Iowa State alumnus Amber Gustafson is running for Iowa Senate District 19 with higher education at the front of her platform.

When Gustafson was young, her family was impacted by the 1980s Farm Crisis. She was able to attend Iowa State because she was in the first class of recipients of the Christina M. Hixson Opportunity Award.

In a press release, Gustafson said it was Christina M. Hixon’s generosity that influenced her run for senate.

“Her example of giving back inspired me to run,” Gustafson said in the press release.

Gustafson graduated from Iowa State in 1999 with a degree in journalism and mass communications with an emphasis in public relations.

If elected, one of Gustafson’s goals is to make higher education more accessible.

“Life dealt my family a tough hand but education was the path out of poverty for me,” according to Gustafson’s website. “Through strong public education, I was able to achieve my dream of being the first person in my family to attend and graduate from college. I will never stop fighting to make sure all Iowa children have access to a world-class education.”

Gustafson was previously the State Chapter Leader of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. She and her husband also own a small agriculture business in the 19th District of the Iowa Senate.