History alumnus receives first Carrie Chapman Catt Public Engagement Award

Kay Runge, a 1969 history graduate of Iowa State University, has been named the first receipient of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences' Carrie Chapman Catt Public Engagement Award at Iowa State University.

The award will be presented during Homecoming activities on Friday, Oct. 20.

Given to an alumni of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, recipients of the Carrie Chapman Catt Public Engagement Award have demonstrated outstanding achievement for their work with public entities at the local, state, national or international levels. The award recognizes the achievements of Carrie Chapman Catt, suffragist, early feminist, political activist and Iowa State alumnua. She was president of the National American Woman Suffrage Association and led the fight for ratification of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. She also encouraged the formation of the League of Women Voters, a non-partisan educational group.

When she arrived on the job as director of the Des Moines Public Library in April 2001, Kay K. Runge was focused on the execution of a building program that included construction of a new Central Library in Des Moines, renovation of five library branches, and construction of a new branch in the southeast section of the city.

In less than five years, many of those goals have been accomplished. A new $32.3 million Central Library opened last April. One branch renovation has been completed, with three more branches under construction for renovation and addition.

Prior to coming to Des Moines, Runge served as director of the Scott County Library System and Davenport Public Library. She was president of the Public Library Association in 2000. In 2000, the American Library Trustee Advocates and the American Library Association named her to the National Advocacy Honor Roll, and she was named Member of the Year of the Iowa Library Association.

Her community work includes or has included Wells Fargo Bank Board, Rotary Club of Des Moines; Des Moines Public Library Foundation Board, Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute, Leadership Iowa, Iowa State University Foundation Board of Governors, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Dean’s Advisory Council, and Operation Downtown Des Moines Board of Directors.