BFSA Committees
Communications Committee
The communications committee works to disseminate information about programs, events, and opportunities to the BFSA membership through an email newsletter and social media (e.g., Facebook).
Co-Chairs:
Somi Abalu, Eaton Hall Director, Department of Residence, ooabalu@iastate.edu
Kevin Lazard, System Analyst, IT Service University Info Systems, klarzard@iastate.edu
Community Outreach Committee
The BFSA's Community Outreach Committee facilitates the organization's support of the Ames community through services that assist families who have limited resources (i.e., Family of the Year).
Chair:
Margo Foreman, Assistance Vice President, Office of Equal Opportunity, mrforema@iastate.edu
Events/ Social Networking Committee
The Events/Social Networking Committee coordinates efforts to plan and organize special events designed to cultivate social networks. This committee hosts our annual events include Welcome Back (August/September), Holiday Party (December), Black History Month (February) and Juneteenth Celebration (June).
Co-Chairs:
Samone Whitfield, Assistant Director of Development, Iowa State University Foundation, smwhit@iastate.edu
Ronnie Hawkins, Executive Administrative Assistant, Vice President for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, rondolyn@iastate.edu
Black and Connected Committee (Professional Development)
Black and Connected at Iowa State is an onboarding initiative within the first and second years of employment for new Black professionals at Iowa State University to have opportunity to connect with seasoned Black colleagues on campus that have a historical knowledge of campus, city of Ames, and an array of experiences through their employment longevity [5 years or more] at Iowa State University. Black and Connected at Iowa State’s purpose is to provide support, guidance, sense of belonging, and impact retention of Black employees through an informal Coffee and Conversation concept.
Interested in participating or have questions? Click on the link to submit interest form and someone from the BFSA Leadership Team will follow up with you within 48 hours.
Click Here: Black & Connected at Iowa State Onboarding Program
Chair:
Jowelle Mitchell, Assistant Director for NCORE-ISCORE, National Conference on Race/Ethnicity, jowelle@iastate.edu
Social Action Committee
The Social Action Committee identifies and crafts ways to respond to concerns of Black faculty, staff, and students. This Committee will work with University Administration to determine appropriate courses of action to address identified concerns of the BFSA constituency. A primary concern identified relates to institutional efforts connected to the recruitment and retention of Black faculty, staff, and graduate students.
Interim Chair:
Angela Shaw, Associate Professor, Food Science & Human Nutrition, angelaml@iastate.edu
Honors and Awards Committee
The BFSA Honors and Awards Committee solicits honors and awards nominations for faculty, staff, and alumni; completes award nominations for department, college, university, and other professional awards, where appropriate; and makes recommendations to offices and groups (e.g., departments, offices, professional organizations) about faculty, staff, and alumni who may be strong nominees for awards and recognitions.
Why it is important: It is important to recognize the difference that faculty and staff make on campus and celebrate the ways in which they go beyond the call of duty to advance the strategic goals of Iowa State University and further the mission of professional organizations. By formally recognizing these efforts, the BFSA Honors and Awards Committee can validate the value and impact of hard work among faculty, staff, and alumni.
How we can help: The BFSA Honors and Awards Committee solicits nominations for awards; communicates with appropriate nominators, offices, and organizations about award nominations; and supporting letter writers by reviewing and editing documents for award nominations.
Chair:
Tera R. Jordan, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Human Development and Family Studies, trh@iastate.edu
Welcome Committee
The Welcome Committee focuses on reaching out to newly hired employees to help them transition to Iowa State and the Ames community. We facilitate networking with colleagues and connect new hires with university and community resources. We also meet with candidates for faculty and staff positions during the interview process and provide information about the Iowa State experience and life in central Iowa.
Chair:
Tera R. Jordan, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Human Development and Family Studies, trh@iastate.edu