Schedule of Events

Watergate 50 Years Later: What Have We Learned?
Thu, 05 Sep 2024, 5:30 PM – Great Hall, Memorial Union - President Richard Nixon resigned as president of the United States on August 9, 1974, after the House Judiciary Committee approved three articles of impeachment again him. The charges stemmed from Nixon's actions to cover up his administration's involvement in the 1972 burglary of the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate Office Building in Washington, D.C. The political and public pressure forced Nixon to leave office. Fifty years later, impeachment has become a weapon both major political parties have used against each other. This panel will explore the lessons we learned as a society during the Watergate hearings, how the use of impeachment has changed 50 years later, and the impact of the recent Supreme Court decision expanding Presidential immunity.Before the panel discussion, there will be a brief refresher video about the break-in and its consequences, produced by B&G Productions.PanelistsEd Mezvinsky, an Ames native, served as a member of the Iowa House of Representatives from 1969 to 1971 and then as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1973 to 1977, representing Iowa's 1st congressional district. While in Congress, Mezvinsky served on the House Judiciary Committee during the impeachment proceedings against President Richard Nixon in 1974. His Congressional papers include records of all the closed sessions of the House Judiciary Committee during Watergate. They are now part of the Mezvinsky papers at the ISU Parks Library Collections. and open to the public after being sealed by the Government for 50 years. Ed also served as U.S. Representative to the United Nations Human Rights Commission from 1977-79. He is currently President of Global Advocacy, Ltd. and Patient Advocate for Jericho Road Community Health Center in Buffalo New York and globally in Sierra Leone, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Nepal.  Jonathan R. Yarowsky entered public service  in 1982 as chief counsel of the U.S. House Judiciary Eco­nomic and Commercial Law Subcommittee. Soon after, he became general counsel of the House Committee on the Judiciary, where he oversaw 40 lawyers in six different subcom­mittees. From 1995 to 1998, he served as special counsel to the President (Clinton), whom he advised on antitrust, telecommunications and crime. When he re-entered private practice in 1998 he was appointed by the President and Congress to serve as a member of the National Commission on Crime. Yarowsky was also named in May 2024 by  the Washingto­nian magazine as one of Washington DC’s nine “Most Influential People Shaping Policy” in Anti-Trust -- for the third consecutive year.Jeff Ubiois has collaborated with Mezvinsky on his collection of Watergate papers since 2016. He is Vice President, Knowledge Management Lever for Change for the MacArthur Foundation. He also works in the Foundation’s American Democracy, Philanthropy and 100&Change programs. Ubois is also on the board of Better World Libraries -- a mission-driven for-profit bookseller that has donated almost $29 million and more than 26.5 million books to global literacy programs during the past two decades.Kathie Obradovich (moderator) has been Editor-in-Chief of the Iowa Capital Dispatch since its inception in January 2020 as a free, online, not-for-profit, news organization dedicated to connecting Iowans to their state government and its impact on their lives. She has 37 years of reporting experience in Iowa. She covered the Iowa Statehouse for 16 years for  Lee Enterprise newspapers. Obradovich then spent 16 years with the Des Moines Register as a political columnist and opinion editor before joining the Capital Dispatch, which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news organization with operations in every state capital.This lecture will be recorded and ready to view on the Available Recordings page approximately 24-36 hours after the conclusion of the event.

Impacts of Transitioning to a Green(er) Economy
Tue, 10 Sep 2024, 6:00 PM – Great Hall, Memorial Union - 2024 Kerry and Linda Killinger Foundation LectureSimon Gilchrist is a professor of economics at New York University and a research associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research. His research interests relate to monetary economics and applied macroeconomics. Much of his research focusses on the consequences of financial market turmoil and its impact on real economic activity, with particular focus on the implications for investment behavior, business-cycle dynamics, and the conduct of monetary policy. In recent work, Simon Gilchrist has explored the causes and consequences of financial crises and asset prices bubbles, as well as the appropriate monetary policy response to such events.Simon Gilchrist received his BA from Iowa State University in 1984, and his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin in 1990. Prior to arriving at Boston University in 1995, Gilchrist served as a staff economist at the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and has held visiting positions at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. He has also served as an academic consultant to the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Bank of Canada, the Bank of England, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco and the International Monetary Fund. He is currently a member of the editorial board of the American Economic Review, and an associate editor at the Review of Economics and Statistics.This lecture is available to view on the Available Recordings page.

Civil Conversations About Democracy? We Need to Talk
Wed, 11 Sep 2024, 7:00 PM – Cardinal Room, Memorial Union - Following a brief introduction about their new book, Raising America: Building a More Perfect Union, former ISU professor Charles R. Kniker and former high school English teacher and current minister Dianne Prichard will discuss ways individuals and groups can hold meaningful conversations about today’s political situations. Responding in a question/answer format, they, along with V. V. Raman, a distinguished physicist and philosopher, tackle the fragile territory of conversation among friends and family.About the speakers:An ISU Professor of Education for 24 years and author of seven books, Charles is also an ordained minister, served as a seminary president, and Associate Director for Academic Affairs and Research, Iowa Board of Regents. While at ISU, he was the founding editor of the refereed journal, Religion & Education.For Dianne Prichard, twenty years of farming (1949-1973), 33 years of teaching (1973-2006) and 20 years of preaching (2004-present) provided a framework for holding onto one resigned husband and raising three multi-talented, slightly embarrassed children. This all was accomplished within 100 square miles of the eastern seaboard of Iowa, with brief sojourns at Wartburg College in Waverly, the Goethe Institute in Passau, Bavaria, South Dakota State University, and Wartburg Theological Seminary in Dubuque. Due to the dynamics of aging, she lives in her Cottage on Silver Creek, only two blocks from her husband's abode, affectionally referred to as Stonehenge. Prichard has a penchant for seeing solutions within problems, from making Shakespeare fun to organizing mask-making volunteers to filing for office at the last minute to saving democracy.This lecture is available to view on the Available Recordings page.

The History of Presidential Debates, 1960-Present
Thu, 12 Sep 2024, 6:00 PM – 2630 Memorial Union - 2024 Constitution Day LectureOne of the rituals of American democracy is quadrennial debates between the Democratic and Republican nominees for president. Yet this particular tradition did not evolve until 1960 and was almost not repeated. This lecture will cover the history of presidential debates and what we’ve seen so far in the 2024 election season.Dr. Karen M. Kedrowski is Director of the Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics and Professor of Political Science at Iowa State University. The Catt Center conducts research on women and politics, with a focus on Iowa; and promotes civic engagement. In addition to her duties at the Catt Center, Dr. Kedrowski teaches courses in American Politics and conducts research on women in American politics and civic engagement. She joined the Iowa State faculty in January 2019.Dr. Kedrowski is a graduate of the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities and the University of Oklahoma, Norman. Prior to coming to Iowa State, she spent 24 years at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina, where she served in many roles, including Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. She also received Winthrop’s highest faculty honor, Distinguished Professor, in 2011.This lecture is available to view on the Available Recordings page.

All the Letters: Understanding LGBTQIA+ Identities and Experiences in 2024
Mon, 16 Sep 2024, 6:00 PM – Sun Room, Memorial Union - Robyn Ochs is a US-based speaker, grassroots activist, and editor of Bi Women Quarterly and two anthologies: the 42-country collection Getting Bi: Voices of Bisexuals Around the World and RECOGNIZE: The Voices of Bisexual Men. An advocate for the rights of people of ALL orientations and genders to live safely, openly and with full access and opportunity, Robyn’s work focuses on increasing awareness and understanding of complex identities and mobilizing people to be powerful allies to one another within and across identities and social movements, with special interest in bi+ health, the experiences of bi+ people in the workplace, the global bi+ movement, and bi and LGBTQIA+ youth. Robyn was named by Teen Vogue as one of “9 Bisexual Women Who are Making History.” This event is part of a Women’s and Gender Studies Lecture Series funded by the Mellon Foundation’s Affirming Multivocal Humanities Grant, which was awarded to Dr. Winfrey and the WGS program in the fall of 2023.This lecture is available to view on the Available Recordings page.

Crying on the Camino
Tue, 17 Sep 2024, 6:00 PM – Sun Room, Memorial Union - Crying on the Camino is an original one-woman show conceived at the Wynn Handman Studios in New York City. This is a true account of an 11 day, 200-mile trek along Spain’s Camino de Santiago, an ancient pilgrim path leading to the Cathedral of the Santiago de Compostela in Northwest Spain. Each year, hundreds of thousands of pilgrims from around the world walk or bike various routes to reach this final destination. This show chronicles the highs and lows of her adventure on the path, taking us on a journey of hilarity, hardship, and healing. Celeste weaves deft storytelling with snippets of song to highlight the humor and poignancy of this life-affirming trip, bringing audiences along the trail with her. This show has received the 2022 Broadway World Award for Best New Play and Best Performer. This play has received standing ovations from audiences across the United States, in fourteen different states. Crying on the Camino recently moved to the international stage with performances in Madrid and Santiago, Spain this past May.  Veteran stage actress Celeste Mancinelli has performed professionally since the early 80’s. Her NYC credits include the hit show “Nunsense” at the Douglas Fairbanks Theater, Cynthia Heimel’s long-running play “A Girl’s Guide to Chaos” at the American Place Theater (originating the character of Lurene), and Larry Gelbart’s “1-2-3-4-5” at the Manhattan Theater Club.  She has appeared as Mama in “My Big Fat Gay Italian Wedding” and its sequel (Funeral) at the St Luke’s Theatre. This past April she completed a run of “RUBBER” at the Theatre for the New City in NYC. Celeste has also worked in numerous Off-Broadway, cabaret, stock, regional, and national tours throughout the United States.  This lecture is available to view on the Available Recordings page for those with ISU login credentials.

Getting Bi: Challenging Biphobia and Bi Erasure and Creating a Culture of Inclusion
Wed, 18 Sep 2024, 6:00 PM – Sun Room, Memorial Union - What does it mean to identify as bi+ (bisexual, pansexual, fluid, etc.)? What are the challenges to recognizing and understanding bisexuality and other non-binary sexualities—the largest yet often-overlooked segment of the LGBTQ+ community? No matter how you identify, come to this engaging and interactive program if you could use some tools for challenging ignorance, biphobia, and bi erasure and finding bi+ joy.Robyn Ochs is a US-based speaker, grassroots activist, and editor of Bi Women Quarterly and two anthologies: the 42-country collection Getting Bi: Voices of Bisexuals Around the World and RECOGNIZE: The Voices of Bisexual Men. An advocate for the rights of people of ALL orientations and genders to live safely, openly and with full access and opportunity, Robyn’s work focuses on increasing awareness and understanding of complex identities and mobilizing people to be powerful allies to one another within and across identities and social movements, with special interest in bi+ health, the experiences of bi+ people in the workplace, the global bi+ movement, and bi and LGBTQIA+ youth. Robyn was named by Teen Vogue as one of “9 Bisexual Women Who are Making History.” This event is part of a Women’s and Gender Studies Lecture Series funded by the Mellon Foundation’s Affirming Multivocal Humanities Grant, which was awarded to Dr. Winfrey and the WGS program in the fall of 2023.This lecture is available to view on the Available Recordings page.

Historical Narratives from a Ho Chunk Perspective
Thu, 19 Sep 2024, 6:00 PM – 2630 Memorial Union - Henry Payer is a Ho-Chunk artist who works primarily with collage and mixed media. Born in Sioux City, IA in 1986, Payer received a BFA from the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, NM in 2008. He was invited to study at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and obtained an MFA in 2013. Henry has exhibited his work at locations such as the Great Plains Art Museum in Lincoln, NE; All My Relations Gallery in Minneapolis, MN; Sherry Leedy Contemporary Art in Kansas City, MO; and Overture Galleries in Madison, WI. Payer’s work has also been exhibited at the University of Venice Ca’Voscari, Palazzo Cosulich in Venice, Italy. Payer has spent time as an instructor at the Oscar Howe Summer Art Institute at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion. He currently lives in Sioux City, IA.All are welcome to attend the reception for Payer's exhibit "Neutral Ground" in the MU Art Gallery following the lecture.This lecture will be recorded and ready to view on the Available Recordings page approximately 24-36 hours after the conclusion of the event.

Yoga 101: What Is It and Why Do We Do It?
Thu, 19 Sep 2024, 6:00 PM – Garden Room, Reiman Gardens - Yoga! What is it? Where did it come from? How many Yogas are there? Which one's for me? Is it for me? Join Dr. Manisha Sharma as she answers these questions and showcases this practice and her journey with it. No matter whether you are a novice or an expert, this program is sure to answer what yoga is all about and why we do it after all these years.For the past 30 years, Manisha Sharma has been practicing yoga. Born in India, she moved to America in 2002, and made Iowa her home three years ago. She received instruction in this journey of self-exploration from the world's best teachers, including Dr. H. R. Nagendra, the yoga guru of India's Prime Minister and the founder of SVYASA Yoga University in India. It is at SVYASA that she earned an international certificate as a yoga teacher and instructor. She is an assistant professor of English at Iowa State University, and a creative writer. She has an MFA in creative writing and a PhD in English Literature.Please note: This lecture will not be recorded.

Emily Dickinson at the County Fair: The Land Grant College and the Birth of Agricultural Capitalism
Thu, 26 Sep 2024, 5:00 PM – 2155 Marston - A specialist in U.S. literature from 1850-2000, Maria Farland taught at Johns Hopkins, Columbia, and Wesleyan Universities before accepting a permanent position at Fordham University in New York City. Her forthcoming book, Degraded Heartland: Antipastoral, Agricultural Reform, and the Rural Modern in U.S. Literature, 1840-1950 (Johns Hopkins UP), is a history of ideas of rural backwardness in terms of antipastoral as a literary mode. Inspired in part by the Trump administration and our heightened awareness of rural-urban divisions, it is a scholarly and cultural history of ideas of rural inferiority, as seen in shocking events like the Eugenics Survey of Vermont. She is currently completing a study of the antipsychiatry movement and post-1945 U.S. literary representations of mental breakdown, around neoliberal models of healthcare privatization in the 1950s-1980s decades.Please note: This lecture will NOT be recorded.

Tribal Land Management: Balancing the Triple Bottom Line of Environmental Stewardship
Thu, 26 Sep 2024, 7:00 PM – Great Hall, Memorial Union - 2024 Paul L. Errington Memorial LectureDr. Serra Hoagland (Laguna Pueblo) works for the USDA Forest Service Research & Development branch as the National Program Lead for Tribal Research. She focuses on building local, regional and national partnerships with tribes and intertribal organizations, mentoring students in natural resources, and conducting research that is relevant to Native communities. As the first Native American to graduate from Northern Arizona University with a PhD in forestry, Serra studied Mexican spotted owl habitat on tribal and non-tribal lands in south-central New Mexico. She has 8 book publications and 16 peer-reviewed journal articles and most recently was nominated as a Fellow for The Wildlife Society in 2023. In 2020, Dr. Hoagland was nominated for a Professional of the Year Award and was selected as the Most Promising Scientist by the American Indian Science & Engineering Society.This lecture is available to view on the Available Recordings page.

Partisanship and Policy: A Complicated Relationship
Tue, 01 Oct 2024, 6:00 PM – Sun Room, Memorial Union - Our government was designed to be “of the people, by the people, for the people.” That government is composed of elected officials almost exclusively representing one of two political parties, yet in Iowa, there are more registered “no party” voters than registered Republicans or Democrats. The political arena is a multi-faceted, ever-changing landscape, and increasingly, more Americans feel hopeless that their participation can make a difference on the issues they care about. Is partisanship our inevitable downfall? How are policy priorities established? How can citizens claim a greater role in the process? A native Iowan, Drew Klein has spent over 15 years reshaping the Iowa political landscape through his work with conservative grassroots activists in communities throughout the state. With experience from more than 20 state legislative races already under his belt, he joined Americans for Prosperity (AFP) to build their field operation when they launched their Iowa chapter in 2012. His tenure as State Director for AFP began in late 2014. In the nine years that he led the state chapter, Drew’s work drove generational change in not only the composition of the state legislative and executive branches, but also policy changes ranging from the state’s tax environment and labor policy to education and judicial selection. Now a Regional Vice President with Americans for Prosperity, Drew is leveraging his experience in Iowa to have a similar impact across the country.This lecture will be recorded and available only to those with a current ISU Net ID on the Available Recordings page approximately 24-36 hours after the conclusion of the event.

Can Sustainable Agriculture Feed the World?
Wed, 02 Oct 2024, 7:00 PM – 1148 Gerdin - What is the role of innovation and thinking outside the box? Consumers are increasingly demanding foods that are both healthy and produced in an environmentally sustainable ecosystem. At the same time, millions of people around the globe continue to face hunger and food insecurity. How can agriculture and food producers meet growing food demand in a world where they face resource and environmental constraints by leveraging innovative agricultural technologies and thinking outside the box?C S Liew will discuss cutting edge global innovations developed by producers, entrepreneurs and policy makers that aim to address these demands as well as examine their challenges and opportunities. Liew will draw on examples from the U.S. and around the world, including alternative proteins (lab-grown meat, milk and eggs), biosolutions, gene editing, integrated pest management (IPM), indoor and vertical farming, and regenerative agriculture. His presentation will discuss how students can develop their own creative strategies for thinking outside the box and leave you with lots of food for thought.C S Liew is a graduate of Iowa State University in Agronomy and Integrated Pest Management with 45 years of global experience in the agricultural inputs industry. He is Managing Director of Singapore-based Pacific Agriscience and is active in global mergers and acquisitions. He has served in many prestigious positions, currently this includes Council member of the World Agriculture Forum, and member of the Advisory Board of Agribusiness Global (a world-renowned agricultural inputs magazine based in Ohio, USA). He is a highly sought after speaker for his global expertise on agriculture.Light refreshments will be served starting at 6:30 p.m. before the lecture begins.This lecture is available to view on the Available Recordings page.

The Rural Voter: The Politics of Place and the Disuniting of America
Thu, 03 Oct 2024, 6:00 PM – Dolezal Auditorium, 0127 Curtiss Hall - This lecture will be based on the eponymous book that pinpoints forces behind the rise of the “rural voter”—a new political identity that combines a deeply felt sense of place with an increasingly nationalized set of concerns. Combining a historical perspective with the largest-ever national survey of rural voters, Nicholas F. Jacobs and Daniel M. Shea uncover how this overwhelmingly crucial voting bloc emerged and how it has roiled American politics. They show how perceptions of economic and social change, racial anxieties, and a traditional way of life under assault have converged into a belief in rural uniqueness and separateness.Nicholas F. Jacobs is an expert on American politics and policymaking. He has published dozens of scholarly articles and book chapters on topics including the American presidency, school segregation, and economic inequality. He is an assistant professor at Colby College in Maine.Daniel M. Shea is professor of government at Colby College.  His areas of expertise include American politics, young voters, civility in politics, and rural governance and politics.  He has written or edited more than 20 books, including Why Vote? Essential Questions About the Future of Elections in America (2019).The University Book Store will be onsite selling The Rural Voter at the event.This lecture is available to view on the Available Recordings page.

A One on One with ESPN’s Clinton Yates
Fri, 04 Oct 2024, 11:00 AM – 2630 Memorial Union - Join ESPN host Clinton Yates and Journalism and Mass Communication Professor Tony Moton for a conversation about how success in today's sports media market depends on versatility and a multitude of skill sets. Yates is a columnist, television commentator, and host for ESPN. In March 2024, Yates was named host of the ESPN Daily podcast. He joined ESPN in February 2016 as a member of the editorial team that launched Andscape, the Black multimedia content studio formerly known as The Undefeated. Yates’ profile has grown steadily across ESPN’s multimedia platforms. In addition to writing, he appears on multiple television programs, ESPN Radio, and more. Prior to ESPN, Yates worked for The Washington Post for nine years where he covered local news, sports, politics, pop culture, and more. He started as a local news editor in May 2007 for Express, the free daily focused on dining, music, movies, arts, fitness, shopping and more in the Washington D.C. area. He eventually moved to Metro, and finally Sports where he wrote for The Post’s popular “DC Sports Bog”. Moton is an award-winning journalist and screenwriter. He has earned journalism honors for sports feature writing from the Nevada Press Association (twice) and investigative reporting from the Kansas City Press Club. In 2003, he received a prestigious Samuel Goldwyn Writing Award while at UCLA for his feature-length screenplay All Bets Are On, about a Little League baseball player’s relationship with his charismatic but ill-fated grandfather. Moton maintains his screenwriting pursuits with several projects in development. This lecture is available to view on the Available Recordings page. 

The Wall and the Bridge: Fear and Opportunity in Disruption's Wake
Mon, 07 Oct 2024, 6:00 PM – Sun Room, Memorial Union - Free-market economists often have noted that there are winners and losers in a competitive capitalist world. The question of how to deal with the difficult real-life consequences faced by the losers, however, has largely been ignored. Populist politicians have tried repeatedly to address the issue by creating walls—of both the physical and economic kinds—to insulate communities and keep competition at bay. While recognizing the broad emotional appeal of walls, economist Glenn Hubbard argues that because they delay needed adaptations to the ever-changing world, walls are essentially backward-looking and ultimately destined to fail. Taking Adam Smith’s logic to Youngstown, Ohio, as a case study in economic disruption, Hubbard promotes the benefits of an open economy and creating bridges to support people in turbulent times so that they remain engaged and prepared to participate in, and reap the rewards of, a new economic landscape.Glenn Hubbard is Director, Jerome A. Chazen Institute for Global Business, dean emeritus, and Russell L. Carson Professor of Finance and Economics at Columbia Business School. Hubbard received his BA and BS degrees summa cum laude from the University of Central Florida and also holds AM and PhD degrees in economics from Harvard University. In addition to writing more than 100 scholarly articles in economics and finance, Glenn is the author of three popular textbooks, as well as co-author of The Aid Trap: Hard Truths About Ending Poverty, Balance: The Economics of Great Powers From Ancient Rome to Modern America, and Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise: Five Steps to a Better Health Care System. His commentaries appear in Businessweek, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, the Financial Times, The Washington Post, Nikkei, and the Daily Yomiuri, as well as on television and radio.From 2001 until 2003, he was chairman of the U.S. Council of Economic Advisers. In the corporate sector, he is on the boards of TotalEnergies, BlackRock Fixed Income Funds, and MetLife (where he is chair). Hubbard is co-chair of the Committee on Capital Markets Regulation; he is a past chair of the Economic Club of New York and a past co-chair of the Study Group on Corporate Boards.

How to Prevent Election Subversion in 2024 and Beyond
Tue, 08 Oct 2024, 6:00 PM – Great Hall, Memorial Union - 2024 Manatt-Phelps Annual Lecture in Political ScienceMichael Waldman is president and CEO of the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law. A nonpartisan law and policy institute that focuses on improving systems of democracy and justice, the Brennan Center is a leading national voice on voting rights, money in politics, criminal justice reform, and constitutional law. Waldman, a constitutional lawyer and writer who is an expert on the presidency and American democracy, has led the Center since 2005. He was a member of the Presidential Commission on the United States Supreme Court in 2021.Waldman was director of speechwriting for President Bill Clinton from 1995 to 1999, serving as assistant to the president. He was responsible for writing or editing nearly two thousand speeches, including four State of the Union and two inaugural addresses. He was a special assistant to the president for policy coordination from 1993 to 1995.Waldman is the author of The Supermajority: How the Supreme Court Divided America (Simon & Schuster, June 6, 2023) and several other titles. He frequently appears on television and radio to discuss policy, the presidency, and the law. He is a graduate of Columbia College and NYU School of Law.The University Book Store will be onsite selling The Supermajority at the event.This lecture was recorded and can be viewed on the Available Recordings page. 

Fowl, Fish and Forest—Leadership Lessons from Great Conservationists
Tue, 08 Oct 2024, 7:00 PM – 127 Curtiss - William K. Deal Endowed Leadership LectureLarry A. Nielsen, professor emeritus of natural resources at North Carolina State University, earned his bachelor’s degree at the University of Illinois, master’s degree at the University of Missouri and doctoral degree from Cornell University. He spent 40 years as a faculty member and administrator at Virginia Tech, Penn State and North Carolina State University before retiring in January 2018.With a passion for teaching, Nielsen has instructed many courses about natural resources and related topics over the years. His teaching efforts have been recognized through the Excellence in Fisheries Education Award from the American Fisheries Society and being inducted into the North Carolina State Academy of Outstanding Teachers.According to Nielsen, while the present may seem stressful for the environment and sustainability, we should not fear because “our world is better today than in the past, and it will be even better in the future.” He said if people follow the leadership of great conservationists such as Ding Darling, Billy Frank Jr. and Wangari Maathai, a sustainable and beautiful world can be achieved. “Their passion, persistence, and use of partnerships led them to extraordinary success. All we need to do is be like them,” Nielsen said of the conservationists.This lecture will be recorded and ready to view on the Available Recordings page approximately 24-36 hours after the conclusion of the event.

Threat Investigations and Analysis: A Conversation About Diplomatic Security Careers
Wed, 09 Oct 2024, 5:30 PM – Cardinal Room, Memorial Union - The Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) leads worldwide security and law enforcement efforts to advance U.S. foreign policy and safeguard national security interests. Careers include special agents, security engineering officers, security technical specialists, and diplomatic couriers.Mr. Paul R Houston is a Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DS) and the Assistant Director of the DSS, Directorate of Threat Investigations and Analysis (TIA) at the U.S. Department of State. In this role, Mr. Houston manages all source information analysis and dissemination for the protection of U.S. government equities, interests, and personnel around the globe. Mr. Houston is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service with the rank of Minister-Counselor and a DSS Special Agent.Mr. Houston received a BA degree in political science and international business at the University of Iowa and a master’s degree in national security policy and international economics from the University of Kentucky’s Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce.The conversation about DSS careers will be moderated by Dr. Karen Kedrowski, director of the ISU Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics.Please note: this event will not be recorded.

Mass Extinctions of the Past and Future: Are We In a Mass Extinction Era?
Thu, 10 Oct 2024, 6:00 PM – Sun Room, Memorial Union - Fall 2024 Phi Beta Kappa Visiting Scholar Ryosuke Motani is a professor of geobiology and paleobiology and vice chair for undergraduate programs at the University of California Davis. He has studied fossils in tandem with leading-edge computational and chemical analysis techniques. His research has led to landmark discoveries, from using eye socket measurements to determine that some dinosaurs were nocturnal to revealing how land animals adapted to the ocean, among a host of other discoveries.This lecture will be recorded and ready to view on the Available Recordings page approximately 24-36 hours after the conclusion of the event.  

Sustainable Art Using Natural Materials
Thu, 10 Oct 2024, 6:00 PM – Garden Room, Reiman Gardens - Hear from several local artists who are using natural materials to create sustainable works of art.Pam Dennis and Ryk Weiss of Flock 9 Studios are artists and educators with 25+ years of experience creating art, teaching workshops, and leading collaborative public installation projects. The couple lives simply with a conservation ethic on an acreage north of Ogden in central Iowa, and over the years, they've completed commissioned work for nature centers, gardens, hospitals, and schools. Dennis has been a popular teacher for the Iowa Arts Council’s Arts in Education program. Found things become décor in the garden, while the willow on their property - indigenous and renewable - is an apt material for their art.Robert Sunderman graduated from the University of Iowa with a BFA, MA & MFA in 1982. He is a Fine Artist, Scenic Designer, Scenic Artist & ISU Associate Professor Emeritus of Theatre. He was the Resident Scenic Designer/Scenic Artist & Associate Professor of Theatre Design at Iowa State University for 21 years. Before that, he was the Scenic Designer at Iowa PBS for 16 years. Rob has taught art classes at the Des Moines Art Center for over 35 years. He has designed & scenic painted over 286 shows during his career. He has received Iowa Film, National Broadcasting Designers, Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival awards for his scenic designs & many Fine Art awards. He has been a fine artist throughout his life & has exhibited his work in over 295 exhibitions nationally & internationally.Rob’s artwork is best described by his quote: “Not limiting materials is so important in my work. I use whatever materials best convey the subject or story that I am addressing”. Recently, he has been working on pieces dealing with renewal, fleeting moments, and human intervention in natural cycles. Most of Rob’s work has to do with nature, humanities intrusive nature, natural environment & climate change. His work conveys a sense of beauty, but also confronts the challenges we are faced within our environment and proposes creative solutions. He has been in online and in-person exhibitions now as well. Rob is presently working on the following series of sculpture work: "Reliquary Series," "Shattered Glass Series," "Tree/Fire Series," "Grain Crib: A Storage for Knowledge & Growth" and a painting/photography series: "Iowa Aerial View with Clouds?" He is pursuing solo exhibitions, galleries and new ways to promote his artwork nationally and internationally. He also is continuing to work on scenic design projects. Please note: This lecture will not be recorded.

Agitating and Organizing 101
Mon, 14 Oct 2024, 6:00 PM – Sun Room, Memorial Union - Sally Kohn is one of the leading progressive voices in America today. The author of The Opposite of Hate (April 2018, Algonquin), Sally is a former political commentator on CNN and Fox News. Sally is a member of the board of contributors at USA Today and a regular contributor to Afar Magazine, among many other outlets. She is also a highly sought-after media trainer and public speaking coach and her three TED Talks have been viewed over six million times.The University Book Store will be onsite selling The Opposite of Hate: A Field Guide to repairing Our Humanity at the event.This event is part of a Women’s and Gender Studies Lecture Series funded by the Mellon Foundation’s Affirming Multivocal Humanities Grant, which was awarded to Dr. Winfrey and the WGS program in the fall of 2023.This lecture will be recorded and available to view for two weeks to those with an iastate.edu email address on the Available Recordings page, approximately 24-36 hours after the conclusion of the event.

Criminalizing Difference in the Holocaust and Beyond: Jews, Roma, African Americans, and Latinx People
Tue, 15 Oct 2024, 6:00 PM – Sun Room, Memorial Union - In order to subjugate or in some cases destroy racial, ethnic, and religious minorities, a state or governing body often criminalizes whole communities through the mobilization of legal and societal discrimination. This panel brings together experts on criminalization and state discrimination against European Jews, Roma communities and individuals, and Native Peoples of the U.S. and Canada that occurred during overlapping periods.  As part of a moderated panel, the speakers will discuss the unique and common characteristics of criminalization and its role in racial prejudice and violence. While discussing specific marginalized groups--Jews, Roma, and Native Peoples in the U.S. and Canada--the panelists will help describe the process of creating racialized “others” through legal and societal discrimination. This interdisciplinary study will explore the persecution experienced by these communities at the hands of their governments and by exclusionary state laws.“Criminalizing Difference” is part of a three-day symposium at ISU, UNI, and the University of Iowa co-sponsored by the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum as part of its Great Plains Regional Programming theme, “Physical and Social Spaces of Exclusion in Nazi Germany and the Great Plains.” Kierra Crago-Schneider, the Campus Outreach Program Officer, the Jack, Joseph, and Morton Mandel Center for Advanced Holocaust Studies, the US Holocaust Memorial Museum. Dr. Crago-Schneider is a Holocaust scholar and expert on the experiences of Holocaust survivors in Europe after liberation.Chelsi West Ohueri, Assistant Professor, Department of Slavic and Eurasian Studies, appointments in the Department of Anthropology and the Department of African and African Diaspora Studies, the University of Texas, Austin. Dr. West Ohueri is a sociocultural anthropologist of race and racialization in southeastern Europe.Brian Behnken, Professor, Department of History, affiliate faculty in U.S. Latino/a Studies Program and African and African American Studies Program, Iowa State University. Dr. Behnken is a specialist in the history of civil rights activism and comparative race relations in the United States, especially in African American and Mexican American communities.Moderator: Jeremy Best, Associate Professor, Department of History. Dr. Best is a historian of modern Germany specializing in representations of racial difference in the Western cultural imagination during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.This lecture will be recorded and ready to view on the Available Recordings page approximately 24-36 hours after the conclusion of the event. Additionally, the cosponsors of this event have provided access to a live stream, which will begin at the start of the lecture at this link.

How to Eat, Move, and Find Your Groove for Optimal Wellness
Wed, 16 Oct 2024, 5:00 PM – Sun Room, Memorial Union - Are you looking for simple, positive ways to increase energy, optimize productivity, and boost your health and well-being? It's amazing what our bodies can do for us. Did you know that by adding quick and easy "wellness piggybacks" to your day can increase energy, boost your wellness, and foster a vibrant health span? Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and author Susie Kundrat will offer 11 simple ways to eat, move, and support your personal well-being every day. **First 25 students in line at 4:30pm will receive a free, signed copy of Susie's book Eat Move Groove!** You must have a valid ISU student ID card.Susie Kundrat, MS, RD, LDN, is the founder of Eat Move Groove (www.eatmovegroove.com) and the author of Eat Move Groove: Unlock the Simple Steps to Lifelong Nutrition, Fitness, and Wellness. She is a life-long well-being advocate with over three decades of experience developing programming focused on nutrition, health, wellness, and disease prevention. She has worked with consumers, corporations, active people, and athletes of all ages and levels (youth to professional) to boost performance and well-being with optimal nutrition, including the Milwaukee Bucks, US Speedskating, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Fighting Illini, and the Northwestern University Wildcats. She is a clinical professor emerita with the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Joseph J. Zilber College of Public Health and an adjunct instructor with the University of Illinois Food Science and Human Nutrition Department and Walla Walla Community College. Susie earned her AA from Waldorf University, her BS in Dietetics from Minnesota State University-Mankato, and her MS in Human Nutrition from Iowa State University. 

How to Design Physical Environments that Promote Healing, Justice, and Peace
Wed, 16 Oct 2024, 6:00 PM – Great Hall, Memorial Union - Architect Deanna Van Buren will speak about how interdisciplinary approaches to design with social workers, game designers, artists and more can play in healing and repair as it relates to supporting inner and outer peace. Her talk will cover research and its associative spatial applications for spaces for survivors of violence to artistic practices that support personal and interpersonal healing and transformation.Van Buren is the co-founder and executive director of Designing Justice + Designing Spaces. An architecture and real estate nonprofit working to end mass incarceration through place-based solutions, DJDS builds infrastructure that address its root causes: poverty, racism, unequal access to resources, and the criminal justice system itself. She is also a socially engaged artist working across media platforms including public art, film and video games.Van Buren has been profiled by The New York Times and has written op-eds on the intersection of design, architecture, mass incarceration and video games in outlets such as Politico, Architectural Record and Gamasutra. Her TEDWomen talk on what a world without prisons could look like has been viewed more than one million times.

Language Inequality and Fight for Free Speech in Haiti: Two Sides of the Same Coin
Thu, 17 Oct 2024, 3:30 PM – Pearson 2105 - Websder Corneille is a Haitian Linguist and Adjunct Lecturer of Haitian Creole Language and Haitian Studies at the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies. He started his MA in Psychosociology in 2022 at the State University of Haiti where he has earned his BA in Linguistic with a focus on Critical Discourse Analysis. His personal and professional interests include second language acquisition, linguistic hybridity and cultural identity in the Caribbean, storytelling, and literature. He is the founder and director of the flagship Haitian Creole Language and Culture Program, which aims to break barriers and bridge communities through language and culture. He co-founded the Haitian Midwest Scholars Society which is located at the University of Michigan. He is the Haitian Creole ESL Reading Interventionist at Promise Prep Elementary School in Indianapolis, and he serves as an ad hoc interpreter for Haitian parents with limited English proficiency (LEP).There will be Q&A following the lecture.Please note: this lecture will not be recorded.

IPR's Politics Day on the Road
Thu, 17 Oct 2024, 6:00 PM – South Ballroom, Memorial Union - Join Ben Kieffer, host of IPR's River to River, and a panel featuring Iowa State University students and political science professor Karen M. Kedrowski, as he takes the weekly talk show "Politics Day” on the road to Iowa State. During the event, we'll aim to capture the perspectives of young voters -- considered to be swing voters -- as we approach the 2024 election. Attendees can register to vote at the event thanks to the Catt Center's #CyclonesVote program.Please note: this lecture will not be recorded.

The Immigrant Survival Guide to Silicon Valley
Thu, 17 Oct 2024, 7:00 PM – Sun Room, Memorial Union - Carlos Quezada will share his transformative journey from humble beginnings in Degollado, Jalisco, Mexico to a top Latino executive at Hewlett Packard Enterprise. His life's narrative is a powerful testament to the extraordinary outcomes that stem from curiosity, boldness, and authenticity. Carlos, now a father, technologist, mentor, and public speaker, intertwines his personal journey with a commitment to community upliftment.  Quezada’s book, The Immigrant Survival Guide to Silicon Valley, shares his story and insights from other professionals who share their experiences to help other immigrants succeed in any challenging industry. His book emphasizes expanding your horizons beyond your comfort zone to achieve ambitious goals. This lecture will be recorded and ready to view on the Available Recordings page approximately 24-36 hours after the conclusion of the event.

Daymond John's 5 Shark Points: Fundamentals for Success in Business and Life
Tue, 22 Oct 2024, 7:00 PM – Great Hall, Memorial Union - An entrepreneur in every sense of the word, Daymond John has come a long way from taking out a $100,000 mortgage on his mother’s house and moving his business operation into its basement. John is CEO and Founder of FUBU, a much-celebrated global lifestyle brand, and a pioneer in the fashion industry with over $6 billion in product sales world-wide. Former President Barack Obama appointed Daymond John a Presidential Ambassador for Global Entrepreneurship (PAGE) to harness his energy, ideas, and experience to help develop the next generation of entrepreneurs both at home and abroad.John is an award-winning entrepreneur and has received 100s of awards including the Brand Week Marketer of the Year, Advertising Age Marketing 1000 Award for Outstanding Ad Campaign, Ernst & Young’s New York Entrepreneur of the Year Award, and was named #2 on LinkedIn’s Top 20 Voices, a list of the top influencers, who are using their voice to help us analyze today’s changing world of work, navigate our industries, and find balance. Most recently, Real Leaders Magazine named Daymond John one of the Top 50 Keynote Speakers in the World in 2023, a list of “real teachers — people who speak from experience.”His marketing strategies and ability to build successful brands have made him a highly influential consultant and motivational speaker today. His marketing firm The Shark Group offers advice on how to effectively communicate to consumers through innovative means and connects brands with the world’s top celebrities for everything from endorsements to product extensions.John is also the author of 6 best-selling books including his latest New York Times best-seller, The Power of Broke (2016) and Rise and Grind (2018). In 2020, John released his fifth book, Powershift, which walks through his tried-and-true process of how to transform any situation, close any deal, and achieve any outcome. John's most recent book, Little Daymond Learns to Earn (2023) is his first for kids, and reached the New York Times and Amazon best-seller list the first week of its release. The book addresses the current void of educating our children about money in a fun and engaging story for parents and kids to connect. John’s mission is to continue challenging the status quo and leave a lasting legacy of inspiring other leaders to do the same.Finally, John is celebrating his 14th season on ABC TV’s critically acclaimed business reality show Shark Tank by renowned producer Mark Burnett, which has reinvigorated entrepreneurship around the world. Shark Tank has now gone on to win five Emmy® in the US and millions of weekly viewers worldwide tune into the show as John demonstrates his marketing prowess and entrepreneurial insights.The University Book Store will be onsite selling Little Daymond Learns to Earn, The Power of Broke, Rise and Grind, and Powershift at the event.This lecture was recorded and can be viewed on the Available Recordings site only for those with an ISU Net ID for two weeks following the conclusion of the event.This event will include a 70-minute lecture followed by a brief book signing.

RESCHEDULED How to Grow (Almost) Anything: The Use and Future of Synthetic Biology
Thu, 24 Oct 2024, 6:00 PM – Great Hall, Memorial Union - This event will now be on Oct. 24 @ 6pm in the Great Hall. We apologize for any inconvenience. Synthetic Biology is an emerging field of research where researchers construct new biological systems and redesign existing biological systems. Synthetic biology can change the genetic material in viruses, bacteria, yeasts, plants, or animals to give them useful new characteristics. For example, integrating spider DNA makes a silkworm produce super strong, ultra-lightweight silk (per the Government Accountability Office).The technology could help address challenges in areas such as medicine, agriculture, manufacturing, and the environment.Dr. David Sun Kong empowers diverse communities through biotech, which means asking broad, vital questions. How do we design a future in which biotech, and science are generally accessible to everyone? How do we demolish artificial divisions between culture and engineering, science and art? How can we involve underrepresented people in cutting-edge STEM fields?Biotech is arguably the major science of the 21st century. But to expedite its arrival, Kong argues, we need new models of knowledge production—diverse, distributed groups doing vital work away from traditional labs—much like the homebrew computing groups that gave way to Apple. It’s all about getting communities engaged now while the tech is still being shaped. But that also means the movement hinges on accessibility of tools, spaces, and infrastructure. Kong champions grassroots labs away from college, federal, and corporate structures, designed specifically to be available and appealing to people who might never encounter biotechnology. He’s the co-founder and managing faculty of “How to Grow (Almost) Anything,” an MIT course on synthetic biology that reaches labs in places like Switzerland, Latin America, and Japan, yet still demonstrates how to perform fruitful genomic experiments.David is a synthetic biologist, bio designer, community organizer, musician, and photographer based in Lexington, Massachusetts. He is the Director of the MIT Media Lab's Community Biotechnology Initiative. His research explores the multidisciplinary domains of synthetic biology, biological design and art, collective intelligence and movement building, and STEAM learning.David conducted his graduate studies at MIT’s Media Lab, receiving a Master's degree for developing technology for printing nanostructures with energetic beams and a Ph.D. for demonstrating the first gene synthesis in a microfluidic (“lab-on-a-chip”) system. He was recognized as an emerging leader in synthetic biology as a "LEAP" fellow, and served as a guest faculty member at the Marine Biology Lab. He founded and chaired new Microfluidic and Hardware Tracks for the International Genetically Engineered Machines Competition (iGEM) and is the official iGEM DJ. He was Technical Staff in the Bioengineering Systems & Technologies group at MIT’s Lincoln Laboratory and a founding member of the synthetic biology team.David’s work has been covered via outlets such as The Washington Post, Science, Showtime, the Boston Globe, NEO.Life, NPR Boston, Gizmodo, STAT News, Chronicle, and WBZ News. He has performed as a DJ, beat-boxer, vocalist, and rapper at hundreds of venues, including South by Southwest, the Staples Center in Los Angeles, and Brooklyn Bowl, where he opened for The Tonight Show bandleader and hip-hop legend Questlove. He teamed up with DJ Jazzy Jeff to make beats from the human microbiome. He is also an award-winning vocal arranger and producer. His photography has been exhibited at the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian, the Japanese American National Museum, and other museums and galleries across the country. This lecture will be recorded and ready to view for those with an ISU Net ID on the Available Recordings page approximately 24-36 hours after the conclusion of the event.

2024 Norman Borlaug Lecture: So Our Children Can Eat: Conserving and Protecting Crop Biodiversity
Mon, 28 Oct 2024, 5:30 PM – Great Hall, Memorial Union - 2024 Norman Borlaug LectureDr. Geoffrey Hawtin and Dr. Cary Fowler will receive the 2024 World Food Prize for their extraordinary leadership in preserving and protecting the world’s heritage of crop biodiversity and mobilizing this critical resource to defend against threats to global food security. Over the last 50 years, their combined efforts as researchers, policy advisors, thought leaders and advocates have succeeded in engaging governments, scientists, farmers and civil society towards the conservation of over 6,000 species of crops and culturally important plants.A reception and student poster display will precede the lecture from 3:30-5:30 p.m. in the Sun Room/South Ballroom, Memorial Union. Posters will address world issues and are submitted by undergraduate and graduate students. This lecture was recorded and can be viewed on the Available Recordings page.

CANCELLED - Technology as Storytelling: How Engineering, Science, and Faith Play
Tue, 29 Oct 2024, 6:00 PM – Cardinal Room, Memorial Union - Please note: due to illness, this lecture has been cancelled.  When we do our science and technology, our stories interpret what we see and direct what we make. In turn, we tell our stories not only by word and voice, but also by what we theorize and create. What does it mean when Christian scholars suggest all academic disciplines --including engineering-- are in the storytelling business? Or that God's Spirit is behind all knowing, even our technical and scientific know-how?  How does a story-based revelation add depth and meaning in our learning and doing of science and technology? Dr. Ethan Brue's study takes a nuanced, holistic, and historical look at how technology taps into human dreams for a better world, even while grappling with the challenges arising from new technologies.  Ethan Brue received his PhD in mechanical engineering from Iowa State University. He currently is the Dean for Technology and Applied Sciences at Dordt University, where he's taught engineering since 2000. Dr Brue is a licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.), having previously worked as an engineeringconsultant and project manager in the energy generation sector as well as a research and development engineer in the agriculture industry. Dr Brue is a co-author of "A Christian Field Guide to Technology for Engineers and Designers" (Intervarsity Press), which looks at the ethics and norms involved in technology design, biblical themes and passages that relate to technology, and how engineering and technology tap into human dreams for a better world. His research interests include thermochemical reactor design, the history of science and technology, solar energy engineering, biomass gasification and combustion, and fluidization. This lecture will be recorded and ready to view on the Available Recordings page approximately 24-36 hours after the conclusion of the event.

Multifunctional Hierarchical Materials: Taking Inspiration from Nature
Tue, 29 Oct 2024, 7:00 PM – Sun Room, Memorial Union - Biological systems in nature have evolved over millions of years to adapt to environmental and ecological challenges. Nature seeks to leverage available materials with an emphasis on hierarchy and local control of microstructure to meet functional needs using the least amount of material. As such, biological systems incorporate intelligent, unique, and complex structural design concepts. Where general principles have been identified across several organisms, these have not been translated into engineered materials with similar generality. As an alternative to traditional manufacturing techniques, additive manufacturing (AM) has accelerated the growth of complex parts that can greatly expand the possibilities for bioinspired applications. This talk will describe the use of bioinspiration in two cellular, hierarchical natural systems: combs made by honeybees and a deep-sea sponge known as the “Venus Flower Basket”.Dr. Nikhilesh Chawla is the inaugural Associate Dean for Engineering in Indianapolis and Ransburg Professor in the School of Materials Engineering at Purdue University. He joined Purdue in 2020, after previously serving as Founding Director of the Center for 4D Materials Science and Fulton Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at Arizona State University. Prof. Chawla’s research is in the area Four-Dimensional (4D) materials science with a particular emphasis on the deformation behavior of advanced materials at bulk and small length scales.This lecture was recorded and can be viewed on the Available Recordings page.

Journey to the Future: How an ISU Alum Leads Investment in Game-Changing Cancer Research
Wed, 30 Oct 2024, 6:00 PM – 2630 Memorial Union -  The future of cancer research is today.  And this impacts all of us tomorrow. Iowa State University alum Shane Jacobson, CEO of the V Foundation for Cancer Research, will share insights on the work of the V Foundation for Cancer Research and how their distinctive approach to investing in game-changing research advances the field of cancer research. He will also share insights on his career journey, leadership principles, and lessons learned as a Cyclone and an accomplished nonprofit executive.Shane Jacobson is an accomplished senior executive with experience leading teams to achieve record-setting revenue, developing best practices culture, and delivering partnerships with ambitious impact goals. At the V Foundation, Shane and the staff focus on funding all-star scientists to accelerate victory over cancer and save lives. They masterfully link networks inside and outside of sports.  Shane has been part of revenue targets aimed at investing more than $3 billion in mission-critical opportunities. He has a positive history of CEO-Board relationships and utilizes his expertise in board best practices, including as an author.Shane has enhanced organizational culture by aligning core values, strategic planning, Objectives, and Key Results. The team has sustained significant growth in its market development through the signature events portfolio, business partnerships, and principal gift strategies. As a result, revenue and grant-making have each grown by more than 100%, respectively, annually breaking results across the board. He negotiated the largest partnership in V Foundation history: a $30M framework announced at the 2024 ESPYs. Shane has secured several of the largest gifts in the history of the V, each seven- and eight-figure gifts, while leading the cultivation and closure of game-changing business partnerships with ESPN and Disney; negotiated the V Foundation becoming the official charity of the National Hockey League; and delivered partnerships with Bristol Myers Squibb, Lexus, Constellation Brands, First Watch restaurants, the WWE, multiple NFL teams, Hearst Communications, Pepsi, Under Armour, and more. He believes in integrated and co-created win-win opportunities that attract forward-facing engagement, leverage multimedia assets, build powerful content for linear and streaming services, often using sports as an accelerator, and uncover a 2-and-3-way collaboration that enhances brand equity.This lecture will be recorded and available to view for two weeks on the Available Recordings page, approximately 24-36 hours after the conclusion of the event. 

Climate, Communities, & Collaborative Action: Lessons from Shakespeare’s Theater
Mon, 04 Nov 2024, 6:00 PM – Great Hall, Memorial Union - LAS Dean's LectureThe College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Dean’s Lecture Series highlights faculty excellence in learning, discovery, and engagement in Iowa State’s most academically diverse college. Each semester, the dean invites LAS faculty of distinction to present lectures from their areas of expertise on topics of interest to the general public, designed to stimulate high-quality, intellectual discussion among faculty, staff, students, and community members. Lectures are held during the fall and spring semesters during the academic year.Linda Shenk, professor in the Department of English, was selected by Dean Benjamin Withers to deliver the fall 2024 LAS Dean’s Distinguished Lecture. In her research, Shenk applies methods from her training in Shakespeare and performance to foster collaborative storytelling among researchers and community members that supports climate action and resilience. In particular, she works with women farmland owners in Iowa—some of the most potentially powerful but often unheard of land stewards in the Midwest. She co-leads multiple transdisciplinary research projects, including as a Lead PI for "Central Midwest Climate Opportunities & Learning: CO-Learn," a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/NOAA’s Climate Adaptation Partnerships Project.Shenk's lecture bridges the humanities and the sciences to explore how practices from Shakespeare and his theater support climate research that fosters collaborative, community action. These practices allow communities and researchers to tell stories with each other rather than simply to each other, thereby weaving together their diverse understandings and experiences into coherent, productive action. Shenk has conducted this research for nearly ten years, including currently as a Lead Principal Investigator of a $6M NOAA Climate Adaptations Project for the Central Midwest. She has worked with communities as diverse as middle-school youth in inner city Des Moines and women farmland owners throughout Iowa.Sprinkling her talk with stories of action, Shenk will include how she came to realize the storytelling connections between Shakespeare's "playbook" and climate work. She will share the way some of these techniques can enable all of us—from campus to community members—to be better collaborators who learn with and from each other. A live Q&A session with Shenk will follow the lecture.This lecture is ready to view on the Available Recordings page.

Extractive Industry, Historic Disinvestment, and the Future of Rural Communities
Mon, 04 Nov 2024, 7:30 PM – Sun Room, Memorial Union - George M. Beal Distinguished Lectureship in Rural SociologyPresenting her book, Pushed Out, this presentation focuses on what happens to rural communities when their traditional economic base collapses and new money comes in. This presentation offers Dover, Idaho, as a case study of transformation from a “thriving timber mill town” to an “economically depressed small town” to a “trendy second-home location” and discusses how Dover embodies the story and challenges of many other rural communities. The presentation explores the structural forces driving rural gentrification and examines how social and environmental inequality is written onto these landscapes. Based on in-depth interviews and archival data, the presentation uses an ethnographic lens to put this story in a long view of the region that takes account of geological history, settler colonialism, and histories of power and exploitation within capitalism. With a focus on the processes and mechanisms that make communities vulnerable to gentrification, the conversation that follows the presentation is an opportunity for communities to discuss the future of their homes with an eye toward the economic, social, and environmental sustainability necessary to building thriving rural places.Ryanne Pilgerim is the Regenerative Economies Manager for The Wilderness Society, working to define, coordinate, and implement strategies and policies to promote a Just Transition away from unsustainable, industrial-scale natural resource extraction through avenues that support thriving and vibrant communities. Ryanne was previously a professor of sociology at the University of Idaho, where she worked for over a decade and ran the USDA-funded “Women Farmers & Ranchers on the Rise in Idaho and the US” project. She is the author of numerous publications, most recently a book, “Pushed Out,” which examines the structural causes of inequity in rural communities. Ryanne has deep connections to the American West, especially Montana and North Idaho, where she grew up in a ranching family and spent many summers as a tour guide in Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks. Both her personal and professional life center efforts to envision rural communities where people can thrive.Ryanne holds a BA in Sociology from Pacific University and an MS and Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Oregon. She spends her free time with her husband and their three children, working in the garden, cross-country skiing, picking berries and mushrooms, and caring for their many pets.The University Book Store will be onsite selling Pushed Out: Contested Development and Rural Gentrification in the US West at the event.This lecture ready to view on the Available Recordings page.

Bridging Borders: Career Journeys at Bayer, From Germany to the USA
Wed, 06 Nov 2024, 3:30 PM – 1226 Howe Hall - Dr. Anita Kuepper and Dr. Lucas McKinnon will share their career experiences at Bayer Global. This lecture will provide info about international opportunities in the crop sciences and more generally about German-American industry partnerships.Kuepper is a soybean development pipeline lead and joined Bayer in Research and Development in Frankfurt, Germany; she is now based in St. Louis. McKinnon is a protein scientist and started his Bayer career in St. Louis and recently completed a short-term assignment in Monheim, Germany.This lecture will be recorded but not posted on the Lectures website. Please email lectures@iastate.edu with "Bayer Career Lecture" in the subject line to request a link to the recording. 

9th Annual Three-Minute Thesis Final Competition
Thu, 07 Nov 2024, 6:00 PM – South Ballroom, Memorial Union - The Three Minute Thesis (3MT) celebrates research being conducted by current ISU graduate students. Developed by the University of Queensland, the competition is an opportunity for students to describe their research, in three minutes, in a relatable and relevant way to a non-specialist audience. The cosponsors of this event have provided access to a live stream via the Graduate College's Facebook page.

UFOs and UAPs: The Latest Tech to Detect What’s in Our Skies
Thu, 07 Nov 2024, 7:00 PM – Sun Room, Memorial Union - UFOs and UAPs (Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena) have captured the world’s imagination for decades. Renewed attention came in 2021 when the U.S. Intelligence community released its first public UFO report. Despite stating that there is no credible evidence for alien-originating craft, the U.S. government admitted there are objects unknown to us in the atmosphere—foreign government spy balloons, unregistered drones, and other earth-based tech that traditional radar has trouble finding and identifying. NASA and the Department of Defense have created units dedicated to new technologies for detecting what’s in our skies.Travis S. Taylor has doctorates in Optical Science and Engineering and in Aerospace Systems Engineering; and master’s degrees in Physics and Aerospace Engineering—all from the University of Alabama in Huntsville. He also has a master’s degree in Astronomy from the University of Western Sydney (Australia) and a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Auburn University (Alabama). Dr. Taylor worked in various programs for the Department of Defense and NASA for more than 20 years. His projects included advanced propulsion concepts, very large space telescopes, space-based beamed energy systems, and next-generation space launch concepts.Dr. Taylor was the chief scientist on the Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force 2020-2021 (now the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office in the Defense Department) and now works for Radiance Technologies.Dr. Taylor has written 19 science fiction novels, two textbooks, and more than a dozen technical papers. Dr. Taylor has appeared and starred in several television programs including the History Channel’s The Universe and Life After People, National Geographic Channel’s hit shows Rocket City Rednecks and When Aliens Attack, The Weather Channel’s 3 Scientists Walk Into a Bar, and History Channel's Ancient Aliens, UneXplained, and hit series The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch.This lecture will be recorded and ready to view on the Available Recordings page approximately 24-36 hours after the conclusion of the event.

UFOs and UAPs: The Latest Tech to Detect What’s in Our Skies
Thu, 07 Nov 2024, 7:00 PM – Sun Room, Memorial Union - UFOs and UAPs (Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena) have captured the world’s imagination for decades. Renewed attention came in 2021 when the U.S. Intelligence community released its first public UFO report. Despite stating that there is no credible evidence for alien-originating craft, the U.S. government admitted there are objects unknown to us in the atmosphere—foreign government spy balloons, unregistered drones, and other earth-based tech that traditional radar has trouble finding and identifying. NASA and the Department of Defense have created units dedicated to new technologies for detecting what’s in our skies.Travis S. Taylor has doctorates in Optical Science and Engineering and in Aerospace Systems Engineering; and master’s degrees in Physics and Aerospace Engineering—all from the University of Alabama in Huntsville. He also has a master’s degree in Astronomy from the University of Western Sydney (Australia) and a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Auburn University (Alabama). Dr. Taylor worked in various programs for the Department of Defense and NASA for more than 20 years. His projects included advanced propulsion concepts, very large space telescopes, space-based beamed energy systems, and next-generation space launch concepts. Dr. Taylor was the chief scientist on the Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force 2020-2021 (now the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office in the Defense Department) and now works for Radiance Technologies. Dr. Taylor has written 19 science fiction novels, two textbooks, and more than a dozen technical papers. Dr. Taylor has appeared and starred in several television programs including the History Channel’s The Universe and Life After People, National Geographic Channel’s hit shows Rocket City Rednecks and When Aliens Attack, The Weather Channel’s 3 Scientists Walk Into a Bar, and History Channel's Ancient Aliens, UneXplained, and hit series The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch.  This lecture will be recorded and ready to view on the Available Recordings page approximately 24-36 hours after the conclusion of the event.

No Fashion Without Disability: Embracing Disability as Knowledge and Access as an Aesthetic
Mon, 11 Nov 2024, 6:00 PM – Sun Room, Memorial Union - There has been a rise in clothing and accessories designed for disabled people under the moniker of adaptive fashion. Accompanied by increased representations of disabled models in fashion media and the introduction of disabled mannequins in fashion exhibitions, adaptive fashion is often celebrated as evidence of the industry's commitment to diversity. However, my lecture challenges this assumed inclusivity strategy. I propose a new framework to embed disability into fashion practice and education. Drawing on my disability-led fashion projects, research with disabled fashion students and the Parsons Disabled Fashion Student Program, I will demonstrate how disability experience can be harnessed as design knowledge and how access can be manifested as an aesthetic. This approach reveals the creative possibilities that emerge when disabled people are fulsomely embedded in fashion and education, while also exposing the persistent ableist attitudes and systems that hinder true systemic inclusion. I highlight practical recommendations for educators, students, and researchers to recognize the brilliance that disability brings to fashion, design, and education, urging us to make it a fundamental part of our work.This event is part of a Women’s and Gender Studies Lecture Series funded by the Mellon Foundation’s Affirming Multivocal Humanities Grant, which was awarded to Dr. Winfrey and the WGS program in the fall of 2023.Pictured is a headshot of Ben Barry — a white, Disabled, cis gender man with low vision. He has short brown hair and he is wearing a shirt made up of different pieces of patterned fabric that have been sewn together. His head is tilted to the left and resting on his hand, and his brown eyes look into the camera.This lecture is ready to view on the Available Recordings page.

Under the Influence ... of Stress
Tue, 12 Nov 2024, 6:00 PM – Great Hall, Memorial Union - As Bill Daniels Professor of Business Ethics and Legal Studies at the University of Denver, Corey Ciocchetti is one of the University’s most popular and highest-rated professors. Corey joined DU after graduating with a law degree from Duke University School of Law, a master's degree in Religious Studies, and two bachelor's degrees in Finance and Economics—summa cum laude—from the University of Denver. Corey is a talented speaker and teacher and has won multiple teaching and speaking awards including the Outstanding Professor of the Year Award and the Joel Goldman Award for most respected speaker on the CAMPUSPEAK roster. In 2023, he was named as one of the Top 50 Undergraduate Business Professors in the country. Corey currently teaches business law and ethics classes in a department ranked by the Wall Street Journal and Business Week in the top ten nationwide for producing students with high ethical standards. Corey also speaks to tens of thousands of individuals each year about “authentic success” and living an ethical life and is the author of the book Inspire Integrity: Chase An Authentic Life. Over the past eighteen years, he has spoken to diverse audiences in over 350 cities and 46 states. A Colorado native, Corey resides in Denver with his wife, Jillian, and daughters Sophia and Sydney. The University Book Store will be onsite selling copies of Inspire Integrity: Chase An Authentic Life at the event.This lecture was recorded and can be viewed on the Available Recordings page.

Gold Star Hall Ceremony
Wed, 13 Nov 2024, 4:15 PM – Great Hall, Memorial Union - Gold Star Hall is the "memorial" in the Memorial Union. In World War I, when a family had a son or daughter in the service, they displayed a card with a simple blue star in their window. When life was lost, the card with the blue star was changed to one with a gold star - hence the name Gold Star Hall. The blue/gold star tradition continues, with military families still displaying these symbols.When the Memorial Union opened in 1928, the names of the Iowa Staters who died in World War I were carved into the walls. In 1969, the names of WWII casualties were mounted on two bronze doors in the zodiac foyer. In 1984, the bronze doors were removed, and the names from World War II, Korea, and Vietnam were engraved into the limestone inside Gold Star Hall. In subsequent years, additional names were engraved for WW I, WW II, Korea, Vietnam, the USS Liberty, Somalia, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Gold Star Hall embodies the Memorium that the entire building represents.2024 HonoreesSidney Peterson – WWII – US Army Air ForceFrom Ringsted, IA. Worked in steel mills in Chicago. Active in Forestry Club and Military Department’s Trumpet and Drum Corps while at ISU. During training he flew from Brazil to Morocco, flying over the equator. Was very kindhearted, took on his last flight when he could have gone home because someone else was sick. Died aboard a B-26 Marauder after they took on anti-aircraft fire. He was declared MIA (four crewmembers died, two were POW and eventually released). He was awarded a distinguished flying cross, air medal, 10 oak leaf cluster and purple heart.  Max Harvey Collins – Korean War – US Air ForceFrom Nevada, IA. Max always wanted to fly, even as a little boy. He loved model airplanes. He studied aeronautical engineering for his major at ISU with a strong secondary interest in photography. Second Lieutenant Collins was the pilot of a F-86E Sabrejet fighter bomber with the 335th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 4th Fighter-Interceptor Group. On May 4, 1953, while starting combat mission, his aircraft crashed on take-off.  James Herrick – Vietnam – US Air ForceFrom Panora, IA. Had 9 children in his family, 8 boys, 1 girl. Recovered fully from Polio as a child. Completed Animal Husbandry bachelors degree and finished his ROTC program with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. Flew Douglas Skyraider. Died in Thailand during a recon mission. Family remembers him as a handsome, quiet and kind young man with a heart full of love for animals.  There will be a reception to follow the ceremony. This is a free event open to the public. The ceremony will not be recorded. A livestream is available here. 

Trans Athletes and the Future of Sports
Wed, 13 Nov 2024, 6:00 PM – Lee Liu Auditorium, Howe Hall - For the past several years—and during the summer Olympics—the issue of trans athletes’ participation in sports has never been far from the headlines. State legislatures, sports’ governing bodies, celebrities, and political leaders have all gotten involved—particularly when the topic is about who can compete in girls’ and women’s sports.  This panel will discuss the current issues about trans athletes participating in sports and what the future of sports could be when everyone gets to compete.This panel will be live-streamed and viewers will be able to text questions for the panel. Visit this link to access the livestream. Instructions for texting questions will be provided here a few days before the event.Only ISU students with a valid ISU ID will be admitted to this event. Seating is limited to 200 and will be first-come, first seated.Extra Credit AttendanceStudents who attend in person need to have their student ID scanned when they leave.Students who watch the live stream: At the end of the event, a message will be displayed with the following instructions and info.Within 15 minutes of the panel ending, email the following info to lectures@iastate.eduSubject line: Trans athlete panel extra creditYour nameYour 9-digit student ID number (the middle set of numbers on your ID)The code word on the screen; it will say "Codeword: [word here]"PanelistsKeenan Crow is the director of Policy and Advocacy at One Iowa, a statewide LGBTQ advocacy organization. Keenan joined the organization after a history of political and non-profit involvement with organizations such as Cedar Valley Citizens for Undoing Racism. As One Iowa’s staff lobbyist and spokesperson on policy issues, they are on the front lines of the fight for LGBTQ equality in the state of Iowa. Additionally, Keenan has worked to train a diverse number of organizations and institutions around LGBTQ issues including K-16 educators, local and federal agencies, businesses, and health care providers. In 2019 they became the first non-binary person to moderate a presidential forum. They are a recipient of the 2023 Interfaith Alliance of Iowa partner award and the 2023 Iowa Environmental Council’s Impact Through Advocacy Award.Dr. Christina Roberts is a Professor of Pediatrics working at the Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center in New York City. Prior to starting at Mount Sinai, she served on active duty with the United States Navy from 1995 to 2018 and worked as the Program Director of the Adolescent Medicine Fellowship at Children’s Mercy, Kansas City, from 2018 to 2023. Her clinical involvement in Gender Medicine began in June 2016 when the military first allowed active duty service members and their families to obtain gender-affirming medical care in the military healthcare system. While in the Navy, she helped establish the administrative guidelines for delivering gender-affirming care to active duty service members in the Air Force and provided gender-affirming medical care for active duty service members and their family members. At Children’s Mercy, she was a member of the Gender Pathway Services clinic, providing gender-affirming care to transgender and gender-diverse individuals ages 12 to 21. Currently, she is also part of the Mount Sinai Center for Transgender Medicine and Surgery providing gender-affirming medical care to adolescents and young adults ages 11 to 26.Lia Thomas is a transgender woman, an athlete, and an advocate. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2022 where she competed as an openly transgender swimmer and became the first trans athlete to win an NCAA D1 Championship. She received significant media attention for her competition on the women’s team and has spoken about her experiences and of the importance of inclusion in athletics. In addition to her NCAA awards, she has been named one of the 100 most Influential Philadelphians in 2022 and The Trustee’s Council of Penn Women’s 2022 Athletic Achievement Award.Dr. Kelly L. Winfrey became director of the Women’s and Gender Studies Program in August 2022. She is also an associate professor and director of Graduate Education in the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication. Her research focuses on gender and political campaign communication. She published Understanding How Women Vote: Gender Identity and Political Choices (Praeger) in 2018, and she has published journal articles and book chapters on gender group identification voters, the effects of gender in presidential and U.S. Senate campaigns, perceptions of candidate image by debate viewers, online self-presentation strategies of political candidates, media coverage of women candidates, and the content and effects of presidential campaign television ads. Winfrey teaches classes on political campaigns, gender and leadership, public relations, and research methods. She also regularly mentors undergraduate and graduate students interested in researching gender and politics. This event is part of a Women’s and Gender Studies Lecture Series funded by the Mellon Foundation’s Affirming Multivocal Humanities Grant, which was awarded to Dr. Winfrey and the WGS program in the fall of 2023.

Glad Tidings to the Strangers
Fri, 15 Nov 2024, 7:30 PM – 2155 Marston - Islam began as something strange and it will leave as something strange. This is not an excuse to be unusual without a reason, as Muslims have practices out of the ordinary such as praying when other sleep and fasting while others eat. This is why "glad tidings" are given to the strangers. When it is unusual to be righteous, Muslims stand out as the pious.Please note: This event is available for extra credit but will not be recorded.Students may card scan after one hour; the event may go longer but attendance is not required.

Native American Cuisine, Foods, and the Way of Life
Mon, 18 Nov 2024, 6:00 PM – Great Hall, Memorial Union - Chef Freddie Bitsoie (bit-sue-ee) will discuss the cultural progression of foods in the western hemisphere, and how native foods of the western hemisphere have been claimed, misused, appropriated and overlooked for centuries. Chef Bitsoie will discuss how these foods survived through migration, colonization, and cuisine culture. Initially pursuing cultural anthropology at the University of New Mexico, a conversation with an archaeology professor led Bitsoie to the culinary arts. He pursued mastery at Le Cordon Bleu in Scottsdale, Arizona, and soon became a distinguished figure on the Food Network and at the Mitsitam Native Foods café, where he served as the Executive Chef within the National Museum of the American Indian. In 2021, he published the cookbook New Native Kitchen: Celebrating Modern Recipes of the American Indian, which showcases the variety of flavor and culinary history, providing modern interpretations of 100 recipes that have long fed this country.This lecture will be recorded and added to the Available Recordings site only for those with an ISU Net ID for two weeks following the conclusion of the event.Chef Freddie Bitsoie Special Menu at Friley Windows on Nov. 19, 3-7pm; $15  

Ancient Origins of Religious Conflict
Wed, 04 Dec 2024, 6:00 PM – 2630 Memorial Union - In this public lecture, Dr. Robert Cargill, the Roger A. Hornsby Assoc. Professor in the Classics at the University of Iowa, will discuss the ancient origins of several religious conflicts around the world, asking whether religion is indeed responsible for these conflicts, or whether other factors such as nationalism, ethnicity, politics, or socio-economic issues like trade and wealth distribution play a role in these conflicts. Particular attention will be given to the present war between Israel and Hamas, and the ongoing and historical tensions between Israel, Palestine and other regional players.This lecture was recorded (audio only) and can be accessed on the Available Recordings page.

Gridshock
Mon, 27 Jan 2025, 6:00 PM – Sun Room, Memorial Union - Gridshock is a riveting documentary exposing the hidden and disturbing reality behind the sex trafficking demand in Iowa.  Vanessa McNeal, a filmmaker and survivor of sexual violence sets out to explore the often overlooked reality about why the sex trafficking industry thrives. The truth is that sex trafficking wouldn’t exist without the unquenchable thirst and demand for it. On the quest to learn more, Vanessa discovers who the johns/buyers are and why there is a culture of impunity that hides and protects them. In this riveting and truly disturbing documentary what you think you know about sex trafficking will be challenged. What is hidden will come to light, even in a midwestern state like Iowa. The film features survivors of sex trafficking, local and federal law enforcement, advocates, politicians, and a recovering sex addict. The film will begin at 6pm, followed by a 10-minute break, then a panel beginning at 7:10pm featuring two trauma-trained licensed counselors with years of experience supporting trafficked survivors and two survivors of sexual violence and sex trafficking.

The Sex Trafficking Crisis in Iowa
Mon, 27 Jan 2025, 7:10 PM – Sun Room, Memorial Union - January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. To raise awareness of the human trafficking crisis, hear from two trauma-trained licensed counselors with years of experience supporting trafficked survivors and two survivors of sexual violence and sex trafficking.

Jane Elliott: A Conversation about Brown Eyes/Blue Eyes, Prejudice, and a Lifetime in Education
Thu, 30 Jan 2025, 6:00 PM – Sun Room, Memorial Union - Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative LectureThe Advancing One Community Awards will be awarded before the keynote address.Jane Elliott is an American educator, diversity trainer, and activist renowned for her pioneering work in anti-racism education. Born on May 27, 1933, in Riceville, Iowa, Elliott gained prominence for her "Blue Eyes/Brown Eyes" exercise, which she first conducted in 1968 with her third-grade students. The exercise, designed to teach students about the impact of discrimination and racism, involved dividing the class based on eye color and subjecting one group to discriminatory treatment while treating the other group with privilege. Elliott's innovative approach has been widely recognized and replicated, influencing discussions on race, bias, and systemic inequality. Over the decades of her work, she has continued to advocate for racial justice and inclusion, leading workshops and seminars around the world.This event is part of a Women’s and Gender Studies Lecture Series funded by the Mellon Foundation’s Affirming Multivocal Humanities Grant, which was awarded to Dr. Winfrey and the WGS program in the fall of 2023.This lecture will be recorded and available to view for two weeks to those with an iastate.edu email address on the Available Recordings page, approximately 24-36 hours after the conclusion of the event.

George Washington Carver Day of Recognition Program
Mon, 03 Feb 2025, 5:30 PM – Great Hall, Memorial Union - View the compete George Washington Carver Day of Recognition Program schedule. Dr. Jewel Bronaugh currently serves as President and CEO of the 1890 Universities Foundation. She is the second President and CEO in the Foundation’s history. In 2021, Dr. Bronaugh was nominated by President Joe Biden to serve as the 14th U.S. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture. She was unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate on May 13, 2021, and assumed office on May 17, 2021. She is the first Black woman to serve in this position.In 2018, Dr. Bronaugh was appointed by Governor Ralph Northam to serve as the 16th Commissioner of the Virigina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. In 2019, she served as the Virginia State Executive Director for the USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA). Prior to her FSA appointment, Dr. Bronaugh was the Dean of the College of Agriculture at Virginia State University (VSU) where she oversaw Extension, Research, and Academic Programs, and served as the Associate Administrator for Extension Programs. She was also a 4-H Extension Specialist.In 2019, Dr. Bronaugh helped launch the Virginia Farmer Stress Task Force initiative to raise awareness and help assist farmers and ranchers in time of stress. In 2020, Dr. Bronaugh helped establish the Virginia Food Access Investment Fund Program, the first statewide program of its kind aimed at strengthening local food systems by investing in projects that improve access to fresh foods in historically marginalized communities.Dr. Bronaugh received her Ph.D. in Career and Technical Education from Virginia Tech. She has dedicated her career to service and promoting youth leadership in agriculture. Originally from Petersburg, Virginia, Dr. Bronaugh is married to Cleavon, a retired U.S. Army Veteran.On George Washington Carver Day in Iowa, Carver’s life and legacy live on as a potent symbol of courage, perseverance, and an unquenchable thirst for knowledge. Carver’s story is one of extraordinary resiliency. Born into slavery in Missouri around 1864, he sought higher education in Iowa, at Simpson College and Iowa State University. He was Iowa State’s first Black student, earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees. After graduation, he became Iowa State’s first Black faculty member.Carver left Iowa for the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, where he spent the rest of his life applying his innovative genius to agriculture. He became world renowned for creating hundreds of products made from peanuts, sweet potatoes and other native Southern crops. A kind and patient teacher, Carver showed farmers how alternative crops and practices could benefit their bottom line and sustain their land. He took practical knowledge gained from science and delivered it to those working in the fields and rural areas.A livestream link will be available on this page as the event date nears. The recording will be added to the Available Recordings page when available.

Finding Their Voices: How Vocal Coach Mary Jo DuPrey Trains Award-Winning Singers
Tue, 04 Feb 2025, 6:00 PM – Sun Room, Memorial Union - Mary Jo DuPrey is the Private Touring Vocal Coach for Jon Bon Jovi. She also trained Daveed Diggs for his star making and Tony Award winning performance as Lafayette/Jefferson in Broadway’s “Hamilton.” Mary Jo served on the faculty at the Ray Bolger Program in Musical Theater at UCLA from 2006- 2017 where her renowned Rock Musical Theater Class has helped usher countless students onto the Broadway and National Tour Stages.This lecture will be recorded and ready to view on the Available Recordings page approximately 24-36 hours after the conclusion of the event.

Wild Life: Finding My Purpose in an Untamed World
Wed, 05 Feb 2025, 5:30 PM – Sun Room, Memorial Union - Rae Wynn-Grant is a wildlife ecologist who researches how human activity influences the behavior of wild animals. As an active scientist, she spends long periods in the wilderness tracking and observing black and grizzly bears in the western United States, and African lions in rural Kenya and Tanzania. Her wildlife exploration and media work has taken her to six of seven continents and over 25 countries. A native Californian, Wynn-Grant attributes her interest in wildlife and conservation from the nature shows she watched on television as a child, and today she uses media to increase representation of Black scientists and explorers. Wynn-Grant received her BS in Environmental Studies from Emory University, her MS in Environmental Studies from Yale University, and her PhD in Ecology and Evolution from Columbia University. She is a faculty member at the Bren School of Environmental Science and Management at the University of California at Santa Barbara. Wynn-Grant envisions a near future where the outdoors is a safe, equitably accessible, and positively transformative space for all people. She is a scientist, conservationist, equity and justice advocate, and storyteller. Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant is the host of the PBS podcast, Going Wild with Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant, which takes listeners deep into the heart of the world’s most remote jungles, savannas, tundras, mountains, and deserts with her as she studies wild animals in their natural habitats. She is also the Host of the NBC series, Wild Kingdom - a new version of the iconic wildlife show premiering Fall 2023. This event is part of a Women’s and Gender Studies Lecture Series funded by the Mellon Foundation’s Affirming Multivocal Humanities Grant, which was awarded to Dr. Winfrey and the WGS program in the fall of 2023.Due to speaker request, this recording will not be available until 3 days after the lecture and will be on the Available Recordings site only for those with an ISU Net ID.

The 1000 Farms Initiative: Lessons from America's Regenerative Farmers
Wed, 05 Feb 2025, 7:30 PM – Sun Room, Memorial Union - Dr. Lundgren is an agroecologist, Director ECDYSIS Foundation, and CEO for Blue Dasher Farm. He received his PhD in Entomology from the University of Illinois in 2004, and was a top scientist with USDA-ARS for 11 years. Lundgren’s research and education programs focus on assessing the ecological risk of agricultural practices and developing long-term solutions for regenerative food systems. Lundgren received the Presidential Early Career Award for Science and Engineering by the White House. Lundgren has served as an advisor for US and International regulatory and granting agencies. Lundgren has written 140 peer-reviewed journal articles (with an h-index of 52), authored his first book by the age of 30, and has received more than $13 million in grants. He has supervised and trained dozens of scientists from around the world. One of his priorities is to make science applicable to end-users, and he regularly interacts with the public and farmers regarding agroecology and planetary health. His ecological research focuses heavily on conserving healthy biological communities within agroecosystems by reducing disturbance and increasing biodiversity.

The Secret Life of Bears
Thu, 06 Feb 2025, 6:00 PM – Sun Room, Memorial Union - Rae Wynn-Grant is a wildlife ecologist who researches how human activity influences the behavior of wild animals. As an active scientist, she spends long periods in the wilderness tracking and observing black and grizzly bears in the western United States, and African lions in rural Kenya and Tanzania. Her wildlife exploration and media work has taken her to six of seven continents and over 25 countries. A native Californian, Wynn-Grant attributes her interest in wildlife and conservation from the nature shows she watched on television as a child, and today she uses media to increase representation of Black scientists and explorers. Wynn-Grant received her BS in Environmental Studies from Emory University, her MS in Environmental Studies from Yale University, and her PhD in Ecology and Evolution from Columbia University. She is a faculty member at the Bren School of Environmental Science and Management at the University of California at Santa Barbara. Wynn-Grant envisions a near future where the outdoors is a safe, equitably accessible, and positively transformative space for all people. She is a scientist, conservationist, equity and justice advocate, and storyteller. Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant is the host of the PBS podcast, Going Wild with Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant, which takes listeners deep into the heart of the world’s most remote jungles, savannas, tundras, mountains, and deserts with her as she studies wild animals in their natural habitats. She is also the Host of the NBC series, Wild Kingdom - a new version of the iconic wildlife show premiering Fall 2023. This event is part of a Women’s and Gender Studies Lecture Series funded by the Mellon Foundation’s Affirming Multivocal Humanities Grant, which was awarded to Dr. Winfrey and the WGS program in the fall of 2023.Due to speaker request, this recording will not be available until 3 days after the lecture and will be on the Available Recordings site only for those with an ISU Net ID.

Koji Alchemy: Rediscovering the Magic of Mold-Based Fermentation
Mon, 10 Feb 2025, 6:00 PM – Sun Room, Memorial Union - Jeremy Umansky is a chef/owner of Larder: A Curated Delicatessen & Bakery in Cleveland, Ohio, nominated by the James Beard Foundation as the Best New Restaurant in America in 2019. He has been featured in numerous publications like Bon Appetit and Saveur and was named “The Deli Prophet” by Food & Wine in the March 2019 Makers Issue. He is the author of the book, Koji Alchemy: Rediscovering the Magic of Mold-Based Fermentation (Chelsea Green Publishing, 2020). The University Book Store will be onsite selling copies of Koji Alchemy: Rediscovering the Magic of Mold-Based Fermentation at the event.This lecture will be recorded and ready to view on the Available Recordings page approximately 24-36 hours after the conclusion of the event.

Technology as Storytelling: How Engineering, Science, and Faith Play
Mon, 17 Feb 2025, 6:00 PM – 2630 Memorial Union - Note: This event was rescheduled from October 29, 2024. When we do our science and technology, our stories interpret what we see and direct what we make. In turn, we tell our stories not only by word and voice, but also by what we theorize and create. What does it mean when Christian scholars suggest all academic disciplines --including engineering-- are in the storytelling business? Or that God's Spirit is behind all knowing, even our technical and scientific know-how?  How does a story-based revelation add depth and meaning in our learning and doing of science and technology? Dr. Ethan Brue's study takes a nuanced, holistic, and historical look at how technology taps into human dreams for a better world, even while grappling with the challenges arising from new technologies.  Ethan Brue received his PhD in mechanical engineering from Iowa State University. He currently is the Dean for Technology and Applied Sciences at Dordt University, where he's taught engineering since 2000. Dr Brue is a licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.), having previously worked as an engineeringconsultant and project manager in the energy generation sector as well as a research and development engineer in the agriculture industry. Dr Brue is a co-author of "A Christian Field Guide to Technology for Engineers and Designers" (Intervarsity Press), which looks at the ethics and norms involved in technology design, biblical themes and passages that relate to technology, and how engineering and technology tap into human dreams for a better world. His research interests include thermochemical reactor design, the history of science and technology, solar energy engineering, biomass gasification and combustion, and fluidization. This lecture will be recorded and ready to view on the Available Recordings page approximately 24-36 hours after the conclusion of the event.

Wake Up the “Watchdog”: Ensuring Our Government Doesn’t Misuse Our Taxes
Thu, 20 Feb 2025, 6:00 PM – 2630 Memorial Union - Rob Sand is the State Auditor, a position he was first elected to in 2018; he is currently the only Democratic Party statewide officeholder in Iowa.  Rob is a graduate of Brown University and the University of Iowa College of Law. He interned in Washington, D.C. for Democratic Iowa Senator Tom Harkin, and then began working for Democratic campaigns in Iowa. After graduating law school, Rob was appointed Assistant Attorney General, and he became the lead prosecutor for two high profile cases: the Iowa Film Office tax credit scandal and the Hot Loot fraud scandal.  Since becoming state auditor, Rob developed the Public Innovations and Efficiencies Program, which awards fiscal efficiency in government. He has not endorsed Democratic candidates or campaigned for other candidates. This is part of his commitment to a balanced approach to his Truth and Anti-Partisanship approach to public service. This lecture will be recorded and ready to view on the Available Recordings page approximately 24-36 hours after the conclusion of the event.

Demystifying AI: What Adoption Success Looks Like for Humans
Mon, 03 Mar 2025, 6:00 PM – Sun Room, Memorial Union - One of the first movers in Responsible AI, Olivia Gambelin is a world-renowned expert in AI Ethics and product innovation whose experience in utilizing ethics-by-design has empowered hundreds of business leaders to achieve their desired impact on the cutting edge of AI development. Olivia works directly with product teams to drive AI innovation through human value alignment, as well as executive teams on the operational and strategic development of responsible AI.Olivia is the author of the book Responsible AI: Implement an Ethical Approach in Your Organization with Kogan Page Publishing. Responsible AI guides readers step-by-step through the process of establishing robust yet manageable ethical AI initiatives for any size organization, outlining the three core pillars of building a responsible AI strategy: people, process and technology. It provides the insight and guidance needed to help leaders fully understand the technical and commercial potential of ethics in AI while also covering the operations and strategy needed to support implementation.As the founder of Ethical Intelligence, the world’s largest network of Responsible AI practitioners, Olivia offers unparalleled insight into how leaders can embrace the strength of human values to drive holistic business success. She is the creator of The Values Canvas, co-founder of Women Shaping the Future of Responsible AI (WSFR.AI), founding Editorial Board member for Springer Nature’s AI and Ethics Journal, and sits as an advisor for the Ethical AI Governance Group (EAIGG) and The Data Tank. She has advised various organizations from Fortune 500 to Series A startups across the healthcare, financial, and media sectors in utilizing ethics as a decision-making tool for success in artificial intelligence.Olivia splits her year between San Francisco where she is an active member of Silicon Valley’s ecosystem of startups and investors, and Brussels where she advises on AI policy and regulation.This lecture will be recorded and ready to view on the Available Recordings page approximately 24-36 hours after the conclusion of the event.

The Wall and the Bridge: Fear and Opportunity in Disruption’s Wake
Thu, 03 Apr 2025, 5:30 PM – Sun Room, Memorial Union - Free-market economists often have noted that there are winners and losers in a competitive capitalist world. The question of how to deal with the difficult real-life consequences faced by the losers, however, has largely been ignored. Populist politicians have tried repeatedly to address the issue by creating walls—of both the physical and economic kinds—to insulate communities and keep competition at bay. While recognizing the broad emotional appeal of walls, economist Glenn Hubbard argues that because they delay needed adaptations to the ever-changing world, walls are essentially backward-looking and ultimately destined to fail. Taking Adam Smith’s logic to Youngstown, Ohio, as a case study in economic disruption, Hubbard promotes the benefits of an open economy and creating bridges to support people in turbulent times so that they remain engaged and prepared to participate in, and reap the rewards of, a new economic landscape.Glenn Hubbard is Director, Jerome A. Chazen Institute for Global Business, dean emeritus, and Russell L. Carson Professor of Finance and Economics at Columbia Business School. Hubbard received his BA and BS degrees summa cum laude from the University of Central Florida and also holds AM and PhD degrees in economics from Harvard University. In addition to writing more than 100 scholarly articles in economics and finance, Glenn is the author of three popular textbooks, as well as co-author of The Aid Trap: Hard Truths About Ending Poverty, Balance: The Economics of Great Powers From Ancient Rome to Modern America, and Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise: Five Steps to a Better Health Care System. His commentaries appear in Businessweek, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, the Financial Times, The Washington Post, Nikkei, and the Daily Yomiuri, as well as on television and radio.From 2001 until 2003, he was chairman of the U.S. Council of Economic Advisers. In the corporate sector, he is on the boards of TotalEnergies, BlackRock Fixed Income Funds, and MetLife (where he is chair). Hubbard is co-chair of the Committee on Capital Markets Regulation; he is a past chair of the Economic Club of New York and a past co-chair of the Study Group on Corporate Boards.

Civic Engagement in Diverse Latinx Communities: Learning from Social Justice Partnerships in Action
Thu, 03 Apr 2025, 7:00 PM – Sun Room, Memorial Union - Dr. Mari Castañeda will discuss social justice approaches to university-community partnerships within Latinx communities. Such partnerships highlight the importance of developing collaborative higher education pedagogies that recognize Latina/o/x communities as specific sites of creative and dynamic civic engagement. The lecture will provide a context to explore social justice community-university projects that bring together faculty, students and local community partners in efforts to learn from and bear witness to the lived experiences and cultural wealth of Latine communities in the United States.Dr. Castañeda is Dean of Commonwealth Honors College and Professor in the Department of Communication at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She is the recipient of the UMass System President’s Public Service Award, the Antonia Pantoja Award for community-engaged scholarship, and the UMass Amherst Distinguished Academic Outreach Award. Dr. Castañeda's fields of study include civic and community engagement, cultures of care in academia, global communications, and Latina media/cultural production. 

A Revolution in Computing: Next-Generation Arithmetic
Wed, 09 Apr 2025, 6:00 PM – South Ballroom, Memorial Union - For 50 years, "floating-point operations per second" (FLOPS) has been the currency of technical computing performance. The rise of AI and the end of Moore's law have made us realize that IEEE standard floating-point (invented by Intel in 1977) is long overdue for replacement. Dr. John Gustafson will present a new way to represent real numbers on computers that is both mathematically sound and follows engineering design goals. The approach can more than double speed and energy efficiency for everything from Machine Learning to Computer Graphics to High-Performance Computing. This is a watershed, a revolution. And it is well underway.John Gustafson is an American computer scientist and businessman, renowned for his contributions to high-performance computing (HPC). He is best known for Gustafson's Law, which provides a model for predicting the performance of parallel computing systems.Gustafson was raised in Des Moines, Iowa, and pursued his passion for science from a young age. He earned his degree in Applied Mathematics from the California Institute of Technology in 1977, followed by an M.S. and Ph.D. from Iowa State University in 1981 and 1982, respectively.Throughout his career, Gustafson has held several prominent positions, including Chief Technology Officer at Ceranovo, Inc., Chief Graphics Product Architect and Senior Fellow at AMD, and Architect of Intel Labs-SC. He also led the reconstruction of the Atanasoff–Berry computer and invented the unum number format, a variable-precision number system.Gustafson has received numerous awards for his work, including the inaugural Gordon Bell Prize in 1988 and the International Atanasoff Award in 2006. His contributions have significantly advanced the field of high-performance computing, making him a key figure in the industry.