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
AAUW and NASPA to Celebrate Women Trailblazers at College Leadership Conference
Connie Chung, Swanee Hunt, Lisa Jackson, Natalie Randolph, and Shelby Knox to Appear
WASHINGTON — The American Association of University Women (AAUW) and NASPA–Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education will honor five women with the 2011 Women of Distinction Awards Thursday, June 2 during the National Conference for College Women Student Leaders (NCCWSL) at the University of Maryland, College Park. This year's awardees are pioneer broadcast journalist Connie Chung; Ambassador Swanee Hunt; Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson; high school football coach Natalie Randolph; and University of Maryland, College Park, student union director Marsha Guenzler-Stevens.
More than 500 college and university students are expected to attend the conference, which has drawn high-profile speakers and newsmakers since its inception in 1985. Sex-education advocate Shelby Knox and Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges President Belle S. Wheelan will deliver the keynote speeches at the conference, which will be held June 2–4.
Last year's Women of Distinction Awards Ceremony drew nearly 500 women from 48 states, Washington, D.C., the Virgin Islands, Guam, and Jamaica. After that gathering, Kristin Nicholls of Hofstra University said she "felt inspired [by] so much brilliance and desire for change in one room!"
The 2011 ceremony is sponsored by the Barbara Fetterhoff Honorary Fund. A full listing of NCCWSL supporters and a conference schedule are available at www.nccwsl.org.
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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.