3rd annual Young Women’s Leadership Symposium

An Austin Peay State University faculty member will lead the third annual Young Women's Leadership Symposium on April 5.

Dr. Marsha Lyle-Gonga, assistant professor of political science, will conduct the symposium, which has an anticipated enrollment of 100 women, from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., April 5 in the Morgan University Center Ballroom. The one-day seminar is designed to increase the political efficacy of women ages 16-24 through leadership development and civic engagement activities.

Participants will be taught a series of courses on basic leadership styles and development and assigned a service-learning project. In addition, they will be assigned a service-learning project and present their work at the end of the session.

"By using service learning and political advocacy as instructional strategies, students will increase their political efficacy and community service advocacy," Lyle-Gonga said.

In addition, Tennessee Women's Political Caucus, women in leadership and nonprofit service organizations will be invited as guest speakers to reflect on their own leadership development and provide service-learning opportunities.

Prior to joining the faculty ranks, Lyle-Gonga was the director of APSU's High School Upward Bound (HSUB) federally funded program for eight years. Before serving as HSUB's administrator, she was an academic counselor in Student Support Services on campus.

Her research interests include participation of women in politics, participation and voter registration of minority groups in the American political process and issues that focus on African and West Indian experiences in artistic, literary, historical and sociopolitical environments. She earned a doctorate in public policy and administration from Walden University in Minneapolis, Minn., master's in urban administration from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, and bachelor's in political science from Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio.

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