team at McFarland who did the heavy lifting to get this

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NEIL GARDNER / IOWA STATE DAILY

Jamie Weydert, MD, introduces Cy along with Chief Executive Officer of the McFarland Clinic in Ames, Andrew Perry, Iowa State University President Dr. Wendy Wintersteen, and Chief Operating Officer for the McFarland Clinic, Jenni Talbott, before the groundbreaking ceremony, April 15, 2025.

project to fruition and all the folks who supported us on the other side at Iowa State University,” Weydert said. “Dr. Wintersteen, Jamie Pollard–they’ve been good champions for us and for this project.” According to Jenni Talbott, chief operating officer at McFarland, the CyTown clinic constitutes the largest building project undertaken by McFarland Clinic. Talbott said that the new clinic will aid the growth of the McFarland network, with an anticipated addition of 30 full-time providers. “We’re really excited that this will help provide the space for the growth that we need to help continue to provide excellent care in the community,” Talbott said. The building will be three stories tall, which Talbott said will “quickly rise off the ground.” Over 100 geothermal wells will also provide an environmentally friendly and efficient energy solution to the building, according to Talbott. McFarland Clinic anticipates approximately 800 patient visits daily when the clinic opens. “We’ll be bringing a lot of individuals and a lot

of foot traffic here to what’s going to be a marvelous space in CyTown,” Talbott said. Andrew Perry, chief executive officer of McFarland Clinic, highlighted the company’s record of working with ISU. “We have a long history of working with Iowa State and ISU Athletics,” Perry said. “Working with trainers trying to optimize athletes’ performance, help prevent injuries and when necessary, expedite their return to the playing courts.” According to Perry, the goal to build a facility at the Iowa State Center Complex has long been part of a long-term strategic plan to continue the clinic’s growth and “meet the needs of Ames and surrounding communities.” “When the CyTown project came up, I’m thankful that McFarland Clinic was one of [Pollard’s] first calls,” Perry said. “I’m appreciative of the fact that this is going to be a centerpiece of the Ames community.”

BY FORD GRIFFITH | FIRST PUBLISHED AUGUST 21, 2025

Cyclones Abroad:

Farmageddon in Dublin ELIZABETH LANE / IOWA STATE DAILY

THE LONG-AWAITED, HISTORIC and meaningful game one for No. 22 Iowa State is here as it gets prepared to play No. 17 Kansas State in Dublin, Ireland, on Saturday. Not only is it the Cyclones’ first time playing outside of the United States, but it is also Farmageddon, a matchup that has produced two nail-biting games the past two seasons. In 2023, the Cyclones took down Kansas State 42-35 in a game that has become known as ‘Snowmageddon,’ and won again 29-21 in 2024 to make it to the Big 12 Championship game. “Just excited to go out and play our first game of the season, I think that’s what we’re really excited for,” senior defensive lineman Domonique Orange said. “Not necessarily in Ireland, obviously, Ireland is a great place, but just excited for our first game and

Wintersteen’s

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The trip to Dublin and the Aer Lingus Classic were a phenomenal opportunity to showcase Cyclone Athletics and Iowa State University to an international audience and create global awareness of the excellent work happening on our campus. finally getting back on the field.” What happens on the field may be what ultimately decides the outcome of the game, but there is a lot more that goes into a game in a different country than in a traditional game. The time difference is six hours ahead in Ireland, meaning the game will kick off at 5 p.m. in Dublin, but will be 11 a.m. in Ames. Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell said he

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did a lot of preparation and research to find out the best travel plans, which resulted in his team flying overnight. Whether or not it was successful will be seen on the field. “You don’t know until Saturday, but I thought our kids handled it really well,” Campbell said. “I think we’ve got such a great group of humans and, obviously, we had a great practice today. We got plenty of time between now and five o’clock (on Saturday) to kind of fill our tank up and be our best.” The team is also taking time to appreciate the fact that they are somewhere brand new, outside the country and being immersed in a different environment for the first time. “It’s really cool. I think one of the crazy things for me is that we’re flying in, like you look out, and it’s just straight ocean. I feel like it’s a lot different,” redshirt senior offensive lineman Tyler Miller said. “All the things that go on here, I think all the

buildings are really cool.” As for the actual game, Iowa State has its hands full with the Kansas State backfield, especially quarterback Avery Johnson. Johnson threw for 2712 yards and ran for 605 in 2024, making him dangerous as a dual-threat player. “They’re dynamic, and they’ve got guys that can, if you’re wrong, make you pay,” Campbell said. “They can make you pay fast. From Avery to the tailbacks to, you know, some of the explosion they have at the receiver position.” Iowa State has weapons of its own, though, with junior quarterback Rocco Becht at the helm, with junior running backs Carson Hansen and Abu Sama III returning a lot of ground production. The receiver room is one that has had a lot of uncertainty coming into the season, but the team has plentiful options. Transfer receivers Xavier Townsend and Chase Sowell and redshirt freshman Dominic Overby should see plenty of time alongside Eli Green and Carson Brown. “We feel like that group has made amazing strides since January,” Campbell said. “’Where are they?’ I guess we’ll have to find out a lot more on Saturday where that group is.” Playing a game in Ireland is special enough, but this game holds even more weight. It is the Cyclones’ first season-opening top 25 matchup, and it comes against a Big 12 opponent, a game that could realistically hold a lot of weight near the end of the season. “You know, walk out to the stadium and it’s, it’s pretty special. It’s got an iconic vibe to it,” Campbell said. “Obviously, we know and respect how special the rivalry is. If you throw those two things on it, it makes it a really special occasion.” The Cyclones take the field for an international Farmageddon matchup against Kansas State at 11 a.m. on Saturday at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland. The game will be televised on ESPN, and a watch party will be held for Iowa State students at Hilton Coliseum.

President Wendy Wintersteen Announces Retirement

PRESIDENT WENDY WINTERSTEEN announced her intention to retire from Iowa State University in January 2026, concluding 46 years with the institution, including eight years as its president and the first woman to hold the position. In a letter addressed to faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends, Wintersteen reflected on her time at ISU, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to lead during a period of growth and innovation. “It has been a fascinating journey,” Wintersteen stated. “In these past years, Iowa State University has reached new heights of research and teaching excellence, continued improvements in student outcomes and national recognition for innovative and entrepreneurial achievements.” Wintersteen requested that the Iowa Board of Regents initiate a national search for her successor, with the goal of naming a new president before the end of the year. Board of Regents President Sherry Bates praised Wintersteen’s leadership during challenging and

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It’s been the honor of my life to serve this university I love. Iowa State has shaped who I am, and as president, working together with my team, we’ve shaped a stronger future for our students and the state of Iowa. As I look back, I’m filled with gratitude and great confidence in what’s next for this university.

transformative times. “Under President Wintersteen’s leadership, Iowa State’s reputation has soared,” Bates said. “With her steady guidance, Iowa State has met and overcome many external challenges.” Bates also emphasized Wintersteen’s deep-rooted commitment to ISU. “President Wintersteen is a cyclone through and through. She has had a remarkable career of more

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DAN MCCLANAHAN / IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY

than 40 years at ISU. One of the things that sums her up best to me is this—on her car, the license plate says “To Serve”. To me, that’s the crux of President Wintersteen’s approach and what has made her such a great president and a tremendous person.” Provost Jason Keith echoed those sentiments, calling Wintersteen a “24/7 advocate for Iowa State University.” “At every turn, President Wintersteen puts people first, whether it’s students, faculty and staff, or Iowans across the state,” Keith said. “She is fearless, collaborative and accessible. Working alongside her, I’ve seen firsthand her unwavering commitment to our landgrant mission.” Faculty Senate President Meghan Gillette commended Wintersteen’s student-focused leadership. “The students know her by name, and she knows many of them by name,” Gillette said. “She frequently attends student events, which is both admirable and meaningful. She has been a stabilizing presence, especially during the pandemic, and has created an environment where faculty feel comfortable having open and tough conversations.” Gillette expressed hope that ISU’s next president will carry forward Wintersteen’s values. “I hope the next president will continue working in the spirit of shared governance and student-centricity,” Gillette said. “Ultimately, I hope they love Iowa State and the state of Iowa as much as President

Wintersteen does.” Keith affirmed that the Provost’s Office will support the presidential transition and assist the Board of Regents during the search process. “The best thing we can do to honor President Wintersteen’s accomplishments is to maintain our momentum—recruiting new Cyclones, fostering innovation and being a trusted partner across Iowa,” Keith said. Wintersteen’s tenure has been characterized by efforts to foster collaboration, navigate challenges and support the university community. As her presidency comes to a close, she departs with a record of institutional development, new initiatives and strong engagement with the Cyclone community. “I will truly miss our ISU students and their creativity, excitement and potential,” Wintersteen stated. “Robert and I will always be grateful for the opportunity to serve this incredible university and community.” The presidential search process is expected to begin soon, with updates from the Board of Regents to follow in the coming months.

TO SERVE

Building for the future

Our public-private partnership with Iowa State University creates innovative projects like these: • Digital Manufacturing Lab powered by Alliant Energy with Iowa State University’s Center for Industrial Research and Service: A lab and innovation space that advances manufacturing technologies to strengthen Iowa’s industry. • Alliant Energy Agriculture Innovation Lab: A state-of-the-art, 85,000-square-foot facility focused on precision agriculture and digital innovation. • Alliant Energy Solar Farm at Iowa State University: An agrivoltaics partnership that combines solar energy and agriculture to create sustainable, dual-use systems.

Congratulations President Wendy Wintersteen on your impactful tenure at Iowa State University.