Special to The Star



Inspiring and challenging women to take on greater leadership roles will be the focus of the First Annual Women in Leadership Symposium slated for Oct. 10 at the Mississippi State University-Meridian Campus.

The symposium, which will raise funds for MSU-Meridian’s Women in Leadership Scholarship Fund, will be held from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. in the Kahlmus Auditorium. Students and the public are invited to attend. Deadline to register is Thursday, Sept. 25, but participants are advised to register early to be assured a seat due to the popularity of the event.

“Upon being named dean, one of the first projects I envisioned was the creation of an annual Women in Leadership Symposium here on the MSU-Meridian Campus,” said Dr. Donna L. Clevinger, who became the school’s first female dean in August 2007.

“With a large percentage of our student population being female, it is essential we take an active role in fostering the development of our community’s current and future female leaders,” she said. “The goal of our symposium is to provide a forum for discussion on issues, concepts and the practical skills necessary for women to expand their opportunities and achieve excellence by becoming leaders in all aspects of their lives from the office to the home to their communities.”

Admission to the symposium is a donation to the Women in Leadership Scholarship Fund, a newly created scholarship program aimed at financially assisting female students in achieving their educational goals as a means of preparing them for future leadership roles.  Students will be admitted free.

  “It promises to be an exciting and uplifting day, and we hope women from throughout the region will make plans to attend,” said Linda Butler, who directs public relations and marketing for the campus. "But, we also would like to encourage those who are unable to attend the symposium to consider making a donation to the Women in Leadership Scholarship Fund.

“Most MSU-Meridian graduates continue to live, work, and contribute to this region following graduation. So, a contribution to the scholarship fund not only helps deserving students but also is an investment in our community.”

The symposium’s morning session will feature a panel discussion with Dr. Jeralynn S. Cossman, director of MSU’s Gender Studies Program and Associate Professor of Sociology on the Starkville campus; Barbaree Rosenbaum Heaster, former educator and current local community developer who has played a major role in Meridian's downtown revitalization; Dr. Deanna Osborn, Executive National Vice President and Independent Consultant of Arbonne International; and Dr. Charlotte B. Tabereaux, Education Director of the MSU Riley Center for Education and Performing Arts. California songwriter and media industry executive Tena Clark, a native of Waynesboro, will be the keynote luncheon speaker.

Clark is Founder and CEO/Chief Creative Officer of DMI Music and Media Solutions, based in Pasadena, Calif. She has composed and produced well-known and award-winning commercial campaigns for corporate brands such as McDonald’s (“Have You Had Your Break Today”), 7 UP and Pillsbury, as well as written for film and television with credits that include “My Best Friend’s Wedding,” “Where the Heart Is,” “Hope Floats,” “French Kiss,” “CBS This Morning,” and the “Entertainment Tonight” show.

During the afternoon, attendees may choose from breakout sessions on the topics of business, health care, politics and government, education and the arts, and technology. Several women have been selected to lead the discussion in each of these sessions, drawing on their own personal experiences with success.

The program will culminate with an afternoon job fair. Symposium participants who wish to interview with on-site employers should bring resumes.

As an added benefit, those attending the symposium will have the opportunity to purchase tickets to “All the Way from Magnolia Springs,” a play based on the best-selling novel from renowned Southern writer Fannie Flag, which will be performed the evening of the symposium at the MSU Riley Center in downtown Meridian.

Clevinger gives credit to her planning committee for helping organize the symposium, which will become an annual event on the MSU-Meridian Campus.

Symposium committee members include: Linda Irby, Gabrielle Jones, Jennifer Knox, Stacy Parkes, Dr. Natasha Randle, Tori Shirley, Dr. Marian Swindell, and Sandra Vaughn.

“I am indebted to The Riley Foundation, who made the initial gift to get my ideas cooking on this project,” Clevinger said. “And, with the additional support of other sponsors who have come on board, we’re able to offer this opportunity to the public and raise funds for deserving scholarship recipients.”

Clevinger sees the symposium as having a lasting effect on this region.

“I believe our symposium attendees will leave invigorated and motivated to take on greater leadership roles in their careers and community,” Clevinger said.

  To reserve your seat for the MSU-Meridian Women in Leadership Symposium, or to make a contribution to the Women in Leadership Scholarship fund, call (601) 484-0226 by Sept. 25.



This article was submitted by Mississippi State University-Meridian Campus.