Dr. Julie Blanchong

Dr. Julie Blanchong is an Associate Professor in the Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management (NREM) at Iowa State University (ISU). Her background is in wildlife ecology with a focus on wildlife health. During her time at ISU, opportunities through the Office for Global Engagement in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) have enabled her to pursue interests in and commitment to international programs. With the objective of cultivating more well-rounded and globally informed citizens, she has developed and led study abroad programs for undergraduate students in seven countries in Africa, Antartica, Asia, and South America. In addition to her primary responsibilities in NREM, Dr. Blanchong is involved in the Global Resource Systems (GRS) major where she co-developed and teaches the capstone course where students work with clients from globally engaged organizations to gain practical experience working on international issues prior to entering the workforce. Since 2015, she has been a faculty leader in the School Garden Service-Learning Program in Kamuli, Uganda, associated with the CALS Center for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods (CSRL) and currently provides leadership in the GRS courses associated with this program. Dr. Blanchong joined CSRL as an Associate Director for University Programs in October 2024 with responsibilities for student programs and partnerships, leadership in the development of ISU's role in Innovation for Conservation (ICON) program, and other aspects of CSRL program management.