The Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics is pleased to recognize the accomplishments and activities of its faculty, staff and students:
Dianne Bystrom, Catt Center director, is the lead co-editor of the book, “alieNATION: The Divide and Conquer Election of 2012,” which was released in fall 2014 by Peter Lang Publishing. The edited volume includes 17 chapters, including two co-authored by Bystrom and Valerie Hennings, who served as scholar-in-residence at the Catt Center from 2011-2014, titled “Articulating Interests and Advocating Issues: An Analysis of Congresswomen’s Political Speech after the 2012 Election” and “Gendered Framing of the 2012 Election: Incidence of the ‘War on Women’.” Bystrom also co-authored the book’s introduction and conclusion. In addition, she published a journal article this fall with Daniela Dimitrova, professor of journalism and communication at Iowa State, on “Migraines, Marriage and Mascara: Media Coverage of Michele Bachmann in the 2012 Republican Presidential Campaign” in American Behavioral Scientist.
Clint Stephens, lecturer in leadership education at the Catt Center, attended the International Leadership Association’s 16th annual Global Conference in San Diego, Calif., from Oct. 30 through Nov. 2 with Katie Friesen, graduate teaching assistant for the engineering leadership certificate track and a doctoral student in higher education administration. Stephens presented “Teaching to the Field: Leadership Education in Discipline-Specific Settings.”
Kelly Winfrey, lecturer in leadership education and communication studies at the Catt Center, is the lead co-author of “Communicating with Voters 30 Seconds at a Time: Presidential Campaign Advertising 2012,” a chapter in “alieNATION: The Divide and Conquer Election of 2012.” The chapter examines the effect of targeted political advertising on voters, with a specific focus on advertising targeted at female voters.
Ten Iowa State students attended the Iowa Women Lead Change conference, “Leadership: Empowered,” on Oct. 14 in Altoona, Iowa. Janessa Coleman, Political Science Alumni Legacy of Heroines scholar and junior in political science; Megan DeDoncker, Catt Center intern and senior in political science; Kathryn Leidahl, Catt Center intern and sophomore in political science, international business and marketing; Lissandra Villa, Elverna Christian Legacy of Heroines scholar, Catt Center intern and junior in political science and journalism and mass communication; Hannah Darr, junior in global resource systems and biology; Jessica Graham, senior in management; Jen Poncelet, sophomore in genetics; Jamie Rix, sophomore in public relations; Hannah Rublaitus, sophomore in performing arts; and Katelyn Thilges, junior in kinesiology and health; spent the afternoon listening to prominent speakers and networking with other female college students from around the state of Iowa.
Four Iowa State students affiliated with the Catt Center’s leadership programs were interviewed by NBC’s Chuck Todd on Oct. 23 at Hilton Coliseum as part of his tour of several states to talk with voters about the mid-term election. Students interviewed were: Michelle Aberle, leadership certificate student and freshman in event management; Amanda Atkinson, journalism graduate student; Jane Kersch, Rice-Neville Legacy of Heroines scholar and junior in global resource systems; Colin Odland, leadership certificate student and junior in kinesiology and health; and Brian Voss, leadership certificate student and senior in history.