The I.O.W.A. affords supervisors and co-workers the opportunity to recognize staff for initiative, innovation, measurable results, and lasting impact in their workplace. Nominations are taken twice a year and awardees are celebrated in the spring at the annual UI Faculty and Staff Awards Ceremony.
Spring 2025
Team Winners
Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit Nursing Team
The Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit achieved a 57% reduction in hospital-acquired pressure injuries from FY 23 to FY 24 and demonstrated enhanced attention to patient safety and positive outcomes, effective staff training, and a proactive approach to addressing and mitigating risks. This initiative was a direct result of Lauren Anderson’s proactive leadership and involved dedication from the entire CVICU team.
Team Members: Elizabeth Culver, Jayde Houser, Sammi Heitmeier, Nicholas Figuracion, Alli Suckow, Jon Loeschen, Sommer Stotler, Nate Noto, Anita Li, Brittney Rogers, Aly Reicks, Lauren Anderson
Nominated by: Julia Langin | Sponsor: Nathalee Stemper
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Human Resources Team
The CLAS HR team created a comprehensive manual for HR processes within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, significantly enhancing operational efficiency and collaboration through well-defined roles and clear communication. This initiative has improved onboarding, streamlined HR functions, and fostered a culture of shared responsibility and continuous improvement.
Team Members: Melia Pieper, Ali Romano-McClain, Kellie Kucera, Chris Crawford, Vance Morris, Anna Kelly, Merry Aamodt, Nancy McCallister
Nominated & Sponsored by: Neda Barrett
Dry Ice Team
Recognizing issues with dry ice were impacting mission critical activities on campus, Steve Stange and Scott Yeggy led a project to overhaul the Dry Ice program, resulting in new supplier practices, improved storage and delivery methods, and reduced costs. This initiative reduced sublimation and lost product by 16%, decreased lead times by up to 3 days, enhanced safety, and improved operational efficiency for research and medical facilities on campus.
Team Members: Scott Yeggy and Steve Stange
Nominated & Sponsored by: Kris Halter
Surplus Process Improvement Team
A joint team from University Surplus and Finance and Business Information Services implemented a new Surplus Property Software system to streamline the disposal process of end-of-life assets, integrate with existing systems, and enhance overall operational efficiency. This initiative has significantly reduced errors, improved productivity, and increased customer satisfaction through better scheduling and automated financial transactions.
Team Members: Brian Mead, Darren Anderson, Randy Yedlik, Andrew Kent, Yoko Tsoi, Steve Stange, Kris Halter, Ben Stone, Yahong Wu, Sherry Reynolds-Miller, Changhui Xu, Tim Blake, Tong Lu, Drew Kabala
Nominated by: Dagong Wang | Sponsor: Debby Zumbach
Fall 2024
Individual Winners
Awardee: Adam Potter
Adam Potter has significantly bolstered the University of Iowa's veteran support by leading initiatives like the Department of Defense SkillBridge program and Hiring Our Heroes, while also helping found the Veteran and Military Council. His efforts have enhanced the university's reputation and provided invaluable career opportunities and support for veterans and military personnel, meeting the community’s needs.
Sponsor: Keith Becker
Team Winners
Pediatric Beacon Implementation Team
The Pediatric Beacon Implementation Team was responsible for a multi-phase, years-long collaborative project to improve both the safety and efficiency of our pediatric chemotherapy treatments by implementing an oncology module within the electronic health system that helps mitigate the risk of a medication error and allows for individualized chemotherapy treatment plans using standardized protocol templates.
Team Members: Shara Power, Jill Stein, Jenny Federspiel, Nate Hepker, Darci Janss, Jeremy Snyder, Darin Johnson, Natalie Knezevich, Crystal Lux, Trisha Gardner, Paul Hartman, Julia Freel, Amy Worthington, Bobbie Monahan, Nadia Gillitzer, Alex Paternostro, Megan Burns, Denise Grafft, Lizzy Kirshbaum, Curt Balk, Jared Frye, Jason Cleppe, Tammy Balk, Elizabeth Amelon, David Dickens, Andrea Lutes, Gracie Laughton, Libby Stutzman, Jacqueline Nelson, Mike Brownlee, Derek Zhorne, Sarah Tierney, Karmen Dillon, Melissa Whisler, John Heinemann, James Blum, Kathy Lee-Son, Shannon Schroetter
Nominated by: Derek Zhorne | Sponsor: Melissa Whisler
Spring 2024
Individual
Awardee: Leah Koppes
Nominated by: Laura Goddard | Sponsor: Katie Machovsky
Team
Nurses Using Ultrasound for Difficult IV Access (DIVA)
Team Members: Donna Dolezal, Kathleen Fear, DNP, CRNA, ARNP, Kelsey Wood, BSN, RN, SRNA-DNP student, Jess Berding-Wheat, MSN, RN, CPAN, CNOR, Aimee Cusic, BSN, RN, CAPA, Ben Mirr, BSN, RN, Laura Riss, BSN, RN, Sheri Parman, BSN, RN
Nominated by: Donna Dolezal | Sponsor: Molly Kucera
Courtney Nobis and Emily Wilson
Team Members: Courtney Nobis, Emily Wilson
Nominated by: Kari Murphy
Spring 2023
Team
Pediatric Continuity of Care (COC) Team
Nominated by: Janine Petitgout
Team Members: Janine Petitgout, Lindsay Blaha, Nicole Acheson, Karen Johnson, Sara English, Marcia Gilbert, Ashley Jackson
Patient Financial Services Quality Assurance Team
Nominated by: Heath Barrow | Team Sponsor: Heather McCarter
Team Members: Amy Finley, Heather Ganka, Heather Hansen, Rachel Harthan, Diana Hernandez, Jen Holtz, Kim Kamoss, Lisa McHugh, Danielle Ostlund, Julie Russell, Emily Tobin, Jordan Wink, Elissa Scharff, Heather McCarter, Stephanie Duncan, Chris Kilgore, Kristin Edwards, Heath Barrow, Bree Mess, Kerri Morrison, Gina Harris
Specimen Tracking Project Team
Nominated by: Jim Ross | Team Sponsor: Anne Smith
Team Members: Anne Smith, Colby Hawker, Tanika Moreland, Shel Greek-Lippe
Spring 2022
Individual
Awardee: Stephen Castillo
Nominated by: Tom Persoon | Sponsor: Kevin Singleman
Awardee: Adam Connell
Nominated by: Bailey Carrol | Sponsor: Heidi Robinson
Awardee: Mary Cross
Nominated by: Maria Lukas | Sponsor: Carrol Reasoner
Team
CLASAN Communications Committee
Nominated by: Diane Hauser | Team Sponsor: Diane Hauser
Team Members: Anna Gaw, Biology/CLAS, Ellie Healy, Chemistry/CLAS, Colleen Kelley, History/CLAS, Andrea Krekel, Communications/CLAS, Anna Newnum, Journalism/CLAS, Allison Wanger, English/CLAS
Center for Academic Excellence Leadership Team
Nominated by: Cassie Walizer | Team Sponsor: Tab Wiggins
Team Members: Kim Castillo, Jennifer Lynch, Cody Pritchard, Cassie Walizer, Tab Wiggins
Intelligent Invoice Automation
Nominated by: Dagong Wang
Team Members: Dani Weber, Brian Wildemuth, Kris Halter, Jacob Feuerbach, Vladimir Avdonin, Sherry Reynolds-Miller, Chris Leichty, Jason Heath,
Mental Health Postvention Implementation Team
Nominated by: Barry Schreier | Team Sponsors: Sarah Hansen, Cheryl Reardon, Tanya Uden-Holman
Team Members: Katie Birdsall, Kelly M. Clougher, Ph.D., Nicole Del Castillo, M.D., M.P.H., Megan Hammes, Kristi Norris, Barry A. Schreier, Ph.D., H.S.P., Bronwyn H. Threlkeld-Wiegand L.I.S.W., Tanya Villhauer
Parking & Transportation and Finance & Business Information Services
Nominated by: Dagong Wang | Team Sponsor: Erin Shane
Team Members: John Ira Thomas, Sarah Crafton, Rachel Marie Maddix, Carol Ann Leinhauser, Delores Lynn Skoff, Jeffry P. Horesowsky, Erin Dalene Shane, Lori L Price, Nathan Hott, Terry Martin Bell, Alex Thurman, Kristina L. Mueller, Christopher C. Wise, Jim Dasen, Changhui Xu, Cody Droz, Chik-Lun Janet Woo, Sherry Reynolds-Miller, Jacob Feuerbach
Spring 2020
Individual
Debra Goodwin, Pharmaceutical Sciences and Experimental Therapeutics
Nominated by Aliasger Salem
Joe Cilek, Health and Human Physiology
Nominated by Tiffany Schier
Fall 2023
Individual
Awardee: Maria Hein
Nominated by: Laura Goddard | Sponsor: Linda Hand
Awardee: Joe McKelvey
Nominated by: Elizabeth Jaggers | Sponsor: Mark Henrichs
Fall 2022
Individual
Awardee: Kimberly Carter
Nominated by: Kevin Kregel | Sponsor: Lois Geist
Team
Dental Hygiene Standards Committee
Nominated by: Kelby Scandrett | Team Sponsor: Dr. Brian Howe
Team Members: Kelby Scandrett, BSN RN, Tracy Just, RDH, Pat Juffer-Flake, RDH, Terri Pizinger, RDH, Jean Redlinger, Valerie Waterhouse, Debra Mazzocco
Epic Nursing Student ICON Course Transition Team
Nominated by: Kieran Leopold
Team Members: Scott Leeman, Anne Alberhasky, Theodore McNulty, Christina Woline, Sarah Schneider, Kristina Beachy, Becky Hurt, Eiko Oka, Jessica Ashlock, Denise Litwiller, Kieran Leopold
Employee Healthcare Parking Improvement
Nominated by: Dagong Wang | Team Sponsor: Debby Zumbach
Team Members: Lori Skoff, Erin Shane, Jeff Horesowsky, April Wells, Stuart Wood, Karmen Dillon, Nicholas Dreyer, Thomas Alt, Ben Stone, Sherry Reynolds-Miller, Janet Woo, Changhui Xu, Tong Lu, Tim Blake
Nursing Recruitment
Nominated by: Michele Farrington | Team Sponsor: Rebecca Schwertfeger
Team Members: Kylie Arras, Rebecca Beggs, Lisa Ellenson, Morgan Finnegan, Kyle Fountain, Lindsey Fudge, Megan Garton, Mercedes Juelfs, Elizabeth Leu, Nicole Peak, Tiffany Perkins, Anne Phillips, Dillon Sampson, Jenelle Sisneros, Payal Vedanayagam
PACS Team- Radiology Engineering
Nominated by: Greg Lehmann | Team Sponsor: Bryan Garter
Team Members: Chris Doran, Travis Balchunas, Brian Wiese, Blake Sanor, Jenni Schmid, Tom Pearce
University Employee Health Clinic- Call Line Team
Nominated by: Barbara Schuessler | Team Sponsor: Jennifer Miller
Team Members: Jenn Miller, Melissa Gross, Patrick Hartley, Chris Iverson, Claudia Corwin, Deisi Acevedo, Beth Hanna, Colby Hawker, Holly Meacham, John Heinemann, Jeff Vande Berg, Nick Dreyer, Ken Valley, Brian Cassady, Jen Boyd, Sarah Healy, Crystal Lux, Barb Schuessler
OBGYN Sonography Team
Nominated by: Bridget Toomey
Team Members: Nicole Robertson, Sara Baldus, Allison Corlett, Elisabeth Culek, Kara Fountain, Mercedes Hansen, Rebekah Holmbo, Melissa Lacina, Kristen Leggins, Michelle Lerch, Laura Marler, Nicole Riemenschneider, Mackenzie Spinler, Taryn Stafford, Claire Thiede, Lindsey Williams, Brittany Wykert, Glenda Mueller
Spring 2021
Team
Concert Streaming Team
Nominated by Sue Orhon
Team Members: James Edel, Jenny Hall, Sue Orhon, Kayt Conrad, Katie Buehner, Christine Burke, Mark Bennett, Gay Pelzer, Nick Tomlonovic
Dance Digital Audition Team
Nominated by Kayt Conrad
Team Members: Alex Bush, Lance Bolton, Jessica Yoder, Isaac Podolefsky
Implementation of In-Person Instruction in Music
Nominated by Kayt Conrad
Team Members: Laura Goddard, Jenny Hall, Sue Orhon, Kayt Conrad, Jeremy Herrera, Chad Walker, Don Schneider, Kathy Ford, Kathy Reeves, Pauline Wieland Plowman, Kate Vos, Kelly Riessen, John Winget, Rod Hanze, Michelle Worrell
School of Music Online Audition Platform
Nominated by Laura Goddard
Team Members: Pauline Weiland Plowman, Laura Goddard, Kristy Kellbach, Ann Kunkel, Robin Kellbach
Fall 2019
Individual
Brian Bishop, Human Subjects Office
Nominated by Gabrielle Ursula Chelette
Gordon F. Buchanan, Neurology
Nominated by Alex Petrucci
Meghan Gatlin, Joint Office for Compliance
Nominated by Randi Jelinek
Daniel Khalastchi, Magid Center for Undergraduate Writing
Nominated by Jane Huffman
Christine Leichty, Purchasing
Nominated by David Stenersen
Pauline Wieland Plowman, School of Music
Nominated by Laura Goddard
Team
Carver College of Medicine "Clerx" Software Development Team
Nominated by Hugh Hansen
Team Members: David Calvert, Eric Embree, Patrick Flanagan, Shannon Manley, Duane Staskal, Hugh Hansen, Dana Hartman, Dr. Amal Shibli-Rahhal, Cathy Chavez, Cate Unruh
EGY Work Group
Nominated by Lou Ann Montgomery
Team Members: Cindy Dawson, Emily K. Ward, Lou Ann Montgomery, John Cashman, Robin Norfleet, Jody Kurtt, Sara Caven, Kirsten Hanrahan, Lela Schumacher, Becky Hurt, Heidi Burak
Parking Services Office and FBIS Business Application Development
Nominated by Dagong Wang
Team Members: Vladimir Avdonin, Sarah Crafton, James Dasen, Jacob David Feuerbach, Vamsilatha Gorlagunta, Carol Ann Leinhauser, Rachel Marie Maddix, Valerij Petrulevich, Sherry Reynolds-Miller, Delores Lynn Skoff, Taylorel Stutts, John Thomas, Laurant Vance, Chik-Lun Woo, Changhui Xu
Password Synchronization Team
Nominated by Lee Carmen
Team Members: Michael Cullison, William Dawson, Robert Heitman, Dan Kitzmann, Dan Metzler, Luke Molony, Jordan O'Konek, Daniel Worrell
Crisis Stabilization Officers: a Novel Program to Prevent and Address Hospital Violence
Nominated by Jeff Vandeberg
Team Members: Jody Tate, John Wagner, Dana Cook, Lance Clemsen, Katherine Schneider, Katie Bulin, Alley Harmon, Vicky Kijewski, Paul Van Heukelom, Jeff Vande Berg, Brian Remington, Neil Humble, Jason Morris, Doug Vance
Email Anti-Phishing
Nominated by Ryan Lenger
Team Members: Tracy Scott, Katie Kahler, Ryan Lenger, Matt Kaufman, Craig Wilkinson, Steve Troester, Daniel Worrell, Em Domingues, Jordan O’Konek, Joey Kirkpatrick, Deb Yoder, Teresa Rose, Lisa Schintler, Dan Metzler, Laurie Hafner Dahms, Dan Dirks, Adrienne Coon, Nicole Dahya, Lin Larson, Zach Furst, Nikki Cardenas, Jamie Matthews, Michael Alberhasky, Matt Depaepe