The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) celebrated the accomplishments of alumni and friends of the college during the 2021 LAS Alumni Honors and Awards Ceremony on Oct. 21 at the ISU Alumni Center.
With nearly 75,000 living alumni, LAS boasts innovative professionals who impact the world in an incredibly diverse range of roles and industries. Each year, the college hosts a ceremony to honor alumni selected as recipients of awards from the ISU Alumni Association, the college and LAS departments. This year’s recipients follow:
LAS alumna recognized with an award from the ISU Alumni Association
Iowa State University Alumni Association Alumni Medal
Becky Stadlman (’74 journalism and mass communication)
Recipients recognized with college awards
Citation of Merit
Kate Henderson (’97 biology)
LAS Distinguished Service Award
Jeff White (’92 journalism and mass communication)
Carrie Chapman Catt Public Engagement Award
Evelio Otero Jr. (’82 journalism and mass communication, political science)
John V. Atanasoff Discovery Award
Kenneth J. Sufka
Recipients recognized with awards from LAS departments
Department of Chemistry Outstanding Alumni Award
Karen Nordell Pearson (Ph.D. ’97 inorganic chemistry)
Department of Computer Science Distinguished Alumni Award
Kathleen F. Hahn Davidson (’73 computer science and mathematics)
Department of Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology Distinguished Alumni Award
Dr. Katherine L. Gross (’75 biology)
Department of Economics Distinguished Services for the Public Good Award
Sam Summers (’06 economics and marketing)
Department of Genetics, Development, and Cell Biology Distinguished Alumni Award
David C. Morrison (’10 genetics, international studies and political science)
Department of Geological and Atmospheric Sciences Distinguished Alumni Award
Breea J. Lisko (’00 meteorology)
Department of History Distinguished Alumni Award
Anne Effland (Ph.D. ’91 agricultural history and rural studies)
Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication
2020 James W. Schwartz Award for Distinguished Service to Journalism and Communication
Richard R. Phillips (’78 journalism and mass communication)
Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication
2021 James W. Schwartz Award for Distinguished Service to Journalism and Communication
Debra Solberg Gibson (’81 family environment/family services, home economics journalism)
Department of Mathematics Distinguished Alumni Award
Timothy J. Pennings (Ph.D. ’87 mathematics)
Department of Physics and Astronomy Distinguished Alumni Award
Greg Pickrell (’73 physics)
Department of Political Science Distinguished Alumni Award
Dianne (Kneeskern) Liepa (’71 political science, MS ’75 political science)
Department of Psychology Distinguished Alumni Award
Brian E. Brooks (MS ’01 psychology, Ph.D.’04 psychology and neuroscience)
Department of World Languages and Cultures Distinguished Alumni Award
Jesse W. Leonard (’14 German and mechanical engineering)
LAS department award recipients received their awards at the Oct. 21 event, while Stadlman and the LAS award recipients received their awards at an ISU Alumni Association event held Friday, Oct. 22. An online gallery from the LAS event can be found here.
Nominate your fellow Cyclones
Help shine a spotlight on spectacular alumni:
Nominate alumni age 34 or younger for an Iowa STATEment Maker award
Nominate alumni for an LAS award