Get to know your dean: Pamela White

Pamela White, dean of the College of Human Sciences, has been a dean at Iowa State since July 2008. White earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Washington and her doctorate in food technology from Iowa State. She joined the Iowa State faculty as an instructor of food science and human nutrition in 1975.

Vanessa Franklin

Once a day, Pamela White slips away from her desk to go for a quick run.

For White, dean of the College of Human Sciences, this is the perfect way to clear her mind during a busy day.

“Everyday I like to get outside and run or walk,” White said. “It’s a time where I reflect. It’s good for you physically to get outside and let yourself think about things that are going on. Sometimes it just helps you resolve issues and gives you time to think. I can step away from my desk, and it helps your mind relax.”

White’s love of the outdoors is deeply rooted in her childhood in her hometown of Vancouver, Washington.

“Growing up we used to do a lot of camping, fishing and water skiing,” White said. “We had a boat, and we did lots of outdoor activities and hiking. That’s probably where I got my love of running and walking.”

White said her bucket list includes a large list of countries she plans to visit with her husband.

“We have a lot of relatives in the United Kingdom,” White said. “We’ve been there a lot, and we’ll certainly go back to England and Scotland. We also like to go to Hawaii periodically. These aren’t just one time places, we’d like to go several more times. On our bucket list, we’d like to go to Vietnam and go back to China.”

White’s other hobbies include cooking, gardening, reading and playing golf.

To read more about Dean White, click here