Save the dates for spring events
Author: Sue Cloud
In addition to hosting the annual Mary Louise Smith Chair in Woman and Politics, the Catt Center has been working with the Center for Cyclone Civics on several America at 250 events for the Spring 2026 semester. The list below includes these events, plus several additional events hosted by other units and co-sponsored by Cyclone Civics. Mark your calendars and we will see you there!
Feb. 9: Mark Vane will present “We Need to Disagree: The Importance of Honesty and Debate in an Age of Political Tribalism” at 6 p.m. in the Great Hall of the Memorial Union. Vance is lead pastor of Cornerstone Church in Ames.
Feb. 10: Asma Khalid will present “Our American Experiment — 250 Years On” for the 2026 Mary Louise Smith Chair in Woman and Politics lecture at 7 p.m. in the Great Hall of the Memorial Union. Khalid is an award-winning political correspondent and co-host of the new BBC news podcast “The Global Story.”
March 3: Karen M. Kedrowski will present “Women in the American Founding,” at 6 p.m. in the Room 2630 of the Memorial Union. Kedrowski is director of the Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics, co-director of the Center for Cyclone Civics, and a professor of political science.
March 4: Elaine Weiss will present “Spell Freedom: The Underground Schools That Built the Civil Rights Movement,” at 6 p.m. in the Great Hall of the Memorial Union. Weiss is an award-winning journalist and critically acclaimed author. She previously visited campus in 2020 as the 32nd recipient of the Mary Louise Smith Chair in Women and Politics.
April 21: A.J. Jacobs will present “Exploring Originalism: A Year of Living Constitutionally” at 6 p.m. in the Sun Room of the Memorial Union. Jacob is a journalist, lecturer, author of four New York Times bestsellers, and self-described “human guinea pig.”
More information about these events and any additional events for the spring will be posted on the Catt Center, Cyclone Civics, and Lectures Program websites as it becomes available.
The Catt Center is also a co-sponsor of the upcoming exhibition “Tell Me a Story” at Iowa State University’s Brunnier Art Museum. Co-curated by Michèle Schaal, Iowa State professor of French and women’s and gender studies, the exhibition explores the enduring impact of folk, fairy, mythological, spiritual and other tales and will feature objects from the University Museums Collections. The exhibition runs Jan. 20 – July 24, 2026.
The Department of Music and Theatre is also hosting several concerts and productions as part of the America at 250 celebration. Check their website for information about these events.