CALS Innovation and Entrepreneurship Faculty Fellows
The Dean's Office for Academic Innovation and Start Something College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) developed the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Faculty Fellows (IEFF) program to foster and expand a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in CALS faculty across each of our departments. To advance this goal, the Dean's office provides funds to support faculty seeking to incorporate innovation within teaching, research or extension activities.
Faculty fellows are organized as a cohort and provided with funding, training and professional development in innovation and entrepreneurship. Fellows serve for two years with an expectation that each fellow will continue to be engaged in building a network and culture of innovation and entrepreneurship within their departments and across the college.
To learn more about the program, contact Carmen Bain (cbain@iastate.edu) or Kevin Kimle (kimle@iastate.edu).
Being an Innovation and Entrepreneurship Faculty Fellow has allowed me to think beyond my immediate research program, leading to novel ways to incorporate undergraduate teaching. Meeting with the other fellows has been interesting, and, at times, comforting hearing how they overcome challenges in changing their research, teaching, and extension to meet the growing needs of our students, stakeholders, and citizens. - Dr. Matthew O'Neal
Innovation and Entrepreneurship Faculty Fellows. Celebration Reception, Launch Pad, Student Innovation Center. May 5, 2023
2022 Cohort
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Professor
Department of Food Science and Human NutritionStephanie Clark developed a new course allowing students to explore innovations in beer, wine and cheese called Science and Practice of Cheesemaking.
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Associate Professor
Department of Sociology and Criminal JusticeShawn Dorius designed a new course to empower the next generation of social scientists to address the grand challenges of the future.
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Teaching Professor
Department of Genetics, Development, and Cell BiologyKarri Haen Whitmer mentored students as they developed an adaptable electronics kit to increase the utility and dexterity of 3D printed prosthetics hands.
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Assistant Professor
Department of Animal ScienceKarl Kerns is integrating entrepreneurship into activities and curriculum within the Department of Animal Science, from an introductory course to special projects for students to get hands-on experience in animal science-related entrepreneurship opportunities.
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Associate Teaching Professor
Department of Plant Pathology, Entomology, and MicrobiologyCyclone Science Innovators (CySI) and the Innovation Grand Challenges were developed by Claudia Lemper-Manahl to challenge teams of students in scientific discovery, problem solving, entrepreneurial thinking, and more.
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Assistant Teaching Professor
Department of Agricultural Education and StudiesFally Masambuka-Kanchewa created Communicating Contemporary Issues in Agriculture, a course teaching students about agricultural issues and how to communicate with various stakeholders and experts about them.
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Professor
Department of Plant Pathology, Entomology, and MicrobiologyLeveraging grant funding, current research efforts, and the ISU apiary, Matthew O'Neal is developing a new course to help students learn about commercial beekeeping and how to produce honey sustainably through efforts like prairie strips.
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Adjunct Associate Professor
Department of AgronomyWalter Suza is creating open educational resources (OER) for use in AGRON 320 to customize and curate the necessary genetics and biotechnology texts, lectures, and learning activities to achieve the desired outcomes relevant to agriculture systems.
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Professor
Department of Ecology, Evolutional, and Organismal BiologyThrough the Bee and Wasp Squad, Amy Toth developed a program for undergraduate students to participate in meaningful, hands-on research experiences centered around the bees and wasps' behavior, health, and conservation.
Press Links
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January 19, 2024
Empowering students to communicate more effectively about contemporary issues in agriculture
Conversations about contemporary issues in agriculture can be intimidating for students, especially when they involve controversial topics.
An important goal for Fally Masambuka-Kanchewa is to empower her students to feel more confident addressing and communicating about such issues before they graduate.
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December 1, 2023
New Innovation and Entrepreneurship Faculty Fellows cohort announced
Projects using artificial intelligence to solve agricultural problems, cultivating Iowa's wild yeast, and enhancing a food product development class are just a sampling of what faculty will be working on this coming year.
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November 27, 2023
Cheesemaking class to culminate in tasting event
The smell of cheese and wine fills the air in the corner of the pilot plant inside the Food Sciences Building. Students cut hunks of cheddar cheese into thumb-sized pieces (cheese curds) before placing them in a large, clear plastic tub to soak in wine. The curds will be pressed in towers, sliced into wheels, then vacuum-sealed in bags. The goal is that after several weeks of aging, the wine-soaked cheese will be a delectable treat.
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August 10, 2023
CALS Entrepreneurship Fellow innovates to deliver engaging course material and save students money
Walter Suza is making plant genetics educational materials more engaging and accessible for students on campus and far away.