Simmons to speak at conference on role, influence of women of color

Brown University President Ruth Simmons will deliver the keynote address at a symposium on "The Changing Role and Influence of Women of Color in Society" scheduled for 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 9, in the Friend Center Convocation Room.

The symposium is open to the public, but registration is required. It will focus on addressing important challenges and opportunities impacting the lives of women of color in academia. The event will include a faculty panel and graduate student presentations showcasing innovative research by women of color in the humanities and the sciences.

Simmons, the keynote speaker, became the first African American to lead an Ivy League institution when she assumed the presidency at Brown in 2001. She previously had served as president of Smith College and vice provost at Princeton.

The conference is sponsored by the Graduate School's Office of Academic Affairs and Diversity in partnership with the Graduate Women of Color Caucus.

For a complete schedule and to register, visit the symposium website.