Iowa Caucus Project
Fresh perspectives to tell the story of the Iowa caucuses and to help educate, invigorate, and mobilize Iowans.
So, What is It?
Established in 2011, the Iowa Caucus Project features the experiences and perspectives of Drake University students telling the story of the Iowa caucuses. Working across Drake University's campus and candidate events, we get to know the history and traditions of the Iowa caucuses and what makes the Iowa caucus campaign special.
It’s a class. It’s a tradition. It’s about real people exploring the campaign trail in Iowa.
Meet The Team
Garrett Kramme
A Chicagoan in exile living in the small town of Des Moines. He is studying Political Science and Environmental science, with the goal of becoming a Botanist. In his free time, Garrett enjoys the simple things like hiking, astronomy, and chasing tornadoes.
Will Blevins
A junior double majoring in American Politics and Strategic Political Communications from Ankeny, Iowa. Will chose Drake for their tennis program but fell in love with Iowa politics, even though he has been to the Field of Dreams more times than he has been to the Iowa Capitol.
Ava Severs
A senior studying Law, Politics, and Society, and Politics. Ava fled from Grand Junction, Colorado to the flatlands of Drake University in order to experience the Iowa Caucuses. In her free time, she enjoys finding local restaurants, traveling, and catching fireflies.
Stephanie Kiel
A senior studying Politics; Economics; and Law, Politics, and Society with a passion for nonpartisan public policy and community and economic development. Stephanie is originally from Green Bay, Wisconsin, and cannot pronounce "bagel" correctly.
Reid Stevens
A sophomore at Drake majoring in politics and economics. He hails from Isanti, Minnesota, and is thrilled to experience the Iowa caucuses for the first time! He can often be found wearing the color purple, flaunting his extensive sticker collection, eating ice cream, and playing tennis (but not at the same time).
Paige Minor
A socially engaged graphic designer focused on sustainability and politics. After white water kayaking across the world, she found Griff’s beautiful face and knew Drake University was her home. Now that she is in Iowa she is a big fan of borrowing flowers from campus to make her own bouquets and taking bites out of string cheese rather than pulling it apart.
Mattie Mills
A junior at Drake studying American Politics and International Relations. Originally from Kansas City, Missouri (not Kansas), she is thrilled to be in Iowa to experience the real "Midwestern Nice." She enjoys classic rock, scuba diving (despite living in a landlocked state), holiday gnomes, and the Chiefs.
Sophie Meronek
A sophomore who double majors in data analytics and computer science. She is from the great cheese state of Wisconsin and her hometown has the first CULVER’S. When she isn’t busy, Sophie enjoys many crafts such as origami, quilting, and cross-stitch.
Paige Jansen
A senior studying political communications and multimedia journalism. From Adel Iowa, she first got engaged in the Iowa Caucuses in 2020 where she was able to cover candidate events as a photojournalist for her small-town high school. Since then, she has fallen in love with Iowa politics and can be found sipping on an overpriced coffee or enjoying live music at a local venue.
Dylan Engelbrecht
Born and raised in Eldridge, Iowa, Dylan studies Data Analytics & American Politics at Drake University and serves as the Chair of the College Republicans. Dylan’s first Republican political event was in 2012 at a neighbor's house to see the Republican Nominee: Mitt Romney. As a proud, lifelong Iowan, Dylan is enthused to engage in the 2024 Iowa Caucus, while also participating in other Iowa traditions including eating scotcheroos, cheering on the Hawkeyes, and spending time on the family farm.
Libby Johnson
A junior American Politics and English major from rural Minnesota, and she is happy with her decision to trade the cornfields of Minnesota for the cornfields of Iowa. She works for Drake Political Paper Archives, where she has developed the ability to identify Tom Harkin in the background of any photograph. In her free time, she spends far too much time thinking about Jimmy Carter and his phenomenal performance in the 1976 Iowa Caucuses.
Chris Veninga
Just because Chris is a libertarian, doesn’t mean he doesn’t appreciate the political process. A native Minnesotan, Chris has grown up hearing about the Caucuses but hasn’t gotten the chance until now to actively participate and immerse himself in it. Though he is not in the Drake University Politics Department, he has loved his conversations with those who are and is looking forward to learning more and more throughout the semester.