Of note: news about center students, faculty and staff

CATEGORIES: March 2014, Voices

The Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics is pleased to recognize the accomplishments and activities of its students, faculty and staff:

Peter Ampe, junior in political science from Maple Grove, Minn., is a semifinalist in the Washington Media Scholars case competition. Ampe and his teammate placed in the top 20 percent of national teams and will focus on creating a plan for the media buying portion of a non-partisan political advertising campaign. Qualifying participants will have the opportunity to present their plans to Google, NBC, WaPo and others in Washington, D.C. Ampe is a student in the center’s community leadership and public service certificate program and serves as a teaching assistant for LAS 322, “Leadership Styles and Strategies in a Diverse Society.”

Cameron Beatty, a doctoral candidate in educational leadership and policy studies with a concentration in social justice, co-presented “Learning to Thrive, Not Just Survive: Interventions Increasing Student Success” at the 33rd annual conference on the First-Year Experience in San Diego, Calif., on Feb. 16 with center scholar-in-residence, Clint Stephens. On March 30, Beatty will be nationally recognized with the Exemplary Social Justice Contribution by a Graduate Student Award from the Commission for Social Justice Educators in Indianapolis, Ind. He is one of seven graduate students in Iowa State’s School of Education who created the Journal of Critical Thought and Praxis, an online publication that focuses on issues of social justice. Beatty is the Catt Center’s graduate teaching assistant for CLPS 270x, “Campus Leadership Development,” and ENGR 150, “Foundations of Leadership Development and Learning.”

Aja Holmes, a graduate teaching assistant and doctoral candidate in higher education with a concentration in social justice, received the President’s Award during the Ames, Iowa, chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People’s annual Freedom Fund banquet on Feb. 7. The President’s Award recognizes people whose efforts foster communities that are free of injustices and discriminatory practices and provide equality for all its citizens and who work to eliminate racial hatred and discrimination. Holmes will also travel to Indianapolis, Ind., with Cameron Beatty to receive the Exemplary Social Justice Contribution by a Graduate Student Award from the Commission for Social Justice Educators on March 30. She co-teaches LAS 151x and 152x, the “Dean’s Leadership Seminar,” with College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Dean Beate Schmittmann.

Jill Kramer, program coordinator in the Dean of Students office, will receive a Professional and Scientific CYtation Award during an awards ceremony with Iowa State President Steven Leath in March 2014. CYtation awards are given by the P&S Council to employees who perform above and beyond the call of duty, are doing something extraordinarily well, and/or are acting in such a way as to make a very real difference in the institution. Kramer is co-teaching CLPS 122x, “Leading with Purpose,” for the Catt Center with Ashlee Richardson, a graduate assistant in the school of education.

Clint Stephens, scholar-in-residence at the Catt Center, was nominated and selected to present “What’s on the Horizon in Educational Technology?” at Universitas Bina Darma in Palembang, Indonesia, on Feb. 20. Stephens’ international keynote presentation was based on his work teaching with innovative technologies in the classroom and online courses. He also co-presented “Learning to Thrive, Not Just Survive: Interventions Increasing Student Success” at the 33rd annual conference on the First-Year Experience in San Diego, Calif., on Feb. 16 with Cameron Beatty, graduate teaching assistant. They shared best practices for using leadership courses to assist first-year students successfully transition into college. Stephens coordinates the community leadership program and teaches courses in leadership studies.