AAUW and NASPA to Celebrate Women Trailblazers at Conference
Donna Shalala and Ritu Sharma to Appear

On May 30, the American Association of University Women (AAUW) and NASPA—Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education will honor six women innovators in media, advocacy, politics, and business at the Women of Distinction Awards ceremony as part of the 28th annual National Conference for College Women Student Leaders (NCCWSL) at the University of Maryland, College Park.

Honorees include gay rights activist Katie Miller, Owens Media Group CEO Deborah Owens, Girls Who Code Founder Reshma Saujani, University of Miami President Donna Shalala, Women Thrive Worldwide Co-founder and President Ritu Sharma, and CytonomeST Chief Scientific Officer Lydia Villa-Komaroff.

In addition to the Women of Distinction awards, NCCWSL will feature keynote speeches from author and educator Rachel Simmons and MindWorks Leadership CEO Nina Godiwalla on Friday, May 31, and Saturday, June 1, respectively.

This year, more than 700 college and university students from around the world will attend the conference for skill-building workshops, networking, and volunteer opportunities in addition to hearing these inspiring speakers. Students will also attend a graduate school fair held during the conference.

“We are delighted that this year’s NCCWSL will be bigger than ever. A record number of students registered and will have the opportunity to connect with more graduate schools and employers than ever,” said AAUW Executive Director Linda D. Hallman, CAE. “This outstanding conference provides students a unique opportunity to meet and talk with renowned and influential women leaders.”

“As student affairs professionals, we engage and empower women student leaders through campus opportunities and responsibilities every day,” said NASPA President Kevin Kruger. “We are excited that women who participate in this year’s NCCWSL event will return to their campuses with renewed energy and innovative ideas to effect change in their communities.”

Students agree: “NCCWSL was an experience of a lifetime,” said past attendee Jennifer Bullock from Norwalk Community College in Connecticut. “I learned things that I am sure I will take with me through the rest of my life.”

The 2013 NCCWSL Women of Distinction Awards ceremony and reception are supported by AAUW of Maryland’s Barbara Fetterhoff Honorary Fund. A full listing of NCCWSL supporters and a conference schedule are available on the NCCWSL website.

The American Association of University Women (AAUW) empowers women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy, and research. Our nonpartisan, nonprofit organization has more than 165,000 members and supporters across the United States, as well as 1,000 local branches and 800 college and university partners. Since AAUW’s founding in 1881, our members have examined and taken positions on the fundamental issues of the day — educational, social, economic, and political. Learn more and join us at www.aauw.org.

NASPA—Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education is the leading association for the advancement, health, and sustainability of the student affairs profession. It serves a full range of professionals who provide programs, experiences, and services that cultivate student learning and success in concert with the mission of our colleges and universities. Founded in 1919, NASPA comprises more than 13,000 members in all 50 states, 29 countries, and eight U.S. territories. Through high-quality professional development, strong policy advocacy, and substantive research to inform practice, NASPA meets the diverse needs and invests in realizing the potential of all its members under the guiding principles of integrity, innovation, inclusion, and inquiry. For more information, please visit www.naspa.org.