Central College will host a five-day women’s leadership conference on campus Aug. 17-21. The event brings together women from the region, state and beyond to discuss issues in women’s leadership, knowledge, skills and values.
It is the second year for the conference, designed to provide opportunities for Central seniors nominated by faculty and staff members. The event allows them to meet with experts in their fields whose character sets an example for women scholars and future leaders.
“We are thrilled to be hosting a women’s leadership conference again this year, and the students are in for a fantastic week,” says Jess Klyn De Novelo, assistant dean for career development and civic engagement and the event’s organizer. She is a 2005 Central graduate.
“We’ve got a great lineup of speakers and events that I know will lead to thoughtful discussions about what it takes to be an effective leader,” Klyn de Novelo adds. “I’m excited for our students to meet with leaders we all look up to and to have the chance to learn from them.”
Jann Freed
The conference’s keynote speaker is Jann Freed, professor emerita of business management and the former Mark and Kay DeCook Endowed Chair in Leadership and Character Development at Central College. During her 30 years at the college, Freed was department and division chair, served on numerous committees and acted as interim vice president for academic affairs.
Freed will present “You Are the CEO of Your Life” at 4 p.m. Monday in Graham Annex. She now shares what she’s learned through speaking, teaching and writing as an author, professor, coach and leadership and development consultant with The Genysys Group.
Central also will welcome 10 other speakers to campus over the next four days. Attendees also will travel to Des Moines to meet with civic leaders, engage over lunch with an executive leadership panel, participate in team building exercises at nearby Lake Red Rock and take part in individual career counseling sessions.
The women’s leadership conference also welcomes special guest Eddie Moore Jr., recognized as one of the nation’s top motivational speakers and educators. He will speak to the group at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 19, in Douwstra Auditorium.
Moore currently serves as director of The Privilege Institute and The National White Privilege Conference, both founded by Moore to provide opportunities and possibilities for research, publications, speaking and collaborations by those committed to social and institutional change. Under Moore’s direction and inclusive relationship model, the White Privilege Conference has become one of the top national and international conferences for participants who want to move beyond dialogue and into action around issues of diversity, power, privilege and leadership.
For more information about career and professional development at Central College, please visit central.edu/career.
PICTURED ABOVE: Attendees to Central’s women’s leadership conference in 2019 met with Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds.