MARY LARSCHEID NAMED NEW SPIRIT LAKE CAMPUS DIRECTOR

Iowa Lakes Community College has a new Director of the Spirit Lake Campus, pending Board of Trustees action later this month.  Mary Larscheid, who is currently an Associate Professor of Biology at the Estherville Campus, will begin her Spirit Lake duties July 1.  

According to Dr. Rick Underbakke, Chief Academic Officer at Iowa Lakes, "Mary brings a wide variety of experiences and teaching skills to this position.  We anticipate a smooth transition and continued growth at the Spirit Lake Campus."

Larscheid has been at Iowa Lakes since 1991, starting as an adjunct science instructor and then being hired full time in the science area of the college in 1994.  She has been teaching Biology I & II; Human Anatomy & Physiology; Microbiology; and even a Human Anatomy
online course with a lab.  She has also taught Biology for students majoring in Biology, Botany and Biological Science.  In addition, Larscheid co-taught a course for Lakeland AEA on creating brain-friendly classrooms.

Prior to coming to Iowa Lakes, Larscheid was an instructor for Spencer College; a substitute teacher for Estherville High School; a science teacher in grades 6-8 in Wyoming; and, a consultant for science curriculum and learning centers for the University of Wyoming.

Larscheid earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Wyoming in biological science.  Her master's degree is in both botany & zoology in natural science.  She began work on her doctorate in educational leadership at Iowa State University last year.     

Honors she has received include the Outstanding Faculty Award at Iowa Lakes in 1999; a nomination for a Volunteer Appreciation Award from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources in 2001; and, a National Collegiate Natural Science Award in 1988.