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College of Engineering E-News
April 28, 2009

U.S.News rankings draw attention to college's drive to meet strategic goals

While the College of Engineering retained its overall position in U.S.News & World Report's 2010 edition of America's Best Graduate Schools, its work to address pressing global issues shows that education and research today are aimed at a better world in 2050. The annual publication placed the college at No. 42 overall and 24 among public institutions, with a No. 3 ranking assigned in the category of agricultural/biological. (Full story)


Distinguished and University Professors named

Ramesh Kanwar, ABE, has been named Charles F. Curtiss Distinguished Professor in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences; and Steve W. Martin, MSE, has been named Anson Marston Distinguished Professor in the College of Engineering. Distinguished Professor is the highest academic distinction bestowed by Iowa State and reflects an outstanding record of academic achievement. Lawrence J. Genalo, MSE, has been named University Professor. This is one of the highest honors awarded by the university and recognizes his significant impact on his department and the university. Kanwar, Martin, and Genalo will be recognized with other faculty and staff honorees at the Iowa State University Convocation and Awards Ceremony on September 21.


AerE alum/astronaut is commencement speaker

Clayton Anderson
J. Dwayne McAninch
Anderson
McAninch

Astronaut Clayton Anderson (MSAerE'83) will be the speaker at Iowa State's undergraduate commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 9. Anderson, the first Iowa State alum to become an astronaut, spent nearly five months aboard the International Space Station working as the Expedition 15 flight engineer in 2007. NASA recently announced Anderson is assigned to a second mission to the International Space Station that is scheduled for March of 2010.

J. Dwayne McAninch, a friend of the college, will receive an honorary doctor of science degree at the undergraduate ceremony. His company, McAninch Corporation, has been in business since 1967 and is recognized as one of the Midwest's largest earthmoving and underground contracting companies. McAninch is known for being on the cutting edge in applying new technologies to his industry, including geotechnical engineering, global positioning systems, and computer-aided systems.


ME senior is commencement student marshal

The College of Engineering has named Jared Ramthun to be the student marshal who will lead the engineering graduating class into Iowa State's undergraduate commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 9. Ramthun is concurrently earning a bachelor's in mechanical engineering and a master's in business administration. He has chosen Terrence Meyer, ME assistant professor, as his faculty escort. The departments nominate students for this honor on the basis of outstanding accomplishments and leadership qualities and activities. The other nominees were Joseph Boyer, ABE; Leigh Cumpston, CBE; Charles Fisher, MSE; Brian Kaplinger, AerE; Jacob Oakland, IMSE; Daniel Stone, ECpE; and Heidi Van Boening, CCEE. (Full story)
College/departments to host pre-commencement receptions

The College of Engineering will host pre-commencement receptions for master's and doctoral graduates and their guests on Friday, May 8, 5:30–7 p.m., 220–240 Scheman Building and for dual-degree master's graduates in 167–179 Scheman Building. The event features an informal student recognition program, hors d'oeuvres buffet, and cash bar. The Iowa State Graduate College commencement ceremony is at 8 p.m. in C. Y. Stephens. Please RSVP for the receptions by May 1.
The Iowa State undergraduate commencement ceremony is Saturday, May 9, at 1:30 p.m. in Hilton Coliseum. The College of Engineering receptions and department programs will be from 9 to 10:30 a.m. The locations vary by department. Visit the Alumni Events Web page for locations and to RSVP. Please RSVP by May 1.


University awards for faculty and staff announced

Five College of Engineering faculty and staff will receive university awards at the Iowa State University Convocation and Awards Ceremony on September 21. Congratulations to Mufit Akinc, MSE, International Service Award; Maneesha Aluru, associate scientist, ECpE and genetics, development and cell biology, P&S Outstanding New Professional Award; Jody Danielson, CBE, P&S Excellence Award; Charles T. Jahren, CCEE, ISU Award for Outstanding Achievement in Teaching; Edward J. Kannel, CCEE, ISU Award for Academic Advising Impact; Nancy E. Knight, graduate enrollment management, P&S Excellence Award; Eugene S. Takle, AerE, agronomy and geological and atmospheric sciences, Regents Award for Faculty Excellence; and J. (Hans) van Leeuwen, CCEE, ISU Award for Outstanding Achievement in Research.


New 'Two Minutes with' video

In a new "Two Minutes with" video, meet Cory McDermott, CCEE graduate student and one of the founders of a student organization called CyBuild or Cyclones Rebuilding Iowa. The organization evolved from the experience McDermott and Tim Corcoran, ConE senior, had when they organized a group of volunteers to assist in cleanup efforts following a tornado in Parkersburg in May of 2008.


Student-built vertical airplane 'takes off'
  Verticle airplane launch
   
Students in the college's new multidisciplinary senior design class accepted a very challenging assignment last fall. It was to design, build, and test an unmanned aerial system that can lift off vertically, fly quietly for an hour while maneuvering around buildings and taking photos, and then glide to a safe landing. The potential mission of such a plane would be to conduct surveillance in urban or mountainous terrain such as Iraq or Afghanistan. This spring the students have been testing their plane and launcher system and have great things to say about the teamwork that has made the project a success. (News release)


Mark your calendars!

 May 8—College of Engineering pre-commencement graduate receptions, 5:30 to 7 p.m., 220–240 Scheman Building and 167–179 Scheman Building
May 9—College of Engineering pre-commencement undergraduate reception and department programs, 9:00–10:30 a.m., locations vary by department
May 15—College open house and department tours for Iowa State University Alumni Days, 9:30–11:30 a.m.



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If you have questions or news items to suggest, please contact Mary Jo Glanville at mglanvil@iastate.edu or call 515 294-8787.

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