Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
05/19/2011

Contact:
Katie Broendel, broendelk@aauw.org
202/785-7761

Lisa Goodnight, goodnightl@aauw.org
202/785-7738

Swanee Hunt to Be Honored at College Leadership Conference
Former Ambassador Named a Woman of Distinction

WASHINGTON — Ambassador Swanee Hunt, founder and former director of Harvard University's Women and Public Policy Program, will receive a Women of Distinction Award at a ceremony at the University of Maryland, College Park on Thursday, June 2 during AAUW and NASPA's 26th annual National Conference for College Women Student Leaders (NCCWSL).

Hunt is president of Hunt Alternatives Fund, through which she has committed $120 million in endowments and grants toward social change. The fund strengthens youth arts organizations, supports leaders of social movements, combats the demand for commercial sex, and works to achieve political parity for U.S. women. She remains involved with Harvard's Kennedy School of Government as the Eleanor Roosevelt lecturer in public policy.

Hunt served as ambassador to Austria from 1993 to 1997 and has authored research, columns, and three books, including the award-winning This Was Not Our War: Bosnian Women Reclaiming the Peace. She also chairs the Washington, D.C.-based Institute for Inclusive Security, which conducts research, training, and advocacy to integrate women into peace processes.

AAUW and NASPA are proud to recognize Hunt as a 2011 Women of Distinction Awardee for her lifelong work breaking through barriers for women in politics. Presented annually at NCCWSL, the Women of Distinction Awards honor women leaders who have made extraordinary accomplishments in their professions or their communities and who represent inspiring role models for women student leaders. Hunt will be honored alongside an esteemed group of women:

• Connie Chung, Emmy-winning television news journalist
• Lisa Jackson, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency administrator
• Natalie Randolph, Calvin Coolidge Senior High School varsity football head coach
• Marsha Guenzler-Stevens, University of Maryland , College Park, student union director

This year's awardees join a prestigious group of more than 100 women who have been honored since the award was established in 1985. Past awardees include playwright, performer, and activist Eve Ensler; Rep. Linda Sánchez (D-CA); radio personality Diane Rehm; and Olympic gold medalist Dominique Dawes.

The 2011 NCCWSL Women of Distinction Awards Ceremony at the University of Maryland, College Park will be held from 7:30–9:30 p.m. and is supported by the Barbara Fetterhoff Honorary Fund. A full listing of NCCWSL supporters and a conference schedule are available on www.nccwsl.org.

Since 1985, the National Conference for College Women Student Leaders has provided a platform to help thousands of college and university women develop leadership skills, network with other student leaders, and interact with women who hold leadership positions. The conference is presented by AAUW and NASPA.

Read more about NCCWSL's programming on our website and Facebook page.

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The American Association of University Women (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 130 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.

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 12,000 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. To learn more about NASPA, visit www.naspa.org.