Nicola Dance at Trellis

10/4/2023

On Sept. 28, Nicola Dance was installed as the fifth-ever dean of St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral, under the watch of the recently installed Bishop of the Diocese of Iowa, Betsey Monnet. Because this is a second career for Dance, who was a professor of engineering at Iowa State University, and because it’s only been a couple minutes since female clergy were rare birds in Iowa, we asked her to lunch.

She chose Trellis, the restaurant of the Greater Des Moines Botanical Gardens (909 Robert Ray Drive). That café has delightful indoor and outdoor seating, good wine, craft beer and signature cocktails. In September, the patio is usually packed. Chef Lisa Lavalle specializes in lunch and has few rivals as a soup maker. So, over soups and soup/salad combos, we talked about Dance’s fascinating life journeys. 

Why does she like Trellis? 

“It has a biological sense of shapes and textures. Plus, I love the menu, particularly soups. Good soup is harder to find here than in Europe.”

The dean has a distinctive English accent. Where did that originate? 

“I was born in Hereford. That is in the rural county of Herefordshire, near Wales. It is much like Iowa. Then I went to college in Nottingham and then Surrey. The latter borders greater London to the north and is only a 45-minute train ride to Waterloo Station.”

Because I am a Londonphile and Arsenal soccer fan, I asked if she watched the English Lionesses’ run to the final of the recent World Cup in Australia. 

“Oh, yes. I am so proud they played so well. Women’s sports success is rather new to England, and the country was solidly behind the Lionesses. I think they will take the next step and win the whole thing. Did you watch the games? They were played in the middle of the night here?”

I confessed and admitted a fascination for the Japanese team. 

“Why?” 

Because they played with the most enthusiasm and the most team-oriented attitude. They completed by far the most passes in the tournament. 

“Oh, I completely understand. That is why I loved Liverpool FC 10 to 20 years ago.” 

How did Dance become an engineer and what kind of engineer? 

“I studied physics and then got a PhD at the University of Science and Technology. My engineering interests have been in engineering the electromagnetic properties of composite materials by analysis and design, and electromagnetic NDE (nondestructive evaluation) of dielectrics and metals — inventing new NDE techniques and improving accuracy in four-point potential drop, eddy-current, microwave and capacitive NDE.” 

What are real-world applications for such expertise? 

“In medicine, particularly in radiology and in aerodynamics, for designing safer airplanes.”

What brought this atypical soccer fan to Ames specifically? 

“I had been there while I lived in England for conferences. The research centers at Iowa State are well known. I started there at the Post-Doctoral Research Center for Nondestructive Evaluation. I was named Associate Professor of Materials Science and Engineering in 1999.”

Where does she see the future of engineering headed? 

“The future is water engineering. Water and water rights drive migration. They always have but now more than ever. In Iowa, we have the largest water filtration system in the world, to cope with agricultural pollution. That can be scary.” 

What were the most dramatic surprises about moving to America? 

“I think it was the profound culture shocks that could occur within a country with mostly shared language experiences. I know there are pockets of non-English speakers in America, but it is so different from Europe where languages change at every border and, yet, culture remains much the same.”

Why does she suppose that is so? 

“I think it’s the relatively short history of America. It is still a culture in the making.” 

Does she find science and religion compatible? 

“Yes. I have always been both a scientist and a religious person. I belong to the Society of Ordained Scientists. I went to conferences of that organization once a year before COVID. I was looking for an organization that was not insular looking. I believe that all scientists are trained to never back down from the hard questions.”

The Episcopalian church evolved from the Church of England. Wasn’t that created as Henry VIII’s solution to the hard question of ruling without a male heir, so he could marry Ann Boleyn without Papal consequences?  

“Yes, but the Church of England was really established, in my opinion, by Elizabeth I. She paid particular attention to governance. Her father was more opportunistic. Both Henry and the Puritans brought turbulence that would have destroyed the Church of England were it not for her. Cromwell brought violence; Elizabeth brought stability.” 

How did it evolve into the Episcopalian Church? 

“Thank the American Revolution for that. You cannot pledge allegiance to the Church of England, and hence the King, if you were fighting for democracy and independence.” 

Talk about your Cathedral. 

“We believe we are the oldest church in Des Moines. It was built in 1885. It was, for a long time, the tallest building downtown. The stone is from Sioux Falls pink granite. The large stained-glass windows were done by a distinguished 19th-century glass artist. The 25-member choir and our gardens are well known and much appreciated.”

What are the challenges to her ministry? 

“People feel engaged to an outlet, such as a church, to make it a starting point for creating a better world. Such opportunities are essential. Des Moines is in the center of the water engineering future. I hope to engage my ministry in the need to succeed on that point.” ♦