Sue Cloud, who has served as a communications specialist for the Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics since October 2012, will retire from Iowa State University on June 1.
“During her tenure at the Catt Center, Sue excelled at balancing multiple tasks with a positive attitude that helped anchor our small team,” said Dianne Bystrom, director emerita, who hired Cloud when the center was celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2012. “Sue’s dedication and commitment to excellence in her multiple roles will have a lasting impact on the Catt Center.”
For her first several years at the Catt Center, Cloud managed the Plaza of Heroines, maintained the center’s contacts database, supervised the day-to-day operations of the Archives of Women’s Political Communication, and provided administrative support for the Carrie Chapman Catt Prize for Research in Women and Politics. She also assisted Kristine Keil, then the public relations/student programs coordinator for the Catt Center, with the center’s communications, maintaining portions of the website and writing articles for Voices, the center’s newsletter.
As the Leadership Studies Program grew, Cloud also began providing administrative support for that program, until coordination of the program left the Catt Center in mid-2018.
“Everyone needs a Sue Cloud on their team. She is smart, strategic, cares deeply about the Catt Center’s mission, and will be missed by many,” Keil said. “I remember calling her references when she applied to work at the Catt Center, and one of them said, ‘You’d be crazy not to hire her.’ Well, we weren’t crazy. We hired her, and I’m so glad I got to work alongside her for eight years.”
In 2020, Cloud’s role changed when Keil left for another position at Iowa State. Cloud handed off responsibility for the Plaza of Heroines and Catt Prize support and began coordinating the center’s publicity and communications efforts as well as the Legacy of Heroines scholarship program and the Women Impacting ISU calendar.
“I have had the privilege of working with Sue over the past six years through many iterations of my own positions at the Catt Center,” said Carrie Ann Johnson, associate director of outreach and communication for the center. “She has shown me how quickly powerful, calm competence changes the tenor of a room and a workspace. She brings out crucial overlooked perspectives and critical thought when it is needed most, and she is the best copy editor I have ever worked with. I can’t imagine what my journey at Iowa State will be like without her.”
“Sue is a leader in a quiet, yet deeply impactful way. I will miss her daily wit, laughter, fellowship and editorial eye,” said Melissa Martin, administrative assistant for the Catt Center. “I feel privileged to have met and worked alongside her.”
“Sue has in-depth knowledge of Catt Center operations and history. She always provides wise counsel to me and to scores of interns. We will miss her,” said Karen Kedrowski, center director since 2019.
Most recently, Cloud also provided support for the Center for Cyclone Civics, Iowa State University’s nonpartisan civic engagement and free speech initiative, during its early months.
Before joining the Catt Center, Cloud worked as a project manager and courseware services manager at Phasient Learning Technologies and as a technical writer and editor at Engineering Animation, both in Ames.
“The Catt Center’s mission of encouraging people to get more involved in the political process in any way they can – particularly women, who have been historically underrepresented in the decision-making process – was one of the things that drew me to working here,” Cloud said. “It’s been such a pleasure to share a workspace with people dedicated to researching and promoting women’s political involvement and helping turn out the next generation of civically engaged citizens.”
Cloud and her husband will continue to make Ames their home base as they take the opportunity to travel to some favorite destinations and seek out new ones.