John Wong

Des Moines, Iowa

Associate professor of marketing John Wong is one of Iowa State's strongest advocates for lifelong association with the university. Through his international travels, he organizes alumni activities, recruits students to Iowa State, educates and advises them during their college years, mentors them after they graduate, and invites them back to campus as alumni to visit classrooms of current students. His mentoring has had an impact upon alumni outside those in business disciplines as well. As a 23-year adviser to the Association of Malaysian Students at Iowa State, he has encouraged students to be ambassadors throughout the world. Alumni describe him as a "life teacher" and a "confidant." With his guidance, enthusiastic Malaysian alumni are establishing an ISU alumni group, which recently received official recognition from the government of Malaysia. Malaysia is home to the largest number of Iowa State alumni outside the United States.