ISU senior vice president and provost Jonathan Wickert recently published a column in the Des Moines Register providing advice for first-year college students and their parents. Wickert, who also serves as a mechanical engineering professor, writes: “We want you to succeed. While you need to put in the hours and effort, we are there to teach, mentor and help you cross the finish line with a college diploma.” He advises incoming students to seek help when they need it, to listen to their academic advisors, and to learn from their mistakes.
Wickert, who holds his BS, MS, and PhD in mechanical engineering from the University of California-Berkeley, has been at Iowa State since 2007. He has served as provost since 2012 and was recently reappointed to a second five-year term which will begin July 30, 2017.