Three of six undergraduate college deans have committed to another five-year term, while another starts his first term in April.
Dean of the College of Engineering W. Sam Easterling, Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Daniel J. Robison and Dean of the College of Design Luis Rico-Gutierrez were appointed to serve another term after review by committees in their respective colleges.
Easterling was appointed as engineering dean in 2019 and his next appointment will begin July 14.
Easterling is an Iowa State alumnus whose research has focused primarily on steel structures and structural engineering.
In fiscal year 2023, Easterling was paid $438,236 with an added $23,000 in travel reimbursement.
Iowa State began construction on the Therkildsen Industrial Engineering Building in 2022 during Easterling’s first appointment.
Robison has a doctorate in entomology and previously served as the West Virginia University College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design dean from 2012 to 2019. Robison replaced President Wendy Wintersteen as dean after she left for the presidential post. Robison’s next term began Sunday.
Robison, a New Jersey native, was paid $383,452 in fiscal year 2023 as well as nearly $16,000 in travel reimbursement.
Rico-Gutierrez’s teaching experience is in architecture; he earned degrees in Mexico and Spain and at Carnegie Mellon University in Pennsylvania. Gutierrez was associate dean of Carnegie Mellon’s College of Fine Arts from 2001 to 2009 when he began as dean at Iowa State. His fourth term will begin July 1.
Rico-Gutierrez was paid $312,753 in fiscal year 2023 and was paid more than $51,000 in travel reimbursement.
“Iowa State University has a strong set of deans who work together to enhance the breadth and quality of our academic programs, serve as catalysts for innovation and entrepreneurship, and support the state’s economic and workforce goals,” said Senior Vice President and Provost Jonathan Wickert stated in an Inside Iowa State post announcing the reappointments. “These reappointments are well-deserved, and I look forward to continued success in the coming years.”
A new dean for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences will begin April 15. Benjamin Withers, the dean of the College of Liberal Arts at Colorado State University will replace Beate Schmittmann, who is retiring after serving as dean since 2012.
The College of Business reappointed David Spalding for a new five-year term, the university announced in August.
Laura Jolly, dean of the College of Human Sciences was appointed to the role in 2016 and began her current five-year term in 2020.
