On April 1, investigative journalist Florence George Graves visited Iowa State University as the 2019 Mary Louise Smith Chair in Women and Politics. She discussed sexual misconduct in politics and her investigations that led to the forced removal of an elected official and legislation.
*On March 28, 2014, Sen. McCaskill presented the lecture “Women, Politics and Leadership: Taking Risks is ‘Ladylike.’” Claire McCaskill has spent most of her career in public service at the county, state and federal level since graduating from the University of Missouri College of Law in 1978. She began her career as an assistant prosecutor … Continue reading Spring 2014 – Claire McCaskill
*On October 3, 2013, Karen Hughes presented the lecture “The CEOs of Leadership: Clarity, Example, and Optimism.” Karen Hughes currently serves as the global vice chair for the public relations firm Burson-Marsteller. She is a trusted counselor to corporate, nonprofit and political leaders providing strategic communications, corporate positioning and messaging advice. Since joining Burson-Marsteller in … Continue reading Fall 2013 – Karen Hughes
*On November 13, 2012, Candy Crowley presented the lecture “Post-Election Analysis.” Candy Crowley departed CNN after 27 years on December 21, 2014, with an interview with President Obama. She became a fellow at the Harvard Institute of Politics in fall 2015. Crowley was anchor of CNN’s “State of the Union with Candy Crowley,” a political … Continue reading Fall 2012 – Candy Crowley
*On December 1, 2011, Christina Romer presented the lecture “Policy Responses to the Great Recession: The Interaction of Leadership and Great Ideas.” Christina Romer is the Class of 1957 Garff B. Wilson Professor of Economics at the University of California, Berkeley and a former chair of the Council of Economic Advisers in the Obama administration. … Continue reading Fall 2011 – Christina Romer
*On March 31, 2011, Gwen Ifill presented the lecture “Politics, Policy, and the Reality of Leadership.” Gwen Ifill was moderator and managing editor of “Washington Week” and senior correspondent and co-anchor for the “PBS NewsHour.” She was frequently asked to moderate debates in national elections, most recently the vice presidential debates during the 2008 and … Continue reading Spring 2011 – Gwen Ifill
*On November 7, 2010, Anne Mulcahy presented the lecture “Leadership: The Art of Developing Followership.” Anne M. Mulcahy is the former chairperson of the board and the former chief executive officer of Xerox Corporation. She was named CEO on August 1, 2001, and chairman on January 1, 2002. Mulcahy was selected as the 2008 CEO … Continue reading Fall 2010 – Anne Mulcahy
*On March 6, 2009, Michele Norris presented the lecture “Race, Gender, and the Future of Leadership in America.” Michele Norris, an award-winning journalist with more than two decades of experience, is a former NPR host and special correspondent. She is the leader of the “Race Card Project,” an initiative to foster a wider conversation about … Continue reading Spring 2009 – Michele Norris
Carly Fiorina served as chief executive officer (CEO) of Hewlett-Packard from 1999 until 2005, the first woman to lead a Fortune 50 business. Fiorina received a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy and medieval history from Stanford University in 1976. In 1980, she earned a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Maryland. After … Continue reading Fall 2008 – Carly Fiorina
*On April 24, 2008, Madeleine Kunin presented the lecture “Pearls, Politics, and Power: How Women Can Win and Lead.” Madeleine Kunin is the first and only woman to have served as governor of Vermont and is the nation’s only three-term woman governor, holding office from 1985 to 1991. She also served in the Vermont General … Continue reading Spring 2008 – Madeleine Kunin