Effecting critical change

January 22, 2008

Effecting critical change

One of my favorite observations is "The only truth is paradox." January embodies that expression. Our winter world is still and cold; my husband calls it the hungry time. But, January is also the month of promises and self improvement, the month in which we celebrate change. Real lasting change comes hard. It must be earned. There are many in the College of Human Sciences who deserve recognition for making positive changes in the college's operations, leadership and impact. Let us congratulate them for their hard work and let them inspire us all in this new year!

Cheers for…

• The CHS Curriculum Committee for managing the intensive task of overseeing our catalog changes and working on a new college core curriculum. If all goes well, the college community will consider the proposed core later this spring. Members: Carla Peterson, Jean Parsons, Ellen Fairchild, Barb Licklider, Suzanne Hendrich, Rick Sharp, KAS Wickrama, Kaitlyn Wiener, Diana Baltimore, Dayle Nickerson, and Hina Patel.
• The CHS Honors Committee. With the leadership of Tim Derrick, this active committee has been fundamentally changing the College Honors Program. Last year, with Pat Carlson’s leadership, the committee completely restructured, clarified, and streamlined honors forms and processes, ultimately putting them on the web for students’ convenience. An honors learning community is in the works for next fall. Dayle Nickerson has taken on the role of staff contact for college honors students. Other committee members: Sara Marcketti, Nancy Evans, Aubrey Mendonca, Jennifer Margrett, and Stephanie Burbridge.
• The CHS International Committee. This committee is assisting Nana Osei-Kofi in greatly improving the college’s international offerings. They will create sturdy processes for supporting individual students, faculty/staff, and programs — and institute a new scholarship for international experiences. Committee members: Ruth MacDonald, Leah Keino, Marcia Rosenbusch, Flo Hamrick, Al Murdoch, Mary Yearns, Katherine Mitchell, and Vijay Kanagala.
• The CHS P&S Staff Support Committee. This vibrant, growing committee engages in important discussions about the college’s welfare. With Sharon Wirth’s leadership, they have recommended policy changes that are being implemented. Other committee members: Carolyn Holt, Lisa Gates, Stacey Ewing-Blount, Marsha Wissink, Ann Guddall, Tara Fisher, Carolyn Ersland, Hina Patel, and Keith Swanson.
• The CHS Technology Advisory Committee. This committee has provided essential advice for managing the migration of services toward lean and powerful technologies. They have advised and assisted in the expansion of services. This spring, they will help create our new CHS Online and Distance Education Services. Committee members: Niki Davis, Steve Garasky, Leah Keino, Ryan Gildersleeve, Manju Reddy, Jason Gillette, Sly Upah, and Karla Embleton.

Many other persons throughout the college provide critically important committee service as well. The efforts of these committees will be described more fully on a new college intranet that will go online later this spring. Watch for this new service. Committees will be able to use the intranet to facilitate their work. Stay tuned and stay warm!

With heartfelt thanks and best wishes for the New Year!
Cheryl

Cheryl Achterberg, Dean
College of Human Sciences
E262 Lagomarcino
Iowa State University
Ames, Iowa 50014
Ph: 515 294-7800