Hello, CALS colleagues,
Last week was busy taking a breath after all the graduation exercises and getting ready for a busy summer. It was terrific to see some of you at the annual CALS Faculty and Staff Picnic at Moore Memorial Park in Ames last Wednesday evening. I hope to see even more of you when we do this again next year, about the same time and place! This year we had about 200 RSVPs and attendees, and great food (HyVee burgers, hot dogs and a variety of sides) and music by the Indigo Monks, including our very own Thomas Baum on sax from PPEM. Maybe next year we can top 300 attendees!
Special thanks for the planning, set-up and take-down of the picnic to Angie Weeks, Alison Parker, Mark Wuebker and a few others. Really a great time had by all, including the kids who found the playground equipment immediately adjacent to the picnic shelter much more interesting than the various versions of adult conversation going on.
Last week, we also welcomed Kendall Lamkey to his new role as associate dean for facilities and operations for the college, and Mary Wiedenhoeft as the interim chair for agronomy. They will both do great in these new roles.
Among the very many things now in Kendall’s portfolio, with the expert help of Tim Goode and company, is an added college emphasis on safety. That’s safety on the farm, in the lab and greenhouse, in classrooms, in the field, and everywhere anyone from CALS is working or learning. We need to always get better at safety, and this’ll be a new emphasis in the college. Just this week, Kendall and I met with directors from Environmental Health and Safety, and we are setting up next steps to advance on what we already do.
Starting May 31 and continuing throughout the month of June, we’ll have fall 2023 incoming students and their families visiting campus for orientation. Please offer welcoming smiles and assistance navigating campus as you come across these individuals.
Next week, we’ll not have a Monday newsletter owing to Memorial Day. As you celebrate and enjoy Memorial Day, please recall the reason for the day (learn about the facts, meanings and tradition behind Memorial Day by watching this good, short video). Maybe in the run-up to or soon after Memorial Day, take a few minutes to pause in the Memorial Union’s Gold Star Hall – read some names aloud and feel the loss endured. Also consider attending, either in-person or virtually, the ISU Retirees Association Memorial Day Ceremony on May 29, at 9 a.m. Several CALS retirees, faculty and staff who died this past year will be remembered.
Have a great week and let me know what you’re thinking! Best - Dan
Scenes from CALS
Students and faculty are in Rome taking part in the Dean’s Global Agriculture and Food Leadership Program. Last week, they toured the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization headquarters in Rome (first picture). Also, ISU College of Design - Rome Resident Director Pia Schneider gave them a historical tour of the Testaccio neighborhood.
