Iowa State Alumni Who Changed the World | Des Moines News

Des Moines News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Jul 9, 2026 · 1m

Iowa State University churns out global legends—from NASA astronauts and WNBA stars to Pulitzer-winning journalists and Fortune 500 CEOs. Terry Anderson survived 7 years as a hostage in Lebanon, Christine Romans penned “Smart Is the New Rich,” Brock Purdy leads the 49ers, and Bridget Carleton dominates the court. Science and business also shine: Clayton Anderson teaches aerospace, Daniel Houston runs Principal Financial, and George Washington Carver revolutionized agriculture. Pioneers like Jack Trice and Lee Teng-hui broke barriers, while WWII hero Griffith Buck and engineer Clifford Berry…