Around the Pond – Summer 2026

MAYTAG FOUNDATION FUNDS STUDENT CENTER

The Fred Maytag Family Foundation recently funded scholarships and renovations to its namesake Maytag Student Center. Central launched the new Maytag Marketplace featuring a convenience store built into Fred’s, the Spirit Shoppe, vendor pop-up space and public engagement area. Major components of this project included:

• New point-of-sale system
• Operational efficiencies
• Enhancing the student experience.

Iwan Williams, executive director of retail management, says the partnership between Central and its students is essential. “We always try to respond to suggestions. Some changes are simple while others were more extensive. The convenience store model evolved from student feedback.”

NEW MULTIMEDIA DESIGN MAJOR LAUNCHED

Central announced a new multimedia design major set to begin in Fall 2026. The program teaches students how to integrate text, images, audio, video and performance to communicate, inform and entertain. The new major offers flexibility and career-ready strengths that draw from at least four programs on campus.

KAYLA FLANDERS NAMED CFO

Central welcomed Kayla Flanders as the new chief financial officer and controller in October. Before arriving at Central, Flanders served as vice president of finance at Pella Corporation. She is committed to continuing the strong partnerships between the college, the city and businesses from the community.

POORTINGA FAMILY COURTS DEDICATED

During Homecoming 2025, Central hosted a dedication to celebrate renovations to the tennis and pickleball courts. The $750,000 project was fully funded by alumni, community members and the City of Pella, with the lead gift coming from members of the Poortinga family including Gayle and Stan Poortinga, trustee emeritus, trustee Marc ’98 and Ellen Gallinger Poortinga ’04, and Michelle Poortinga Olson.

All the Poortinga children and grandchildren were in attendance as well. Along with donations from the Pella Pickleball Club and the City of Pella, the pooled resources transformed Central’s 30-year-old tennis courts into a modern complex that benefits both students and local residents.

LEADING BY DOING

Central faculty members continue to publish groundbreaking research, including:

• James Dunne, associate professor of chemistry, James Shriver, professor of chemistry and Jay Wackerly, associate professor of chemistry and lead author, “Multistep Synthesis of Diphenhydr­amine: A Modular Laboratory for First-Semester Organic Chemis­try Students.”
• Tuan Ho Quoc, assistant professor of economics, “The Business Cycle State-Dependent Effects of Tax News: A Joint-State Analysis.”
• Kathy Korcheck, professor of Spanish, “Contemporary Graphic Travelogues in U.S. Spanish Classrooms: A New Itinerary for Teach­ing Spain.”
• Tim Olin, associate professor of history, “Roma on the Habsburg Frontier: ‘Nomad Swarms’ or ‘New Farmers.’”
• Stavros Papakonstantinidis, associate professor of communi­cation studies, “AI and Higher Education: Understanding Faculty Roles in Teaching, Research and Administration,” and “From Red Ink to Algorithms: Investigating the Use of Large Language Models in Academic Writing Feedback.”

ROSLIEN-TIMMER KINESIOLOGY ENDOWMENT

Central established the Roslien-Timmer Kinesiology Endowment, funded by the families of Maurine Timmer, the late Gary Timmer ’55, Sheri Timmer Roslien ’88 and John Roslien, former associate professor emeritus of kinesiology.

The endowment will support continued excellence and innovation in Central’s kinesiology program, ensuring future generations of students and faculty benefit from the same high-quality education, mentorship and research opportunities that defined Roslien’s nearly 40-year tenure.

LEGACY OF PIONEERING CENTRAL WOMAN

Central announced the establishment of the Janice Ellen Van Doorninck Rempe Hamilton Scholarship, a new endowed fund honoring the trailblazing career of Janice “Ellen” Rempe Hamilton ’61, who helped pioneer the path for women in scientific research. The scholarship will support students who demonstrate high aptitude and passion for research, particularly in the sciences.

To read full articles and other news, go to Central’s news site at central.edu/news.