Dr. Dianne Bystrom is director emerita of the Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics at Iowa State University. She directed the center for 22 years before retiring in August 2018. She also founded Iowa State’s Leadership Studies Program and served as its director for 10 years. At Iowa State, she taught courses on women and politics, political campaigns, and women and leadership. Dr. Bystrom has contributed to 26 books—including Democracy Disrupted: Communication in the Volatile 2020 Presidential Election; Women in the American Political System: An
Encyclopedia of Women as Voters, Candidates, and Office Holders; and Gender and Elections: Shaping the Future of American Politics as a co-author, co-editor or chapter author. She also has written journal articles on women and politics, youth voters and the Iowa caucus. Dr. Bystrom currently serves as director of communications for the League of Women Voters of Nebraska. She speaks often to community groups and professional organizations about political and women’s issues. Dr. Bystrom earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Kearney (NE) State College and a
master’s degree in journalism and Ph.D. in communication, both from the University of Oklahoma.
