Dianne Bystrom

Dr. Dianne Bystrom has served as director of the Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics at Iowa State University since July 1996. She is a frequent commentator about political and women's issues for state, national and international media.

Bystrom is a contributor, co-author or co-editor of 19 books—including alieNATION: The Divide and Conquer Election of 2012 (forthcoming); Gender and Elections (2014, 2010 and 2006); Women and Executive Office: Pathways and Performance (2013); Media Disparity: A Gender Battleground (2013); Communication in the 2008 U.S. Election: Digital Natives Elect a President (2011); Cracking the Highest Glass Ceiling: A Global Comparison of Women's Campaigns for Executive Office (2010); Legislative Women: Getting Elected, Getting Ahead (2008); Gender and Candidate Communication (2004); Anticipating Madam President (2003); and Women Transforming Congress (2002) – and has written journal articles on women and politics, youth voters and the Iowa Caucus.

She has taught courses on leadership, women and politics, and political campaigns for Women’s and Gender Studies, Political Science and Speech Communication. Bystrom earned a B.A. in Journalism from Kearney (NE) State College and an M.A. in Journalism and Mass Communication and a Ph.D. in Communication from the University of Oklahoma.