“Her contributions and work in promoting the achievements of our faculty, and especially elevating women’s careers and ensuring that their accomplishments are recognized, make her an outstanding candidate for this award.”
Kirsten Abel, faculty recognition director in the Office of the Senior Vice President and Provost, has made valuable contributions to elevating Iowa State’s reputation in research, teaching, and extension. Iowa State’s first-ever full-time honors and awards coordinator, Abel has shifted institutional culture and generated excitement among units about nominating colleagues. She has engaged Iowa State departments and peer institutions that successfully promote their faculty and staff, adopting and disseminating best practices from those departments and institutions to all parts of Iowa State. In turn, her practices are now modeled at other institutions across the nation. A champion for unrecognized excellence, Abel has been instrumental in assembling nominations for women across campus to ensure their accomplishments receive external recognition. In 2023, she envisioned and organized the first-ever university-wide recognition celebration for faculty and staff who have received national and international honors and awards over the past five years. Abel started a Higher Education Promotional Campaign in 2023 and pages on the Provost’s Office website to disseminate these achievements broadly. Abel has also held university leadership and service roles, including serving as the United Way chair (2019-20), membership on the Institutional Rankings Committee (2022), and advisory panels for student nominations. Abel has also sought ways to include student recognition efforts in an overall strategy to raise the university’s institutional visibility. Her numerous contributions have been recognized with a Regents Staff Excellence Award.
“Basha is a born leader. She attentively listens to her peers, is receptive to their feedback, and effects positive change through facts and friendly persuasion.”
Albulena Basha, a Ph.D. student in agricultural economics, uses her passion for education and service to enhance the lives of other students, faculty and staff. Basha encourages and motivates students, equipping them with technical knowledge, tools for self-reliance, and a passion for life-long learning. She developed a study abroad course to her native country of Kosovo that she will co-lead in May 2025, and she successfully appealed to the Kosovo’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Rural Development Department for Economic Analysis and Agriculture Statistics to host Iowa State undergraduate interns starting in summer 2025. Basha has served as president and vice president of the Economics Graduate Student Association and a senator for the Graduate and Professional Student Senate. She has also served in an advisory capacity to the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences dean and been admitted to the Graduate College Emerging Leaders Academy. In recognition of her leadership, she received the 2024 Outstanding Student Leader of the Year Award from Iowa State’s Office for Student Engagement. As a junior economic advisor for the German Corporation for International Cooperation (GIZ), Basha played a crucial role in empowering farmers, agribusinesses, and national farmer associations through capacity-building initiatives. She coordinated with other international development agencies to design and implement programs and organized seminars and roundtables that fostered dialogue and innovation. Since 2017, Basha has been a frequent guest lecturer on topics including food security, the role of agriculture in economic development, Kosovo-American education, and academic writing. Basha is now elevating the study abroad course she developed, creating learning and networking opportunities for Iowa State students while bridging academic theory with real-world international development practices.
“Rachel has a powerful and positive impact on ISU through her actions, but also through the way in which she inspires other to care as much as she does about their community.”
Rachel Burlingame, secretary II for the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice, has spent her 30+ year career at Iowa State providing exceptional service to her unit and to the campus community, inspiring people through her competence, knowledge, generosity, and care for every member of the Iowa State community. As the primary source of information for her department, Burlingame fields questions on a daily basis about appropriate university processes, connects students and faculty to individuals in other offices to accomplish their goals, and dedicates time to learning new and updated policies, processes, and programs. She is a critical link in organizing department and campus events, working with faculty and staff, alumni, community members, and donors to ensure a successful event. An advocate for student success, Burlingame always helps ensure that students meet their academic milestones, that assistantships are assigned on time, and that graduation paperwork is filed appropriately. Burlingame has an integral role in helping her department’s many international undergraduate and graduate students adapt to the United States and Iowa State in a way that furthers their academic progress. During the transition to Workday Student, Burlingame attended trainings, sought out expert advice, and worked tirelessly to ensure that there was minimal disruption to students and faculty. Burlingame has also built strong relationships across the university, always willing to provide help when needed.
“Attempting to remark on Holly’s impact on each of us students would undervalue her diligence, compassion, influence, and positive mindset in and out of academics.”
Holly Dunlay-Lott, student services specialist II for the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, has made a quiet, broad impact across the College of Engineering and university through her meticulous care for each of her advisees. A critical member of the student success team in MSE, Dunlay-Lott is everything that a student could hope for in an advisor – empathetic, compassionate, detail-oriented, efficient, innovative, and willing to go above and beyond on any given day. An advisor to hundreds of students during her time in MSE, Dunlay-Lott’s mentoring and advising reaches students and colleagues well beyond her office doors. Dunlay-Lott serves as an advisor for Emerging Leaders in Engineering as well as ISU’s premier collaborative leadership conference, Engineering Leaders of Tomorrow. Her passion for study abroad as a global experience that will change the lives of students led to her involvement as a co-leader for the ENGL 3140 in Sydney winter break program in Australia. She recently became the program coordinator for MSE’s MAT E 2730 in London summer program and has supported two cohorts through their experience. Dunlay-Lott has a strong service mindset that is evident in her departmental and college work on committees and through her time volunteering with activities such as the Iowa State food bank SHOP and the College of Engineering’s Improve You mentoring program.
“Amani’s leadership, mentorship and collaboration—with students, faculty, staff, donors, colleagues and collaborators—is central to our success as a globally engaged and impactful university.”
Amani Elobeid—teaching professor of economics, Deiter Endowed Chair for Sustaining Excellence in Agricultural Business, and faculty member in the Center for Agricultural and Rural Development (CARD)—is committed to the development of students as critical thinkers, problem solvers, changemakers, and global citizens. Elobeid is heavily involved with undergraduate academics in the Department of Economics, from recruitment, retention, teaching classes, and advising student organizations to mentoring competitive teams and leading study abroad programs. In recognition of her outstanding teaching, Elobeid was the recipient of the 2020 Excellence in Teaching by Lecturers and Adjunct Faculty Award. Her service to her department has included mentoring graduate students in their teaching assignments as well as membership on the Committee on Diversity, Inclusion and Equity; the Economics Council; the Undergraduate Programs and Policy Committee, and the Brenton Center’s AgOnline Learning Advisory Committee. At the university level, she serves on the George Washington Carver Council and has served on the P&S Research Award Committee. Elobeid is widely recognized for her research accomplishments, with a specific emphasis on agricultural policy analysis and the impact of biofuels. She has authored or co-authored more than 90 research reports and papers and published 15 book chapters. Her research accomplishments have earned her the P&S Research Award at both the college and university levels, and she currently ranks among the most cited clinical economics faculty in the U.S. Working in what has traditionally been a male-dominated field, Elobeid founded the Allies of Women in Economics (AWE), a monthly gathering for faculty, graduate and undergraduate women in economics and their allies to share their successes, discuss challenges, and inspire one another.
“She is amongst the very best of the professionals whom I have had the pleasure to interact with over my 25 years at Iowa State University and absolutely deserving of this recognition.”
Taylor Gerdes, administrative assistant II for the Department of Chemistry, is essential to the teaching mission and smooth operation of the undergraduate chemistry office. Gerdes works with prospective students and their families, more than 8,000 students enrolled in chemistry courses each year, chemistry majors, approximately 180 teaching assistants, more than 15 faculty members, and other staff members. In addition to support for teaching, advising, and recruiting efforts, Gerdes also provides support for research, seminars, colloquia, teaching, and special events. In 2023, her contributions earned her the P&S Outstanding New Professional Award. Although Gerdes has worked at Iowa State for only a few years, the quality of her work and what she brings to the table is that of someone who has been at Iowa State for many years. She has improved the department’s processes and expanded the roles of her position. She is proactive, bringing new ideas to the department and often anticipating issues before they arise. Because of her design skills and her energy and passion, Gerdes was added to the department’s social media and online presence planning team. Continually striving for personal and professional development, Gerdes is also a member of the Professional & Scientific Council, putting in her time to help make the workplace better for all employees.
“She leads with transparency, openness, a commitment to inclusivity and the creation of a sense of belonging. A positive working culture does not just happen. It is fostered and led by the manager.”
Lesya Hassall, course design and quality director for the Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT), is dedicated to the university’s mission of fostering an educational culture that values and promotes accessibility, inclusivity, and academic excellence in online environments. In her role, Hassall directs the teams of instructional designers, media production specialists, and technologists who aid ISU’s instructors in designing and developing quality online courses and provide student-centric technological solutions. Throughout her 18 years at CELT, Hassall has focused on implementing university-wide instructional tools, evidence-based practices, and professional development opportunities to enhance student learning. For her service, she was recognized with the Regents Award for Staff Excellence, ISU’s COVID-19 Excellence in Instructional Support award, and ISU’s COVID-19 Exemplary Team Award. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she played a crucial role in supporting ISU’s instructors as they transitioned to online and hybrid course delivery, offering advice on leveraging Canvas for engaging teaching and learning experiences. Hassall serves on several university-wide committees, including the Teaching Technology Advisory Committee, Change Advisory Committee, and the Information Technology Services Digital Accessibility Policy Committee. Additionally, she has been a counselor in the P&S Policies and Procedures and Peer Advocacy group. Beyond Iowa State, Hassall is an active member of the Quality Matters online and hybrid course quality assurance organization, the Iowa Distance Learning Association, and the United States Distance Learning Association. Hassall is also dedicated to supporting her colleagues in Ukraine. In 2022, she delivered the first-ever internationally offered Course Design Institute to 30 scholars and continues supporting educators in Ukraine.
“A role model for our community, her accomplishments are evident through her innovative vision, reflective mentoring of employees, and inspirational conduct.”
Christine Hradek, senior manager for Human Sciences Extension and Outreach, is a leader whose daily efforts center on her “North Star” mission—to “make the healthy choice the easy choice.” Hradek oversees the administration of ISU Extension and Outreach’s Expanded Food and Nutrition Education (EFNEP) and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed), leading a team of 29 nutrition educators, regional supervisors, and administrative staff members. She is the leader of Spend Smart. Eat Smart, a website and a mobile app of resources that in 2023 reached more than 190,000 people around the world. She also developed Growing Together Iowa (GTI), a donation garden project promoting healthy food access in food pantries. Now a multi-state initiative, GTI has donated more than 751,000 pounds of fresh produce to food pantries and won the 2023 National Excellence in Extension Team Award. Committed to serving those who have been historically excluded from Extension programming, Hradek implemented a county-led expansion of EFNEP and SNAP-Ed. Hradek and her team often present at conferences such as the Association of SNAP Nutrition Education Administrators Conference, International Master Gardener Conference, and World Food Prize Iowa Hunger Summit, and she has published four publications while at Iowa State. During the COVID pandemic, Hradek quickly pivoted programs to virtual offerings. She served on the COVID-19 Initiative Team, which helped to improve food supply, safety, and access, and on the Open for Iowa committee, which focused on ensuring the health and safety of staff, volunteers, participants, and communities across the state.
“Dr. LaWare is an amazing character, a great leader, and a knowledgeable professor. She always goes the extra mile to help you with whatever it is that you need.”
Maggie LaWare, professor of English and director of public speaking, fosters an environment conducive to learning and constructive interaction. Always supportive, LaWare makes sure everyone is heard and everyone’s opinion is included. In her 27-year career at Iowa State, LaWare has taught 17 courses in speech communication, English, women’s and gender studies, and leadership studies, and is the creator or co-creator of five new courses. As the director of public speaking, LaWare is dedicated to enhancing the student experience in Speech Communication 2120: Fundamentals of Public Speaking. She puts extra time into improving the quality of this multi-section course, such as inviting textbook publishers to campus to meet with the graduate teaching assistants, then soliciting feedback on whether certain new texts and or interactive tools would serve Iowa State students and their public speaking growth. She also integrates feedback from the graduate teaching assistants into future syllabi, rubrics and teaching activities, and last fall she helped facilitate the first public speaking showcase for the students in SPCOM 2120. In addition to the continual innovation that LaWare provides to the student learning experience, her efforts also help graduate students in their own development as future professors. She has served on 55 Ph.D., M.F.A and M.A. committees, serving as chair or co-chair nine times. LaWare is the recipient of the 2014 Provost’s Exemplary Faculty Mentor Award and the 2022 Regents Award for Faculty Excellence.
“Her incredible scholastic achievements are complemented by research, experiential work, leadership, service, and extracurricular involvement, yet all are overshadowed by Rachel’s genuine kindness and empathy, essential traits to recognize and celebrate at the university level.”
Rachel Leholm, a senior in chemical engineering with a minor in biomedical engineering, passionately shares her talents with others to change the world for the better. Leholm has held two positions with Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering: as a CBE ambassador greeting high school students visiting the department and as a CBE peer mentor serving first-year students. In Spring 2024, Leholm collaborated with a CBE faculty member to offer peer help hours for a 300-level course on fluid dynamics, doing such a good job that she was asked to be the sole classroom assistant in her section of the introductory chemical engineering course in the Fall 2024 semester. Leholm has served several roles with the Society of Women Engineers (SWE). She has planned four Girls Learning and Experiencing Engineering (GLEE) days for first to fourth graders and four Girls Discovering Engineering (GDE) days for fifth to eighth graders. Her commitment to creating new activities for these events—including a coding maze—has allowed the organization to continue to partner with area schools. Leholm then helped the Women in Science and Engineering program (WiSE) implement the coding maze into their Student Role Model Database for use by schools across Iowa. Leholm has also volunteered with Iowa State’s SWE section at philanthropic events and helped build a community among the female engineering students.
“Her passion for creating opportunities for growth and inclusion has had a lasting impact on her peers, making her a role model for future leaders in the field.”
Ashlyn Rairdin, a Ph.D. student in plant breeding, impacts Iowa State through her outstanding leadership, innovative research, and dedication to STEM education and outreach. Rairdin is a pioneer in integrating cutting-edge technology and agriculture. Her Ph.D. projects are at the interface of breeding and artificial intelligence. She has become the go-to person for many students and scientists in drone and ground robot-based agricultural phenotyping, and has co-authored several impactful publications. Rairdin takes the initiative to lead new projects, such as developing protocols for using rovers and sensors in field applications and setting standard operating procedures for data collection in plant breeding research. Her service to her department, peers, and younger students also reflects her dedication to advancing plant breeding and agronomy at Iowa State. She actively promotes women in STEM fields and is co-leader of the Women in Agriculture and Artificial Intelligence (WIAA) group, where her forward-thinking approach has fostered a supportive and inclusive environment. She has served as a member of the Iowa State Weed Faculty Scientist Search Committee and the Predictive Plant Phenomics Graduate Student Organization and enjoyed a multi-year involvement in the R.F. Baker Plant Breeding Symposium. She has organized and executed outreach demonstrations and workshops for students from kindergarten to the university level, and mentors students through programs such as the 4H Youth Leaders and WISE Go Further. Rairdin also played a crucial role in coordinating the preparation of an AI stop at Iowa State’s tent at the 2024 Farm Progress Show that attracted over 5,000 attendees.
“Emily Schrimpf Worrall is a champion for the AMD Program and College of Health and Human Sciences at ISU. In addition, she is also a champion for student innovation and entrepreneurship and an inspiration to women of all ages and backgrounds who have entrepreneurial hopes, dreams, and ambitions.”
Emily M.S. Worrall, Ph.D. candidate in apparel, merchandising and design, is wholeheartedly committed to student learning and empowerment. The graduate assistant for Innovate 1858, the student-operated retail store on campus, Worrall used her expertise in entrepreneurship to collaborate with the store’s lead student manager to develop a business plan to increase student involvement and improve store performance. Collaborating with AMD Program faculty and supervisory team, Worrall created a course associated with Innovate 1858, developing lesson plans focused on small business, retail, and entrepreneurship topics and creating an organizational structure where student teams engage with the store through buying, marketing, visual merchandising, human resources, and public relations. She has assisted faculty with major enhancements to course learning experiences, including taking the classroom to the community through the Main Street Kick Start outreach program. In 2024, she spearheaded a new venture for Innovate 1858, partnering with the ISU Trademark Office to launch Cyclones Take New York, a national-level competitive program focused on student-designed and developed sportswear that incorporates the university’s trademarked logos and other branded content. Worrall’s graduate research focuses on advancing entrepreneurship education in fashion/creative and non-business disciplines. Because of this novel focus, Worrall was selected to participate in the United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (USASBE) Doctoral Consortium for 2024-2025. In addition, she is participating in the ISU Start-up Factory to bring an innovative adaptive apparel accessory to the marketplace.