Mentoring has been a vital aspect to the career of Soledad O’Brien, co-anchor of CNN’s “American Morning” show.

Dianne Bystrom, director of the Carrie Chapman Catt Center, said O’Brien was chosen to come to Iowa State because she speaks about topics related to leadership and politics, such as mentoring. Her African-American, Hispanic and Irish background also brings diversity to the journalism world, she said.

“She is the most visible Hispanic woman in television and news,” Bystrom said.

O’Brien has been named this fall’s Mary Louise Smith Chair in Women and Politics. This position was created in 1995 to honor Smith, a strong female political leader from Iowa. The position brings prominent women leaders from across the nation to come speak at Iowa State.

O’Brien joined CNN in 2003 after anchoring NBC’s “Weekend Today” show from 1999 to 2003. Some of her recent coverage stories have included the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and the December 2004 tsunami in Southeast Asia. In the fall of 2003, O’Brien was the only broadcast journalist allowed to travel with first lady Laura Bush to Moscow.

O’Brien’s lecture, titled “Women and Leadership: Mentoring the Next Generation,” will explain how mentoring helped advance her in her career, something Bystrom said is important for anyone wanting to take on more challenging roles.

“Mentoring is such a large part of leadership, especially in women,” Bystrom said.

The lecture is free and open to the public, but will most benefit students in journalism, sociology, Latino studies, women studies and political science, she said.

Bystrom said although O’Brien will most likely connect with students in those majors, those outside will still find it beneficial because she is “down to earth and approachable.”

“She has a broad appeal,” Bystrom said.

Dana Schumacher, academic adviser in political science, said she agreed the lecture can be useful for everyone. She said she sees O’Brien more closely tied with journalism than the political realm, but anyone who pays attention to the media should be interested in what she has to say. Laughing, Schumacher said O’Brien “starts my day.”

O’Brien is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists, and also writes a bi-monthly column for USA Weekend magazine on parenting. She will be speaking at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the Great Hall in the Memorial Union.