- 1 2021 Distinguished Professor Carolyn Cutrona
- 2 2021 University Professor Michael Golemo
- 3 2021 Morrill Professor Steven Lonergan
- 4 2021 Regents Award for Faculty Excellence Awardee, Heather Greenlee
UNIVERSITY HONORS AND AWARDS
Each year Iowa State University recognizes the excellence of faculty and staff accomplishments through the conferring of university awards. With these awards, we celebrate faculty and staff who have demonstrated their commitment to learning, discovery, and engagement which are the cornerstones of Iowa State's land-grant mission.
We encourage individuals, programs, departments, and colleges to nominate their most prominent faculty and staff for one of the available awards. Most nominations will be routed through an academic department, college, or extension by a specific internal deadline. College deadlines for 2021-2022 range from November to January. Nominators should check with their units regarding internal deadlines. Final nominations to the Office of the Senior Vice President and Provost must be submitted online by February 10.
To ensure review by selection committees, nominations for all university awards must be electronic and in the required format. Important Note: For questions or concerns, contact Dawn Bratsch-Prince, deprince@iastate.edu or Megan Peterson, 294-6410, meganmp@iastate.edu. Click here. These college deadlines in 2021-2022 are for the University Awards to be conferred in Fall 2022. Colleges forward their nominations to the Office of the Senior Vice President and Provost by February 10. Agriculture and Life Sciences College Guidelines For most awards November 16, 2021 (3rd Tuesday in November) For Distinguished, University, and Morrill Professor January 15, 2022 Ivy College of Business December 20, 2021 (3rd Monday in December) College Guidelines Design January 15, 2022 College Guidelines Engineering January 15, 2022 College Guidelines Human Sciences December 10, 2021 College Guidelines Liberal Arts and Sciences December 1, 2021 College Guidelines Veterinary Medicine December 11, 2021 College Guidelines
2021
Dean Adams - Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology
Carolyn Cutrona - Psychology
Duane Johnson - Materials Science and Engineering
Reuben Peters - Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Molecular Biology
2020
Matthew DeLisi - Sociology
Manimaran Govindarasu - Electrical and Computer Engineering
Robert Jernigan - Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Molecular Biology
GianCarlo Moschini - Economics
Pamela Riney-Kehrberg - History
2019
Michael Bugeja - Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication
Joey George - Supply Chain and Information Systems
Steven Kawaler - Physics and Astronomy
Debra Marquart - English
2021
Locke Karriker - Veterinary Diagnostic and Production Animal Medicine
Charles Kostelnick - English
Steven Lonergan - Animal Science
2020
C. Lee Burras - Agronomy
Mark Hargrove - Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Molecular Biology
Sara Marcketti - Apparel, Events, and Hospitality Management
Loreto Prieto - Psychology
Gregory Tylka - Plant Pathology and Microbiology
2019
Charles Jahren - Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering
Mary Wiedenhoeft - Agronomy
2021
Claire Andreasen - Veterinary Pathology
Michael Golemo - Music and Theatre
Daniel Loy - Animal Science
2020
Lisa Larson - Psychology
Gary Mirka - Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering
Javier Vela - Chemistry
2019
James Andrews - History
Tim Day - Biomedical Sciences
Theodore Heindel - Mechanical Engineering
Distinguished Professor
The title of Distinguished Professor, first awarded in 1956, is Iowa State's highest academic honor. It recognizes a faculty member whose accomplishments in research or creative activities have had a significant impact on his or her discipline nationally or internationally and who has demonstrated outstanding performance in at least one other area of faculty responsibility. Nominees must hold the rank of professor and have served at least five years on the Iowa State faculty. The awardee retains the title for the remainder of their career at the university.
Anson Marston Distinguished Professor in Engineering
- Duane Johnson, F. Wendell Miller Professor of Energy Sciences in materials science and engineering
Distinguished Professor in Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Dean Adams, professor of ecology, evolution, and organismal biology
- Carolyn Cutrona, associate dean, Graduate College, and professor of psychology
- Reuben Peters, Roy J. Carver Professor of Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Molecular Biology
University Professor
The title of University Professor is awarded to a faculty member who has acted as a change agent by making significant contributions to improve the university and who has demonstrated outstanding performance in at least one other area of faculty responsibility. Nominees must hold the rank of professor and have served at least 10 years on the Iowa State faculty. The awardee retains the title for the remainder of their career at the university.
- Claire Andreasen, Dr. Roger and Marilyn Mahr Professor in One Health in veterinary pathology
- Michael Golemo, professor of music
- Daniel Loy, professor of animal science and director of the Iowa Beef Center
Morrill Professor
The title of Morrill Professor is conferred on a faculty member who has exhibited excellence in undergraduate or graduate teaching or extension and outreach programs and who has demonstrated outstanding performance in at least one other area of faculty responsibility. Nominees must hold the rank of professor and have served at least five years on the Iowa State faculty. The awardee retains the title for the remainder of their career at the university.
- Locke Karriker, Dr. Douglas and Ann Gustafson Professor for Teaching Excellence in Veterinary Medicine in veterinary diagnostic and production animal medicine
- Charles Kostelnick, professor of English
- Steven Lonergan, professor of animal science
Regents Award for Faculty Excellence
The award is presented by the state Board of Regents to recognize tenured faculty members who are outstanding university citizens and have rendered significant service to the university or the state of Iowa.
- Michael Bailey, professor of history
- Lynn Clark, professor of ecology, evolution, and organismal biology
- Heather Greenlee, professor of biomedical sciences
- Donna Niday, associate professor of English
- Steven Whitham, professor of plant pathology and microbiology
Regents Award for Staff Excellence
The award is presented by the state Board of Regents to recognize members of either the professional and scientific or merit staff who are outstanding university citizens and have rendered significant service to the university or the state of Iowa.
- Beth Doran, beef program specialist, ISU Extension and Outreach
- April Franksain, secretary, civil, construction, and environmental engineering
- Lesya Hassall, instructional technology specialist, Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching
- Kristen Obbink, public health veterinarian, Center for Food Security and Public Health
- Jerry Zamzow, associate vice president for research
Award for Inclusive Excellence
The award recognizes faculty and professional and scientific or merit staff who have advanced the university’s mission of diversity, equity and inclusion beyond their usual job responsibilities.
- Elaine Phompheng, student services specialist, agricultural and biosystems engineering
- Valentina Salotti, associate dean for academic affairs, College of Business, and associate professor of finance
International Service Award
The award recognizes a faculty member for outstanding international service in teaching, research or administration within the United States or abroad.
- Ann Marie Fiore, University Professor of apparel, events, and hospitality management
Outstanding Achievement in Teaching
The award recognizes a faculty member for outstanding teaching performance over an extended period of time.
- Michael Bootsma, associate teaching professor of accounting
- Erin Wilgenbusch, associate teaching professor, Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication
- Louis Thompson Distinguished Undergraduate Teaching designation: Jonathan Tsou, associate professor of philosophy
Early Achievement in Teaching
The award recognizes a faculty member who has demonstrated outstanding teaching performance unusually early in their career.
- Cason Murphy, assistant professor of theatre
- Mohamed Selim, assistant teaching professor of electrical and computer engineering
- Melissa Tropf, clinical assistant professor of veterinary clinical sciences
James Huntington Ellis Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Introductory Teaching
Established by a 1928 Iowa State graduate, the award recognizes a faculty member for exceptional achievement in teaching introductory courses.
- Kate Padgett Walsh, associate professor of philosophy and religious studies
- Shenglan Zhang, associate professor of world languages and cultures
Margaret Ellen White Graduate Faculty Award
Established by a longtime staff member of the Graduate College, the award recognizes superior performance by a member of the graduate faculty in enriching the student-professor relationship and enabling students to finish their work in a timely and scholarly manner.
- Thomas Holme, Morrill Professor of chemistry
Departmental Leadership
The award recognizes outstanding departmental leadership that helps faculty members meet their complex obligations to undergraduate teaching, graduate mentoring, research and service.
- Frank Krennrich, chair of physics and astronomy
Early Achievement in Departmental Leadership
The award recognizes the exceptional impact of a department chair or school director within the first three years of their leadership.
- Li-Shan Chou, chair of kinesiology
- Amanda Fales-Williams, Tyrone D. Artz, M.D. Chair for Teaching Excellence in Veterinary Medicine in veterinary pathology
- Volker Hegelheimer, chair of English
Academic Advising Impact
The award recognizes outstanding performance by an academic advisor over an extended period of time.
- Jennifer Bundy, assistant professor of animal science
- Alyssa Mittleider, academic advisor, mechanical engineering
Early Achievement in Academic Advising
The award recognizes outstanding performance by an academic advisor early in their career.
- Kelsey Powell, academic advisor, animal science
Outstanding Achievement in Research
The award recognizes a tenured faculty member who has a national or international reputation for contributions in research and has influenced the research activities of students.
- John Levis, Angela B. Pavitt Professor in English
- Thomas Lubberstadt, K.J. Frey Chair in Agronomy
- Christian Meissner, professor of psychology
Mid-Career Achievement in Research
The award recognizes a tenured or tenure-track faculty member who has demonstrated exemplary research performance or scholarship accomplishments as documented by peers or experts in the field.
- Phillip Gauger, associate professor of veterinary diagnostic and production animal medicine
- Laura Jarboe, Cargill Professor in Chemical Engineering
- Michelle Soupir, professor of agricultural and biosystems engineering
Early Achievement in Research
The award recognizes a tenured or tenure-track faculty member who has demonstrated outstanding accomplishments unusually early in their professional career.
- Robbyn Anand, assistant professor of chemistry
- Nigel Reuel, assistant professor of chemical and biological engineering
Interdisciplinary Team Research Award
The award recognizes an interdisciplinary team of two or more faculty researchers with outstanding achievements who have made a significant contribution to the university's research and scholarship mission through successful interdisciplinary collaborations.
- Data Sciences for the Public Good (Todd Abraham, assistant director of data and analytics, Iowa Integrated Data System; Cassandra Dorius, associate professor of human development and family studies; Shawn Dorius, associate professor of sociology; Heike Hofmann, professor of statistics; Jim Reecy, associate vice president for research; Christopher Seeger, professor of landscape architecture; and Adisak Sukul, associate teaching professor of computer science)
Professional and Scientific Research Award
The award recognizes a professional and scientific staff member employed at Iowa State at least five years for excellence in research.
- Maro Ibarburu-Blanc, research scientist, animal science
Achievement in Intellectual Property
The award recognizes individuals or teams of faculty or professional and scientific staff for outstanding university-based achievements in producing intellectual property.
- Nigel Reuel, assistant professor of chemical and biological engineering
Achievement in Economic Development in Iowa
The award recognizes individuals or teams of faculty or professional and scientific staff for outstanding university-based achievements in advancing the state of Iowa's economic development.
America's Small Business Development Center at Iowa State (Dave Biedenbach, Sheri Benson, Stacy Dreyer, Ethan Pitt, Alicia Smith, Jan Owens Bruene, Austin Strawhacker, Jenica Johnson and Brianna Hall)
Professional and Scientific Excellence Award
The award recognizes contributions made by a professional and scientific staff member within and beyond the university and career progress demonstrated by accomplishments at Iowa State.
- Jessica Bell, research administrator, Grants Hub
- Sunghwan Kim, research scientist, Institute for Transportation
- Eric Schares, librarian, University Library
Carroll Ringgenberg Award
Named for a longtime staff member in purchasing and facilities, the award recognizes an extraordinary professional and scientific staff member who exhibits constant and contagious dedication to and goodwill for Iowa State.
- Peter Lelonek, research administrator, office of the vice president for research
Professional and Scientific Outstanding New Professional Award
The award recognizes a professional and scientific staff member who has demonstrated outstanding accomplishments unusually early in their professional career.
- Hanna Bates, program specialist, Water Resources Research Institute
- Paul Kremer, research manager, civil, construction, and environmental engineering
- Kathleen Ross, research scientist, Nanovaccine Institute
Distinguished Service in Extension and Outreach
The highest award bestowed on an extension professional, it recognizes sustained distinguished performance and educational contributions to Iowa State's clientele through extension programs.
- Daniel Loy, professor of animal science and director of the Iowa Beef Center
Outstanding Achievement in Extension or Professional Practice
The award recognizes a faculty or staff member who has demonstrated outstanding performance in statewide leadership in extension or professional practice, and has achieved national recognition for outreach activities.
- J. Gordon Arbuckle, professor of sociology
- Matthew Wenger, program specialist, animal science
Early Achievement in Extension or Professional Practice
The award recognizes a faculty or staff member who has demonstrated outstanding accomplishments in extension or professional practice unusually early in their career.
- Eric Christianson, community and economic development specialist, ISU Extension and Outreach
- Yuko Sato, assistant professor of veterinary and diagnostic production animal medicine
R.K. Bliss Extension Award
Named for the director of Extension from 1912 to 1946, the award recognizes outstanding achievement of an extension staff member for developing an overall or continuing extension education program.
- Barbara Woods, special projects manager, Human Sciences extension and outreach
Click here for a list of past award recipients.
2021 Early Achievement in Teaching Awardee, Mohamed Selim
2021 Award for Inclusive Excellence Awardee, Valentina Salotti
2021 Outstanding Achievement in Research Awardee, Christian Meissner
2021 Early Achievement in Extension or Professional Practice Awardee, Yuko Sato