The Catt Center fosters civic engagement by Iowa State students, faculty, and staff as well as local and state community members through its student voter engagement work, undergraduate internships and Legacy of Heroines Scholarship Program, sponsorship of visits by prominent political leaders and scholars, and the Ready to Run® Iowa campaign training program.

The center also works closely with Iowa State University’s Center for Cyclone Civics to provide opportunities for education and research on civic education and free speech.

Newsletters

Subscribe to our student newsletter for information on campus and off-campus events and opportunities related to politics or public service. Published every other week during the spring and fall semesters.

Subscribe to our Voices newsletter for Catt Center news and information on upcoming events and programming. Published every other month throughout the year.

Lectures and learning

  • Mary Louise Smith

    Mary Louise Smith Chair in Women and Politics

    This prestigious lecture brings nationally renowned political leaders, scholars, and activists to Iowa State University to enrich the experiences of students and educate citizens about women in politics and their leadership roles in society.

  • Charles T. and Kathleen Manatt with then-Senator Joe Biden, the speaker for the 2006 Manatt-Phelps Lecture in Political Science

    Manatt-Phelps Lecture in Political Science

    This prestigious lecture, sponsored by the Department of Political Science, brings to campus a prominent practitioner or scholar to address the Iowa State community on issues of significance to the United States and to Iowa.

  • Photo at a Ready to Run Iowa event held at Iowa State University's Reiman Gardens, showing several participants seated at tables and session facilitator Carrie Ann Johnson speaking at the front of the room.

    Ready to Run® Iowa

    Ready to Run® Iowa is a nonpartisan campaign training program to encourage women to run for elective office, position themselves for appointive office, work on a campaign or become involved in public life as leaders in their communities.

  • Group photo of Catt Center-affiliated students and center staff at a welcome back event at Brookside Park in Ames.

    Legacy of Heroines Scholarship Program

    The Legacy of Heroines program provides scholarships to students of various majors who are interested in gender and politics, the political process, public service, and women’s leadership.