BETHLEHEM, Pa. — One of the world’s greatest female athletes is coming to Lehigh Valley.
Olympic medalist Jackie Joyner-Kersee will be the keynote speaker at Soaring Together Women’s Summit, a free event at Lehigh University’s Zoellner Arts Center on Saturday, April 29.
- Olympic track and field icon Jackie Joyner-Kersee will be the keynote speaker at the Soaring Together Women’s Summit on Saturday, April 29
- The event is free to Lehigh alumnae and women in the community
- The summit also features guest lectures geared to empower women in the workplace
Hosted by development and alumni relations, the summit will offer Lehigh alumnae and other women in the community to network and share their common interests and ambitions.
The weekend event kicks off Friday night with a dinner at the Hotel Bethlehem, then picks up again at 7 a.m. Saturday with a two-mile campus walk and breakfast at 8:30 a.m. Joyner-Kersee will take the stage at 10 a.m. with moderator Sue Trojan, deputy director of athletics.
Throughout the day, there will also be breakout sessions featuring topics such as leading in a male-dominated environment, creating a culture of success for women, employee well-being (and why it should take center stage) and how to stop doing work that doesn’t advance you.
“The alumnae of Lehigh have always been extraordinarily successful, no matter when they were here on campus, no matter what they studied, no matter what they chose to do post-graduation. What we’re doing with Soaring Together is bringing extraordinary women together because we believe the sum can be even greater than its parts,” said Jennifer Cunningham, assistant vice president of alumni relations.
Sharing inspirational words
Joyner-Kersee’s lecture will be moderated by Sue Trojan, deputy director of athletics starting at 10 a.m.
The star athlete, who dominated the track and field circuit for 16 years, won three gold, one silver, and two bronze medals over the span of four Olympic games from 1984 to 1992.
She has dedicated much of her post-athletic career to being an author, public speaker and an advocate for children's education, health issues, racial equality, social reform and women's rights.
In 1988, Joyner-Kersee established the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation, which provides youth, adults and families with resources to improve their quality of life.
“The power of this moment cannot be overstated,” said Joseph Buck, vice president of development and alumni relations. “That power will be captured perfectly by one of the greatest athletes of our lifetimes.”
To register for the event, go to https://lehigh.events.alumniq.com/go/soaring.
