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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

people smiling and posing in front of a window

Innovation and Entrepreneurship Faculty Fellows. Celebration Reception, Launch Pad, Student Innovation Center. May 5, 2023

2022 Cohort

  • Stephanie Clark, headshot

    Professor
    Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition

    Stephanie Clark developed a new course allowing students to explore innovations in beer, wine and cheese called Science and Practice of Cheesemaking.

  • Shawn Dorius, headshot

    Associate Professor
    Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice

    Shawn Dorius designed a new course to empower the next generation of social scientists to address the grand challenges of the future.

  • Karri Haen Whitmer, headshot

    Teaching Professor
    Department of Genetics, Development, and Cell Biology

    Karri Haen Whitmer mentored students as they developed an adaptable electronics kit to increase the utility and dexterity of 3D printed prosthetics hands. 

  • Karl Kerns, headshot

    Assistant Professor
    Department of Animal Science

    Karl 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.

  • Claudia Lemper-Manahl, headshot

    Associate Teaching Professor
    Department of Plant Pathology, Entomology, and Microbiology

    Cyclone 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.

  • Fally Masambuka-Kanchewa, headshot

    Assistant Teaching Professor
    Department of Agricultural Education and Studies

    Fally 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.

  • Matthew O'Neal, headshot

    Professor
    Department of Plant Pathology, Entomology, and Microbiology

    Leveraging 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.

  • Walter Suza, headshot

    Adjunct Associate Professor
    Department of Agronomy

    Walter 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.

  • Amy Toth, headshot

    Professor
    Department of Ecology, Evolutional, and Organismal Biology

    Through 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.

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