Transitioning and Adapting | ULM University of Louisiana at Monroe

2016 Discussion Track: Transitioning and Adapting
Women's Rights and the Law: Advocating for Yourself		9 - 9:50 am SUB Ballroom
Do you know that women comprise almost half of the workforce, yet earn only 79 cents for every dollar earned by men, and women of color earn even less? While women’s rights have come a long way, there is still much work to be done. Although employers must use non-discriminatory hiring practices, differences still exist. It is important for women to know their rights in the workplace (e.g. family leave) and to know how to recognize and report discrimination or harassment in the workplace. “We ask justice, we ask equality, we ask that all the civil and political rights that belong to citizens of the United States, be guaranteed to us and our daughters forever.” – Susan B. Anthony Hear from panelists with backgrounds in human resource policies, discrimination lawsuits, and state and federal laws.
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Melissa Ducote Director of Human Resources University of Louisiana Monroe	Melody Olson Self-employed Investor	Wesley Eby Johnson Attorney Escamilla & Poneck, LLP
MODERATOR: Dr. Julia Letlow

College to Career: Finding Your Way and the Importance Of Mentors		10 - 10:50 am SUB Ballroom
What happens after you graduate college? How do you determine the best path? Your world is full of opportunities and decisions, and it is time to sort out realities from expectations. Women may want to find a mentor or personal life coach who will offer guidance, give constructive criticism, help cope with frustration, and celebrate your success. “A mentor is someone who allows you to see the hope inside yourself.” – Oprah Winfrey Hear from three panelists who have achieved success after graduating college and about those who helped them along the way.
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Ashleigh Aldridge Founding Partner D'Evereux Foods	Kemper Block Baugh Style Blogger	Alberta Brown Green Director Information Technology Initiatives North Louisiana Economic Partnerships
MODERATOR: Dr. Julia Letlow

Women's Roles: A Societal Evolution		11 - 11:50 am SUB Ballroom
What were your views of women’s roles growing up and how have those views changed or remained the same? Did the matriarch of your family work outside of the home? Over the past century, women have progressed from gaining voting rights to running for the U.S. presidency. "Women are leaders everywhere you look—from the CEO who runs a Fortune 500 company to the housewife who raises her children and heads her household. Our country was built by strong women, and we will continue to break down walls and defy stereotypes." — Nancy Pelosi Participants will hear the panelists' stories from childhood to becoming women leaders and how what they learned from their families and society shaped them as professionals.
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Kristin Wolkart President and CEO St. Francis Medical Center	Dr. Sushma Krishnamurthy Director of the School of Science University of Louisiana Monroe	Corre Stegall Vice President Emerita Louisiana Tech University
MODERATOR: Dr. Julia Letlow