8-20-98

Contacts:
Carol Meeks, College of Family and Consumer Sciences, (515) 294-8060
Maurice MacDonald, College of Family and Consumer Sciences, (515) 294-1983
Mary Jo Glanville, College of Family and Consumer Sciences, (515) 294-8799
Kevin Brown, News Service, (515) 294-8986

STATE'S POLITICAL CULTURE, FAMILY POLICY DISCUSSED AT ISU

AMES, Iowa -- "Iowa's Political Culture and Family Policy" will be the subject of a panel discussion sponsored by the Iowa State University's College of Family and Consumer Sciences on Friday, Aug. 21.

The discussion will begin at 10 a.m. at the Holiday Inn Gateway Center, U.S. 30 and Elwood Drive, Ames. The discussion will be led by Shirley Zimmerman, the 1998-99 Helen LeBaron Hilton Endowed Chair for the College of Family and Consumer Sciences.

Zimmerman will discuss her recent research on Iowa's political culture and family legislation in a national context. The panel will discuss how and why families make certain choices and the connection between legislation and policy implementation.

Joining Zimmerman will be ISU faculty members Jacques Lempers, Joyce Mercier and Jeanne Warning. Zimmerman will speak from 10:20 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.; the panel discussion will be from 11:15 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.

Zimmerman is a professor of family social science at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, where she teaches courses on family policy, family policy research and family policy with an international emphasis. She is the author of two books: "Family Policies and Family Well-being: The Role of Political Culture," and "Understanding Family Policy: Theoretical Approaches." She has also written several articles on family policy and related issues

Jacques Lempers is the director for the Center for Family Policy at ISU. Lempers has evaluated and researched programs that assist children and families in Iowa and nationally. Joyce Mercier works with the college's new graduate program on family policy and researches aging and family relationships. Jeanne Warning is an assistant director for families to the ISU Extension Service. She is a state leader in workshops to help communities to respond to welfare reform.

The Hilton Chair was established is 1995 with an endowed gift of in excess of $1.3 million from the estate of Helen LeBaron Hilton. It is the largest endowed chair in Iowa State's history.

Helen LeBaron Hilton was dean of the ISU College of Home Economics (now Family and Consumer Sciences) from 1952 to 1975.

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