To nominate a woman for the Women Impacting ISU calendar, you will need the following materials ready to upload:
- Contact information for two nominators
- A letter of recommendation from each nominator, in Adobe PDF format
- Optional: résumé or CV of nominee in Adobe PDF format
The nomination submission may be completed by either of the nominators or by a third party on behalf of the nominators.
Before nominating someone, please check the list of previous honorees to make sure that they have not previously been honored. We also encourage you to read the FAQs below before submitting a nomination.
Nominations for the 2025 Women Impacting ISU calendar are closed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible to be nominated?
Any woman who is currently employed by Iowa State University or who is a current student at Iowa State University is eligible to be nominated. Faculty and staff nominees must still be employed for the entire calendar year in which they would be honored. Students graduating in May of the calendar year in which they would be honored are eligible. We are looking for women who have impacted Iowa State through service to their unit or a broader campus audience, in the classroom or through community relationships, and who inspire women of all generations. The calendar is open to individuals who identify their gender as “woman,” inclusive of cisgender, transgender, and non-binary identities.
Before nominating someone, please check the list of previous honorees to make sure they have not previously been honored.
Can I nominate myself?
Self nominations will not be considered.
Can I nominate a group/club/organization?
Nominations of organizations will not be considered.
I don’t work at Iowa State. Can I still nominate someone?
Yes! One does not have to work at, be enrolled at or be otherwise associated with Iowa State University to nominate a woman currently employed at or attending Iowa State.
Can a nomination have only one nominator?
All nominations must have two nominators. Nominations with only one nominator will not be considered by the selection committee. If someone is included as a nominator for the same woman on two nomination submissions in the same year, only the first submission will be considered by the selection committee.
Should I tell my nominee about the nomination?
We recommend telling your nominee about the nomination and sharing the information you are including in the nomination letters before submitting them. That way, the nominee can let you know if there is anything else about her impact at Iowa State that could be included.
How are the nominations judged?
A committee of representatives from the Catt Center’s student programs, previous calendar honorees and other members of the ISU community (a mix of faculty, staff, merit) review the nominations and select the honorees. A different selection committee is formed each year. If you are interested in serving on the selection committee, email Sue Cloud at srcloud@iastate.edu. At the beginning of the fall semester, potential committee members will be contacted about their availability to attend one or two review meetings in October. Nominators are not eligible to serve on the committee for that year.
How do I increase my nominee’s chances of being selected?
The honorees are selected based on the quality of the nominations. Strong nominations emphasize the nominee’s contributions to campus life or her unit, and her impact on others. Emphasizing mentoring and representing student voices also helps. Also keep in mind that the selection committee will be a mix of people from different disciplines across campus — not everyone will be familiar with abbreviations, etc.
When will the honorees be notified of their selection?
Honorees will be notified within a few days after the review committee makes their decision, in mid- to late October.
What happens if my nominee is not selected?
If your nominee is not selected, we will email you to let you know, and if you had indicated that your nominee is aware of her nomination, we will also email her. We welcome you to nominate her again the next year – many past calendar honorees were nominated more than once before being selected. We also encourage you to consider nominating her for other university awards. Several suggestions of places to look are listed below. In addition, each college offers award opportunities.
Division of Student Affairs – faculty, staff and student awards
Office of the Senior Vice President and Provost – faculty and staff awards
Professional and Scientific Council and University Staff Awards – awards open to all P&S employees in all units
ISU Alumni Association – Though most of their awards are for alumni, the Wallace E. Barron All-University Award is for undergraduate seniors and the Faculty-Staff Inspiration Award can be awarded to a current faculty or staff member.
When and where is the reception?
A reception to publicly honor the women selected to appear on the calendar and unveil that year’s calendar is held in the Memorial Union each January, typically on the first Wednesday of the semester. This reception is free and open to the public. Check the Catt Center’s Events page for more information.
Where can I get a calendar?
Calendars are available at the reception in January, immediately following the program. Calendars will be also available at various campus locations while supplies last, including the Catt Center, the Margaret Sloss Center for Women and Gender Equity, Beardshear Hall and the Memorial Union.
Other questions?
Contact Sue Cloud at srcloud@iastate.edu or 515-294-9867.