The Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics is pleased to recognize the accomplishments and activities of its faculty, staff and students:
Emma Anmolsingh, eighth grader from Saint Philip and James School in Phillipsburg, New Jersey, chose Carrie Chapman Catt for her middle school’s History Day project and
advanced on to the regional competition at Princeton University. There, she was selected to advance to the state competition on May 2. Although her
project, “Changing the Culture and Leading the Way for the Women of Today: The Leadership and Legacy of Carrie Chapman Catt,” did not win at the state
level, Anmolsingh says she gained a new perspective on history and appreciates the opportunity. Anmolsingh is from Stewartsville, New Jersey, and
interviewed center director Dianne Bystrom by phone in late November to help with her research project.
Dianne Bystrom, center director, gave six presentations during the month of April. On April 8, she presented “Looking Back, Looking Forward: 2014 Election Results and
Early Forecast for 2016” at the Ames Morning Rotary Club. On April 9, she discussed “Women in State Legislatures: Making a Difference” with participants in
the See Yourself Here workshop held at the Iowa State Capitol. At the annual meeting of the Central States Communication Association in Madison, Wisconsin,
Bystrom participated in panel presentations on “2014 Political Campaigns: Substantive Convergence or Continued Polarization” and “Awaiting Madame
President: Perspectives of Scholars and Elected Officials on the First Female President of the United States” on April 16 and 17. On April 18, she
participated in a panel discussion on “Gender and Elections: Looking Back at 2014, Looking Ahead to 2016” at the annual meeting of the Midwest Political
Science Association in Chicago, Illinois. On April 22, Bystrom led a break-out session with Amy Colbert from the University of Iowa on “Iowa Women in
Leadership: Policies, Practices and Research Results” at the Iowa Women Lead Change “Transforming Journeys” conference in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Cathryn Kelzenberg, senior in political science and English, presented “Harry Potter and the Terrible Government: An Analysis of Rowling’s Magical
Government” during Iowa State’s Symposium on Undergraduate Research and Creative Expression on April 14. Kelzenberg has been a Rice-Neville Legacy of
Heroines scholar since 2013. She is from Woodbury, Minnesota.
Krista Klocke, senior in speech communication and communication studies with a leadership studies certificate, and Lissandra Villa, senior in journalism and mass communication and political science, were inducted into the Iowa State University Cardinal Key on April 12. The Cardinal Key
selects .5 percent of the senior class and .33 percent of the junior class for membership based on the virtues of leadership, scholarship, character and
service. Villa was also selected as historian for the Cardinal Key. She has been an Elverna Christian Legacy of Heroines scholar since 2013 and the
center’s Archives of Women’s Political Communication intern for the past year. Villa is from Webster City, Iowa. Klocke has been a Phyllis Davis Legacy of
Heroines scholar since 2013 and presented “The Dangers of Feminine Political Narratives” during Iowa State’s Symposium on Undergraduate Research and
Creative Expression on April 14. Klocke is from Ames, Iowa.
Chris Levandowski, senior in civil engineering, presented “Evaluating Tall Wind Turbine Tower Designs” during Iowa State’s Symposium on Undergraduate
Research and Creative Expression on April 14. Levandowski is earning his certificate in leadership studies and is from North Mankato, Minn.
Christine Rosen,
an ISU alumna in criminal justice and criminology and sociology, was sworn in to the City of Nevada police department on March 23 during a city council
meeting. Rosen also earned her certificate in community leadership and public service while at Iowa State. She is from Eden Prairie, Minnesota.
Clint Stephens,
lecturer in leadership studies, presented “Developmental Gains in Student Leadership Capacity” at LeaderShape’s national meeting in Champaign, Illinois, on
March 13. He also presented “Building Leaders: A National Examination of the Leadership Capacities Within Engineering Undergraduate Students” at the
American Educational Research Association’s annual conference on April 18 in Chicago, Illinois.
Kate Tindall, senior in journalism and mass communication and political science, was selected to serve as the student marshal for the College of Liberal Arts and
Sciences at spring commencement ceremonies. In this role, she delivered the LAS Convocation Ceremony student address on May 8 in Stephens Auditorium and
led the processional for the college at the Iowa State University Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony on May 9 in Hilton Coliseum. Tindall was selected by the
college for her exceptional academic record and extracurricular activities. She graduated summa cum laude; was in the top 2 percentile for grade point
average in LAS; and is a member of Phi Beta Kappa, an honorary society for top-achieving juniors and seniors in the college. Tindall reported for both Ames
Channel 12 and ISU-TV; was active in her sorority, Kappa Alpha Theta; and was a teaching assistant for global politics in the department of political
science in addition to her roles as an intern and scholar at the Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics.
Leah Vander Boon, senior in communication studies and Marine option Navy ROTC midshipman, was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps on May 9. She is the
second female midshipman to commission as a Marine from Iowa State. During the NROTC Dining Out and Awards ceremony on April 11, Vander Boon received the
Chief of Naval Operations Distinguished Midshipman Graduate Award, the Captain Jake Dobberke Leadership Award and the Marine Option 2015 Iowa State
University NROTC Distinguished Graduate Award. Vander Boon is earning her certificate in leadership studies and is from Kalamazoo, Michigan.
Kelly Winfrey, lecturer in leadership studies at the Catt Center, was a judge for the Caucus Cup Debate between Iowa State College Democrats and College Republicans on
April 21 and presented “Why Women Don’t Run” to the ISU College Democrats on April 22. Winfrey also was chair and program planner for the Political
Communication Interest Group at the Central States Communication Association’s annual conference in Madison, Wisconsin, on April 16-18.
Cimone Wright, senior in computer engineering, presented “Continuous Mobile Authentication Using Gestures” during Iowa State’s Symposium on
Undergraduate Research and Creative Expression on April 14. Wright also earned her certificate in community leadership and public service in May 2015 and is a 2014-2015
Elizabeth Hoffman and Brian R. Binger Legacy of Heroines scholar from Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Deloris Wright, Ellen Walvoord and J. Elaine Hieber were recognized by the Iowa State University Foundation and the ISU Alumni
Association at the annual Distinguished Awards Celebration on April 17. Wright, a past Legacy of Heroines scholarship donor, received the Order of the
Knoll Campanile Award from the ISU Foundation. This award recognizes the extraordinary, long-time support of an individual or couple who have had a
significant and inspiring impact on Iowa State University. Walvoord, who worked with the Catt Center to provide support for a leadership training program
for Iowa State women in her sorority, received the ISU Foundation’s Order of the Knoll Cardinal and Gold Award. This award recognizes individuals or
couples who have provided dedicated and long-term service and creative leadership to the ISU Foundation and Iowa State University through the advancement
of philanthropy. Hieber, a Catt Center donor, received the Honorary Alumni Award from the ISU Alumni Association.