Iowa State President Martin Jischke will tour north central Iowa this weekend with ISU Road Scholars, a group comprised of new faculty and staff.

John Anderson, associate director of University Relations, said the purpose of the trip is twofold.

“One, to introduce new faculty and staff to their new home state and to show them life outside Ames and Des Moines,” Anderson said. “We try to give a fairly broad exposure to the state and its people.”

The second purpose of the trip is to “let the people of Iowa meet some of the outstanding people at ISU,” he said.

Anderson, who has been a tour organizer for the event since 1993, said between 30 and 35 people will board the bus Friday morning.

“All new professional and scientific staff receive invitations to participate,” Anderson said, adding that he guessed about 30 percent of new faculty and staff actually participate in the two-day event.

The tour will travel to a variety of destinations throughout north central Iowa, he said.

“We visit schools, farms, industries, small and large communities, recreational and historic points of interest, agricultural businesses and community and private colleges,” Anderson said.

Ursula Schuch, assistant professor of horticulture, said she is looking forward to the tour because she doesn’t know much about Iowa.

“I thought it was an excellent opportunity to learn more about the state,” she said. “Now that I am advising students, it would have been interesting to see the differences between schools. Some of the schools have very strong programs.”

Brad Knapp, Larch hall director, said it will be a good opportunity to see different parts of Iowa. “I’m just ready to go and see what Iowa is about,” he said. “This is all a new experience for me.”

Knapp, who originally is from Wisconsin, said he also is looking forward to getting to know his colleagues. “It’ll be nice to spend time with people I don’t normally see,” he said.

The ISU Road Scholars program began in the spring of 1992, Anderson said.

“It’s a program started by President Jischke and Provost Kozak. This year, the president is leading an external tour outside the university, and Provost Kozak is hosting a group of about 25 extension staff for a tour of ISU,” he said.

Anderson said more than 250 people have participated in Road Scholars since 1992.

“We always have a great time on these tours,” he said.