Reflecting on the contributions of women trailblazers and discussing their visions for the future, a distinguished group of female leaders will participate in a "Women Trailblazers" panel discussion at The University of Akron on Thursday, March 4, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Martin University Center, 105 Fir Hill.
The program will highlight the accomplishments of notable, diverse female leaders from around the country who have achieved remarkable success in their respective fields.
Panelists include:
- Melba Tolliver, a 1956 graduate of Akron’s South High School, was the first African-American to anchor a national news broadcast. Perhaps best known for her refusal to cover her natural hairdo while reporting on the 1971 White House wedding of Richard Nixon’s daughter for WABC-TV, Tolliver currently is working on her memoir, “Accidental Anchorwoman: Chance, Choice and Change.”
- Virginia C. Albanese is president and CEO of FedEx Custom Critical, North America’s largest expedited freight carrier. Since joining the company in 1986, she has worked in several areas, including customer service, safety, operations and contractor relations. She serves on a number of boards to benefit the Northeast Ohio community, including the Greater Akron Chamber of Commerce and Boys and Girls Club of the Western Reserve.
- Cristina Banks, Ph.D., is president and founder of Lamorinda Consulting, an organizational consulting firm specializing in employment law. She is a nationally recognized expert in the Fair Labor Standards Act and California wage and hour laws, and teaches classes in human resource management, organizational behavior and leadership at the University of California Haas School of Business.
- Louise J. Gissendaner, Fifth Third Bank’s Akron city president and director of community development, works throughout Northeast Ohio with economic and community development organizations. As such, she assists with the development of affordable housing, community revitalization and other programs that assist minority business enterprises. She also mentors young professionals and serves on several committees throughout the community.
- TyKiah Wright is executive director and founder of WrightChoice, a nonprofit intern recruitment and diversity inclusion organization. She works to empower minority students and individuals with disabilities by strategically arranging business and industry internships. She balances the needs of job-seekers and businesses to produce best-case scenarios for all involved.
- Candace Campbell Jackson, J.D., vice president and chief of staff at The University of Akron, will serve as moderator. The Women of Color Foundation Training and Leadership Development Institute named her the 2009 Professional Woman of the Year, and Kaleidoscope magazine listed her in its "40-40 Club Class of 2006."
This event is free and open to the public, but reservations are requested. To make reservations, or for more information, call 330-972-6446 or e-mail omd@uakron.edu.
The panel will be held in conjunction with Women's History Month activities, and will be hosted by the University's Office of Multicultural Development and co-sponsored by the Women's Studies Program, Archives of the History of American Psychology, College of Business Administration and College of Creative and Professional Arts.
Media contact: Sarah Lane, 330-972-7429 or slane@uakron.edu.