By Andi Anderson
The CALS Staff Champions Program is helping staff members strengthen their leadership abilities while gaining a deeper understanding of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS). Launched in 2023, the cohort-based professional development initiative is designed to create informed, engaged, and forward-thinking staff leaders who can support the college's mission and future growth.
Each year, selected participants meet six times between July and December. During these sessions, they learn about CALS operations, research farms, strategic priorities, and its land-grant mission. Participants also have opportunities to interact with college administrators, learn about different departments, and take part in professional development activities focused on leadership and communication skills.
Since its launch, the program has attracted strong participation, with 70 CALS staff members completing the initiative since 2023. The program encourages staff from different departments and units to collaborate, share ideas, and build strong professional relationships across the college.
Sarah Canova, business manager of the Iowa State University Creamery and member of the 2024 CALS Staff Champions cohort, highlighted the value of the experience, saying, "I valued being part of the CALS Staff Champions Program for many reasons, one being the opportunity to network and connect with colleagues across the college to find synergies in our daily work. I also highly valued the personality and Real Colors sessions to help improve team communication across personality styles."
A key goal of the program is to prepare Staff Champions to serve as connectors within the college. Participants help strengthen communication between departments, encourage collaboration, and provide useful feedback and insights that support continuous improvement efforts.
Zoë Kiefer, a research scientist in animal science and member of the 2023 cohort, also shared her experience, stating, "One of my biggest takeaways from the CALS Staff Champions Program was gaining a better understanding of CALS as a college and the many ways it supports faculty, staff, students and our land-grant mission. I really valued the opportunity to interact with the CALS leadership team and learn more about their roles. It was also great to build connections with staff members outside of my department and focus on a growth mindset to positively impact CALS."
The 2026 CALS Staff Champions cohort includes representatives from agricultural and biosystems engineering, agricultural education and studies, agronomy, animal science, CALS Career Services, CALS Communications, food science and human nutrition, natural resource ecology and management, Iowa State Research Farms, and the Seed Science Center.
Overall, the CALS Staff Champions Program continues to strengthen leadership development, foster teamwork, and build a network of knowledgeable staff members dedicated to advancing the goals and mission of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
Photo Credit: iowa-state-university
Categories: Iowa, Education, General