08-14-06

ISU College of Design honors Nancy Polster with Christian Petersen Award

AMES, Iowa -- Nancy Polster, associate professor emerita and former chair of the Iowa State University department of art and design, is the recipient of the 2006 Christian Petersen Design Award presented by Iowa State's College of Design.

Polster, now of Tucson, Ariz., will be honored during the college's annual welcome reception, Monday, Aug. 21, in the Campanile Room at the Iowa State Memorial Union. The reception is from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., with the award presentation at 7:30 p.m.

The Christian Petersen Design Award was created in 1980. It is given annually to alumni, staff and friends of the university for contributions to the advancement of design. The award is named for the noted artist who was Iowa State's sculptor-in-residence from 1934 to 1955.

Polster is being honored for her work as a teacher, academic leader and supporter of the ISU art and design department and College of Design, as well as her accomplishments as an artist.

"Nancy not only looked after her own department, she also distinguished herself as an effective advocate for the development of an inclusive collegiate culture," said Mark Engelbrecht, dean of the College of Design.

"That inclusive spirit is reflected in Nancy's contributions to scholarship funds that benefit students in all of our design disciplines, and in the award she established to recognize exceptional teaching performance by junior faculty members in the College of Design," Engelbrecht said.

Polster earned a bachelor of science degree in applied art from Iowa State in 1960 and a master of science in art education from Syracuse University, Syracuse, N.Y., in 1964. She returned to Iowa State to teach in 1965, beginning a 35-year career as an educator and administrator that included stints as assistant chair (1980-1990) and chair (1990-97) of the art and design department and interim associate dean of the College of Design (1999).

A professional artist for 45 years, Polster has shown her own work nationally in juried and invitational exhibitions. Her work also appears in public, corporate and private collections. Locally, she reviewed art for the Ames Tribune (1976-1980) and chaired the Ames Public Art Commission (1998-2003). After retiring from Iowa State in 2000, Polster moved to Tucson, Ariz., where she continues to create fiberart.

Known for her support of faculty advancement and her dedication to students, Polster has made gifts to the university that respond to the needs of the students and faculty in the College of Design. Most recently, she gave a significant deferred gift to help fund the Marjorie S. Garfield Scholarship for design students. In 1996, in honor of her late parents, she established the Raymond G. and Lula G. Polster Teaching Award to recognize exceptional teaching performance by a design faculty member early in his or her professional career.

For her contributions to the college, university and education, Polster received the Cardinal and Gold Award from the ISU Foundation in 1999, the College of Design Award for Extraordinary Performance in 1987 and 1997, the Carrie Chapman Catt Sex Equity Award in 1997, the Amoco Outstanding Teacher Award in 1987 and a Faculty Citation from the ISU Alumni Association in 1982. She was named a Wakonse Fellow in 1994 in recognition of teaching excellence and initiated into the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society in 1993.

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