Monday and Tuesday, November 13-14, will feature the Women’s Global Leadership Forum, a major conference on women’s leadership, in Charlottesville. The two-day symposium is part of the University of Virginia’s Bicentennial celebration marking 200 years while envisioning the University’s aspirations for the future.
The topic will be “The Role of Women in 21st Century Democracy.” Leaders from more than 25 countries will participate in the discussions that will include exploring the challenges and contributions women have made in today’s complex society.
Nationally recognized speakers will include U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WVa, and UVa grad); David Gergen, senior political analyst for CNN and bipartisan White House adviser to U.S. Presidents Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, and Bill Clinton; Atifete Jahjaga, Kosovo’s first female president; Maya Ajmera, founder of the Global Fund for Children; and Jean Case, CEO of the Case Foundation and chairman of National Geographic’s Board of Trustees.
Tuesday’s closing address will feature the Honorable Hillary Rodham Clinton, the first woman presidential candidate of a major political party, former First Lady, and former U.S. Senator. Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe will introduce her talk, “Women and 21st Century Democracy: The Path Forward,” when she speaks Tuesday at 2:30pm in Old Cabell Hall Auditorium.
Virginia First Lady Dorothy McAuliffe will serve as honorary chair of the Forum.
Monday evening will feature a celebration of UVa’s first female president, Teresa Sullivan, who joined the University in 2010, with a panel discussion that includes 1981 UVa grad Valerie Ackerman who is commissioner of the Big East Conference and former president of the WNBA.
The Monday evening event will continues with a salute to Ms. Sullivan’s leadership will be presented by UVa political guru Dr. Larry Sabato; William & Mary President Taylor Reveley; and Mary Sue Coleman, former president of the University of Michigan and president of the Association of American Universities.
Some topics of discussion both days will be “Health and Education Challenges for Women and Girls,” “Economic Mobility and Equity,” “Women’s Global Leadership: Measuring Progress,” “Women and Political Power,” and “Women and UVa: The Third Century.”
The Forum is spearheaded by the University’s Morven Programs [1] in partnership with the Presidential Precinct [2] — a partnership between UVa, Morven, Monticello Ash Lawn-Highland, William & Mary, and Montpelier. The visionary event will bring together women from the University and around the world.
Check the website [3] for more information about this sure-to-be popular event.