Speakers/Facilitators

Bonnie Dow

"Performing Gender in Public: Women's Changing Modes of Political Leadership in the 21st Century"

Bonnie J. Dow is Associate Professor and Chair of the Communication Studies Department at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. She holds an M.A. in Communication from the University of Kansas and a Ph.D. in Communication from the University of Minnesota. Dr. Dow teaches and writes in the areas of political rhetoric, gender and communication, and media studies. She is the author or editor of three books, including Prime-Time Feminism: Television, Media Culture, and the Women's Movement Since 1970 (Pennsylvania, 1996) and the Handbook of Gender and Communication (Sage, 2006). She has published widely on mass mediated depictions of women and gender, on women and political reform, and, most recently, on mass media portrayals of U.S. first ladies.

Jackie Stiles

Jacqueline Marie Stiles was born in Kansas City, Kansas on December 21,1978. Jackie grew up in Claflin, Kansas and attended Claflin High School. Jackie is known best for her endeavors on the basketball court. As a junior in high school she scored 61 points in 17 minutes of the opening game of the season. By the end of her senior year she became the leading scorer for boys and girls in Kansas High School history. Jackie is the state record holder with 71 points in one game. At Missouri State she became the all time leading scorer in NCAA division one basketball history with 3,393 points. Jackie remains the only woman to score more than 1,000 points in a single season. In the 2001 WNBA draft she was picked fourth by the Portland Fire. She captured the rookie of the year title that summer.

Jackie Stiles remains today, 10 years after leading her Missouri State Bears to a 2001 Final Four appearance, one of America's favorite sports personalities. Her small town Kansas upbringing, her humility and work ethic, make her the perfect role model for most. Now retired from playing, Jackie is dedicating herself to educating the next generation of women leaders, on and off the basketball court.

Men from the FHSU Interfraternity Council will share why they believe it is important to Walk a Mile in Her Shoes. This is an international men's march to stop rape, sexual assault and gender violence. The FHSU men are hosting their march the night before the Kansas Women's Leadership Conference. At the conference they will explain why they believe it is important for men to stand up against domestic violence and sexual assault and will share the story of their 2011 march.

For more information click here

"There's No Excuse for No Defense"
FHSU Defensive Tactics Club & Professor Kenton Russell

A prerequisite to equal leadership opportunities for women is gender equality. Without this, women will continue to struggle with barriers to leadership. These barriers include but are not limited to social, economic, political and power issues - even issues of personal safety. This session will stress the importance of self-defense basics. Learn techniques ranging from verbal control to ground fighting from trained instructors.

Interested in expanding your knowledge of self-defense tactics? Attend our FREE Self-Defense Workshop on the morning of April 2nd, the day following the conference! For more information, click here

"Speed of Change – Women and Technology"
Tammy Wellbrock, Executive Director, Hays Area Chamber of Commerce

From the war days and Rosie-the-Riveter to today's technologically-savvy professional, women lace up the necessary "work shoes" for the job. However, with the ever-changing technology, are you keeping your shoes (i.e. skills) polished so that you remain as competitive as possible in the workforce? Interesting facts about the definite paradigm shift with technology and low female participation will be presented. Some of these changing trends will be highlighted, while encouraging women to become more tech-savvy.Come hear how the digital pace will keep you running!