Events

Meredith Evans is a trained archivist, a professional librarian, and a published scholar, with specialties in development of exhibition and record-keeping programs, records management and digital library program initiatives, and reference services in libraries and archives. As director of the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum, Dr. Evans administers and directs all aspects including archival, exhibit, public, and education programs. Previously, she served as associate university librarian at Washington University, St. Louis, Mo. Evans holds degrees from Clark Atlanta University, North Carolina State University and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Evans is serving as the 2018-2019 president of the Society of American Archivists.  She is visiting Iowa State University Library in early October and will present “Beyond Legacy: Archives and History” at 4pm on October 8 in Parks Library.  The Ames community, archivists from around Iowa, and others are invited to attend.

President, Society of American Archivists

Sherri Thompson is a Registered Nurse who works currently at Genesis Hospital in Davenport, IA on the Surgical Specialty Unit. 

Previously, she worked almost five years as a Pediatric Nurse in Ames, IA at Mary Greeley Medical Center and one year as a Hospice Nurse in Manhattan, KS. 
Sherri spends a portion of her time helping others in need outside the walls of hospitals as well. She has volunteered at Story County Jail and was a board member to a transitional home that houses women who were previously incarcerated.  Most recently she served as the Self Care Manager at The Homestead House to women coming out of sex trafficking. 
One of her most rewarding experiences was in 2015 when she climbed aboard the Africa Mercy Ship in Madagascar for twelve weeks to serve as a volunteer nurse to those recovering from life saving surgeries. 
 

Ann Rehbein became Executive Director of the Quilts of Valor Foundation September 1, 2015. She began her association with QOVF when she coordinated a sew day for the American Legion Auxiliary of Iowa. It was a day when all members could come together, whether they knew anything about quilting or not. It was an “Under Our Wings” day when Marianne Fons joined them for the day and took two “rookies” under her wings and made a Quilt of Valor. From that day on, Ann has been heavily involved with QOV.

She is a graduate of Iowa State University with a B.S. degree in home economics and has extensive leadership and managerial strengths. Her business career includes owning a successful chocolate manufacturing and retail business, an executive secretary for a non-profit organization and a buyer for a large manufacturing facility. She has served in many local, state and national positions for the American Legion Auxiliary.

James A. Roth, DVM, Ph.D.

Jim Roth is a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine in the College of Veterinary Medicine and a member of the National Academy of Medicine. He received the DVM (1975) and PhD (1981) degrees from ISU and has been on faculty since 1977. He worked as a veterinarian in a mixed animal practice in Iowa from 1975 until 1977. He is the Director of the Center for Food Security and Public Health. Dr. Roth’s primary area of research expertise is immunity to infectious diseases of food producing animals. He has testified before Congressional committees on biosecurity preparedness, on efforts to address bioterrorism and agroterrorism, and on the need for vaccines for foreign animal diseases. Dr. Roth served on the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity from 2005 to 2014.

Jamie Pinkerton was named the ninth head coach in Iowa State Softball history on August 2, 2017. Pinkerton, whose program-building prowess was well documented throughout his career, was a head coach at Tulsa, Arkansas and Montana prior to taking the reigns at Iowa State.

Pinkerton is also familiar with the Cyclones, having served as assistant coach for four years (2009-13). In his first stint at ISU, Pinkerton was instrumental in developing a strong offense. The 2013 Cyclones set schools records for runs (284), home runs (40), RBI (253) and walks (166).

Pinkerton's 12-year head coaching career includes 350 victories, three NCAA Tournament berths and four conference coach-of-the-year honors. He has coaching experience with both USA National teams and Junior Olympic teams and also served as an assistant coach on the 2010 USA Futures team.

Pinkerton's extensive coaching resume also includes stints at Virginia (assistant, 1998-2000), UL-Monroe (grad assistant, 1997-98), Claremore-Sequoyah, Okla., High School (assistant, 1994) and the Oklahoma Mustangs (1988-94).

Petrina Jackson began her duties as head of special collections and university archives on April 18. Jackson, who earned a master's degree in English from Iowa State in 1994, returns to her alma mater after serving as head of instruction and outreach at the University of Virginia's special collections library since 2008.

Jackson oversees the acquisition, preservation and availability of items in the university library's special collections and archives -- including printed materials, digital files and artifacts. Her office is located in 403 Parks Library. She can be reached by phone (294-8270) and email (pjackson@iastate.edu).

We are partnering with the Ames Chamber of Commerce and the Holiday Business After Hours on December 3rd at the ISU Alumni Center from 5-7.

Billi Hunt has been named the Executive Director of the Cultivation Corridor. Hunt brings 20 years of experience working for one of the leading agriculture companies in the state.

Hunt joins the Cultivation Corridor after working as the Government Affairs Manager — U.S. Central Region for DuPont. The U.S. Central Region includes Iowa, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wisconsin. In this role, she supported DuPont’s global business through state-level advocacy, public policy initiatives and government-related business collaborations. She represented DuPont’s business in a number of community and industry-related organizations, including the Iowa Business Council, the United Way of Central Iowa, the Iowa Biotech Association, the Greater Des Moines Partnership, the College of Human Sciences at Iowa State University and the Iowa Association of Business and Industry.

Not since the upheaval of World War II have there been so many displaced persons on this planet at one time; 
40.8 million are displaced within their own country, 21.3 million are refugees, and 3.2 million are waiting asylum decisions, 12.4 were newly displaced in 2015 and even more so far in 2016.  Sixty percent of those are from Iraq, Syria, Nigeria, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.  Worldwide, the vast majority of the refugees came from just three countries:  Syria 4.9 million, Afghanistan 2.7 million and 1.1 million from Somalia.
Germany has taken in roughly a third of these fellow humans.  As of September, the United States had admitted 10,000 Syrian refugees in our national resettlement program. Fewer than 10 have been settled in Iowa. Iowa has a long history of welcoming refugees and immigrants and the Ames Interfaith Refugee Alliance seeks to honor and continue this tradition.
Members of the Social Justice/Outreach team of Ames United Church of Christ identified refugee resettlement as a priority and because of the likely need to resettle more than one family and the complexity of resettling refugees decided that it would be best to seek other like-minded individuals in Ames churches.  The group initially reached out through our Industrial Areas Foundation affiliate, A Mid-Iowa Organizing Strategy (AMOS), as well as local religious leaders.  
The interest from other congregations was phenomenal. When the group held its first meeting, the Ames Interfaith Refugee Alliance (AIRA) was formed. The AIRA agreed to seek further membership and AIRA membership rapidly expanded into service and other community organizations.  The initial activities of the AIRA included meeting with the US Committee on Immigrants and Refugees in Des Moines, inviting a city council member to discuss refugee placement in Ames. The overall working goals and objectives of AIRA are to 1) Seek to be inclusive; 2) Network with service providers; 3) Hold a Town Hall meeting; and 4) Address community concerns with refugee placement.
The first hurdle will be to secure approval from the State Department to settle refugees that have been vetted. The cost and availability of affordable housing will become one of the most immediate and long-term challenges for the Alliance. Like many small cities, Ames has a huge need for affordable housing. However, because Ames is a rapidly-growing university town rent prices have soared the past few years as Iowa State University keeps breaking records in attendance. This does have one advantage, though, as 110 countries are represented on the campus and, as a result, in the community. There is a large Muslim Student Association on campus and an active and centrally located mosque. Our church has also been active, through AMOS, in establishing a housing trust fund that will allow our county to access state monies to provide more access to housing (new, rental, and the like). We also recently donated $40,000 for a Habitat for Humanity house.
We will invite area service providers (health, food, medical, etc.) to join in our work, many of which receive funding from Ames UCC. The Alliance also anticipates connecting with the Ames school system in order to prepare for admission of refugee children. The Ames schools provide an English as a second language program.

My mom and I started delivering warm cookies around Des Moines a few years ago and they were an instant hit—especially in the winter. But when summer rolled around it seemed people preferred a cool treat. So, we put fresh ice cream between two wholesome homemade cookies. We began selling them at the Downtown Des Moines Farmers Market but soon people craved more. Now we offer our sweet sandwiches through a great group of retailers from Omaha to the Quad Cities

Aileen Sullivan, a veteran chemistry teacher at Ames High, was named the 2018 Iowa Teacher of the Year by Governor Kim Reynolds at a surprise event that was also attended by Iowa Department of Education Director Ryan Wise. Sullivan has taught at Ames High School since 1996 and is known for challenging her students, her colleagues, and herself to grow and improve.

Hilary T. Seo is an Associate Professor and the Head of Preservation at the Iowa State University Library overseeing conservation, reformatting, mass deacidification, library binding, marking, and Digital Collections. Hilary Seo has been selected for the ARL (Association of Research Libraries) Leadership Fellows program. The 2018-19 group is made up of 30 individuals from the United States and Canada, and participation in the program is designed to develop senior-level leaders in ARL institutions.

A lifelong interest in nature and wildlife led to the purchase of Ty Smedes’ first 35mm camera, in 1980. As a hunter, he loved being in the field, and the camera allowed him to be there, during all times of the year. In 1983, the Iowa DNR became interested in publishing his waterfowl photos, and from there his interest evolved to include more of Iowa's wildlife, prairies, insects, and scenic vistas.

Then, as he travelled frequently to other parts of the Midwest and West, he began to include coverage from those areas as well. Eventually, his curiosity and love of nature led him to Brazil, seven different African Countries, the Falkland Islands, South Georgia Island, and the Antarctic Peninsula.

Ty’s ultimate goal is to help others enjoy, appreciate, and value our often fragile and threatened natural eco-systems and natural heritage. He hopes his photos will cause others to make important choices which will save declining habitats and improve our natural world.

Some of his photo credits include: The Smithsonian, The Nature Conservancy, Sierra, AAA Living, Outdoor Photographer, Our Iowa, The Iowan, and many more.

Ty will present on interesting discoveries about Iowa's Bald Eagles and how they go about their every-day lives in Iowa and the Midwest.

Kris Lager, BS Animal Science, MS in the Area of Physiology

One Heart Equestrian Therapy

Co-Founder & Executive Director

PATH-Certified Registered Therapeutic Riding Instructor

PATH-Certified Level 1 Therapeutic Driving Instructor

PATH-Certified Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning