6/9/06 Contact: Paula Bobrowski, 334/844-6169 (bobrope@auburn.edu)
David Granger, 334/844-9999 (grangdm@auburn.edu)

AU WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE - MOVING WOMEN FORWARD

AUBURN - The Auburn University Women’s Leadership Institute recently held its second biennial conference, a five-day program designed to develop a new generation of women leaders and offered to 25 outstanding women students from colleges and universities throughout the Southeast.

Students attending the conference were nominated by their peers and chosen from a field of 150 of the most promising undergraduate and graduate students. They have diverse backgrounds in various fields of study ranging from aerospace engineering to gerontology and came from colleges and universities in Alabama, Virginia, Georgia and North Carolina.

The Women’s Leadership Institute seeks to identify and cultivate young women who have the potential to become leaders in their professions and their communities. Through the Institute, these women learn about government, the political process and influencing public policy.

Paula Bobrowski, executive director of the WLI, said the conference is an intense leadership boot camp. “Leadership is more than a trait; it is a set of values and skills that are developed over time through training and practice. During this program these women have clearly demonstrated that they are prepared to go far as the next generation of women leaders,” said Bobrowski. “It is truly an honor to work with so many talented young women.”

This year’s conference curriculum included talks from women leaders serving as mentors and faculty-in-residence, exposure to the political process in action, and hands-on activities such as a team-building scavenger hunt.

AU First Lady Nell Richardson spoke at the opening ceremonies and encouraged participants to stand firmly by their ideas. “Courage is the foremost quality required to translate your ideas and energy into public leadership,” she said.

The WLI is part of AU’s College of Liberal Arts. Anna Gramberg, dean of the college, charged the participants to bring women forward into more leadership roles.

“All aspects of society - business, politics, and education - will benefit as women step forward as leaders,” Gramberg said. “Receiving the training and tools to be an effective leader is crucial, and that’s where the Women’s Leadership Institute comes in. WLI identifies potential leaders and prepares them for success.”

The conference provided professional development, team building and networking opportunities to participants. The highlight of the week included a trip to Alabama’s state capital and Senate chambers in Montgomery. Toby Roth, chief of staff for Alabama Gov. Bob Riley, presented Bobrowski with a proclamation declaring May as Women’s Leadership Month.

The AU Women’s Leadership Institute is a member of the National Education for Women Leadership Institutes developed by The Center for American Women and Politics of Rutgers University. For more information about the WLI, go to http://www.auburn.edu/outreach/womenleaders/ .

Auburn University is a preeminent land-grant and comprehensive research institution with more than 23,000 students and 6,500 faculty and staff. Ranked among the top 40 public universities nationally, Auburn is Alabama's largest educational institution, offering more than 230 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degree programs.

(Contributed by Teresa Whitman-McCall.)

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