Student interns assist Catt Center with research, programming

CATEGORIES: September 2023, Voices

Seven undergraduate student interns are supporting the staff of the Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics with its research, programming and student voter outreach for the 2023-24 academic year.

Undergraduate interns play an essential role in the Catt Center’s work. They collect data and compile reports for the Women in Iowa Politics Database and Gender Balance Project, research speeches and political ads for the Archives of Women’s Political Communication, conduct student voter engagement outreach and research, and assist with the center’s public relations and events planning. The salaries of the Catt Center’s interns are supported in part through private gifts to the center.

The student interns are:

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Allie Crowson
Allie Crowson, a senior majoring in public relations with minors in sociology and political science, is the Sharon and Alice Rodine Leadership and Advocacy intern. Crowson is assisting Johnson as an intern for the Women in Iowa Politics Database and Gender Balance Project.

Crowson is a member of the Pre-Law Club and the Honors Program, a campus tour guide, and a facility supervisor at State Gym. She is also participating in research with political science professor David Peterson for her honors capstone project.

“I’m looking forward to building relationships with my team and working for a cause that matters to me!” Crowson said about her internship at the Catt Center. Crowson is from Peoria, Illinois.

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Jade Iliff
Jade Iliff, a senior majoring in psychology with minors in human development & family studies and communication studies, is assisting Johnson and Sue Cloud, the center’s communications specialist, as an intern for the Archives of Women’s Political Communication.

“I am excited to learn about women who made a difference and those who continue to make a difference in our current world,” Iliff said. “I am also excited to build my research skills and learn a lot along the way.” Iliff, who is from Norwalk, Iowa, also works at Target.

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Paola Martinez
Paola Martinez, a junior in majoring in political science, is working with Johnson on updating historical fact sheets for the Women in Iowa Politics Database and Gender Balance Project and with Karen Kedrowski, Catt Center director, on student voter engagement efforts as an Andrew Goodman Foundation ambassador.

“I look forward to developing new skills in this internship that will continue to be valuable in my field,” Martinez said of the work she is doing at the center.

Martinez, a recipient of a Multicultural Vision Program (MVP) scholarship and an MVP peer mentor, is from Denison, Iowa.

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Hannah Molayal
Hannah Molayal, a junior in journalism & mass communication and political science, is working with Johnson on the Women in Iowa Politics Database and Gender Balance Project.

Molayal, who is from Waukee, Iowa, is also a politics reporter for the Iowa State Daily.

“I am looking forward to assisting the wonderful Catt Center staff in the work they do,” Molayal said. “Focusing on women in politics is essential and empowering work.”

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Grace Parrott
Grace Parrott, a senior in public relations and political science, is the center’s public relations/events planning intern, assisting both Cloud and Ashley Marsh, the center’s administrative assistant and events planner. Parrott is the editor of the center’s semiweekly student newsletter, contributes to the center’s Voices e-newsletter, social media and other communications, will be designing the 2024 Women Impacting ISU calendar, and is assisting with preparations for upcoming center events. Parrott, who is from Kansas City, Missouri, is a member of Gamma Phi Beta sorority and serves on the Collegiate Panhellenic Council.

“As an intern at the Catt Center, I am excited for all the opportunities to get involved on campus as well as taking an active role in making these events happen!” she said.

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Alyssa Rodriguez
Alyssa Rodriguez, a senior in human development and family studies with minors in public relations and political science, is returning for a second year as an Andrew Goodman Foundation ambassador to continue her work with Kedrowski on student voter engagement.

“My favorite thing about working here is the open-minded atmosphere!” she said about her time at the Catt Center. “I’m looking forward to improving my own knowledge about local elections and civic engagement.”

Rodriguez, who is also on the Student Union Board and an intern for Science Bound, is from Davenport, Iowa.

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Clare Vilmont
Clare Vilmont, a senior in public relations and political science, is a public relations intern for the center for the fall semester. She is working on special projects, including developing promotional materials for the center’s educational resources.

Vilmont was the center’s public relations/events planning intern last year and said that one of her favorite projects was working on the 2023 Women Impacting ISU calendar.

From Waukee, Iowa, Vilmont also works as an intern at Revived Interiors, a home renovation and remodeling firm in West Des Moines.

Published: September 11, 2023