Helmers Honored with Brent and Cindy Hart Professorship

AMES, Iowa—Matthew Helmers, professor within the Division of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering at Iowa State College and director of the Iowa Nutrient Analysis Middle, has been named the inaugural recipient of the Brent and Cindy Hart Professorship within the Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

Helmers was introduced the professorship at a Could 6 medallion ceremony hosted by Daniel J. Robison, holder of the Endowed Dean’s Chair within the Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

The professorship is feasible due to a present dedication from Brent (’74 agronomy) and Cynthia (’77 elementary training) Hart, who’re long-time supporters of Iowa State. The Harts have a powerful curiosity in nitrogen administration, carbon seize and water high quality, and their giving focuses on supporting college analysis in these areas. The couple additionally assist the work of Michael Castellano, professor in Iowa State’s Division of Agronomy, who focuses on soil science and fertility.

Brent Hart retired from the agricultural provide firm Trammo, Inc., in 2018, after serving roles there together with president and chief government officer. Cindy Hart is a retired grade-school instructor. They keep shut ties to Iowa State from their present house in Colorado. Brent Hart nonetheless owns household farmland exterior of Humboldt. They’re frequent members in RAGBRAI.

“The Faculty enormously appreciates the great generosity of alumni just like the Harts, whose assist for analysis and extension makes our necessary and impactful work all the higher!” Robison stated. “It’s so acceptable that Dr. Helmers would be the inaugural holder of the Brent and Cindy Hart Professorship. He’s a nationally identified chief on water high quality and nutrient administration points, whose collaborative work with numerous entities is having a optimistic influence in Iowa and much past.”

Helmers, an Iowa State college member since 2003, additionally holds the Dean’s Professorship in Agriculture and Life Sciences. He leads analysis and extension actions on the influence of nutrient administration practices and subsurface drainage from agricultural fields.

He serves as college advisor for the Iowa Studying Farms program, headquartered at Iowa State. Extra contributions embrace chairing the state’s nitrogen science group that assessed and continues to contemplate nutrient points for the Iowa Nutrient Discount Technique, a statewide science and technology-based framework to evaluate and cut back vitamins to waterways. He and his colleagues have received a number of nationwide awards for growing instructional supplies on water high quality and conservation.

“I’m so appreciative of the beneficiant assist from Brent and Cindy Hart,” Helmers stated. “This may enable us to draw high-quality graduate college students who will assist study efficiency and implementation of edge-of-field conservation practices. The optimistic impacts from their assist will likely be felt for years to come back.”

Helmers earned his bachelor’s diploma in civil engineering at Iowa State, his grasp’s diploma in civil engineering at Virginia Tech and his doctoral diploma in agricultural and organic programs engineering at College of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Matt Helmers (proper) with Iowa State College alumni supporters Brent and Cindy Hart. Picture by Sarah Hays.

(contributed press launch)