When it comes to tackling problems, Iowa State University (ISU) Seed Science Center (SSC) Marketing Specialist l Calli Sandahl doesn’t give up until she finds a solution.  She says that is one of her strongest assets.  Calli, who graduated from ISU in 2015 with two bachelor’s degrees in Communications Studies and Speech Communications and Rhetoric began her career at the SSC on September 20, 2021.

“So far, everyone has been so friendly and helpful in getting me up to speed,” Calli said. “I’m excited to learn more about the ag/seed industry. Agriculture is central to our success, and seed science is the beginning of the root of its growth.”

Calli comes to the SSC with five years of experience in communications and marketing strategies and implementation, focusing on digital marketing, website development, analytics, and design. She will apply those skills by assisting the Seed Lab, the National Seed Health System, and the Graduate Program in Seed Technology and Business (STB) with marketing and communication projects. She will also help manage the STB program’s on campus short-courses and webinar series. STB coordinator Lori Youngberg calls Calli a team player and says she is excited to have her on board.

“She brought a great skill set to the position, has a can-do attitude, and is already making some great contributions,” said Lori Youngberg, STB coordinator.  “She  has shown she is a quick learner and is ready to help the team any way she can.”

Calli also says she is a supportive person who provides a welcoming and safe environment for others, a trait she credits her parents for instilling in her.

“My parents did a great job of letting others in bad situations feel safe in our home growing up,” Calli said. “I’ve always strived to mimic that feeling for others in my own home and presence.”

Outside of work, she and her partner, Dan, enjoy playing board games with friends, hosting murder mystery parties, and exploring local cuisine in her free time. She also says she loves many things about Ames.

“I love the small-town feel with the big city amenities,” Calli said. “I can see a Broadway musical on tour, eat at all types of diverse restaurants, and meet some great people from all walks of life.”