Learning Communities

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Learning Communities

Each learning community connects students with social and learning activities that extend well beyond the classroom. Students in many communities take a few courses together, get to know upperclassmen peer mentors, study together as a group, do service projects, and even hang out for fun.

Get the most from your experience by joining the learning community before orientation. Click on the departmental names below for learning communities opportunities within a major or special interests for other learning communities that College of Human Sciences (CHS) students may be interested in joining. For more information, email the coordinator listed for each group

Apparel, Events, and Hospitality Management Learning Communities

Common Threads: For students with a major in apparel, merchandising, and design.
Coordinator: Chris Wise, clwise@iastate.edu

Directions: For students with a major in hospitality management and event management.
Coordinator: Will Hatchet, whatchet@iastate.edu

Transitions: For transfer students in hospitality management and event management.
Coordinator: Stacey Wertzberger, staceyw@iastate.edu

Education Learning Communities

Preparing Tomorrow’s Teachers: For students in elementary education.
Coordinators: Becky Koenen, bakoenen@iastate.edu
Tonya McCormick, tmccormi@iastate.edu

Future Teachers, Future Leaders: For transfer students in elementary education.
Coordinators: Alicia Edwards, aliciaed@iastate.edu
Kathy Christensen, kathyc@iastate.edu

School of Education Doctoral Learning Community: For doctoral students in education.
Coordinators: Zina Alaswad, agustina@iastate.edu
Malika Butler, mbutler@iastate.edu

Food Science and Human Nutrition Learning Communities

Food Science and Human Nutrition Learning Community: For students with a major in food science, nutritional science, culinary food science, dietetics, diet & exercise.
Coordinator: Anne Oldham, aoldham@iastate.edu

Human Development and Family Studies Learning Communities

Human Development and Family Studies Learning Community: For students with a major in early childhood education; child, adult, and family services; financial counseling and planning; and family and consumer sciences education and studies.
Coordinators: Liz Harris, lizh@iastate.edu
Michale Hansen, mhansen@iastate.edu
Raquel Zuniga, rzuniga@iastate.edu

Kinesiology Learning Communities

Kinesiology Learning Community: For students with a major in kinesiology and health or athletic training.
Coordinators: Jessica DeWall, jdewall@iastate.edu
Lisa Phillips, lisap1@iastate.edu

Transfer Kinesiology Learning Community: For transfer students with a major in kinesiology and health or athletic training.
Coordinators: Janessa Boley, boleyj@iastate.edu

Special Interest Learning Communities

Adult or Non-Traditional Students

Adult Non-Traditional Students (ANTS): For students who are over the age of 25 as well as those who are married, have children, work full-time while attending classes part-time, or who have had a break in their college education.
Coordinator: Darlene Fratzke, ants@iastate.edu

First-Year College of Human Sciences Multicultural Students

Connect Four: For first-year students of color in the College of Human Sciences. The goal is to develop a community of students of color and give you the opportunity to meet new people and learn about campus resources. It is a place for you to connect to the university community and the College of Human Sciences.
Coordinators: Carmen Flagge, hsdiversity@iastate.edu

Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship Learning Community: For all Iowa State University students who have ever thought about starting their own business, who are currently running their own business, or who are simply looking to gain skill sets in entrepreneurship, leadership, and small business management.
Coordinator: Judi Eyles, eyles@iastate.edu

College of Human Sciences, Undecided

Making Informed Decisions (MINDS): For first-year incoming freshman who are interested in exploring their educational possibilities in the College of Human Sciences.
Coordinators: Darlene Fratzke and Clayton Johnson, minds@iastate.edu

Still Looking?

Don’t worry! There are many more to consider. See a full listing of other Iowa State learning communities.