Nine students join Catt Center staff

Three graduate assistants and six undergraduate student interns have joined the Catt Center staff for the 2013-2014 academic year.

Student interns assist the center in a variety of activities, including the Archives of Women’s Political Communication, Women in Iowa Politics database, Plaza of Heroines, public relations and events planning, and support for the community leadership and public service certificate program. This year, graduate assistants also will help scholars-in-residence Valerie Hennings and Clint Stephens with teaching and research activities.

Six of the nine students are being supported through funds provided by donors to the Catt Center. The three students involved in teaching are supported with funds from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

“We are so pleased that gifts from the Catt Center’s 20th anniversary celebration are helping to support a larger than usual number of undergraduate and graduate student assistants this year,” said center director Dianne Bystrom. “The assistance they provide is essential to the center’s programs and activities and, in turn, the students gain practical work experience and benefit from mentoring by Catt Center faculty and staff.”

Graduate assistants are:

Cameron Beatty is a doctoral candidate in educational leadership and policy studies with a concentration in social justice from Indianapolis, Ind. Beatty is a teaching assistant with Stephens for CLPS 270x, “Campus Leadership Development,” and ENGR 150, “Foundations of Leadership Development and Learning.” His research area is student affairs/higher education – specifically how undergraduate students develop a leadership identity.

Beatty attended Indiana University for his bachelor’s and master’s degrees. He has lived in Washington, D.C.; Chicago, Ill.; Bloomington, Ind.; and now, Iowa. For the past three years, he worked in the Office of Greek Affairs at Iowa State as a graduate assistant. His favorite hobbies are reading and going to the movies. He also loves to travel and has been to Indonesia, Brazil, Japan and the Caribbean.

“I look forward to teaching in the Catt Center’s leadership certificate program and challenging undergraduates’ conventional understanding of leadership,” Beatty said.

Hallie Golay is a master’s degree student in political science from Glidden, Iowa. She serves as a research assistant to Hennings. Golay is conducting research as a part of Hennings’ work on women’s political ambition and for the center’s Women in Iowa Politics database. Her thesis research focuses on the study of women and politics.

Golay is a member of the Graduate Association for Students of Political Science, was the social chair for her resident hall’s house cabinet, and participated on basketball and volleyball intramural teams. As an undergraduate student before transferring to Iowa State, she also was a member of the mock trial and softball teams.

“I am excited about working at the Catt Center because I am very interested in the study of women and politics,” Golay said. “I was drawn to the Catt Center because it is a leader in women and politics research, and I am looking forward to expanding my knowledge and developing skills to be able to contribute to this research, specifically as it relates to the women in Iowa politics.”

Aja Holmes is a doctoral candidate in higher education with a concentration in social justice from Chicago, Ill. She is co-teaching LAS 151x and 152x, the “Dean’s Leadership Seminar,” with College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Dean Beate Schmittmann. Her research interests are master’s preparatory programs in the area of supervision and professional development as well as the globalization of higher education and its effects on cross-global relationship building.

Holmes received both her bachelor’s degree in mass communication with an emphasis in radio production and minor in English and her master’s degree in higher education with a concentration in college student personnel from Illinois State University. Her professional experiences are in housing and residence life at Stony Brook University and Georgetown University. She also has experience in teaching and in advising residence hall associations.

“Being a student leader while an undergrad, I understand the importance of relationship building and sharpening your leadership skills,” Holmes said. “I believe that working with first-year students helps builds character and helps to lay a strong foundation in leadership for their undergraduate career.”

Undergraduate student interns are:

Morgan Foldes is a senior in marketing from Johnston, Iowa. She is working with Stephens to publicize the leadership certificate program. Foldes is returning from her second internship with Target, where she worked in organization development.

Foldes is a member of Pi Beta Phi fraternity and has served on their executive board as vice president of membership. She also has been actively involved with Dance Marathon since her freshman year, working with the organization to raise money and awareness for the Children’s Miracle Network. Currently, Foldes is a member of the Collegiate Panhellenic Council, serving as the vice president of judicial affairs. She is also president of the Student Alumni Leadership Council.

“Through learning more about leadership development, I have truly found a passion for the subject and wanted to help other students find the value in learning more about our community leadership and public service certificate,” said Foldes, who is enrolled in the certificate program.

Krista Johnson is a senior in political science and international studies from Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She holds the Alice Rodine Internship in Community Activism and Sharon Rodine Leadership and Advocacy Internship, both funded by Sharon and Richard Rodine of Dallas, Texas. She is working on the Women in Iowa Politics database – a collection of information on current and former women public officials in Iowa from the local, county and state levels of government – to help further the study of political women in the state.

Johnson has been involved in student government throughout her time at Iowa State, previously as a representative on the Inter-Residence Hall Association, and currently as a Government of the Student Body senator representing the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. She is also co-chair of the Committee on Lectures, co-chair of the National Affairs Series and president of the Political Science Club.

“I’m passionate about improving the role of women in politics, and excited to be able to make a real difference this year,” Johnson said. “I’m especially looking forward to our upcoming Campaign College program to get more ISU women involved in student government.”

Katherine Marcheski, a senior in journalism and mass communication with a minor in Spanish from West Dundee, Ill., is returning to work at the Catt Center after a semester abroad in Spain. Marcheski works on the center’s Plaza of Heroines database, editing and entering biographical information on the women honored.

In addition to her internship with the Catt Center, Marcheski is involved with the student admissions representatives (STARS) program as a campus tour guide, works for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences communications office, is a participant in the Non-Profit Protégé program with Heartland Senior Services, and is a member of the American Sign Language Club and Alpha Phi Omega.

“This is my third semester working at the Catt Center, and I love it! I love the people, I love what we do and I love being associated with such an important cause,” Marcheski said.

Kristine Roush, a junior in journalism and mass communication, is from Urbandale, Iowa. She is the center’s public relations and events planning intern.

During her time at Iowa State, Roush has been involved with several organizations. She is the vice president of communications for Pi Beta Phi fraternity. She is also involved with STARS as a student admissions representative, giving campus tours to families and incoming students. This year, she will serve as an ambassador for the Student Alumni Leadership Council, planning campus-wide events and hosting alumni visits.

“I’m so thrilled that I get to work at the Catt Center and be surrounded by such knowledgeable and genuine people,” Roush said. “This is a great opportunity to grow more in my area of study and expertise. In addition, I get to learn more about all the programs the Catt Center provides for students and promote them on campus.”

Kate Tindall, a junior double majoring in journalism and mass communication and political science with a minor in economics, is from Akron, Iowa. She is a research intern working on the Archives of Women’s Political Communication. Tindall also the Jane Greimann Legacy of Heroines scholar for the 2013-2014 academic year.

Tindall has been a reporter for ISUtv’s “Newswatch” program and an undergraduate teaching assistant in the political science department. She also serves as an intern for Ames channel 12, the city’s government access television station. Tindall is a member of Kappa Alpha Theta fraternity and enjoys the volunteer opportunities available through that organization. In her free time, she enjoys exercising and singing in her church choir.

“The work of the Catt Center is absolutely unique, and its impact can be seen both on campus and outside it,” Tindall said. “I am excited to be working on projects that have purpose and will help others become aware of the opportunities open through the study of politics.”

Dan Voss, a senior in materials engineering, is from Atkins, Iowa. He is working with Stephens to research student leadership development and assess student learning in the leadership certificate program.

Voss has served as both ISU chapter president and Midwest steering committee vice president for Engineers Without Borders-USA, an organization that promotes community-driven development worldwide through local partnerships. He has also been involved with the ISU Government of the Student Body and international student ministry at the Memorial Lutheran Church in Ames. After graduation, he plans to pursue a Master of Arts in teaching and teach high school science.

“Working for the Catt Center has given me a special opportunity to participate in many aspects of a course beyond simple grading, including lesson planning and hands-on work in the classroom,” Voss said. “It’s exciting to help students develop their leadership skills while practicing for my own future career in the process.”