Bio
Karen M. Kedrowski has been the director of the Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics and a professor of political science at Iowa State University since 2019 and has served as co-director of Iowa State’s Center for Cyclone Civics since 2025. Her primary research areas are gender and politics in the U.S. and civic engagement, and she has taught courses in women and politics, American government, media and politics, and public policy. She was previously a professor of political science at Winthrop University, where she also served as co-director of the John C. West Forum on Politics and Policy, dean of the College of Arts & Sciences, and chair of the Department of Political Science. Before entering academia, Kedrowski worked as a health policy analyst, legislative analyst, and congressional fellow in Washington, D.C. Kedrowski received a master’s degree and Ph.D. in political science from the University of Oklahoma and a bachelor’s degree in political science, French and history from the University of Minnesota.