The Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics held its year-end celebration on April 3 in honor of the graduation of the 81 affiliated students who earned their degrees from Iowa State University in May and those who will graduate in August.
Students attending the dinner held at the Memorial Union included Catt Center student interns and teaching assistants; Legacy of Heroines scholars; graduate assistants; and students enrolled in the Leadership Studies Program, Global Leadership Study Abroad Program and the Vermeer International Leadership Program. Members of the Catt Center staff and the leadership studies faculty attended the event as well as Beate Schmittmann, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences; Amy Slagell, LAS associate dean; and Tina Coffelt, associate professor of English and a member of the Leadership Studies Program Advisory Board.
“This annual event gives us the opportunity to celebrate the students affiliated with the Catt Center and to recognize the achievements of our graduating seniors,” said Dianne Bystrom, Catt Center director. “It’s always impressive to see our graduates meeting their career goals through graduate studies, including law school, or by landing a job in their chosen fields.”
Monic Behnken, J.D., Ph.D., and associate professor of sociology at Iowa State University, was the keynote speaker. In her presentation, “Six Important People You Meet on your Leadership Journey,” Behnken shared the different types of individuals that have helped her succeed throughout her leadership journey. She also encouraged the guests to think about their own leadership journey and how the people they surround themselves with will influence their leadership experience.
The seniors graduating in May and August 2018 were recognized with a gift from the Catt Center, and their future plans were shared with the attendees to conclude the evening.
Students sharing their future plans include:
Rhett Allen graduated in May with a degree in communication studies, a minor in music and a certificate in leadership studies. He is from Hot Springs Village, Arkansas, and will attend graduate school at Auburn University.
Brooke Almasi graduated in May with honors in public relations and a minor in American Indian studies. She was the Catt Center’s public relations/events planning intern for the 2017-2018 academic year. She is from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and will attend the University of Iowa College of Law in the fall.
Emily Bergez graduated in May with a degree in speech communication and minors in philosophy and leadership studies. She is from Des Moines, Iowa, and will intern at Kohler.
Katherine Black graduated in May with a degree in industrial engineering and certificate in leadership studies. She is from Akron, Iowa, and will work as an engineer at EMC Insurance in Des Moines.
Emma Bruen will graduate in August with a degree in accounting and a certificate in leadership studies. She is from Fort Dodge, Iowa, and will move to Des Moines to begin her career in public accounting with Ernst & Young.
Braden Bunting graduated in May with a degree in religious studies and a certificate in leadership studies. He is from Ankeny, Iowa, and will pursue a career in youth ministry.
DeQuan Burnside graduated in May with a degree in software engineering and a minor in leadership studies. He also participated in the Vermeer International Leadership Program in 2015-2016 and served as the Leadership Studies Program intern in summer 2016. Burnside is from Sioux City, Iowa, and will pursue a career in the engineering industry.
Olivia Carrasco graduated in May with a degree in mechanical engineering, a minor in business and a certificate in leadership studies. She also participated in the Vermeer International Leadership Program in 2015-2016. She is from Muscatine, Iowa, and will work for Ardent Mills in their leadership development program.
Michaela Christian graduated in May with a degree in accounting. She participated in the Global Leadership Study Abroad program in 2016. She is from Algona, Iowa, and will work as a tax associate at the accounting firm, RSM, in Des Moines.
W. Peter Deveaux-Isaacs graduated in May with a degree in political science and a certificate in leadership studies. He is from Nassau, Bahamas, and will attend law school.
Jessica Enwesi graduated in May with a degree in journalism and mass communication and a minor in political science. She is a 2017-2018 Carrie Chapman Catt Legacy of Heroines scholar. Enwesi is from Minneapolis, Minnesota, and plans to work for a news outlet or travel to Nigeria for the summer.
Chelsea Eret graduated in May with a degree in political science. She was an Andrew Goodman Foundation ambassador from 2015-2018. Originally from Council Bluffs, Iowa, Eret will attend Villanova University School of Law in the fall.
Jessica Flesch graduated in May with degrees in anthropology and political science and a certificate in leadership studies. She is from Urbandale, Iowa, and is excited to find a job after graduation.
Maria Freeman graduated in May with degrees in political science and international studies and a minor in religious studies. She was a Legacy of Heroines scholar in 2016-2017. Freeman is from Ames, Iowa, and will begin the master’s program in community and regional planning at Iowa State University this fall. She will complete her certificate in leadership studies as a graduate student.
Brianna Grenier graduated in May with a degree in mechanical engineering and a minor in leadership studies. She is from Ankeny, Iowa, and will pursue a master’s degree in engineering.
Benjamin Halley graduated in May with a degree in aerospace engineering and a minor in leadership studies. He is from Waukee, Iowa, and will work in the aerospace industry.
Alyssa Hill graduated in May with a degree in public relations and minors in general business and leadership studies. She participated in the Global Leadership Study Abroad Program in summer 2016. Hill is from Raleigh, North Carolina, and is excited to pursue a career in the industry after graduation.
Sarah Holliday graduated in May with degrees in communication studies and international studies, a minor in Spanish and a certificate in leadership studies. She is from Ames, Iowa, and is excited to explore her options with her double major to seek full-time employment.
Andria Homewood graduated in May with a degree in journalism and mass communication and minors in leadership studies and history. Originally from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, she will pursue full-time employment.
Christine Insigne graduated in May with a degree in interdisciplinary design and a minor in leadership studies. She is from Pella, Iowa, and is excited to pursue a career in the industry after graduation.
Francis Kelly graduated in May with a degree in aerospace engineering, minors in astronomy and military science, and a certificate in leadership studies. He was also a member of the Vermeer International Leadership Program in 2015-2016. Kelly is from Ankeny, Iowa, and will commission as a member in the U.S. Army.
Jennifer Klodt graduated in May with a degree in accounting. She participated in the Global Leadership Study Abroad Program in summer 2015. Klodt is from Ottumwa, Iowa, and will work as an audit associate with PricewaterhouseCoopers in Des Moines, Iowa.
Elizabeth Kloewer graduated in May with a degree in communication studies, a minor in public relations and a certificate in leadership studies. She is from Nevada, Iowa, and will pursue a career in the industry.
Caeona Krivolavy graduated in May with a degree in child, adult and family services and a certificate in leadership studies. She also participated in the Global Leadership Study Abroad Program in summer 2017 and was a research assistant for the Leadership Studies Program in 2016-2017. Krivolavy, who is from Milford, Iowa, will attend law school.
Catharine LaGambina graduated in May with a degree in communication studies and a leadership studies certificate. She is from Barlett, Illinois, and plans to pursue a position where she can help others in their professional lives.
Edan Lambert graduated in May with a degree in animal science and a minor in leadership studies. Lambert also participated in the Vermeer International Leadership Program from 2016-2017. Originally from Orange City, Iowa, Lambert will work as a customer service/account sales representative for Form-A-Feed, Inc.
Sierra Leeds graduated in May with degrees in marketing and speech communication. She was the 2017-2018 Joanne and Charles Kuster Legacy of Heroines scholar. Leeds is from Boone, Iowa, and will attend Drake University Law School.
Auntera Love graduated in May with a degree in communication studies, a minor in speech communication and a certificate in leadership studies. Originally from Waterloo, Iowa, Love plans to work in the Des Moines area and enjoy her summer with her husband and daughter.
Kara Masteller graduated in May with a degree in marketing, minors in management information systems and psychology, and a certificate in leadership studies. She also participated in the Global Leadership Study Abroad Program in 2015. Masteller will take a brief post-graduation break and then is excited to tackle the professional world.
Lindsey Moor graduated in May with a degree in public relations and a certificate in leadership studies. She is from Eagan, Minnesota, and hopes to work in a strategy department for an advertising agency in Chicago.
Tyler Much will graduate in August with a degree in computer engineering and a minor in leadership studies. Originally from Muscatine, Iowa, he will move to Dallas, Texas, to work as a cyber-security consultant.
Nicholas Nelson graduated in May with a degree in communication studies and a certificate in leadership studies. He is from Rochester, Minnesota, and will work as the food and beverage manager for the Missoula Osprey.
Courtney Perreault graduated in May with a degree in biological systems engineering and a certificate in leadership studies. She also served as a teaching assistant for the Leadership Studies Program in 2017-2018. Perreault is from Mundelein, Illinois, and has accepted a job with Cargill as a production management engineer.
Erica Peterson graduated in May with a degree in chemical engineering and a certificate in leadership studies. She is from Bettendorf, Iowa, and has accepted a position with DuPont Industrial Biosciences in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Jennifer Poncelet graduated in May with honors with degrees in kinesiology and health and psychology and a minor in biology. She has been a Legacy of Heroines scholar from 2015-2018 and was a member of the Dean’s Leadership Seminar from 2014-2015. Originally from Spirit Lake, Iowa, Poncelet will attend medical school at the University of Iowa in the fall.
Emily Ramm graduated in May with a degree in elementary education; a minor in child, adult and family services; and a certificate in leadership studies. Ramm was the Rice-Neville Legacy of Heroines scholar from 2016-2018 and the Vermeer International Leadership Program intern from 2015-2017. After student teaching kindergarten in Bellevue, Nebraska, and sixth grade in West Des Moines, Iowa, in spring 2018, Ramm will begin full-time teaching third grade in Gretna, Nebraska, in the fall. She is from Onawa, Iowa.
Hailey Rostad graduated in May with a degree in communication studies and a certificate in leadership studies. She is from Alexandria, Minnesota, and will travel to Europe after graduation.
Arlette Rufer graduated in May with a degree in industrial engineering. She was a participant in the Vermeer International Leadership Program in 2015-2016. Rufer is from Williamsburg, Iowa, and has accepted a full-time position as a manufacturing engineer in HNI’s Early Career Development Program. This is a year-long rotational program for new graduates to experience different areas throughout the company.
Elizabeth Settles graduated in May with a degree in communication studies and a certificate in leadership studies. She was also an Elizabeth Hoffman and Brian Binger Legacy of Heroines scholar from 2017-2018 and a participant in the Global Leadership Study Abroad Program in summer 2017. Settles is from Ames, Iowa, and will obtain a full-time position where she can contribute to the diverse environment.
Cheyanne Sorenson graduated in May with a degree in women’s and gender studies and a minor in sociology. She participated in the Global Leadership Study Abroad Program in summer 2016. Sorenson is from Fort Dodge, Iowa, and will work and possibly attend graduate school.
Annie Steenson graduated in May with a degree in software engineering and a minor in leadership studies. She is from Omaha, Nebraska, and has accepted a full-time software engineer position at Apple. Steenson wants to eventually earn a master’s degree in economics and possibly a law degree.
Connor Theisen graduated in May with a degree in industrial engineering and a leadership studies certificate. Originally from Houlton, Wisconsin, Theisen will be employed with Permasteelisa North America.
Steven Valentino graduated in May with degrees in political science and economics. He served as an Andrew Goodman Foundation ambassador from 2015-2018. Valentino is from Long Valley, New Jersey, and plans to begin a career in his fields of study.
Roisin Welch graduated in May with a degree in industrial engineering and a minor in leadership studies. She is from Iowa City, Iowa, and will move to Portland, Oregon, to work as a manufacturing engineer.
Jenny Zachariason graduated in May with a degree in communication studies; a minor in child, adult and family services; and a certificate in leadership studies. She is from Minnetonka, Minnesota, and will work in an event planning and support position.
Tyler Zerbonia graduated in May with a degree in communication studies and a certificate in leadership studies. He is from Bettendorf, Iowa, and will work for the Austin Film Festival.