Does your department or organization want to bring a high-profile speaker to Virginia Tech? The Women and Leadership in Philanthropy Council would like to help you!

The WLP Council can provide funding for a prominent speaker, male or female, to come to Virginia Tech. To be considered for funding from the WLP Lecture Fund, please download the Request for Funding Application form, review the criteria and submit the application by September 15, 2009.

More about the Fund

The WLP Lecture Fund was started as a way for the WLP Council to partner with groups on campus to bring recognized speakers to Virginia Tech. The fund provides the resources necessary to help attract some of the nation's most prominent figures, both male and female, to the university, exposing our students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends to the most influential and inspirational individuals of our time.

Previous speakers sponsored (in part or in full) through the WLP Lecture Fund include:

• A panel of Virginia Tech alumnae speaking on women in International Development as part of National Women’s History Month in 2007.
• Maya Angelou, poet, educator, historian, best-selling author, and actress, was a guest speaker during the third annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. celebration at Virginia Tech in 2008.
• Andrea Cooper, rape and suicide prevention advocate, presenting Kristin’s Story, organized by Alpha Chi Omega in 2008.
• Mary Kim Titla, San Carlos Apache, presenting Leveraging the Power of Media: The Shift Toward Positive and Accurate Representations of Native American People, in celebration of Native American Heritage Month in 2008.
• Amy Blum, Publicist and Media Relations Manager, presenting Marketing the Un-Marketable: Making the Fine Arts a Part of Everyday Life Using Marketing Strategy, as part of the School of Performing Arts & Cinema’s One Night Stands series in 2009.
• Dr. Melissa A. Hardy, presenting How Women Age: Family, Work, Health and the Challenges We Face, as part of the 13th Annual Center for Gerontology Graduate Certificate & Awards Celebration in 2009.
• Greg Mortenson, Nobel Peace Price nominee and co-author of the best-selling book, “Three Cups of Tea: One Man’s Mission to Promote Peace… One School at a Time,” presenting Pennies, Pencils, and Peace, organized by the new Students for Non-Violence Club, the International Relations Organization, and the Center for Student Engagement and Community Partnerships at Virginia Tech in 2009.

For questions or additional information, please contact Shaleen Powell at shaleen1@vt.edu or 540-231-0446 or visit The Women and Leadership in Philanthropy Council website.