Around the Pond – Fall 2023

New Board Members Welcomed

Front Row: Shannan Mattiace ’90, Kara Kohler Hoogensen ’96, Lori Humphrey Fegley ’80 and Kelly Vielmo ’99. Second Row: Dave Smith and Marc Poortinga ’98.

Central announced the addition of six new Board of Trustees and recognized three board members who earned trustee emeriti status. Joining the Central board are Lori Humphrey Fegley ’80, Kara Kohler Hoogensen ’96, Shannan Mattiace ’90, Marc Poortinga ’98, Dave Smith and Kelly Vielmo ’99. Trustee emeriti recognition was given to Shalya From, Sophie Mathonnet-VanderWell and Bill Rankin ’69.

Central Wins Portion of $20M Research Grant

Central joins Iowa’s Board of Regents and another institution to launch Chemurgy 2.0 — the shorthand designation of a major initiative that positions Iowa as a national leader in biomanufacturing. “Building Capacity Across Iowa to Meet Human Needs from Things That Grow” was recently announced as one of six new projects by the National Science Foundation.

Central’s principal investigator, Jay Wackerly, associate professor of chemistry, along with faculty and student researchers will work to synthesize value-added monomers and create polymers from inexpensive agricultural feedstocks like corn and soybeans. The result will provide access to a vast array of plastics for a wide range of uses.

Faculty Explore New International Programs

Central faculty completed international travel over the summer with funding from a U.S. Department of State grant. Four interdisciplinary teams of faculty explored different countries with the goal of developing a sustainable structure for faculty-led study abroad offerings that appeal to a diverse student body. Teams went to Chile (pictured above), Greece, Iceland and Trinidad and Tobago.

Central plans to roll out additional faculty-led off-campus experiences in the 2023-24 academic year.

Aaron Roerdink Named Associate Dean of Learning Enrichment

Aaron Roerdink ’97 was named the inaugural associate dean of learning enrichment and associate professor-in-residence of chemistry at Central. He transitioned to Central from Heidelberg University in Tiffin, Ohio, where he chaired the department of chemistry and biochemistry.

He is responsible for the development and implementation of a strategy for summer academic programs, including undergraduate research, internships, workshops and courses. In his role, he will develop and implement a strategic direction for Geisler Library to serve new generations of students.

Top Scholars Named

In July, Central announced the incoming full-tuition scholars for the Class of 2027.

• Ernest Alvarez Chedzoy, Kerrville, Texas, recipient of the Pella Rolscreen Scholarship
• Aniya Coleman, Kansas City, Missouri, recipient of the Pella Rolscreen Scholarship
• Gavin Jablonski, Marshalltown, Iowa, recipient of the P.H. Kuyper Scholarship
• Ava Parkins, Monmouth, Illinois, recipient of the Pella Corporation Engineering Scholarship
• Peyton Ritzert, Pella, Iowa, recipient of the Pella Rolscreen Scholarship
• Elyse Shaw, Indianola, Iowa, recipient of the Joan Kuyper Farver Scholarship
• Hayden Sinclair, Ames, Iowa, recipient of the Thomas Ross Smith Scholarship
• Alex Slaymaker, Geneseo, Illinois, recipient of the Pella Rolscreen Scholarship
• William Wadsley, Ames, Iowa, recipient of the H.S. Kuyper Scholarship

In addition to these top scholarships, Central offers many other scholarships to students each year. For the second year in a row, every new incoming student will receive a Journey Scholarship. All scholarships are made possible by the generosity of donors.

Beatriz Mate-Kodjo Receives Campus Compact Alumni Leadership Award

The Iowa and Minnesota Campus Compact selected Beatriz Mate-Kodjo ’11 as the 2023 Engaged Campus Award for Alumni Leadership award recipient.

Mate-Kodjo is a civil rights attorney at BMK Law Firm in Pella, Iowa. She primarily practices in employment and education discrimination. Mate-Kodjo volunteers with Central’s National Advisory Council, where she brings valuable knowledge and experience. She supports current students who are leading social justice initiatives and served as a Women’s Leadership Conference panelist in the fall. Students appreciate her energy and enthusiasm as a bilingual mentor who wants to improve equity and diversity in Iowa.

Central Releases Collection of Student Creativity

The new “Synaptic” features creative student work from across the liberal arts curriculum from the 2022-23 academic year. Synaptic, edited by Emma Carlson ’23, Mattie Francis ’23 and Sydney Lowe ’24, is a modern reboot of “The Writing Anthology.”

Each year, the John Allen Award recognizes a student-written piece that the selection panel deems to have superior rhetorical competence, high levels of readability, originality and insight. Fynn Wadsworth ’25 received this honor for his work “Robert Henri and the Ideal Woman: An Analysis of Ballet Girl in White.”

Administrative Leaders Retire

Central celebrated the careers of two longstanding administrators who retired after the 2022-23 academic year — Marguerite “Peggy” Fitch, left and Carol Williamson, right. Williamson retired from the role of vice president for student development and dean of students, after 23 years of service to Central. Fitch served as a professor of psychology and Title IX coordinator and equity officer. She also led the Building a Culture of Inclusion initiative.