ISU President reflects on legacy of serving Iowa agriculture

November 26, 2025 | Bethany Baratta

In January 2026, Dr. Wendy Wintersteen, president of Iowa State University (ISU), will retire.

Dr. Wintersteen has been lauded for her vision, creativity, entrepreneurial spirit, love of ISU, innovation and respect and admiration for agriculture and farmers.

After graduating from high school in Hutchinson, Kan., Wintersteen went on to Kansas State University, studying crop protection and earning a bachelor’s degree in 1978. She began her career working in eastern and central Iowa as one of the first female ISU Extension associates in integrated pest management. She then completed her doctorate in entomology at Iowa State and rose through the ranks to become a professor of entomology (with a brief stint at the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture in Washington, D.C.), followed by senior administrative roles in extension. Prior to serving as ISU president (the first internal appointment to that position in more than 50 years), Dr. Wintersteen served 11 years as the inaugural endowed dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) at ISU.

Dr. Wintersteen Interview

I spoke with Dr. Wintersteen in her office in Beardshear Hall on the ISU campus about her legacy, her connection to the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) and her plans for retirement. This is an excerpt from that interview.

ISR: In your presidential installation address, you outlined your vision for Iowa State University “to serve, to lead, to excel.” How did that philosophy shape your leadership through your presidency?

Wintersteen: I really believe in the principles of servant leadership. And I think that as a servant leader, it really is about bringing together a team of leaders to accomplish the vision, goals, and the strategic plan of the university. Here at Iowa State University, we have an exceptional team. Over these past eight years, we’ve done the job. We’ve moved the university forward and have achieved a set of many accomplishments that we can be proud of.

ISR: How do you see that leadership come to life through ISU’s work and with partners like the Iowa Soybean Association?

Wintersteen: Iowa State University is a land-grant university, so we are always going to be of service to Iowa. Agriculture really is served by so many agricultural organizations and commodity boards. The Iowa Soybean Association has been one of the premier partners that we’ve had the opportunity to work with on so many important partnerships. Over my time here in Iowa — 46 years — I can think of many examples where Iowa Soybean Association and Iowa State University have really worked together to serve Iowa’s farmers. One example is the Iowa Soybean Research Center. Funded in part by the Iowa Soybean Association and housed at Iowa State University 11 years ago, the center has provided $3.3 million to researchers here at ISU. It’s a great mechanism to identify and fund critical issues. There’s also a whole set of things where we’ve worked together to identify and address critical areas of concern. We’ve partnered in water quality, conservation and made a difference. Now, Iowa State, you could say, could have done that by itself. But you’re never strong alone. You’re only strong when you’re working together with your partners. And again, Iowa Soybean Association has been a premier partner for Iowa State University.

ISR: What do you say is your greatest achievement or moment you’re most proud of, either as president or your work with Iowa State?

Wintersteen: When it finally comes down to it, the opportunity to work with our students, to see our students succeed and have a great experience here, and then to graduate and find jobs and live a life, I think that’s what I’m most proud of as president of Iowa State University. Iowa State is a great university in all aspects of our mission, research, teaching, and extension. But it really is all about the students.

ISR: What’s your favorite place on campus, and why?

Wintersteen: The Fountain of the Seasons. It is a beautiful reminder of our history, those beautiful maidens in the center of that fountain, the history of Iowa State so beautifully portrayed. It was completed by Christian Petersen, who was our artist-in-residence from 1934 to 1955.

ISR: What are your plans for retirement? Have you had a chance to think about that?

Wintersteen: I don’t have any plans for retirement yet. I’m really busy doing my everyday job, and we’re also preparing for the new president. So, I’m going to work right up until my last day on January 2, and then I’ll have some time to do a little traveling, relax a little bit, and then I can decide what I want to do in retirement.

ISR: And finally, any parting words to Iowa farmers?

Wintersteen: Iowa State University, Iowa’s land-grant university is always going to be connected to Iowa farmers. We have a partnership with Iowa agriculture that has been from the very beginning of our establishment. And we will always be there to serve you. We thank you for everything that you do for this great state, and we look forward to being engaged with you in every way, to work with you, to learn from you, and to help you as you continue to produce food, feed, fuel, and everything that’s needed by this great country.

September 2025

ISA recognized Dr. Wintersteen for her exceptional service to ISU, Iowa soybean farmers and agriculture with the ISA Enduring Impact Award.

ISA recognizes Dr. Wintersteen for her sincere interest in Iowa soybean farmers and ISA. She was a frequent participant in ISA board meetings in her ex-officio role and is a passionate advocate for Iowa farmers. She has been instrumental in elevating soybean research efforts within the university and advocating for increased public-private partnerships to improve Iowa agriculture.

Written by Bethany Baratta.

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