John Anderson may be living in obscurity, but his work can be seen and heard all around campus and at most major university events.

Anderson, assistant to ISU President Gregory Geoffroy for communications, started at Iowa State 25 years ago in the Office of University Relations. As the need increased to provide speeches or other materials for the president, he evolved into the role as the president’s assistant in January 2005.

“I write a lot of materials for President Geoffroy at his direction,” Anderson said.

“But with his speeches, he certainly gives his own. The words are definitely his.”

Anderson also helps research, look up background material and suggest possible ways to approach a subject, helping coordinate events such as the Fall Awards Convocation and Commencement and other major university events.

“I also prepare background and remarks for other top administrators, such as Provost Ben Allen or others who may stand in for the president, but not without their input,” he said. “I definitely use what they want to say.”

Outside of work, Anderson is just a regular guy. He enjoys lawn care, gardening, singing in the First Baptists men’s choir, and working with his Bernes mountain dog, Sofi.

“We are training Sofi to become a tracking dog,” Anderson said. “We teach her to follow a track that’s laid by another person.”

Although she is not at the level of search and rescue yet, she was certified Jan. 22 to go on to earn her tracking dog title, which Anderson said he hopes will happen in May at a national dog show.

“It’s time-consuming but very enjoyable,” he said.

Along with training his dog, Anderson is a very family oriented man.

He and his wife Mary live in Ames and have two children, Scott and Michele.

“How do I describe my dad?” Michele said. “He has this unique ability to assess a situation in a way to fit as many people as possible. He’s just so smart and compassionate and caring.”

Michele said that when she and her brother were kids he always tried to be active in their lives.

“He would go places with us, ride the roller coasters, jump in the pool when we were swimming and even go down the waterslides with us,” she said.

Michele also said she recalls how he is big into card games and made it a point to teach the family games such as hearts, cribbage and bridge. She said she finds that her father is very talented and cool, sometimes staying up until 2 a.m. playing video games.

“I’m not gonna lie; he’s the greatest dad a girl could ask for, and I love him more than anything,” she said.