Name: Mary Swander

Official title at Iowa State: Professor of English, distinguished professor of liberal arts and sciences

As a student, what was your favorite part about your first year in college?: A literature course in poetry that I had from Roland Flint who later became the Poet Laureate of the state of Maryland.

As a student, what were some challenges you faced in your first year in college?: Money, roommates, too little time, too much homework — the usual things.

What is some advice you would offer new ISU students?: Get out there, and experience all that ISU has to offer. You’ll only be here once. Get involved in some activities, go to campus events — lectures, plays, the museums, the Wildness Symposium.