Panels dive Into gender and LGBTQ+ dynamics in the 2024 Election 

The Politics Department and Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies Department at Cornell College will host two evening panels on Oct. 8 and Oct. 10 at 7 p.m. in Zamora’s Lounge in Thomas Commons. Both are free and open to the public to attend.

Oct. 8

Assistant Professor of American Politics Megan Goldberg and Professor of Politics and Women’s Studies Aparna Thomas will moderate a panel with guests Iowa State Senator Liz Bennett ’10 and Iowa State Representative Elinor Levin ’09 on gender and LGBTQ+ issues in the 2024 election. Senator Bennett and Representative Levin will share their expertise and experiences as members of the Iowa legislature.

Oct. 10

Assistant Professor of Classics Chris Hoklotubbe will host a discussion with Iowa State Representative J.D. Scholten on masculinity and the 2024 election. Hoklotubbe will share his expertise on the growing gender divide in politics and religion, and Representative Scholten will share his experiences as an Iowa representative and professional baseball player for the Sioux City Explorers in 2007 and 2024. 

“We’re thrilled to bring together our campus and the larger Mount Vernon community with Iowa elected officials to discuss the 2024 election,” Goldberg said. “These panels, which include a couple of our alums in the statehouse, serve as a celebration and rejuvenation of our mission to be a learning community that develops engaged citizens in a democratic society.”