Posted 4 August, 2026
The third annual Iowa Mayors’ Design Workshop, held June 23–25 at Iowa State University, united local leaders with university faculty, extension specialists and national experts to explore solutions to community challenges.
This year’s cohort included Mayors Doug Daggett (Creston), Dustin Logan (Denison), Rob Bixenman (Le Mars), Roger McQueen (Shenandoah) and Dale Vander Berg (Sioux Center). Mayor Tony Puffett of Cherokee was unable to attend; Theresa Pudenz, city administrator, represented the community in his stead.
“Mayors act as the ‘designers-in-chief’ of their communities,” said Luis Rico-Gutierrez, the Steven King and Susan Boren Endowed Dean of the College of Design. “Our goal was to finish this workshop not just with ideas, but with a concrete roadmap for future collaboration.”
The workshop was organized by the College of Design and the Institute for Design Research and Outreach with support from the College of Engineering and ISU Extension and Outreach’s Community and Economic Development program.
Shared priorities across communities
While each mayor presented a local priority for discussion, common themes emerged throughout the workshop. Conversations highlighted shared priorities such as connectivity, economic resilience, housing, identity and long-term investment — issues faced in Iowa and beyond.
Rather than isolated challenges, these themes reflected broader questions about how communities plan for the future, maintain infrastructure, strengthen civic life and adapt to changing economic and environmental conditions. The workshop format allowed participants to compare approaches, test ideas and learn from peers working through similar planning and development challenges in different contexts.
“Iowa State represents ‘science with practice,’ and nothing we do matters unless it can be applied to improve the lives of Iowans,” said Jason Henderson, Iowa State's vice president for extension and outreach. “Through this workshop, we are partnering with the College of Design to put practical, interdisciplinary answers into the hands of our state leaders. With more jobs than people in our current economy, creating great communities where people choose to live, work and play is how Iowa competes on a global stage.”
Since its launch in 2024, the Iowa Mayors’ Design Workshop has engaged 18 Iowa communities and involved more than 180 students and 14 faculty members in follow-up studio courses and applied community projects.
Through Iowa State University’s land-grant mission, the College of Design emphasizes that Iowa’s communities are uniquely positioned to lead through innovation, drawing on university expertise and statewide partnerships to advance long-term prosperity.
“Good urban design isn’t about a generic blueprint; it’s about context and intentional partnerships,” said Anne-Marie Lubenau, FAIA, lecturer in urban planning and design at Harvard University Graduate School of Design and Iowa Mayors’ Design Workshop national resource team member.
“By engaging communities early and leveraging design expertise at Iowa State, these leaders are demonstrating that meaningful impact doesn’t require a massive budget but clarity of vision and collaboration,” she said.
University, state and federal engagement
The workshop also welcomed Iowa State University leadership and external partners to witness the program’s role in advancing statewide economic and community development priorities, including David Spalding, Iowa State's vice president for economic development and industry relations, alongside Sophia Magill, senior advisor to ISU President David Cook, and Lucas Heitkamp, government relations specialist for the Office of the President. Michael Sexton and Henry Kummerer, state director and deputy director respectively for the the USDA Rural Development office in Iowa, joined the workshop for discussion with the Mayors and workshop organizers.
The event also drew federal engagement, with representatives from the offices of U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn (Iowa District 3) and U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst connecting directly with the visiting mayors — reflecting broader interest in the workshop’s approach to applied, community-based problem-solving and quality of life across Iowa’s communities.
Next steps
The workshop marks the beginning of continued collaboration with participating communities. Iowa State is preparing a summary of the discussions and recommended next steps, which will be shared with the mayors in early August. From there, community leaders and university faculty will identify potential follow-up activities based on local priorities, with work beginning as early as fall 2026.
Past workshop partnerships have led to student studio courses, grant applications and applied community projects focused on areas such as water resources, housing, economic development and community identity. The workshop has also helped communities strengthen or renew their relationships with ISU Extension and Outreach, connecting local leaders with specialists who can provide targeted expertise as needs emerge. Any subsequent work with this year’s communities will be shaped by the priorities identified by the mayors and Iowa State faculty and staff during the 2026 workshop.