
By Madelyn Ostendorf
This year, four of the 12 Women Impacting ISU calendar honorees are from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
The CALS honorees are Albulena Basha, a doctoral student in agricultural economics; Ashlyn Rairdin, a doctoral student in plant breeding; Rachel Burlingame, secretary for the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice; and Amani Elobeid, teaching professor of economics and Deiter Endowed Chair for Sustaining Excellence in Agricultural Business.
Each year, the Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics selects 12 women for the calendar in recognition of the positive differences they make at Iowa State University. A ceremony to celebrate the 2025 awardees took place Jan. 22.
Albulena Basha
Basha has been a part of the Iowa State community for six years, working on her master's and doctoral degrees. She has

been highly involved in many aspects of campus life, earning her the 2024 Outstanding Student Leader of the Year Award.
"To be acknowledged alongside so many remarkable women who are shaping our campus inspires me to continue striving for excellence and fostering positive change," Basha said.
In addition to her on-campus involvement, Basha has worked hard to foster a relationship between the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and her home country of Kosovo. Thanks to her work, the Kosovo Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Rural Development’s Department of Economic Analysis and Agricultural Statistics will start hosting Iowa State interns beginning in the summer of 2025.
"This honor is not just a personal milestone, but also a reflection of the incredible support and opportunities I have received at Iowa State University," Basha said. "Being recognized for my contributions reaffirms the value of service, education and leadership in making a difference on campus. I am deeply grateful to be part of a community that celebrates and uplifts the achievements of women who are driving change and inspiring others."
Ashlyn Rairdin

When Rairdin received the email notifying her of her selection, she first called her mom, then her advisor, Arti Singh, who
nominated her for the calendar. Rairdin works with Singh on the Women in Ag and AI program, which outreaches to the community to educate elementary-aged students on the intersection of agriculture and artificial intelligence and how they function in our world.
"One of the students came up to me afterwards and said, 'I didn't even know this was an area that you could work in,'" Rairdin said. "It's so exciting to see the direct impact you're having on people."
Rairdin said one of the best things a student can do for their research is to go out and talk about it. Advocate for your area of interest and the people in it.
"As a Ph.D. student, I conduct my research, and then I believe it's our duty to take it back out to the community and show them and help them learn what we're learning here," Rairdin said.
Rachel Burlingame
Burlingame is a friendly face for folks in the sociology department, where her work is

focused primarily on administrative tasks. She is happy to help wherever she is needed, whether that is by assisting the chair of the department, graduate students, the teaching coordinator, human resources or students who need help finding a classroom.
"I've gotten feedback from some of the graduate students that they've appreciated how helpful I've been over the years," Burlingame said. "They said it has helped to make their time here just a little more enjoyable, knowing that I'm here, even if it's just for a smile. It's nice to hear."
Making that impact on students is what the job is all about, Burlingame said. She has worked for the department in some capacity since 1992 and, for more than 30 years, has been dedicated to serving the students who make Iowa State what it is.
"Keep doing the work you need to do, and be kind," Burlingame said. "You'll see how it affects people."
Amani Elobeid
Elobeid is passionate about helping students thrive academically, professionally, and personally. She finds joy in watching students achieve goals they've worked hard for. To that end, she actively seeks ways to engage students in leadership, innovation, and entrepreneurship opportunities as well as to foster their growth as global citizens through study abroad programs.

"That's what drives me," Elobeid said. "I don't take lightly that sometimes my support has changed the trajectory of a student's life. Students who might have otherwise failed or dropped out—I try not to let that happen."
Her dedication extends beyond undergraduate students. In her role as Principles Coordinator, she has mentored junior teaching faculty as well as played a key role in helping graduate students develop into confident and effective instructors.
Elobeid is a firm believer that anyone can have a meaningful impact if they can find what they are good at doing.
"See where your strengths are, and see where these strengths can be beneficial and helpful," she said. "As long as your goal is to share your talents, knowledge and skills with other people to make their life better, you can have a lasting impact."
Elobeid said she appreciated the calendar's acknowledgment of contributions at multiple levels, noting that graduate students, faculty and staff all play a vital role in enriching the Iowa State community.
Copies of the calendars are available at the Catt Center, Sloss House, Beardshear Hall and the Memorial Union. The Catt Center sponsors the calendar with funding provided by the Office of the Senior Vice President and Provost.