The female leaders of Syracuse University being honored for their contributions to the community at this year’s Women’s Leadership Program will have another phenomenal woman in their company.

Maya Angelou, award-winning educator, historian, best-selling author, actress, playwright, civil rights activist, producer and director, will deliver the keynote address at the Nov. 4 Women’s Leadership Program, put on by the SU Division of Student Affairs.

‘Angelou epitomizes the arts in all components,’ said Laurel Reed-Rosch, associate director for leadership programs in the Office of Greek Life and Experiential Learning. ‘We’re thrilled she accepted to come.’

Rosch said a planning committee, which consists of students and staff, all agreed Angelou would be an ideal speaker for the program’s art-centered theme of ‘Celebrating the Phenomenal Woman,’ modeled after Angelou’s poem ‘Phenomenal Woman.’

This is the 13th year the event will be held, which seeks to recognize the leadership roles that women play in the campus community, and address and promote women’s issues.

The program and keynote address will examine how powerful woman leaders can affect the local, national, and global communities. The Division of Student Affairs and OGLEL will also present the 2004 Women of Distinction Awards to SU undergraduate women in recognition of their embodiment of the five core university values.

‘These women are achieving and accomplishing their dreams and desires and taking the risks to achieve,’ Rosch said. ‘Angelou has done the same thing.’

The Women’s Leadership Program has had a tradition of offering speakers and events that encourage and challenge students to rethink their role in the SU community, said Barry Wells, senior vice president and dean of student affairs.

‘Dr. Angelou’s visit will celebrate women on our campus and we hope inspire potential student leaders to utilize their talents through different activities and opportunities on and around campus,’ he said.

Rosch said Angelou is a role model and source of inspiration, just like the undergraduate women being recognized are to their fellow students on campus.

‘She’s just broken down so many barriers and she is an amazing woman,’ Kelly said.

Angelou won the Presidential Medal of Arts in 2000, a Lifetime Achievement Award for Literature in 1999, a Grammy award for best spoken word album in 1994, and the Essence Magazine Woman of the Year in 1992.

Angelou’s accomplishments make her the perfect choice for speaker at the event, said freshman public relations major Molly Kelly.

‘I love the way she writes and her use of language,’ said Kelly, a longtime reader of Angelou. ‘And she is such a good storyteller.’

Rosch said SU is very lucky Angelou accepted the offer to speak because of her very busy schedule to do a promotional tour for her new cookbook.

‘She was very attracted to the concept of our program,’ Rosch said. ‘It was something she wanted to be a part of.’

The event will take place from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the Goldstein Auditorium. Tickets are $5 for students, faculty, and staff and $8 for the public and are available at the Schine Box Office.

‘For our students, I think this is a wonderful opportunity to see for themselves one of the world’s most distinguished literary figures, and certainly an outstanding role model for female students aspiring to leadership,’ Wells said. ‘Personally, I am very much looking forward to hearing her messages and listening firsthand to her experiences and wisdom.’

Published on October 24, 2004 at 12:00 pm