Jane Ann Stout
JaneAnn Stout (B.S. ’71, M.A. ’74 applied art) has used her art background to solve problems. She retired in 2008 as Associate Dean for Extension in Iowa State’s College of Human Sciences and Director of Iowa State University Extension to Families, and as an Associate Professor of Design.
During her 34-year career, Stout influenced thousands of Iowans through award-winning programs that ranged from a tour of art by Hmong and Tai Dam refugees in Iowa, to nutrition education and family camps for parents and their children, to conceiving University Museums’ Community Docent program that reached thousands across the state of Iowa.
The land grant tradition of partnering with citizens in solving problems with research and education were planted early in Stout, an Iowa farm girl.
“I grew up on a farm near Spencer and was active in church, school and 4-H activities,” she said. “Loving parents, three supportive older brothers and caring mentors guided me in my faith, and in my commitment to work, service and life-long education.”
She joined the ISU Art Department faculty with extension responsibilities in 1974. Early on, she was honored for her extension work, receiving the Margaret K. Yoder Home Economics Extension Young Educator award in 1978. She was named an Outstanding Young Alumnus by the ISU Alumni Association in 1982.
In her art extension position she provided leadership and educational opportunities for youth and adults in the visual arts, leisure education for families, cross cultural understanding through the arts, and craft marketing. She developed art curricula for child-care providers, activity directors, and youth staff.
She transitioned into extension administration in 1990, providing leadership and support for Families staff statewide in programs on parenting, child care, aging, resource management, housing and nutrition education. Iowa staff were nationally recognized during Stout’s tenure for programing in Children Youth and Families at Risk; Strengthening Families Program for Parents and Youth Ages 10-14; Horizons, a leadership development program to reduce poverty; and the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program.
In 2005, she received the Distinguished Service Award from ISU Extension and Outreach. She was inducted into the Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame in 2016 and has been a University Museums’ member for over four decades. “I left Iowa State with many special memories.”
She and her husband Michael, a 1980 ISU graduate (B.S. industrial administration, accounting) live in Boone and are celebrating 45 years of marriage in 2017.
Stout is an active member and commissioned Stephen Minister at Trinity Lutheran in Boone and at Risen Savior in Green Valley, Arizona. She volunteers as an artist, mentor and ISU Master Gardener. She practices yoga, paints and grows prairies.
