University Park, Pa. -- Nominations are being accepted for the "Spirit of Internationalization" award, which acknowledges women from Penn State University and the local community who excel in academic achievements, artistic excellence, volunteerism in international organizations or dedication to advancing the status of women. The award will be presented by Penn State’s University Office of Global Programs, at their fourth annual breakfast in celebration of International Women’s Day. It is at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, March 15, in the boardroom of the Nittany Lion Inn.
The featured speaker this year is Lee Ann De Reus, associate professor of human development & family studies and women’s studies at Penn State Altoona and Carl Wilkens Fellow with the Genocide Intervention Network.
Her presentation is titled: “Resist, Reclaim, Revolutionize: A Woman’s Call to Action.”
"From Guatemala to the Democratic Republic of Congo to the U.S., women are fighting for social justice—and sometimes survival. Who is making a difference?" De Reus asks. In her presentation, she hopes to inspire attendees to impact change at home, abroad, and within themselves and show how one person in central Pennsylvania can make a difference.
An activist-scholar, De Reus’s current research is focused on rape survivors in the Democratic Republic of Congo. She uses these data for awareness-raising campaigns in the U.S. She is the co-founder of Panzi Foundation USA, benefiting Panzi hospital in DR Congo; the co-founder of Beza Kids, benefiting orphaned children in Rwanda; and the co-founder of Save Darfur: Central PA. She is a featured activist in the 2010 book, "The Enough Moment: Fighting to End Africa’s Worst Human Rights Crimes" and is a frequent guest speaker about the crisis for women in the DR Congo, the genocide in Darfur, Sudan and global activism.
Nominations for the "Spirit of Internationalization" award are due Friday, Feb 25. Instructions for nominations, criteria, and a nomination form for the Spirit of Internationalization Awards can be found here: http://www.global.psu.edu/about/award_internationalization.cfm. To make reservations for the breakfast, or for more information, contact Sandi Richter, special events coordinator, University Office of Global Programs, at (814) 863-5973 or smr274@psu.edu. Tickets are $12 per person. Donations will also be accepted for the Panze Foundation USA.
International Women’s Day, which is officially observed on March 8, is celebrated by universities, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and individuals around the world in the form of rallies, festivals, conferences, craft markets, performances, and more. Originating in the early 1900s, the day has long been an opportunity to draw attention to pressing issues such as pay parity in the workforce, equal access to education, women’s health, and the cessation of violence towards women.