InTrans / Nov 05, 2018

ISU president makes stop at InTrans

Iowa State University President Wendy Wintersteen made a recent stop at the Institute for Transportation (InTrans) to learn more about its research and its partnerships.

Wintersteen, who was named ISU’s 16th president a year ago, received a short tour of InTrans facilities, before InTrans Director Shauna Hallmark offered more details during a presentation.

InTrans Director Shauna Hallmark, center, has a discussion with ISU President Wendy Wintersteen after a tour of the institute.
InTrans Director Shauna Hallmark, center, has a discussion with ISU President Wendy Wintersteen after a tour of the institute.

The president concluded her visit by offering brief remarks and then asking to hear from faculty and staff at InTrans about their needs and wishes for Iowa State.

Wintersteen told the group gathered to hear her talk that she was “very impressed” with the organization, and “pleased” to learn more about InTrans.

“One of my priorities for the coming year is that we do more through our creativity to enhance the stature of Iowa State’s national reputation, and we have opportunities to do that through the work here at InTrans and through some other efforts,” Wintersteen told the group.

The visit was also a welcome one for InTrans leaders.

“Our staff and partners know the value of the work we’re doing, but we have to spread that message,” Hallmark said. “The visit from President Wintersteen was a welcome chance to share our story.”

Iowa DOT’s John Selmer, left, and CTRE Director Omar Smadi, center, talk to ISU President Wendy Wintersteen about the partnership between InTrans and the Iowa DOT.
Iowa DOT’s John Selmer, left, and CTRE Director Omar Smadi, center, talk to ISU President Wendy Wintersteen about the partnership between InTrans and the Iowa DOT.

Aside from InTrans leaders sharing that story, InTrans’ partners in industry and other agencies told Wintersteen about the value of the relationship they’ve formed here.

Some of their comments include:

“We’ve gotten tremendous benefit from InTrans, and we’ll continue to do so. The really shorthand way I like to say that is every time I’m walking around the DOT, and I learn something new, and I say, ‘Wow, that’s really cool.’ Inevitably, I find out that InTrans is involved in that project. That’s a really good litmus test for the value we get.” Mark Lowe, Director of Iowa Department of Transportation

“It’s a great partnership that I think helps the state thrive, but it also helps Federal Highway to thrive because as you heard, they get national grants … that also helps to bring information back to Iowa, so that we can help the traveling public.” Karen Bobo, Federal Highway Administration Iowa Division Administrator

“InTrans, as our largest institute on campus, is really a crown jewel for interdisciplinary research at Iowa State University …. It’s the people, eventually, that make a difference. You have a truly wonderful, outstanding group of people and terrific leadership here at InTrans that allows you to do all these wonderful things.” Surya Mallapragada, Associate Vice-President for Research at ISU

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