The Center for Cyclone Civics at Iowa State University, created by the Board of Regents in April 2025 and co-directed by Karen Kedrowski and Kelly Shaw, is winding down a busy first year of activities.
America at 250
The highlight of the year was the excellent America at 250 programming, with 15 events held between September 2025 and April 2026.
Events included public lectures by former Washington Post columnist Eugene Robinson, Harvard professor Danielle Allen, author Elaine Weiss, and Iowa Supreme Court Justice Christopher McDonald.
Cyclone Civics also tapped local talent to contribute to its America at 250 celebrations, using Iowa State faculty and staff to discuss the influence of Ancient Greeks and Romans on the founders, Indigenous peoples and the Constitution, women in the American Revolution, and pirates in the American Revolution.
A “Donuts and the Declaration” event during LAS Week in April was well-attended, with readings from the Declaration of Independence, the Declaration of Sentiments and the Black Declaration of Independence. Students enjoyed donuts and coffee and picked up mementos, including Cyclone Civics-branded Statue of Liberty rubber duckies.
The America at 250 festivities will continue through Fall 2026 with additional programming and election-related events.
Partnerships
The Center for Cyclone Civics initiated or continued several partnerships with community organizations, including:
- The Ames Regional Economic Alliance, which sponsored the regional Middle School Civics Bee
- A Mid-Iowa Organizing Strategy (AMOS) “house meeting”
- The League of Women Voters of Iowa, which sponsored “The Citizen’s Handbook,” a guide to national and Iowa state and local governments
- ISU Extension and Outreach, with the launch of “Byte-Sized Civics,” a series of short animated videos on civics-related topics that is continuing to grow
Karen Kedrowski and Denisse Camarena of the Cyclone Civics team also attended the Voter Engagement Summit hosted by Iowa’s secretary of state Paul Pate in April that brought together educators from across the state to discuss civic engagement strategies for college campuses.
Public outreach
Kedrowski and Shaw discussed the Center for Cyclone Civics with various external audiences, including campus audiences, the public, state legislators. In February, they were joined by student intern Delaney Graef for ISU Day at the Capitol in Des Moines.
Space and personnel
Kedrowski and Shaw worked with University Marketing and PUSH Branding and Design to refurbish and decorate the center’s permanent home in Ross Hall. Cyclone Civics will move into this space over the summer.
In addition, the center hired Denisse Camerena as its administrative assistant. She began in February. In August, the center’s staff will increase again when a post-doctoral researcher joins the team.