2026 CHHS Award Recipients

Leanne Lauber’s innovation, reliability and student-centered approach have made a significant difference in the Master of Professional Practices in Dietetics program and across the department. Her work is central to coordinating admissions, accreditation processes and daily program operations that directly support students, faculty and external partners.

Since joining the program, Lauber has taken on expanded responsibilities tied to program growth and major systems transitions, including implementation of Workday Student and updates to the graduate application process. Her ability to identify gaps, propose solutions and manage complex workflows has improved efficiency within the program and informed administrative practices adopted by other Iowa State units.

Lauber also serves as the primary point of contact for applicants, current students, faculty and preceptors. Her approach ensures clarity and continuity throughout students’ time in the program. She also contributes to initiatives at the college and university levels. Notably, her service with the Change Liaison Network applied her expertise to support broader institutional improvement efforts.

Mary Jane McCunn is a trusted staff leader whose service has been instrumental to the success of the Department of Human Development and Family Studies. She serves as a principal advisor to department leadership, ensuring smooth operations through accurate policy guidance, effective supervision of staff and students, and strong stewardship of budgets, facilities, inventory and technology.

Her work strengthens core academic functions, including faculty and staff evaluation and review processes, course scheduling, recruitment, scholarships and student support. McCunn carries these responsibilities with high standards of professionalism and accountability.

Through modernizing departmental operations, strengthening communication and improving staff and faculty workflows, McCunn’s impact extends well beyond administrative tasks. Over her more than 30-year career at Iowa State across multiple departments, she is widely recognized for her institutional knowledge, steady leadership and mentorship of peers. Her ability to anticipate challenges and offer practical, solutions-oriented guidance has measurably advanced both departmental effectiveness and the university’s mission.

Sheley Johnson has provided 27 years of exemplary service to the Center for Technology in Learning and Teaching (CTLT) and the School of Education. She supports the operational, financial and technical functions that enable CTLT’s instructional and outreach activities.

Johnson manages complex financial, payroll and procurement responsibilities, ensuring accuracy, accountability and efficiency. Her attention to detail and deep institutional knowledge make her a trusted resource for faculty, staff and leadership.

Beyond administrative operations, Johnson advances innovation through makerspace programming, hands-on technology workshops and outreach initiatives that engage hundreds of students, educators and community members each year. Her creativity and commitment to mastering emerging tools have expanded access to educational technologies and inspired preservice teachers to explore new approaches to teaching and learning.

Johnson also plays a critical role in supervising and mentoring student assistants, fostering a supportive and professional work environment.

Meghan Gillette is a highly respected educator and academic leader whose service, teaching excellence and commitment to student success have advanced Iowa State’s mission. She combines a teaching-focused appointment with sustained service at the department, college and university levels.

As a Faculty Senate senator, caucus chair, executive board member and current presiding officer, Gillette has guided campuswide conversations with a commitment to transparent and inclusive decision-making that elevates faculty and student voices throughout the university.

Gillette is known for evidence-based teaching practices that prioritize learning and growth. She has championed innovative strategies such as ungrading and the use of tools like Allele while maintaining extensive availability for advising 10 to 30 graduate students at a time. As faculty lead for the IDEA Youth Development graduate program, Gillette strengthened the curriculum, expanded the program and enhanced quality across partner institutions.

Landon Calderwood’s work has strengthened undergraduate recruitment, student support and collegewide engagement within the College of Health and Human Sciences.

In his role overseeing campus visit experiences, Calderwood improved communication with prospective students and families, expanded group visit opportunities and strengthened coordination with faculty and departments across the college. His attention to detail and adherence to best practices enhanced risk management, compliance and operational efficiency while maintaining welcoming and well-supported recruitment programs.

Calderwood also serves as advisor to the College of Health and Human Sciences Student Ambassador program, expanding participation and fostering leadership development among student representatives. During an unexpected staffing vacancy, he assumed responsibility for major scholarship administration, managing complex timelines, maintaining compliance and training evaluators to ensure the successful review of thousands of applications. His professionalism and adaptability ensured continuity during a critical process for the college.

Collin Daniels is an accomplished academic advisor who has made meaningful contributions to teacher education through his student-centered approach and collaborative work across programs. He advises nearly 200 students across multiple disciplines, coordinating degree, licensure and graduation requirements with numerous academic departments.

As a former high school teacher, Daniels builds authentic connections with students and provides guidance that integrates academic planning with professional and career development. He serves on several committees and continually seeks opportunities to improve the student experience.

Daniels also plays a key role in recruitment, building strong relationships with prospective students and families. He regularly travels to community colleges across Iowa to connect with students and teacher education advisors. His dedication to mentorship and collaboration with faculty and staff continues to strengthen the School of Education and positively impact future teachers.

Yi Jin exemplifies excellence in online teaching through research-based instructional design, intentional pedagogy and a sustained commitment to student success. She designs and teaches fully online undergraduate and graduate courses that model best practices in digital learning and educator preparation.

Jin’s teaching is grounded in the Community of Inquiry framework, intentionally cultivating teaching, social and cognitive presence to create inclusive, engaging and intellectually rigorous learning environments. Her courses are recognized for organization, clarity, accessibility and strong alignment among learning goals, activities and assessments. She is widely known for her empathetic, student-centered approach, including timely feedback, flexibility and responsiveness.

A hallmark of Jin’s teaching is her commitment to continuous improvement and quality assurance. She has earned Quality Matters certification with perfect scores for two graduate-level online courses and regularly engages in professional development to refine her practice. Through her work, Jin prepares future educators to design and facilitate meaningful online learning experiences while elevating the quality of online education within the School of Education and the college.

Elizabeth Stegemöller’s commitment to undergraduate and graduate students has shaped hundreds of academic, professional and personal trajectories at Iowa State. Her mentoring integrates rigorous research training, hands-on clinical and community engagement, and sustained personal support.

Stegemöller has served as major professor for doctoral and master’s students across kinesiology, neuroscience, gerontology, psychology, engineering, human–computer interaction and related fields. She is widely recognized for a holistic mentoring approach that supports students’ research, teaching, family and career goals while fostering independence, accountability and confidence.

Her undergraduate mentoring is equally expansive. Since joining Iowa State, Stegemöller has mentored approximately 300 undergraduates through her research lab, honors programs and outreach initiatives. Students gain early experience in research design, data analysis, conference presentations and publications, along with clinical engagement through community Parkinson’s disease programs involving singing, boxing and dance. Her layered mentoring model strengthens learning across undergraduate and graduate levels.

Missy Springsteen Haupt’s work reflects sustained teaching impact, instructional excellence and deep commitment to preparing future educators. As an assistant teaching professor in the School of Education, she brings innovative, human-centered teaching grounded in both scholarly expertise and extensive K–12 classroom experience.

Lyndi Buckingham-Schutt is an extension scholar whose early-career work has advanced nutrition security, community health and food-as-medicine initiatives across Iowa. She integrates evidence-based extension practice with applied research and community engagement to address complex public health challenges.

Wesley Lefferts is an emerging leader in vascular and exercise physiology whose research examines how lifestyle behaviors influence vascular aging and brain health across the lifespan. His work integrates biological, behavioral and environmental perspectives, with emphasis on sex differences, menopause and cerebrovascular health. His research has identified cerebral pulsatile hemodynamics as a previously underrecognized mechanism of brain aging.

Kristina Tank is a nationally recognized scholar whose research advances elementary STEM and STEM-plus-computing education. Her work provides practical, research-based models that help teachers integrate engineering, computer science and computational thinking into K–5 classrooms.

Jonathan Fox has made sustained contributions to the Financial Counseling and Planning programs through innovative instruction, applied learning experiences and a deep commitment to student success. His teaching spans undergraduate and graduate education, where he is known for making complex financial concepts accessible, relevant and engaging.