Women in Leadership Institute conference accepting registration

A Purdue conference taking place on March 4 will be focusing on the advancement of women in the workforce and in leadership roles. The Women in Leadership Institute is a one-day conference that is designed primarily for students, but is open to all in the Purdue community. It will start at 9 a.m. with the opening keynote and conclude with the networking reception at 5 p.m. in Stewart Center.

The institute is funded by the student activity fee and hosted by the Purdue American Association of University Women (AAUW) and Civic Engagement & Leadership Development, an office within the Leadership & Professional Development Initiative. The cost is $10 to attend and includes light breakfast, lunch, and materials. Community members not a part of the Purdue community may attend for $25. Need-based scholarships are available.

Students who attend the Women in Leadership Institute will have the opportunity to hear from two keynote speakers, attend intensive workshops, participate in breakout sessions, hear from panels, and network with fellow students, administrators, and community leaders.

The conference features two tracks and two keynote speakers:

* General track: This program allows participants to choose from a variety of workshops and breakout sessions to customize their conference experience and enhance personal leadership development.

* Elect Her training: This program encourages and trains college women to run for student government and future political office. Elect Her addresses the need to expand the pipeline to women running for office and diminish the longstanding political leadership gender gap.

* Opening keynote by Virgie Tovar: Tovar is an author, activist, and one of the nation’s leading experts and lecturers on fat discrimination and diet culture. She has been featured by The New York Times, Tech Insider, Al Jazeera, and NPR.

* Lunch keynote by Franchesca Ramsey: Ramsey is an actress, writer and video blogger who produces original YouTube videos that include song parodies, impersonations and original characters along with socially conscious and topical comedy sketches. She’s currently the host and head writer for the award-winning web series “MTV Decoded.”

Both tracks include the opening keynote, diverse presenters, lunch keynote, and networking session.

Registration and more information can be found here. Registration is open until spots are filled. Email aauw@purdue.edu with any questions.

Writer: Kelsey Schnieders, kschnied@purdue.edu