Eleven undergraduate student interns and five graduate assistants are supporting the staff of the Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics with its research, programming and student voter outreach for the 2025-2026 academic year.
Allan Bubna, a master’s student in political science, is working with center director Karen M. Kedrowski on a research project on women county supervisors in Iowa.
Alexandra Bylund, Winnie Dau and Lauren Fisher are interns on the Archives of Women’s Political Communication.
Bylund, a sophomore in political science, is involved in Pi Beta Phi and is a political journalist for the Iowa State Daily. Off campus, she works at ChildServe and recently joined the volunteer team at the Blank Children’s Hospital.
Bylund said that one of her favorite things about Iowa State are the opportunities such as internships, conducting research, or working as a teaching assistant, paired with the support from the student and faculty community. Of her internship with the Catt Center, Bylund said, “I have become so incredibly inspired by the trailblazing women in politics. I have learned so much about the history of women’s rights through transcribing their speeches and creating their profiles.”
Bylund’s goals at Iowa State include becoming a concurrent master’s student, continuing in her role at the Catt Center, conducting research, and being a teaching assistant. After graduation, she hopes to attend law school.
Dau is a senior in political science with a minor in philosophy.
“One of my favorite things about Iowa State University is its beautiful campus,” Dau said. “I love walking around and seeing all the colorful plants and flowers; they make the campus feel alive.”
After graduation, Dau plans to spend some time traveling before beginning law school, and says that she is excited to explore new places and gain fresh perspectives.
Fisher, a senior in political science with a minor in sociology, is a political science student ambassador and teaching assistant. Outside of school, she works at HomeGoods.
“My favorite thing about working at the Catt Center is getting to learn about so many different women involved in the field of politics,” Fisher said. “Their speeches and political ads provide a unique look at their ideas and beliefs.”
Fisher, who will be graduating in December, plans to attend law school in the fall of 2026.
Em Mach and Kate Passwater are interns for the Gender Balance Project and Women in Iowa Politics Database.
Mach is a senior in industrial engineering with a minor in women’s and gender studies.
“Iowa State has given me so many opportunities to grow my skills both inside and out of the classroom,” Mach said. “In my time here I have worked on three research projects, earned two professional certifications and even completed my own independent research for class credit.”
Mach will be graduating in December and moving to Minneapolis to pursue a job in the food manufacturing industry.
Passwater is a sophomore in computer science with minors in data science and bioinformatics & computational biology. She is involved in Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, Honors College, Orchesis II Dance Company, Tap Club, and the Program for Women in Science and Engineering (WiSE), and works as an undergraduate research assistant.
“One of my favorite things about Iowa State University is the focus on innovation,” Passwater said. “I’m passionate about the gender data gap and the gap in funding for women’s health research, so I aspire to work towards improving and furthering research in women’s comprehensive and reproductive health. Being surrounded by other students and professors who are also passionate about pioneering new technology and research is incredibly inspiring and pushes me towards being a better innovator throughout my education and career.”
Passwater’s goal is to use the technical skills she is learning at Iowa State in clinical data analysis to advance equality in research in women’s reproductive and comprehensive care. She also aspires to attend graduate school for a Master of Public Health with a focus in maternal and child health.
Keith Maloney and Aliya Yanga are public relations/events planning interns for the center.
Maloney is a junior in public relations with minors in event management and technical communication.
He is co-president of the National Association of Black Journalists chapter, treasurer of the Public Relations Student Society of America chapter, and fundraising chairman of the Advertising Club.
Maloney’s favorite things about Iowa State are the community and the campus. After graduation, his goal is to work at an advertising agency in a city on the East Coast.
Yanga is a junior in public relations with minors in criminal justice and political science.
She says that her work at the Catt Center has been uplifting and encouraging. “The staff has allowed me to showcase my creative thinking and contribute meaningfully to projects that highlight women’s leadership and public engagement.”
After graduation, Yanga plans to pursue a career in public relations with a focus on strategic communications and governmental affairs, where she can help combat misinformation and strengthen civic engagement. She is also considering attending law school to further expand her opportunities to make an impact in the public sector.
Delaney Graef, Clair Lewis and Andrea Montes Melendez are interns for the Center for Cyclone Civics.
Graef is a senior in forestry with a minor in political science. She is secretary of the Forestry Club, restoration leader for the ISU Disc Golf Course Project, a College of Agriculture and Life Sciences senator for ISU Student Government, and a member of the Xi Sigma Pi Honor Society, Sustainability Committee, and Local Affairs Committee.
A third-year intern at the center, Graef sad, “My experience at the Catt Center has been the best years of my college experience. I have become well-versed in governmental affairs, such as voting, local governmental positions, and laws. In addition, I have used this newfound knowledge to engage Iowa State students and the public using my creative side, through stickers, posters, and animatics. I feel so lucky to have such amazing colleagues who genuinely feel like my family and encourage me to thrive academically. My favorite moments have been in the intern office or daily chats with Melissa, Sue, Karen, Amy Erica, and Carrie Ann.”
Graef’s favorite things about Iowa State are the beautiful historic trees and the plethora of opportunities for students. Her goals for the rest of her Iowa State career are to finish the Iowa State Disc Golf Course Restoration Management Plan, update Byte-Sized Civics (a Cyclone Civics outreach project under development), and continue educating Iowa State students on how to get more civically involved.
Lewis is a senior in political science. She is president of The Vine campus ministry based out of Collegiate Presbyterian Church, is a member of the Local Affairs committee of ISU Student Government, and works as a research assistant in addition to her work at the Catt Center.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed the vibrant, community-based energy of the Catt Center,” Lewis said. “All the interns are willing to help each other out and talk things through.”
She said that one of her favorite aspects of Iowa State is that it is a big school with the capacity for tight-knit community building. “If you take advantage of the opportunities at hand, you will undoubtedly find your people,” she said.
After graduation, Lewis plans to work at the State Capitol in Des Moines for a year while studying for the LSAT, and then attend law school.
Montes Melendez is a senior in public relations with a minor in event management. She is a member of Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, TRIO, and the Public Relations Student Society of America. In addition to her internship with Cyclone Civics, Montes Melendez is also an intern at John Deere.
Montes Melendez said that her favorite things about Iowa State are the friends she had made here and the beautiful campus.
Emma Allen, Tanusree Bhattacharjee, Thomas Boakye, Miranda Hills and Meenakshi are researching data about women in Iowa for a She Matters report to be published in 2026. The project is a collaboration between the Catt Center and several statewide partners.
Allen is a junior majoring in anthropology with minors in English and French. She is the co-founder and librarian of Beyond the Pages Book Club, the vice president of No Re-Choir-Ment A Cappella group, and a resident assistant in Martin Hall.
“One of my favorite things about Iowa State University is the diverse array of communities it has to offer so that every student may find their niche,” Allen said.
After graduation, she plans to attend law school and is interested in practicing either civil rights law or family law.
Boakye is a master’s student in political science. He said that his favorite thing about Iowa State is that the campus is serene and welcoming, especially for him as an international student.
“It has been a great experience learning new things about women in Iowa and how health issues play out in their lives,” he said of the opportunity to work on the project.
After finishing his master’s degree here, Boakye plans to get a Ph.D.
Hills is a graduate student in anthropology with a minor in women’s and gender studies and linguistics. She said one of her favorite things about Iowa State are the endless opportunities available here.
“Working at the Catt Center this semester has been a great experience so far,” Hills said. “It means a great deal to me to be a part of something I believe is vitally important work, and engaging in this work with similarly committed individuals has been truly invigorating.”
After completing her degree, Hills hopes to expand on her master’s thesis research on yoga practice in the Midwest in a Ph.D. program.
Meenakshi is a master’s student in political science. She is a graduate assistant with the International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO), where she supports orientation and programming for new international students. This past summer, she participated in a DSPG (Data Science for the Public Good) fellowship, focusing on community-based research in Iowa.
“One of my favorite things about Iowa State is the welcoming and diverse community,” Meenakshi said. “The campus has so many opportunities to grow academically while also connecting with people from all over the world.”
While at Iowa State, she wants to continue building her skills in research and community engagement, while also supporting other students through her roles on campus. After graduation, she plans to pursue opportunities that combine higher education, policy, and community development.