Graduate College Career Services Coordinator wins 2019 Woodin CYtation Award

Karin Lawton-Dunn, the Graduate College’s Career Services Coordinator, received the Woodin CYtation Award last week. The award honors Professional and Scientific employees who have shown exemplary service, a willingness to go above and beyond, and compassion and respect for others at Iowa State University.

Lawton-Dunn started the Graduate College Career Services Office in 2015 to assist graduate students and postdoctoral scholars with career planning, networking, résumé writing, and more. In the past two years, she has offered 77 workshops to a total of 1,761 graduate students and postdocs. She also offers one-on-one consultations to help students perfect their professional skills, and she takes students to a number of networking events.

Karin Lawton-Dunn (left) accepts the Woodin CYtation Award, joined by Jackie Woodin (right), wife of the late Dan Woodin.

“It is my goal to guide graduate students and postdocs to develop life-long career planning strategies that will carry them long past their time at Iowa State,” Lawton-Dunn said.

Carolyn Cutrona, the Associate Dean of the Graduate College, nominated Lawton-Dunn for the Woodin CYtation Award in late 2018.

“I received letters from a number of former graduate students who worked with Karin when they were at ISU. They all stress that she went above and beyond to help them, and that they would not have been as successful without her help,” Cutrona said.

The Woodin CYtation Award is given to one Professional and Scientific employee annually and is named for Dan Woodin, a former Iowa State employee of 36 years. Woodin was an informational systems leader, served as the Professional and Scientific Council president for four terms, and was known for his helpful and upbeat attitude. He passed away in September of 2013.

“Dan’s reputation at Iowa State and the P & S council is held in high esteem,” Lawton-Dunn said. “I am truly honored to be selected as the recipient of the 2019 Woodin CYtation Award.”

To learn more about Graduate College Career Services, see a list of upcoming workshops, or schedule a consultation, click here. The Career Services office will also be open all throughout this summer.