From a Different Point of View

When it comes to philanthropy at Iowa State University, Wendy Wintersteen has a little different perspective than most benefactors.

“In my position I see the need firsthand every day,” said Wintersteen, Endowed Dean of Agriculture and Life Sciences. So that’s why, when Wendy determined she wanted to make a gift to her alma mater, she established a graduate student scholarship in the college.

“To me, gifts from faculty and staff are gifts of support,” she said. “I know, and our faculty members know, the quality of our programs. We have strong programs in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and these programs, our faculty and students all provide a strong value to the state.

“For some people, contributing is about giving back to the university,” she continued. “To me it’s not only that but it’s also affirming the value of our programs.”

Faculty and staff members are regular contributors to the ISU Foundation. Wendy said she’s continually amazed, though, at the level to which faculty and staff, many of whom are non-alumni, support the college’s programs.

“It’s an extremely uplifting experience to be at a (foundation) event and run into a faculty member who has supported one of our academic programs,” she said.

A longtime faculty member on campus, Wendy said she wasn’t too involved in the fund-raising aspect of the college until she became the dean. These days she finds herself on many occasions speaking to alumni and “anyone who will listen to me” about the needs of the college.

It’s a role that she embraces and continues to enjoy.

“Without the support of our donors, we can’t maintain a strong (agriculture and life sciences) college here at Iowa State,” she said. “I can’t think of a negative response I’ve ever gotten. The level of commitment that our alumni and friends have to the student experience is gratifying.”

It’s the feeling that Wendy maintains not only as the college’s dean but also as an alumnus. The graduate student scholarship she established was named in honor of professor emeritus Larry Pedigo.

Wendy took classes from Dr. Pedigo while she was working on her Ph.D. and later worked with him as a junior faculty member.

“His door was always open to me,” she said. “Not every young faculty member had such a great transition into academia that I had. I was blessed as a young faculty member that Dr. Pedigo included me in his projects and helped me become successful.”

The interest Larry Pedigo showed in Wendy Wintersteen stayed with her for a number of years. So, she says, it just seemed natural to recognize him by naming the graduate student scholarship in his honor.

She even sent out a letter to other of his graduate students asking them to join with her in establishing the scholarship.