USING CAREER IN CONSERVATION TO PROTECT AND INSPIRE

Wildlife biologist Jeramie Strickland says sharing his knowledge of wildlife and the outdoors is what drives him. He hopes to inspire kids to pursue careers in science.

By Melea Reicks Licht

Working with animals was my ticket out of the rough, crime-infested streets of Chicago,” Jeramie Strickland says. “And you can quote me on that. It’s my testimony.”

He isn’t shy about relaying how his love for the outdoors and nature spared him from an uncertain future, one in which many of his peers became “gang-bangers and drug dealers.”

Strickland (MS ’08 ecology and evolutionary biology) is a wildlife biologist with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service at the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge. He is stationed at one of the most visited refuges in the nation, which attracts millions of hunters, fishers and other outdoor enthusiasts from nearby urban areas including Chicago.

Strickland’s inner-city Chicago childhood was interrupted by a three-year respite in the backwoods of Alabama. Without money for afterschool programs and sports, the five-year-old spent his days catching frogs, crafting homemade fishing poles and exploring every nook and cranny of the ponds surrounding his home.

“I moved back to Chicago in third grade, and I couldn’t fish or swim in Lake Michigan. It was too polluted. I didn’t have that outlet anymore,” Strickland says. “When I started to have behavior issues in elementary and junior high school, my teacher’s response was for me to do math and science with guidance counselors as my punishment.”

Strickland’s “punishments” led to winning science fair projects at the school, district and city levels. He was strongly encouraged by mentors and counselors to attend the Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences where he followed the animal science track working with the school’s livestock and aquaculture programs.

To his surprise he was offered a partial scholarship to the College of Agriculture and Related Sciences at Delaware State University, where he gained undergraduate research experience and held internships at Purdue University, Michigan State University, the U. S. Department of Agriculture and in Nambia, Africa.

He realized his true passion—sharing his knowledge with youth, especially minorities and urban students—working for the Ecological Society of America as an education program coordinator. He knew a master’s degree would advance his career and provide more opportunities for him to work with youth. So he sought out Iowa State University biologists Fred Janzen and Anne Bronikowski.

“Jeramie’s application for graduate work simply oozed enthusiasm and the diversity of the meaningful experiences in his background was exceptional,” says Janzen.

Strickland went on to study painted turtle nesting in Janzen’s lab performing fieldwork at the refuge where he now works. He helped start the Turtle Camp Research and Education in Ecology program.

Strickland’s work at the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge is busy and varied. His enthusiasm and down-to-earth nature is obvious as he explains a day’s work could entail hosting youth and disabled hunters during specialized  hunts, bald eagle population counts, recovery of threatened ornate box turtles—the list goes on and on. There is no typical day.

“I have to remember to say, no,” he admits. “There are so many fun and exciting projects to take on I have to remember I can’t do everything.”

One thing he rarely says no to is any opportunity to share his love for wildlife and the environment with youth. In doing so he realizes he isn’t just teaching science, he’s showing kids like him a glimpse of a future they may not have thought possible.

“Getting kids involved in conservation and exposing them to the outdoors is my way of giving back,” Strickland says. “I am truly thankful for my mentors, and I want to give kids from my community a better role model.”

Strickland serves as a mentor for the Ecology Society of America and The Minorities Striving and Pursuing Higher Degrees of Success in Earth System Science Program. Both programs provide students  with professional development opportunities, science exposure (including research), networking opportunities and reciprocal mentoring opportunities.

ALUMNI NEWS – FALL 2012

ALUM SELECTED AS FULBRIGHT SCHOLAR

John Carlson, a professor in Western Illinois University’s School of Agriculture, has been selected as a Fulbright Scholar. He will spend August through December teaching at the Ryazan State Agrotechnological University in Russia. Carlson earned an ISU bachelor’s degree in animal science and agricultural journalism in 1974, and a master’s degree and a doctorate in 1977 and 1980, respectively, in animal breeding.

CALS ALUMNI AND FACULTY EARN NATIONAL TEACHING AWARDS

The North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture honored two CALS faculty members for their teaching ability. Curt Youngs, animal science, was presented the Central Region Outstanding Teacher Award. Mike Retallick (PhD ’05 ag and life sciences education), agricultural education and studies, was presented the Teacher Fellow Award. Other CALS alumni honored as Teaching Fellows were: Nicholas Paulson (’02 ag systems technology), University of Illinois; Antoine Alston (PhD ’00 ag and life sciences education and studies), North Carolina A&T State University; and Jennifer Bormann (’97 animal science, PhD ’04 animal breeding and genetics), Kansas State University.

EVANS HONORED FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE TO AG COMMUNICATIONS

Jim Evans (’54 agricultural journalism) was presented the Distinguished Service Award by the American Agricultural Editors’ Association (AAEA). The retired professor of agricultural communications at the University of Illinois was recognized for his work developing the Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, a collection of information on agriculture and the profession of agricultural communications. The AAEA also named a new scholarship after Evans for his “tremendous impact on the establishment and  growth of agricultural communications programs.”

OVERCOMING CANCER, TRAGEDY TO GRADUATE VET SCHOOL

CALS alumna Sarah Myers (’07 microbiology) overcame cancer and family tragedy to complete her veterinary medicine degree in May. In the five years since earning her undergraduate degree her life has hit highs and lows most others experience over a lifetime: marriage, birthing two children, caring for and mourning the death of her mother, her own cancer diagnoses and treatment and finally, completing her doctor of veterinary medicine degree.

HOIBOAR NOT THE BIGGEST, BUT STILL CHAMP FOR KIDS WITH HEART DISEASE

Paul Kruse (’80 farm operations) and John Sweeney (’80 animal science,’84 DVM) teamed up with fellow ISU alumni and fans to raise Fred Hoiboar, named after Iowa State Men’s Basketball coach Fred Hoiberg. The tubby Yorkshire weighed in at 1,079 lbs. at the Iowa State Fair Biggest Boar contest. While Hoiboar didn’t take home the gold, he did help raise funds and awareness for heart disease benefitting Hoiberg’s cause of choice Camp Odayin for kids with heart disease.

The Student Experience

The Student Experience Issue features one of two special edition covers, each featuring a different CALS student. Both active in college activities and CALS Ambassadors, Adam Bierbaum (‘12 agronomy) and Kayla Reiter, senior in agricultural business, help illustrate the different aspects of today’s student experience.

Much to cheer about!

Fall 2011 enrollment in agriculture and life sciences hit a 30-year high with 3,584. And we have the best college retention rate on campus with 81% of first year students sticking with CALS. 88% of our students return to Iowa State.

Welcome to the club

95% of CALS students gain hands-on experience and develop leadership in departmental clubs and activities including agronomic and livestock judging teams, competitive national contests and service projects.

Science with practice

CALS students get a solid grounding in science from biology to chemistry to advanced agrisciences. Our “Science with Practice” undergrad research program paid students $250,000 since 2005 to learn and earn in research laboratories, farms and greenhouses in nearly every CALS department.

You’re hired!

98% Placement Rate

73% of new grads stay in Iowa

70% of undergrads complete internships before graduation

CHARTING THE COURSE FOR ACADEMIC SUCCESS

Assistant professor Mike Retallick and Adair Boysen catch up between classes. Boysen, a graduating senior in agricultural education and animal science, participated in Retallick's study abroad course to Australia and credits Retallick for helping her get the most out of her college experience.

Mike Retallick’s door is always open. The assistant professor of agricultural and life sciences education and studies advises more than 80 students annually, in addition to his research and teaching responsibilities. Any number of his advisees could drop by in a given day. And they do.

Retallick (’05 PhD agriculture and life sciences education) is one of 135 faculty advisers in the college. Together with another 13 full-time staff advisers they help agriculture and life sciences students navigate through their ISU experience.

For each advisee Retallick is the person who reviews their course schedule to be sure they are meeting degree requirements. He helps them identify and prepare for their internship and student teaching experiences. He intervenes when students are headed for academic probation and offers congratulations when they make the dean’s list. He processes course substitutions and makes sure his students meet university and departmental deadlines.

Retallick says that when entering college many students aren’t prepared for balancing their newfound independence with coursework. That’s where he comes in. He helps students learn to study and manage their daily lives, but he also encourages them to take their college experience a step further.

“I challenge them to get the most complete experience while at Iowa State. Our grads are highly sought after, but a degree on a wall should not be their end goal,” Retallick says. “Students should get the most out of each opportunity and differentiate themselves through clubs, leadership roles, internships, study abroad. It is the entire package that sets our students apart.”

Another major role Retallick and other advisers play is helping students handle the challenges life throws at them while they work on their degree. He connects students with campus resources such as student counseling, student health, financial aid and the academic success center.

“It is key as an adviser to be upfront, honest and frank with your advisees,” he says. “It helps them to know what to expect and makes their time on campus less scary.”

According to his advisees Retallick does just that. Transfer student Rachael Emig considers Retallick as the most influential person in her college experience.

“Dr. Retallick is always available to answer any question I have quickly and clearly, and I feel like I could ask him any question,” she says. “He helped me solidify my decision to major in agricultural education and have the smoothest possible transition to Iowa State.”

The toughest part of his job, Retallick says, is there are no easy answers.

“My first answer to many questions is ‘it depends,’” he says. “Every situation and every student is unique and policies and procedures can be interpreted differently.”

He admits it can also be difficult to balance his research and teaching load with the number of advisees he currently carries. But, that challenge is also what drives him.

“These students are what recharge my batteries. I enjoy the one-on-one teachable moments that come with advising,” he says. “You just don’t find that in the classroom.”

Advising the Advisers

The college launched the Louis Thompson Advising Academy in 2011. The academy, named in honor of the late agronomy professor and associate dean known for advising excellence, promotes the professional, individual and academic development of students through a mentoring relationship with an academic adviser.

Retallick is among the 25 faculty members of the academy who earned acceptance by receiving at least one college or university advising award.

David Acker, associate dean for academic and global programs, says the academy will help the college make further strides in becoming the best student advising program on campus.

“At its core the academy is about helping students reach their potential and maximize success inside and outside the classroom,” Acker says.

The academy was created based on recommendations from the college’s Future of Academic Programs Task Force and Academic Affairs Committee with support from the Iowa State University Agricultural Endowment Board.

“It takes time, it takes patience and it takes a caring attitude to serve students in this capacity,” Acker says. “This highly experienced group will provide excellent guidance and counsel on how to maintain and improve our tradition of excellence in advising.”