About The Leslie Williams Symposium:

The Leslie Williams Symposium for the Advancement of Women was established in 2001 to honor the life and memory of a truly remarkable member of the Shawnee State family.

Dr. Williams was a graduate of Indiana University with a Ph.D. in art history and a tenured associate professor at the University of Cincinnati, before coming to Shawnee State.  As a division Chairperson for the Arts and Humanities, Dr. Williams was one of the first women at the University to hold that rank where she was a staunch advocate for racial and gender equity for all and a catalyst for change.

Dr. Williams was one of the founding members of the Women’s Task Force which grew into the Women’s Forum and now the Women’s Center.  Shawnee State honors her memory each year by hosting acclaimed speakers on campus.  Featured speakers of past Leslie Williams Symposiums include Helen Thomas, Anita Hill, Nikki Giovanni, Rachel Simmons, Liz Murray, Mary Alice Williams, Rory Kennedy, Jean Kilbourne, and this year’s speaker, Ruby K. Payne.