Home base

Andy Zehr, director of marketing and new student programs for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, needs to stay alert for errant pingpong balls in his basement "office."

Erin Anderson, digital scholarship specialist in the library's digital scholarship and initiatives department, gets the job done in her sunny kitchen.

Jan Boyles, associate professor in the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication, said the secret to a happy workspace is fresh flowers every week.

Paul Bruski, associate professor and interim chair of the graphic design department, with a pot of succulent buds he hopes fare better in his home than plants do in his Design building office.

Mani Mina, associate professor in both the electrical and computer engineering and industrial design departments, works from a dining table in his home.

Maggie Conner, communications manager for IT services, has to navigate her chair and feet around two dogs (including Velma, pictured) and two cats who vie for nap time under her desk.

Brandy Cunningham, youth and volunteer programs manager in the office of risk management, supervises schoolwork for her first- and third-grade sons while catching up on email.

Liz Harris, advising coordinator for the human development and family studies department, works at her dining table, which doubles as "Harris Elementary School" for her daughters.

Xiongtao Dai, assistant professor of statistics, uses dual monitors and scratch pads to work out problems when he teaches online, but may ask newborn son, Charles, to check his math.

Daniel Hartwig, head of special collections and university archives in the library, works in his sunlit Craftsman home, aided by family pet, Mamma Meatball.

Beth Lin Hartmann's home office reflects her 20 years in the U.S. Navy as a civil engineer corps officer. She is a teaching professor in the civil, construction and environmental engineering department.

Eric Henderson, professor of genetics, development and cell biology, works from home in his music room.

Jessica Van Winkle, the university's EAB student success coordinator in the provost's office, initially worked from the master bedroom. She (and her dog Jovi) have since moved to a more permanent setup in the basement.

Michelle Soupir, associate professor of agricultural and biosystems engineering, teaches spring classes from a multipurpose room in her home.

Mei-Hsuan Huang, associate professor of piano in the music and theatre department, uses two cameras to accomplish an online piano lesson from her living room.

Shellie Hosch, career and student services specialist in the College of Design, with her office mate, Elmo, a Shih Tzu-Yorkshire terrier mix.

Ji-Yeow Law, engineer designer for the agricultural and biosystems engineering department, commandeered most of a garage for his work station.

John Lawrence, vice president for Extension and Outreach, has set up a workspace in the guest bedroom, complete with an approved banner.

Samantha Robinson-Adams, assistant teaching professor and adviser in the English department, gets an assist from Slinky and Bash as she grades papers from her technical communication students.

Elizabeth Martinez-Podolsky, director of multicultural student success for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, whose workstation (and lap) often are full while serving students from home.

Mike Miller, director of operations for the College of Design, doubles up at a basement work station where normally he tricks out fishing poles.

Carl Rogers, professor and chair of the landscape architecture department, with his office mate, Labrador retriever, Rocky.

Members of the ISU-based Urban Ecosystem Project team, including professor of education Katherine Bruna (top left) and program coordinator Sara Erickson (bottom left) are collaborating from home with comic artist Bob Hall (center left) and colleagues at the universities of Wisconsin and Nebraska to write and illustrate a mosquito-themed science comic book.

Dr. Courtney Vengrin, assistant teaching professor of veterinary clinical sciences, enjoys her morning coffee and kitty company.

Dan Rice, transfer relations coordinator and outreach adviser for LAS academic services, works in his living room.

Julie Roosa, adjunct assistant professor in the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication, gets a little boost at the office from daughter, Marinza, and son, Vandon.

Amy Rutenberg, assistant professor of history, gets some unsolicited grooming help from her cat, Doc.

Rick Stone, associate professor in industrial and manufacturing systems engineering, contemplates his response, aided by Apollo, one of three dogs -- and five pets total -- in his home.

Deanna Sargent, communications and marketing manager for student health and wellness, and her daughter, Savannah, work at the kitchen island.

Michele Schaal, associate professor of French in the world languages and cultures department, with daughter, Camille, who enjoys an occasional guest spot in her mom's Webex meetings.

Hilary Seo, interim dean of library services, works in an upstairs office with her colleague, Iggy, at her feet.

Elizabeth Zimmerman, academic adviser in LAS student academic services, set up shop in a spare bedroom, where she enjoys daylight and breezes from her window-side desk.

Home base Iowa State faculty and staff share a peek at their home workspaces -- and colleagues