2015-2016 Executive Board Members

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All Executive Teams
Laurie-Law

Laurie Law

Administrative Director

Laurie Smith Law joined the staff of the University Honors Program as the Administrative Director in 2007. She served on the Board of Directors for the National Collegiate Honors Council from 2011 through 2014, and is co-chair of the organization’s Professional Development Committee. Her primary responsibilities is to work in conjunction with the Honors staff and student board to provide members of the Honors Program with an enriched academic experience.

Ashley Overman

Ashley Overman

Graduate Advisor

I am the Honors Program Graduate Assistant and Advisor to the Honors Student Board. I am in my second year of the Higher Education and Student Affairs, and will be graduating in May 2016. Being involved with the Honors Program is very rewarding and inspires me to grow and try new things! I have especially enjoyed being apart of HSB and seeing this group evolve and expand into new initiatives for Honors. Originally from a small town in Minnesota, I love being outdoors and traveling – I’ve been to over half of the 50 states and 11 countries.

Keaton Philips

Keaton Philips

President

I am the HSB president, Keaton Phillips. I am a senior in genetics with my interests leaning towards plant research. As a past Andersian and three year member of HSB I have enjoyed my undergraduate career here at Iowa State and I plan on giving back to the honors community that has given me so many great experiences.

Andy Fogerty

Andy Fogerty

Vice President

Hey everybody, my name is Andy, and I’m the HSB Vice President. I’m a senior in Chemical Engineering from Marion, Iowa. This is my third year as a member of HSB. In my free time, I like running, swimming, watching Netflix, and cheering on the Cyclones in just about any sport. My absolute favorite animal in the world is the sloth.

Farouq Ghandour

Farouq Ghandour

Treasurer

I’m Farouq Ghandour and I’m a sophomore in economics and math. I’m originally Lebanese, I go there every summer, but I have been living in Ames for around 10 years now. I look forward to this spring semester and I’m excited about the events we have planned for this semester.

Jackie Blaum

Jackie Blaum

Secretary

As HSB Secretary, I take minutes at our weekly meetings and keep tallies of honors house points as well as FHP points in the fall. This is my first year at Iowa State, and I am majoring in physics and computer science and minoring in astronomy and mathematics. In my spare time, I enjoying dancing, reading, knitting and crocheting, and playing clarinet in the ISU Wind Ensemble.

Alex Tietz

Alex Tietz

Publicity Chair

My name is Alex Tietz and I am a junior in Mechanical Engineering with an Energy Systems minor and am currently serving as the Publicity Chair for HSB. I lived on Starbuck freshman year, and still enjoy playing Ultimate Frisbee with friends I have met both there and in Anders. When I graduate, I hope to obtain a job working in the energy sector focusing on renewable energies.

Jon Thielen

Jon Thielen

Webmaster

I’m Jon Thielen and I’m the current webmaster for HSB. I’m majoring in meteorology and mathematics here at Iowa State, and I enjoy all kinds of science, nature, and technological things—ranging from web development to storm spotting to kayaking. I hope to one day be a research scientist in meteorology, but for now I’m an undergraduate who likes to be involved in academics, research, and activities, especially those that are Honors-related.

Will Hammel

Will Hammel

Outreach Committee Co-Chair

I’m Will Hammel (AKA Shaggy)! I’m from Ramsey, Minnesota and am a senior in Psychology & Biology, with minors in Russian Studies and History. This is my third year on the exec board of HSB. Currently, I’m serving as co-Outreach Chair, where my goal is to find inventive ways to get Honors students more involved in the Honors program. I also work as a CA in the residence halls. My passions include helping students develop and grow throughout their college career, mental health, reading science fiction and fantasy novels, watching (too much!) Netflix, music, and both video gaming and tabletop gaming. I hope to pursue an MD and Ph.D degree after graduating from Iowa State, eventually conducting mental health research.

Yuanhan James Xu

Yuanhan (James) Xu

Outreach Committee Co-Chair

I’m from Luoyang, China. I double major in Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Engineering. I am one of the co-chairs of Outreach Committee. I enjoy contributing to HSB from an international student’s perspective.

Bailey Banger

Bailey Banger

Events Committee Co-Chair

Hello my name is Bailey Banger and I am an Event co-chair for the Honors Student Board! I am from Rolling Meadows, IL and majoring in Event Management with minors in General Business and Entrepreneurial Studies. I plan on using my degree and experience from ISU to become a wedding planner and eventually open up my own business! I enjoy Netflix binge watching (wrapping up Mad Men right now) and trying to fit a social life in my 20 credit schedule. I’m really looking forward to the schedule of events for this semester because I believe our committee has put together something that everyone can find enjoyable, especially our amazing Awkward Prom workup (keep an eye out!).

Eric Schnieders

Eric Schnieders

Events Committee Co-Chair

Hello. My name is Eric Schnieders and I am currently a junior at Iowa State majoring in Biochemistry. My role in HSB is serving as one of the co-chairs for the events committee. We help plan and implement many of the HSB events attended regularly by honors students. I grew up in a small town in Northeast Iowa and at Iowa State I am involved in the Iowa Statesmen, STARS, Optimist Club, and serve as an Honors Ambassador. In my free time I enjoy reading, listening to Snarky Puppy, and playing intramural sports.

Michaela Craigmile

Michaela Craigmile

Philanthropy Committee Co-Chair

Hello! I am Michaela Craigmile, one of the Philanthropy Co-Chairs on HSB this year. My majors are Materials Engineering, with a focus in polymers, and German. I hope to one day get my PhD and work in an international lab, dealing with conductive and semiconductive polymers. In my free time, I enjoy watching and listening to musicals, including next to normal, Les Misérables, and Pippin.

Ewan Shortess

Ewan Shortess

Philanthropy Committee Co-Chair

My name is Ewan Shortess and I am currently a sophomore studying Supply Chain Management. I was born and raised in a small town in Western Washington, Port Townsend, which is west of Seattle. I am currently serving as one of the Philanthropy Co-Chairs on HSB, and community service is very important to me. I also am a lifelong railroad enthusiast, which drove me to come all the way to Iowa State to study Supply Chain. When I graduate, I hope to have a lifelong career in railroading.

Caleb Davidson

Caleb Davidson

UHP Committee Chair

My name is Caleb Davidson and I am the University Honors Program Representative on HSB. I am from Orange City, IA and am majoring in Electrical Engineering with a double minor in Performing Arts and Music Technology. This is the first year we have had a UHP chair on the board, and so my position is being written as the year progresses. The majority of my responsibility has to do with the consideration of how to engage upperclassmen students in the best way possible so that they can get everything they can out of the Honors program. Also a fun fact about me is that I do a good amount of theater stuff including currently helping with lighting design for a student produced production this semester.

Conor Duffy

Conor Duffy

Anders House Representative

No info available.

Gabi Mitchell

Gabi Mitchell

Cessna House Representative

Hello there! I’m Gabi Mitchell and I’m pursuing a double major in Linguistics and French. I serve as the Cessna House Representative for the Honors Student Board. My job is to connect the honors students living in Cessna with HSB. A little about me: I’m from Omaha, NE, I enjoy the comforts of my generation, and I like to read French and English classic literature. I’m excited to meaningfully contribute to and participate in HSB this semester!

Brady Nahkala

Brady Nahkala

Harwood House Representative

Hello! I’m Brady Nahkala, a Freshman studying Biological Systems Engineering (BSE) while pursuing a Minor in Sustainability. I am the Harwood House Representative for the Honors Student Board – a position that serves as a communicative device between HSB and Harwood House. I greatly enjoy being the ISU Symphony Orchestra, excessive reading in my spare time, and exploring the world’s natural landscapes. It is my hope that my interests and drive to make a difference will have a large impact on the people and world around me.

Morgan Jensen

Morgan Jensen

Lorch-Russel House Representative

My name is Morgan Jensen, I am the Lorch-Russell House Representative. My job is to inform my House about Honors events and report back to HSB. I’m from St. Louis, MO and I’m majoring in political science and minoring in Spanish. My hobbies including swimming and reading and also I enjoy art and baseball.

Connor Born

Connor Born

Starbuck House Representative

My name is Connor Born and I am the Starbuck House Representative to the Honors Student Board. I keep my floor informed as to what honors events are coming up and direct them to where they can get their questions about honors answered. I am a freshman aerospace engineering and my passion lies in space and space exploration. I love taking pictures of the night sky and enjoy board and card games like Euchre and Axis and Allies.