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 2022-2023 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.

  1. The cover page, nomination letter, all supporting materials and CV must be combined into one pdf document. The file can be a scanned document. Do not send a zip file. The required order is:
    • university award nomination cover page
    • nomination letter and all supporting materials
    • nominee's CV or resume
  2. Select a cover page. (On the cover page, check the name of award being applied for and complete the page. If the award is not listed, it is not the correct cover page.)
  3. When the file is prepared, nominators must submit their nominations to their college by the college deadline.
  4. When the college is ready to submit their nominations, the college awards coordinator must upload the nominations to the appropriate college folder on CyBox. If you do not have access to your college's folder on CyBox, please contact Kati Gorman, kati@iastate.edu.

Important Note:

  • Nominations for some Staff Awards may be submitted by either an individual or an employing unit. Nominations for many faculty and staff awards can only be submitted by a college. See award description for details.
  • If an individual would like to submit a nomination for the specific awards listed below, they must email the complete nomination document to the appropriate email address listed below. The nominator will receive notification of successful submission within 10-15 minutes.

For questions or concerns, contact Dawn Bratsch-Princedeprince@iastate.edu or Kati Gorman, 294-6410, kati@iastate.edu.

These college deadlines in 2022-2023 are for the University Awards to be conferred in Fall 2023.

Agriculture and Life Sciences College Guidelines
     For most awardsNovember 15, 2022 (3rd Tuesday in November) 
     For Distinguished, University, and Morrill ProfessorJanuary 15, 2023 
Ivy College of BusinessDecember 19, 2022 (3rd Monday in December)College Guidelines
DesignJanuary 13, 2023College Guidelines
EngineeringDecember 14, 2022College Guidelines
Human SciencesDecember 9, 2022 (2nd Friday in December)College Guidelines
Liberal Arts and SciencesDecember 1, 2022College Guidelines
Veterinary MedicineDecember 11, 2022College Guidelines

Colleges forward their nominations to the Office of the Senior Vice President and Provost by February 10.

 

                                                                                                  AWARD RECIPIENTS

2022

Diane Bassham - Genetics, Development, and Cell Biology
Lance Baumgard - Animal Science
Douglas Gentile - Psychology
Sri Sritharan - Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering
Xinwei Wang - Mechanical Engineering


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


Complete list of current Distinguished Professors

2022

Steve Butler - Mathematics
Amanda Fales-Williams - Veterinary Pathology
Kevin Schalinske - Food Science and Human Nutrition
Jonathan Sturm - Music and Theatre


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


Complete list of current Morrill Professors

2022

Tunde Adeleke - History
Elisabeth Lonergan - Animal Science


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


Complete list of current University Professors

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 their 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.

  • Diane Bassham, professor of genetics, development and cell biology
  • Lance Baumgard, professor of animal science
  • Douglas Gentile, professor of psychology
  • Sri Sritharan, Wilkinson Chair of Interdisciplinary Engineering and assistant dean, College of Engineering
  • Xinwei Wang, professor of mechanical engineering 

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.

  • Tunde Adeleke, professor of history
  • Elisabeth Lonergan, professor of animal science

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.

  • Steve Butler, Barbara J. Janson Professor of Mathematics
  • Amanda Fales-Williams, professor and Tyrone D. Artz, M.D. Chair for Teaching Excellence, veterinary pathology
  • Kevin Schalinske, professor of food science and human nutrition
  • Jonathan Sturm, professor of music and theatre

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.

  • Julie Dickerson, David C. Nicholas Professor of electrical and computer engineering
  • Margaret LaWare, associate professor of English
  • Sergio Lence, Marlin Cole Professor of International Agricultural Economics
  • Linda Niehm, professor of apparel, events and hospitality management
  • Brett Sponseller, associate professor of veterinary microbiology and preventive medicine

Regents Award for Staff Excellence

The award is presented by the state Board of Regents to recognize professional and scientific or merit staff who are outstanding university citizens and have rendered significant service to the university or the state of Iowa.

  • Monica Howard, assistant dean, College of Veterinary Medicine
  • Wendy Stensland, manager, Veterinary Diagnostic Lab         

Award for Inclusive Excellence

The award recognizes faculty, professional and scientific staff and merit staff who have advanced the university's mission of diversity, equity and inclusion beyond their usual job responsibilities.

  • Kimberly Greder, professor of human development and family studies
  • Mindy Heggen, academic advisor, mechanical engineering

International Service Award

The award recognizes a faculty member for outstanding international service in teaching, research or administration within the United States or abroad.

  • Curtis Youngs, professor of animal science and Ensminger Endowed Chair of International Agriculture 

Outstanding Achievement in Teaching

The award recognizes a faculty member for outstanding teaching performance over an extended period of time.

  • Dirk Deam, teaching professor of political science
  • Phillip Jones, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering

Early Achievement in Teaching

The award recognizes a faculty member who has demonstrated outstanding teaching performance unusually early in their career.

  • Mirka Deza, assistant teaching professor of mechanical engineering
  • Raluca Iancu, assistant professor of art and visual culture
  • Ilker Karaca, assistant professor of practice of finance
  • Tingting Liu, associate professor of finance and John and Connie Stafford Professor in Business

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.

  • Carlton Basmajian, associate professor of community and regional planning
  • Emily Morgan, associate professor of art and visual culture

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.

  • Recipient to be named 

Departmental Leadership

The award recognizes a department chair or school director who has demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities in advancing the faculty, staff, students and programs in their department.

  • Chad Gasta, chair of world languages and cultures

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 role.

  • Hridesh Rajan, chair of computer science and Kingland Professor of Data Analytics or Cognitive Machine Learning

Academic Advising Impact

The award recognizes outstanding performance by an academic advisor over an extended period of time.

  • Ben Chamberlain, student services specialist, agricultural education and studies
  • Michael Wigton, associate teaching professor, Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication 

Early Achievement in Academic Advising

The award recognizes outstanding performance by an academic advisor early in their career.

  • Alissa Whitmore, academic advisor, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Outstanding Achievement in Research

The award recognizes a tenured faculty member who has a national or international reputation for contributions in research and/or creative activity.

  • Jared Anderson, Alice Hudson Professor of chemistry
  • Ratnesh Kumar, Palmer Professor in Electrical and Computer Engineering 

Mid-Career Achievement in Research

The award recognizes a tenured or tenure-track faculty member who has demonstrated exemplary performance or scholarship in research and/or creative activity as documented by peers or experts in the field.

  • Megan Gilligan, associate professor of human development and family studies
  • Kirill Kovnir, professor of chemistry
  • Simon Laflamme, professor of civil, construction and environmental engineering and Waldo W. Wegner Professor in Civil Engineering

Early Achievement in Research

The award recognizes a tenured or tenure-track faculty member who has demonstrated outstanding accomplishments in research and/or creative activity unusually early in their professional career.

  • Walter Moss, associate professor of biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology
  • Peter Orth, associate professor of physics and astronomy
  • Cristina Poleacovschi, assistant professor of civil, construction and environmental 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.

C-CHANGE (Consortium for Cultivating Human And Naturally reGenerative Enterprises)

  • Adam Janke, associate professor of natural resource ecology and management
  • Omar de Kok-Mercado, program assistant, natural resource ecology and management
  • Mark Mba-Wright, associate professor of mechanical engineering
  • Marshall McDaniel, associate professor of agronomy
  • Jarad Niemi, associate professor of statistics
  • Lisa Schulte Moore, professor of natural resource ecology and management
  • Dana Schweitzer, program specialist, natural resource ecology and management

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.

  • Cajetan Nlebedim, scientist, Ames Laboratory

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.

  • Raymond Hansen, director, Agricultural Marketing Resource Center 

Achievement in Intellectual Property

The award recognizes individuals or teams of faculty and professional and scientific staff for outstanding university-based achievements in producing intellectual property.

  • Robbyn Anand, associate professor and Carlyle G. Caldwell Endowed Chair in Chemistry

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.

  • Lisa Lund, manager of information technology support, College of Veterinary Medicine
  • Jennifer Plagman-Galvin, senior manager of business administration, College of Human Sciences
  • Kathryn Wieland, director of career services, Ivy College of Business 

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.

  • Michael Holtzbauer, meat laboratory manager, animal science

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.

  • Jordan Brooks, director of equity, inclusion and multicultural student success, College of Design
  • Alisha Carroll, alumni relations specialist, civil, construction and environmental engineering
  • Maya Hayslett, extension youth education specialist, plant pathology and microbiology 

Distinguished Service in Extension and Outreach

The highest award bestowed on an extension professional recognizes sustained distinguished performance and educational contributions to Iowa State's clientele through extension programs.

  • Jill Weber, extension food and health education specialist, Human Sciences Extension and Outreach 

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.

  • Denise Schwab, extension agriculture education specialist, Iowa Beef Center
  • Christopher Seeger, professor of landscape architecture, Community and Economic Development Extension and Outreach 

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.

  • Amy Powell, extension youth education specialist, animal science 

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.

  • Larry Tranel, extension agriculture education specialist, Extension and Outreach Dairy Team

 

Click here for a list of past award recipients.

2022 Early Achievement in Extension or Professional Practice awardee, Amy Powell

2022 Mid-Career Achievement in Research awardee, Kirill Kovnir

2022 Inclusive Excellence awardee, Kimberly Greder

2022 R.K. Bliss Extension awardee, Larry Tranel