The Cyclone terrain Iowa State President Martin Jischke is running is ever-changing.

His days are atypical, his schedule irregular and his seven-day work week is uncommon.

On Thursday, Jischke’s morning began at 8 a.m., the time period students avoid acquainting themselves with through careful class registration.

At 9, he was off to a meeting with Dick Seagrave and the Faculty Committee for the Big 12 faculty representatives. The committee helps search and screen potential candidates for the position of faculty athletic representative.

At 10, Jischke met with the Capital Projects Council for two hours. The Capital Projects Council deals with major faculty projects and fund-raising.

Jischke travelled to the Knoll via his dark blue Buick and drove past me as I approached his door. Still on top of things, he greeted me at the door and said, “Welcome to the Knoll.”

In the living room, Jischke and I chatted about our lives.

“There are lots of things I like about my job. I really enjoy the beginning of school because its very exciting. There’s a lot of new energy and a lot of new students, a sense of renewal and an anticipation I find very pleasing,” Jischke said.

“I love commencement because it is sort of a culmination of the year’s work, a sign of progress for students and embodies much of our efforts as faculty and staff for the university.”

With the sound of the doorbell, the president went to share salutations with Richard and Mary Jo Stanley, two ISU alumni who are donating $1 million to the College of Engineering to cultivate interdisciplinary education in engineering.

Jischke introduced me to the Stanleys and explained my presence at the occasion. Then he continued to discuss his position as president.

“Occasionally, it is frustrating when you can’t get done what you want to get done. You run out of hours of the day. It is a complicated area, how one brings discussions to a resolution,” he said.

Murray Blackwelder, vice president for external affairs; David Bergland, a former AT&T executive and now the first chairman of the Stanley Chair; Bergland’s wife; Dean James Melsa of the College of Engineering; and Melsa’s wife, Kathy, soon followed and joined in the conversation, now shifting from the foyer to the living room.

Jischke and his wife, Patty, talked about the artwork displayed on the walls of the elegantly decorated house. The artwork belongs to ISU students and is replaced by new artwork each semester.

When new work is placed on the walls, the creators of the art are invited to a reception to see their work on display. Jischke said, “It’s fun for people who come to the Knoll to connect with students of the university.”

Not too much later, Jischke said, “Let’s eat,” and we followed him into the dining room. There we were placed so we would make the acquaintance of the guests we did not know, and those of us on the north side of the table had a beautiful view of the gardens, one which is a perennial and the other is an annual garden.

Three glasses, a bread plate, two forks, two knives and a beautifully folded napkin were set at each table placing and a bouquet of fresh flowers was centered on a lace tablecloth.

The surplus of utensils only added to the nervousness I was already experiencing. No doubt it was because of my elite company.

The luncheon was held specifically for the Stanleys and Bergland, who will assume the position of the Stanley Chair.

Jischke made conversation with everyone present.

Conversation ranged from siblings and children to work and, of course, the discussion of matters at ISU.

The meal was pleasing and each course was specially designed. The desert was a sensational package of pudding topped with blueberries in a crepe-like bowl floating on a raspberry sauce.

Tea, coffee and conversation followed the meal while a fun, interesting picture of Jischke and three of his five siblings circulated the table. Mrs. Jischke told of the mosquito-infested area surrounding the picture’s scenery.

Jischke and I then rushed back to Beardshear for an interview with Wade Robinson, a candidate for the registrar position.

During the interview, Jischke made efforts to get a character sketch from Robinson and shared information about himself with the candidate.

To the Nebraska resident, he explained why ISU is a good place to work.

“Iowa is very supportive of public education, and it is a deeply rooted value in our state,” Jischke said. Other perks about working at ISU Jischke mentioned included a safe community, the school systems and that the registrar’s office has a good reputation.

Following the interview, Jischke walked Robinson out and told him he was free to contact Jischke if he had any questions.

He then met briefly with Jim Watson, chairman of the Engineering Industry Advising Committee. They discussed what Jischke described as “efforts to continue to strengthen the College of Engineering and fund-raising activities at ISU.”

Upon the close of Watson’s visit, Jischke returned a call from a former GSB vice president, Dave Cmelick, who was seeking advice about a fellowship in Washington.

Not too much later Jischke was pleasantly surprised by a student he taught 25 years ago at the University of Oklahoma.

The student was in town on business and came by to touch base before heading back to California.

Other short inquisitions filled the time before a 4 p.m. announcement in the Campanile Room. The special announcement revealed the donation to ISU by the Stanleys and the position Bergland is assuming.

Jischke and I walked to the Memorial Union, where the announcement was made. Along the way, he inquired about my experiences at Iowa State and asked if I had a professor.

In his special announcement of the donation he said, “I think education which is public education is the most powerful tool society has to improve itself. “

He presented the Stanley’s with a gift of appreciation and let them take the stage.

I stayed at the meeting to watch the people I dined with make their announcements and speeches. I was unable to follow Jischke to his last engagement at the Gateway Center, a reception with the Engineering Advisory Council.

For Jischke, Thursday’s atypical day was typical in itself. And tomorrow he’ll do it all again.