2021 Iowa Academy of Science Election

Ballots must be submitted and received by Sunday, January 31, 2021
Candidates are listed in alphabetical order.
The ballot and voting instructions follow the candidate statements.


We want to thank all of the candidates for their willingness to run for election. Serving on the Board of Directors carries the responsibility of overseeing the operation of the Academy and also to help shape its direction. But the Board cannot do it alone. It is the membership that ultimately determines the effectiveness of the organization.

Please take the time to become familiar with the candidates and vote. In the future consider volunteering to serve on the Board of Directors, an IAS committee, as a Junior Academy of Science judge or mentor, or be part of many other ways members help the Academy advance science in Iowa.


Candidate Statements

Candidates for President Elect

Voting Deadline: Sunday, January 31, 2021
Vote for 1 candidate.
Your unique Ballot Code is required.

Candidates are listed in alphabetical order.


Joseph Nguyen, Ph.D., Candidate for President-Elect

Joseph Nguyen, Ph.D., Candidate for President-Elect

Joseph Nguyen, Ph.D.

Candidate Statement

“During my time with the Iowa Academy of Science, I have enjoyed all of the educational and research opportunities that they have given to the students and educators of Iowa. During a time of economic uncertainty, I believe my unique set of experiences as both an educator, at both the high school and collegiate level, and successful researcher that would be beneficial on the board. As different professionals are becoming split with their responsibilities between various organizations, I find it important that I try my best to help the Academy during these times as the President-Elect. Thus, I would be honored to serve on the Board as the President-Elect and help the Academy continue to be at the forefront of science education and research in Iowa and spread its overall influence.”

Professional Experience

Associate Professor of Chemistry, Mount Mercy University, 2016 – Present
Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Mount Mercy University, 2010 – 2016
Postdoctoral Fellow, University of California San Diego, Department of Chemistry, 2008 – 2010
High School Science Teacher, Arlington High School, Indianapolis, IN, 2002 – 2003

Ph.D., Chemistry, University of Kansas, 2008
M.S., Science Education, Indiana University – Bloomington, 2002
B.S., Chemistry, Creighton University, 2000

Special Academy Activities and Recognition

IAS member, 2011 – Present
IAS Board of Directors, 2018 – Present
IAS Meeting Chemistry Section Chair, 2018
IAS Meeting Chemistry Section Vice-Chair, 2017
IAS annual meeting Symposium A Organizer and Presenter, 2016
Associate Editor, Iowa Academy of Science Journal, 2015 – Present
Distinguished Iowa Science Teaching Award, IAS, 2014
Iowa Science Foundation Grant Reviewer, 2014
STARR Grant Reviewer, 2013, 2017
Sponsored Undergraduate Student presenters at IAS annual meetings, 2012 – Present.

Other Special Activities and Recognition

CheMMUsical Found and Science Club Co-Advisor, Mount Mercy University, 2011 – Present: I find it important to help increase and nurture interest in the sciences in our primary schools, and I accomplish this by involving my undergraduate students in a variety of science outreach activities as the Science Club Co-advisor.
FUTURE (Fostering Undergraduate Talent – Uniting Research and Education) in Biomedicine Fellow (2011) and Senior Fellow (2015), University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine
Iowa Higher Ed STEM Champion, 2015 – Present


Joshua Sebree, Ph.D. 

Candidate Statement

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“Much of my efforts at UNI have been spent redefining the traditional roles of academic researchers. By integrating service and research into my courses, I’ve seen students reach new potentials while helping the community through new collaborations. I actively engage undergraduates and high school students in my research and encourage them to present at meetings.
As an advocate for the Iowa Academy of Science. I’ve seen many students give their first professional presentation at IAS, watching their confidence grow every year.
IAS has an important networking through the state. Particularly, the potential to increase IJAS connections and outreach through a single organization has great potential to inspire the youth of today to become the STEM leaders of tomorrow.
I believe my passion for IAS and my ability to create new professional connections between academia and other groups will provide an important skill set as IAS looks for new ways to continue as Iowa’s foremost STEM organization.”

Professional Experience

I am currently an associate professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Northern Iowa. During my time at UNI, I have created a niche where the lines between research, service, and academics are often blurred. Under my main fields of astrochemistry and instrumentation, I have created many collaborative efforts that tie organizations such as NASA, Wind Cave National Park, and the Science Center of Iowa along with multiple departments at UNI into common missions, with the end goal of elevating STEM in Iowa.
With research projects ranging from cave features to coffee to astrobiological aerosols to fossils, a running joke of “If it’s brown, I’ll find a way to study it” has arisen from my diverse interests that have allowed me to take my students to NASA centers, the bottom of quarries, and into the depths of caves with nothing but hard hats and Lego kits. No student that has taken a lab course or done research with me can claim they were ever bored.

IAS Special Activities and Recognition

I have been an IAS member since 2014, shortly after moving to Iowa the previous fall. I gave Invited Symposium talks at the 2014 and 2019 IAS meetings and Invited Seminars at the 2018 and 2019 IJAS meetings. My Wind Cave working group was invited to give seminar at the 2020 IJAS meeting prior to the pandemic.

Other Special Activities and Recognition

In 2014, just one year into my tenure-track position, I was awarded Junior Faculty Award from UNI for my drive and success at acquiring funding.
From 2015 to 2018, I was lead of the UNI Base program, administered the Iowa Space Grant Consortium. With the help of my Co-I’s, we created a research collaboration that included UNI, BMC Aggregates LLC, The Ohio State University, and Goddard Space Flight Center in an effort to better understand the atmosphere’s past, present, and potential future.
Currently, I am leading a collaborative effort that where UNI students will be performing work at Wind Cave National Park in South Dakota partial in support of NASA missions at the Jet Propulsion Lab. The work will then be turned into museum exhibit that will travel between various locations in the state, including the Science Center Iowa. This work is now in year 3 with an additional 4 years remaining in current funds.


Candidates for Board of Directors

Voting Deadline: Sunday, January 31, 2021
Vote for 2 candidates.
Your unique Ballot Code is required.

Candidates are listed in alphabetical order.


Cathryn Carney
Candidate for Board of Directors

Candidate Statement

“Science education is moving in a new direction where students actively work as scientists in order to gather understanding of science phenomena. IAS is a partner in this growth and provides guidance and opportunity for many students, educators, and community partners. As a member of IAS I will be able to provide my perspective not only as a K-12 educator, but as an active researcher. I will be able to offer my ability to collaborate, develop new ideas, and utilize my personal skills to help members of the community see how IAS could help them.”

Professional Experience

cathryn_Resized.jpg

For five years I taught high school science at Boyden-Hull JHHS. I have also taught talented and gifted at the K-12 level. In the summers I have completed wet and dry bench research at Iowa State University and Sanford Research working with cell tissue culture to yeast. While obtaining my masters in science education I taught Chemical Application and Elementary Science Methods I at the University of Iowa as a TA. Currently I am located at Nevada CSD working with talented and gifted students as they explore their passions.

Special Academy Activities and Recognition

I have been a member of IAS, ISTS, and NSTA for the past three years.

Other Special Activities and Recognition

In 2017 I received the Excellence in Teaching About Agriculture Award from IALF.


John Dawson, Ph.D.
Candidate for Board of Directors

Candidate Statement

John Dawson, Ph.D., Candidate for Board of Directors

John Dawson, Ph.D., Candidate for Board of Directors

“Iowa Academy of Sciences has a long history of promoting science in our state through improving how we teach science, working with our K-12 teachers, supporting our budding scientists through the Junior Academy, and showcasing science research in Iowa at our annual meeting. To me, being a board member means serving the academy at a high level so that it can continue and grow its impact on science and science education in the state. Being a community college faculty member, I hope that I can bring a unique viewpoint and vision to the board and help IAS move forward in its goals and mission. Personally, I have never shied away from serving the organizations that I am a member of and I welcome the challenge and opportunity to represent members’ voices on the board.”

Professional Experience

I have been teaching at Kirkwood Community College for over 16 years. I have a Ph.D. in Geoscience from the University of Iowa and an M.S. in Mathematics from the University of Massachusetts. At Kirkwood, I teach classes in earth and environmental sciences as well as mathematics. My research interests are in the geology of Iowa, evolution and paleoecology of fossil corals as well as quantitative paleobiology. Recently, I have been working with the University of Iowa’s Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences Department to promote geology as a discipline to community college students to increase the number of students that transfer and major in Earth and Environmental Sciences. Part of this effort is a weekend field experience course for community college students that is funded by NSF.

Special Academy Activities and Recognition

I have been a member of the Finance Committee for IAS for the last 3 years and have been geology section chair for the annual meeting. I have also helped with the geology field trip at the annual meeting.

Other Special Activities and Recognition

I believe in stepping up and serving the organizations that I am involved with. I have served on the board for the Geological Society of Iowa. At Kirkwood, I have been a two term president of our faculty association, chief faculty contract negotiator, mathematics coordinator on the Iowa City campus, chair of the Quality Faculty Plan committee, as well as serving on many other committees over the years. I have also been a long standing member of Iowa State Education Association’s Higher Ed Committee.


De Anna Tibben
Candidate for Board of Directors

Candidate Statement

“Iowa Science Education is continually evolving. From resources, to experiences, to policy, IAS/IJAS is a part of that evolution. As a Director, I would provide perspective for K-12 public education.”

Professional Experience

De Anna Tibben Candidate for Board of Directors

De Anna Tibben
Candidate for Board of Directors

I teach secondary students science. My career includes teaching at Union Middle School (1994-99), at Ames High School (1999-2016) and as an instructional coach for ACSD (2016-2019). In Fall of 2019 I returned to the classroom, and like many teachers across our great state and nation, found myself teaching in "a whole new world" during Spring 2020. My professional development now includes distance learning as well as in-person learning for my science students. I believe IAS and IJAS can play a pivotal role in providing resources for students during our time of distance learning now and into the future.

Special Academy Activities and Recognition

I have served as ISTS Chair (2 terms), as IAS Director (1 term), & IJAS chaperone. I was the 2015 ISTS Outstanding Service Awardee. My students participate in STARR Grant Program & IJAS Competitions.

Other Special Activities and Recognition

2010 NAGT Central Section Outstanding Teacher Award
2014 Ames Morning Rotary Teacher of the Year
2016 State Science & Technology Fair of Iowa Hall of Fame


2021 Iowa Academy of Science Ballot

Ballot Instructions

1. Read the candidate statements and biographies before voting.
2. Copy your unique Ballot Code in the Election Announcement email.   
3. Complete the ballot. Do not use the 'Enter' key on the ballot.
5. Click 'Submit' to vote.

If you have questions please call or email the IAS Executive Director. 
Email: craig.johnson@uni.edu
Phone: 319-273-2581

Voting Deadline: Sunday, January 31, 2021
Your unique Ballot Code is required.
Click 'Submit' to vote.

Fill out my online form.