April 8, Auburn will host its second annual Women’s Leadership Conference.
The conference will take place in Foy Student Union and is sponsored by Auburn University Women’s Resources and the Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs.
The theme for this year’s conference is “Acting Locally, Thinking Globally.”
According to the ODMA Web site, the mission of the conference is “to facilitate the development of leadership skills, to provide information about important issues affecting women’s lives, and to promote women’s active involvement in their communities, countries and in the world.”
Also, according to the Web site, the conference will offer a number of activities including “workshops, speakers, and discussion panels” that will help to increase students’ leadership abilities and skills.
Annie Gilbertson, AFA president and a member of the conference workshop committee, said “The conference is addressing such a wide base of issues and skills that all students are welcome.”
She also said students may choose “from a variety of sessions to attend based on their skill level assessment or interests” upon arrival at the conference.
According to Angela Montoya, a graduate co-chair for the conference in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies, the key speakers for this year’s conference are Christa Slaton, associate dean for educational affairs in the College of Liberal Arts, and Sally Hill, president of the Women’s Philanthropy Board.
Montoya also noted the discussion sessions for the conference will include such topics as body image and self esteem, leadership styles, career development, stress management and balancing work and personal life.
Sara Kate Harbarger, a freshman in apparel merchandising, thinks the conference “is going to be very beneficial” for promoting women to become leaders around campus and also believes there are many opportunities to get involved on Auburn’s campus.
Willette Miller, graduate co-chair for the conference, said students attending this conference will be excused from any classes they may be missing.
The Women’s Leadership Conference is a great way for students to get involved and learn more about themselves on the road to becoming successful leaders in their individual communities.
“Knowing that women have such great ways to enhance their leadership roles is very encouraging,” Harbarger said.
Applications may be found at www.auburn.edu/academic/provost/odma/wlc08.
Applications may be submitted until the day of the conference, so anyone who would like to be involved is encouraged to sign up even if the decision is last minute.
