Students named Hixson scholars

One hundred Iowa students from 99 counties have been named recipients of the 2001 Christina Hixson Opportunity Awards at Iowa State.

The scholarship is given annually to a student in every Iowa county. The program focuses on students who demonstrate the desire and potential to succeed in college and come from challenging personal environments or have extreme financial need.

The Hixson Awards provide $2,500 scholarships renewable for four years.

Christina Hixson has donated more than $11 million to Iowa State to create the scholarship program. She is a native of Clarinda and the sole trustee of the Lied Foundation Trust in Las Vegas, Nev.

Nearly 700 Iowa high school students have received the award since 1995. Retention rates and cumulative grade point averages for Hixson classes have been higher than university and national averages.

Dean switches roles

Steve Rodermel, associate dean of budget and personnel for the college of Liberal Arts and Sciences, has been named the associate dean of research. The appointment is effective Aug. 27.

Rodermel, a professor of botany, has been a member of the ISU faculty since 1990. He replaces Wolfgang Kliemann, who was recently named associate vice provost for research. An internal search to fill Rodermel’s former position will be launched soon.

Brooke named new associate vice provost

Corly Brooke, director for the Center for Teaching Excellence, has been appointed associate vice provost for undergraduate programs. The appointment will last two years.

Brooke will retain her position with the Center for Teaching Excellence.

Director of programs named

Thane Peterson will assume the position of director of the Office of Sponsored Programs Administration, effective July 23. Peterson is currently the director of the Office of Sponsored and Clinical Research of Iowa Health System in Des Moines.

The sponsored programs director is responsible for providing oversight, management and promotion of sponsored funding for ISU research, instructional, outreach and administrative activities.

Geology department chair appointed

Carl Jacobson, professor of geological and atmospheric sciences, has been named the chair of the geological and atmospheric sciences department.

Since joining the faculty in 1980, Jacobson has researched the ancient structural history of the San Andreas fault in southern California.

Peters appointed interim math chair

Justin Peters, professor of mathematics, has been named the interim chair of the ISU department of mathematics.

Peters will replace Max Gunzbuerger; a national search for a permanent replacement will be conducted. Peters has been on the ISU faculty since 1976.

With the help of other colleagues in the mathematics department, he organized the Great Plains Operator Theory Symposium in May 1999 on the ISU campus.

– Cavan Reagan