About
In honor of the 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage, the Sarah Isom Center for Women and Gender Studies at The University of Mississippi with partners is planning a half-day symposium on February 19, 2020 on “Women and Civic Engagement.” We envision a wide-ranging conversation about the many ways women are engaged in our larger communities: running for office, organizing nonprofits, building community, starting businesses, advocating for change, and transforming institutions.
The day will begin with the inaugural Carolyn Ellis Staton Women in Government Luncheon, featuring the Honorable Nadia Theodore, Consul General of Canada in Atlanta. Then we will have roundtable conversations on the following themes: historical movements, women's leadership, women's entrepreneurship, and community activism.
The Summit will be at the Inn at Ole Miss on the campus of The University of Mississippi. The event is free and open to the public.
Schedule
All events are in the Ford Ballroom of the Inn at Ole Miss
11:30 AM - Registration Begins
Noon - Carolyn Ellis Staton Women in Government Luncheon featuring the Honorable Nadia Theodore, Consul General of Canada in Atlanta
1:30 - Break
1:45 - Roundtable 1
Ford A ~ Oxford and Lafayette County Activism - Women’s Activism
Ford B ~ Women at UM - Women’s Historical Movements
Ford C ~ Women in Office - Women’s Leadership
Ford D ~ Women Who Run Non-Profits - Women’s Entrepreneurship
3:00 Break
3:15 - Roundtable 2
Ford A ~ Student Activism - Women’s Activism
Ford B ~ 20th Century Women’s Movements - Women’s Historical Movements
Ford C ~ Women’s Civic Leadership - Women’s Leadership
Ford D ~ Women Who Run For-Profits - Women’s Entrepreneurship
4:30 - Break
4:45 - Closing Session
About Our Keynote: Nadia Theodore
Nadia Theodore joined the Canadian civil service in 2000. She has made her career in the Trade Agreement and Negotiations Branch of Global Affairs, holding leadership positions on several recent and major trade initiatives of Global Affairs Canada, including serving as one of the two Deputy Chief Negotiators for the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and as the Executive Director of Canada’s Secretariat for the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement.
Consul General Theodore previously served at Canada's Permanent Mission to the World Trade Organization and at Canada's Permanent Mission to the United Nations, in Geneva Switzerland. Directly prior to being named Consul General for the US Southeast, in August 2017, she served in Ottawa as Chief of Staff and Executive Director to Canada’s Deputy Minister for International Trade.
With over 10 years of trade policy experience, Ms. Theodore’s appointment came as Canada, Mexico and the United States launched negotiations to modernize the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). As part of Canada’s international trade negotiating team, Ms. Theodore built a reputation for forging strong partnerships with government and business leaders and managing complex, priority trade initiatives.
Ms. Theodore was born and raised in Ottawa, Ontario. She holds a Bachelor of Laws from the University of London and an M.A. in Political Science from Carleton University.
About Carolyn Ellis Staton
Dr. Carolyn Ellis Staton (center) during the 2008 commencement ceremonies.
A trailblazer who became the university’s first female provost, Staton joined the University of Mississippi’s faculty in August 1977. During her 32-year tenure, she served as a professor and interim dean in the School of Law, associate provost and provost before her retirement in 2009. Early in her career, she coauthored a number of publications with Joanne Hawks, founding director of the Isom Center, focusing on women in southern politics.
Born in Vicksburg to the late John and Marguerite Shibley Ellis, Staton earned her bachelor’s degree at Tulane University, a master’s degree at Columbia University and her Juris Doctor from Yale University. She was a veteran of the U.S. Army Reserve JAG Corps, where she achieved the rank of captain. She served on the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Service in the 1990s at the Pentagon.
As provost, she facilitated the creation of the university’s residential colleges and Croft Institute for International Studies. She expanded on the ideas of others in building the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College.