Press Release
National Conference for College Women Student Leaders’ 25th Anniversary Celebration Draws More Than 450 Students, High-Profile Speakers
WASHINGTON — More than 450 students from colleges and universities around the country are expected to attend the National Conference for College Women Student Leaders at the University of Maryland, College Park, June 3–5. The conference, which offers college and university women the opportunity to develop leadership skills, network with other student leaders, and interact with women who hold leadership positions, will celebrate its 25th anniversary this year with internationally known speakers, dynamic workshops, and the inspiring annual Women of Distinction Awards Ceremony.
"The National Conference for College Women Student Leaders connects tomorrow's leaders with today's trailblazers for a weekend of networking, learning, inspiration, and fun," said AAUW Executive Director Linda D. Hallman, CAE. "The young women leave our conference galvanized, with a stronger appreciation of their ability to implement change in their communities. While we have much to celebrate during this silver anniversary, this event is a tribute to our continuing commitment to closing the leadership gap between women and men."
"More than two decades ago, NASPA leaders realized that in order to see administrators in colleges and universities that mirrored and reflected the demographics of the students served, the association would have to identify outstanding students and mentor them to think about higher education and student life, in particular, as a career," said NASPA Executive Director Gwendolyn Jordan Dungy. "Being part of this conference is another way for NASPA to extend the innovative idea of identifying, recognizing, inspiring, and mentoring future leaders. I'm proud to be associated with organizations that look for ways to grow leaders."
2010 Women of Distinction Awards Ceremony
A highlight of the annual conference, the 2010 Women of Distinction Awards ceremony will give student attendees the opportunity to meet, talk with, and hear from inspiring women. This year's ceremony, to be held Thursday, June 3, will honor the following individuals, who join a prestigious group of more than 100 women honored since the award was established in 1985:
- Dorothy Height (in memoriam), chair and president emerita, National Council of Negro Women
- Christina Lagdameo, deputy director of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders
- Patti Solis Doyle, partner at Utrecht & Phillips, a Washington, D.C., law firm, and the first Hispanic woman to lead an American presidential campaign
- Marie Tillman, founder and chair of the Pat Tillman Foundation
- Nomfundo Walaza, chief executive officer of the Desmond Tutu Peace Centre in Cape Town, South Africa
Past honorees, including NCCWSL co-founder Donna Shavlik; Dorothy B. Gilliam, founder and director of the Prime Movers Media Program, School of Media and Public Affairs, George Washington University; Amy Richards, Soapbox: Speakers Who Speak Out, Inc.; and Brigadier General Wilma L. Vaught USAF, president, Women in Military Service for America Memorial Foundation, Inc., will also attend this year's Women of Distinction Awards celebration. For more information, visit http://www.aauw.org/nccwsl/wod.cfm
Workshops and Other Events
Approximately 50 workshops and presentations will be held on Friday, June 4, with offerings ranging from "Sexversations" to "Elect Her: Empowering College Women to Run for Student Government," a session about a new AAUW initiative to expand the pipeline of women running for elective office.
During the "Increasing Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics" workshops, conference participants will learn how a dozenAAUW-funded Campus Action Project teams from around the country developed programs to address some of the environmental and social barriers described in AAUW's 2010 research report, Why So Few? Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. For more information on the report, which provides compelling evidence about the environmental and social barriers that continue to limit women's participation in the science and math fields and identifies effective strategies to attract and retain women in these fields, visit www.aauw.org/learn/research/whysofew.cfm.
Each attendee will receive a free copy of Secrets of Powerful Women, a collection of 24 essays focused on the secrets to success — from personal tales of missteps to power pitfalls, power surges, and powerful beginnings. Attendees also will have a chance to hear from some of the book's contributing authors. Michelle D. Bernard, president and CEO of the Independent Women's Forum and Independent Women's Voice; Lisa Maatz, director of public policy and government relations at AAUW; Marie C. Wilson, co-creator of Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day and founder of the White House Project; and Laurie Westley, national director, government relations and advocacy for Girl Scouts of the USA.
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AAUW advances equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy, and research. Since 1881, AAUW has been one of the nation’s leading voices promoting education and equity for women and girls. AAUW has a nationwide network of more than 100,000 members and donors, 1,000 branches, and 500 college/university institutional partners. Since AAUW’s founding more than 128 years ago, members have examined and taken positions on the fundamental issues of the day—educational, social, economic, and political. AAUW’s commitment to educational equity is reflected in its public policy advocacy, community programs, leadership development, conventions and conferences, national partnerships, and international connections. Take a virtual tour of the AAUW Experience and visit the new AAUW website!
NASPA – Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education is the leading voice for student affairs administration, policy, and practice and affirms the commitment of student affairs to educating the whole student and integrating student life and learning. With more than 11,000 members at 1,400 campuses and representing 29 countries, NASPA is the foremost professional association for student affairs administrators, faculty, and graduate and undergraduate students. NASPA members are committed to serving college students by embracing the core values of diversity, learning, integrity, service, fellowship, and the spirit of inquiry. The NASPA Center for Scholarship, Research, and Professional Development for Women addresses issues relevant to women in student affairs, women in higher education, and women students through a variety of programs and publications. To learn more about NASPA, visit www.naspa.org.