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Young Alum Of The Month

  • Belinda Brain

    Name: Belinda Brain 

    Hometown: Muscatine, IA

    Major and Graduation Date: Horticulture, Spring 2024 

    Favorite ISU Class: There were so many good ones! But, since I can’t write down my entire class list, I will say my top ones were Hort 330 with Dr. Haynes, Plant Pathology with Dr. Peters, Bio 355 with Dr. Wallace, and Agron 206 with Dr. Hornbuckle. 

    Job Title and Company/Organization/School: Outreach Coordinator; Quad City Botanical Center

  • Andrew Ernat

    Name:  Andrew Ernat 

    Hometown:  Hamilton, MO

    Majors and Graduation Date:  Horticulture, Global Resource Systems, Summer 2022

    Favorite ISU classes:  I thoroughly enjoyed my discussion-based GRS courses (GLOBE 211) to explore opinions and perspectives from our diverse cohorts. The most fun course had to be hydroponic crop production with Dr. Currey (HORT 331), and how could I forget the Dean's Global Food and Agriculture Program (GLOBE 495/497) which culminated with a month in Rome, Italy.

    Job Title & Company/Organization/School:  Senior Research Plot Technician; University of Minnesota, Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve

  • Marjorie Hanneman

    Name:  Marjorie Hanneman

    Hometown:   Milwaukee, WI

    Majors and Graduation Date:  Agronomy and Genetics, May 2021

    Favorite ISU classes:  AGRON 281 Crop Physiology with Dr. Heaton, GEN 410 Analytical Genetics with Dr. Peterson, and AGRON 496A Crops and Soils of Costa Rica with Dr. Burras

    Job Title & Company/Organization/School:  PhD Candidate, Plant Breeding and Genetics, Cornell University

  • Emma Kerns

    Name:  Emma Kerns

    Hometown:  Edgewood, IA

    Major and Graduation Date:  Forestry, Spring 2021

    Favorite ISU class: My favorite class wasn’t one class but the Forestry 200 series. It was an entire semester of forestry-specific classes which included spending three weeks in Montana at Forestry Camp. It was a great experience, and it was wonderful to really dive into the world of forestry! I also have to give an honorable mention to Wood Properties and Identification with Dr. Doug Stokke. 

    Job Title & Company/Organization:  ISU Extension & Outreach, Northeast Iowa Forestry Field Specialist

  • Kayla Stott

    Name:  Kayla Stott

    Hometown: Tomah, WI

    Major and Graduation Date:  Food Science, May 2021

    Favorite ISU class: Food Chemistry with Dr. Boylston

    Job Title & Company/Organization:  Operations Process Analyst at Cargill 

  • Laura Monson

    Name:  Laura Monson

    Hometown:  Waterloo, IA 

    Major and Graduation Date: Environmental Science; Minor in Sustainability, May 2022

    Favorite ISU class:  There are so many!  I really encourage you to look at the full list of classes when making your schedule!  Some of my favorites were Oceanography with Dr. Wanamaker (ENV S 108), Environmental Geography with Dr. Burras (ENSCI 250), World Food Issues with Dr. Andrews (ENV S 342), Environmentalism in Music with Dr. Stewart (NREM 305), Surficial Processes Dr.Iverson (ENSCI 479)

    Job Title & Company/Organization:  County Education Coordinator for East and West Pottawattamie Soil and Water Conservation District

  • Belinda Hoffman

    Name: Belinda Hoffman

    Hometown:  West Liberty, Iowa

    Major(s) and Graduation Date:  Dietetics and Global Resource Systems, May 2022 

    Favorite ISU class: There are too many to count! I really enjoyed most of my classes at Iowa State and had phenomenal professors. A few favorites are:

    --All GLOBE classes with GRS faculty
    --HSPM 391 & 392 Foodservice Management 1 and 2
    --FSHN 460 Global Nutrition with Dr. Winham
    --SOC 325 Transitions in Agriculture with Dr. Bain

    Job Title & Company:  Food and Nutrition Educator for Iowa State University Extension and Outreach – Story County

  • Jessica Schmitt

    Name:  Jessica Schmitt

    Hometown:  Fort Atkinson, Iowa

    Major(s) and Graduation Date:  Dairy Science, Agricultural Communication and International Agriculture - May 2022

    Favorite ISU class:  My favorite class at Iowa State was Animal Science 337: Lactation with Dr. Timms. The course was super informative and eye-opening as we learned about the root of all dairy products and the different factors that impact milk production.  We also explored the lactation of various mammalian species, so now I hold a lot of fun facts. 

    Job Title & Company:  Integrated Communications Coordinator at Dairy West

  • Natalie McMillan

    Name: Natalie McMillan 

    Hometown: Aurora, Iowa

    Major and Graduation Date:  Culinary Food Science, May 2021

    Favorite ISU Class:  FSHN 214 Scientific Study of Food

    Job Title & Company:  Foodservice Territory Manager, Hormel Foods 

  • Claire Campbell Kettle

    Name: Claire Campbell Kettle 

    Hometown: DeWitt, Iowa 

    Major and Graduation Date: Biology, May 2020 

    Favorite ISU Class: My favorite course at Iowa State University was PHIL 331:  Moral Problems in Medicine with Dr. Kupfer.  This course challenged the way I view everyday issues, helped me develop a system to make difficult decisions, and taught me the importance in diversity of thought. 

    Job Title & Company: Dental Student at University of Iowa, College of Dentistry (Class of 2025) 

  • Nichole Wilson

    Name:  Nichole Wilson

    Hometown:  Janesville, WI

    Major and Graduation Date:  Animal Science, May 2018; currently pursuing MBA at LSU.

    Favorite ISU class:  ANS 352 Genetics - I loved Dr. Bundy and I use this class in my career.  I also loved my study abroad with Dr. Sterle studying heritage livestock breeds in the UK. These two courses are key in my memories of ISU.

    Job Title & Company:  Key Account Manager, PIC.  I'm based out of Ankeny, IA

  • Chase Olsen

    Name: Chase Olsen

    Hometown: North Sioux City, SD

    Major and Graduation Date: Animal Ecology, May 2022

    Favorite ISU Class: Either HON 324A: Romance Novels as Tools for Justice or BIOL 456: Principles of Mycology, but honestly I enjoyed almost every course I took at ISU!

    Job Title & Company: Student Services Specialist, NREM Department, Iowa State University

  • Anne Dinges

    Name: Anne Dinges. 

    Hometown: Byron, IL but I’ve lived in Des Moines, IA for the last 4 years.

    Major and Graduation Date:  Agronomy and Global Resource Systems, May 2019

    Favorite ISU Class: Mary Wiedenhoft’s agroecosystems field course. We spent a week in northwest Iowa visiting a diverse set of farms and thinking critically about the intersection of farm business and stewardship. 

    Job Title & Company:  Global Regenerative Agriculture Manager, Griffith Foods

  • Jacob Looney

    Name: Jacob Looney 

    Hometown: Wheatland, IA

    Major and Graduation Date: Agricultural Systems Technology, May 2022

    Favorite ISU Class: TSM 210: Fundamentals of Technology or TSM 433: Precision Agriculture

    Job Title and Company: Engineering Technician for John Deere Global Crop Harvesting Product Development Center (GCHPDC)

  • Jamie Schechinger

    Name:  Jamie Schechinger

    Hometown:  Westphalia, Iowa

    Major and Graduation Date:  Agricultural Studies, Minors in Agronomy and Business, May 2020 

    Favorite ISU class:  Econ 336 (Sales) with Dr. Ron Deiter 

    Job Title & Company: – Sales Agronomist, Yara North America 

    Major Job/Position Responsibilities:  Yara is one of the top fertilizer manufacturers in the world. They lead the world in crop nutrition and work towards a nature positive food future every day.

  • Rachel Zumbach

    Name:  Rachel Zumbach

    Hometown:  Coggon, Iowa

    Major and Graduation Date:  Agricultural and Life Sciences Education – Communications Option & International Agriculture, May 2021

    Favorite ISU Class:  My favorite class at Iowa State was Leadership Styles and Strategies in a Diverse Society (LD ST 322) with Dr. Tara Widner.  This class taught me a lot about myself and the ins and outs of working with others from all backgrounds who may have differing perspectives on life and work.  It allowed me to really dive into the ethics of leadership and what that looks like for different cultures and people across the globe.

    Job Title & Company:  Public Relations Manager, Iowa Corn

  • Reid and Reese Drenth

    Name:  Reid and Reese Drenth

    Hometown:  Decorah, Iowa

    Major and Graduation Date:  Agricultural Business, May 2019

    Favorite ISU Class:

    Reese: My favorite class at Iowa State was Economics of Discrimination taught by Dr. Peter Orazem. From the job market to the marriage market, Dr. Orazem provided an insightful and entertaining look into how discrimination impacts market participants all around the world.

  • Claire Dupuis

    Name:  Claire Dupuis

    Hometown:  Ames, Iowa

    Major and Graduation Date:  Agriculture & Society and English, May 2020

    Favorite ISU class:  Women in Agriculture and the Food System, taught by Dr. Carmen Bain, was a favorite class of mine. Dr. Bain is an enthusiastic professor who shares a wealth of knowledge from her research in the areas of agriculture, food systems, and gender.  I found the guest speakers, presentations, and class discussions to be very engaging.  Taking this course led to the valuable opportunity for me to work as a TA for Dr. Bain the following year.

  • Erin Healy

    Name: Erin Healy

    Hometown:  West Des Moines, Iowa

    Major and Graduation Date:  Microbiology, Spring 2019

  • Matthew Hart

    Name:  Matthew Hart

    Hometown:  Carol Stream, Illinois

    Major and Graduation Date:  Industrial Technology Option: Manufacturing with a minor in Business, Fall 2019

    Favorite ISU class:  TSM 240: Introduction to Advanced Manufacturing and Metals Processing.  I enjoyed studying several types of manufacturing processes and being able to operate metal lathe machines in the lab.  During the semester, our class had the opportunity to attend the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) in Chicago which is a trade show showing off all the latest technology in the manufacturing industry.  This showed me the endless possibilities of what the industry offers and how fast changing it is.