Women whose leadership has made a difference at Iowa State University will be honored by the Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics on the 11th annual Women Impacting ISU calendar.
The 2017 calendar will be officially unveiled during a reception recognizing the 12 honorees on Wednesday, Jan. 11, from 3:30 to 5 p.m. in the Sun Room and South Ballroom of the Memorial Union. The reception is free and open to the public. During and after the reception, 1,000 copies of the calendar will be distributed for free.
Students selected for the 2017 calendar are: Elizabeth Amado, senior in aerospace engineering with a certificate in leadership studies; Haley Strass, doctoral candidate in counseling psychology; and Britney Williams, senior in kinesiology and health.
Faculty selected are: Monic Behnken, assistant professor of sociology; Ann Gansemer-Topf, assistant professor in the School of Education; Lisa Larson; professor of psychology and ISU ADVANCE faculty fellow; and Jane Rongerude, assistant professor of community and regional planning.
Staff chosen for the calendar are: Pat Augustin, secretary ll for the Department of Chemistry; Anne Byrne, accountant for the Office of Biotechnology; Laura Doering, university registrar; Roberta Johnson, director of the Office of Student Financial Aid; and Margaret Van Ginkel, human sciences specialist and hotlines coordinator for the Extension and Outreach Center in Urbandale, Iowa.
“It was an honor to serve on the Women Impacting ISU calendar selection committee,” said Hunter Martin, senior in public relations and women’s studies from Ceresco, Nebraska, and one of two students serving on the selection committee for the 2017 calendar. “It was inspiring to read the nominations of so many incredible women who are working in a variety of ways to create a positive and accepting environment on campus.”
The Catt Center sponsors the calendar with funding provided by the Office of the Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion. Each year, a committee of students, faculty and staff – including past calendar honorees – evaluates the nomination packets and deliberates for four hours over the course of two meetings to select the final honorees. Two students, five faculty, seven professional and scientific employees, and one merit employee comprised the 15-member selection committee this year, representing a diverse cross-section of the Iowa State community.
According to Kristine Perkins, public relations and student programs coordinator for the Catt Center who oversees the project, 62 women were nominated for the 2017 Women Impacting ISU calendar. “Choosing the 12 women honored on the calendar is an incredibly difficult task, and we thank members of the selection committee for their time and consideration,” she said. “We encourage those who nominated a woman who was not selected for the 2017 calendar to consider submitting a nomination next year.”
The 2017 Women Impacting ISU calendar will include photographs of the three students, four faculty and five staff members who were chosen by the selection committee based on their achievements in service, teaching, research, administration and various other campus activities.
Visit the Catt Center’s website to see a list of past honorees.