Assistant Professor
Department of Animal Science

Innovation Project Title: Providing a Well-rounded Egg-cellent Education

As students come into the Animal Science program at Iowa State University, they are unaware of the presence, prominence and career opportunities in the poultry industry. With the majority of students in the Animal Science program entering with an urban background, exposure to food animal agriculture is often limited. Dawn Koltes wants to increase student knowledge through a 400-level poultry management course. This course would provide students with knowledge of the prominent Iowa poultry industry, expose them to diverse careers and experts in these careers as well as management strategies which will increase their competence and confidence in the poultry industry making them more employable.

Koltes will also be exploring opportunities to give students a global perspective on the poultry industry through a study abroad opportunity. An opportunity like this will allow students to observe different approaches to the same or difference challenges facing the industry and establishing connections for entrepreneurship and innovation.

Currently, Koltes has submitted the paperwork to add the a poultry systems management course to the animal science curriculum.  If the course is added to the curriculum, she will then look to add the single purchase supplies needed to support the course. While this is in progress, I will narrow down locations to host a poultry based study abroad course with site travel planned for summer of 2025.