Daily Staff Writer

Dean of LAS named

Steve Rodermel, professor of botany at Iowa State, has been named the new associate dean for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

“I think it’s a wonderful opportunity to influence the future course of the university and the LAS college,” Rodermel said. “I’m looking forward to interacting with all of the departments in the LAS college.”

Rodermel has been a faculty member at Iowa State for 10 years, the past two years serving as chairman of the interdepartmental genetics program. In 1997, he was a visiting professor for the fall semester at the Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth in Kyoto, Japan.

During his career, Rodermel has been the recipient of several research grants from agencies such as the USDA, the U.S. Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation.

Peter Rabideau, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, appointed Rodermel. He said he thinks Rodermel’s expertise in biological and plant sciences is a major issue on campus right now, and the LAS college is interested in being a part of that.

“[Rodermel] is very enthusiastic about being involved in the office,” Rabideau said. “There’s always something to be gained with people coming in with new ideas.”

Because of his new position, Rodermel said he will have to spend the majority of his time in an office in Catt Hall instead of focusing on teaching.

“I will miss [teaching] because I enjoy my undergraduates a lot,” he said.

Rodermel will take over the duties of Peter Orazem, who has been serving as interim associate dean since 1998.

—Heidi Jolivette

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New Student Affairs position created

Teresa Branch, assistant vice president for Student Affairs at Arizona State University, Tempe, has been named to a recently created position at Iowa State. Branch will assume the responsibilities of assistant vice president for Student Affairs.

Thomas Hill, vice president for Student Affairs, said the position was created because of the need in the Student Affairs Office to divide responsibilities.

“I’m really excited about her joining the staff,” Hill said. “Her experiences are great. I think she brings a lot to Iowa State.”

Branch’s experiences include serving as director of Counseling and Consultation at ASU since 1987 and professor of counseling psychology since 1984.

She has also been co-director of a women’s leadership program, AZ Leadership 2000 & Beyond, since 1993. Before her positions at ASU, Branch held counseling positions at the University of Washington, Seattle and Seattle University.

She received a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1970, a master’s degree in criminal justice from the State of University of New York, Albany, in 1971 and a doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Washington, Seattle, in 1976.

Branch will be responsible for planning and assessing the Student Affairs Program and overseeing the substance-abuse prevention and intervention programs at Iowa State. Her appointment is effective Aug. 1.

—Heidi Jolivette