Iowa State University
College of Human Sciences and College of Agriculture College of Human Sciences College of Agriculture


Homecoming will be especially sweet this year for two Food Science and Human Nutrition alumni, Meg Speer (BS Food and Nutrition '46) and Nancy Degner (BS Food Science '72) who are receiving prestigious awards from the University.

Mary E. Speer National Service Award ISU Alumni Association image

Mary E. (Graf) Speer, better known as Meg, and her husband Vaughn (BS Animal Science '49, MS Animal Nutrition '51, PhD Animal Nutrition '57) are receiving the National Service Award by the Alumni Association.

Speer has made countless contributions as a practitioner in the field of dietetics. Years before the concept of liberalizing geriatric diets was printed, Speer was using the concept. She was a consultant dietitian for many small hospitals and nursing facilities in Central Iowa. Speer retired after 30 years as a dietitian at Bethany Manor in Story City, and 25 years with the Eastern Star Masonic Home in Boone.

 

Through her illustrious career, Speer has never forgotten ISU. She and Vaughn are Order of the Knoll members and lifetime and sustaining life members of the ISU Alumni Association, the Memorial Union, and Reiman Gardens.

The Speers have four children, 10 grandchildren and 11 great-children.

Nancy Degner and husband Richard George Washington Carver Distinguished Service Award image

Nancy Degner and her husband Richard (BS Ag Education '72, MS Ag Education '77) will receive the George Washington Carver Distinguished Service Award - College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

Degner has worked her way up through the Iowa Beef Industry Council, earning the respect of the cattle producer board that directs the organization, her peers in other states, and the people she works with at ISU. Currently, she serves as Executive Director of the organization.

 

A willing advocate for research-based information to support the decisions of both consumers and producers, Degner regularly provides professional development training for dietitians about beef products. Additionally, she has provided leadership to a team of Iowa farm organizations that train teachers about agriculture and worked to develop and provide "agriculture in the classroom" curriculum.

Rich and Nancy Degner are Order of the Knoll members and lifetime members of the ISU Alumni Association.

Food Science and Human Nutrition