Women’s Leadership Center to host annual leadership conference

The Women’s Leadership Center in the Neil Griffin College of Business at Arkansas State University will host its annual Women’s Leadership Conference on April 6. The conference themed as “Seize and Challenge” will be held in the Centennial Hall at the Carl R. Reng Student Union.

The seventh conference opens at 9:30 a.m. and runs until 2 p.m. The conference features several speakers with interactive discussions aimed at engaging students and professionals on important issues.

The one-day event began as a forum for leadership and professional development created to inspire and activate high school and university students and the community.

“This conference is intended to cultivate and enrich the academic experiences of our students, enhance career and mentorship networks for women, and celebrate the remarkable strengths women bring to corporate America,” said Patricia Quinn Robertson Johnston, executive director of the Women’s Leadership Center and a professor of business law.

Speakers this year include several entrepreneurs from Northeast Arkansas:

– Dr. Devi Gopinath Nair, director of cardiac electrophysiology and research at St. Bernards Healthcare, will be the keynote speaker. Nair also serves as director of the Arrhythmia Research Group and assistant professor at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
– Whitney Schreck, leadership trainer, coach, speaker, and owner of Whitney S. Consulting LLC
– Shunqetta N. Cunningham, non-profit consultant, social entrepreneur, public speaker and owner of KHARIS Group Consulting
– Esperanza Massana, director of Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission
– Dr. Carlitta Moore, clinical education coordinator and assistant professor, master of athletic training and assistant dean of the college of Nursing and Health Professions for diversity, equity and inclusion
– Kim Worlow, leadership and development coach for Inspire Me
– Dr. H. Steve Leslie, assistant professor of business communication and Dr. Natalie Johnson-Leslie, associate professor of teacher education
– Susan Naylor, senior vice president, wealth management, and senior financial adviser at Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Inc.
– Dr. Faye Cocchiara, clinical associate professor of management at the University of Texas at Arlington
– Laura Miller, director of A-State Small Business Development and Technology Center, will moderate a panel about small business. Panelists include: Itzel Meador, director of Small Business Administration lending for First Security Bank; Latanyua Robinson, east Arkansas director of FORGE Fund; Sari Harlow, owner of Verb Bookstore; and Jamie King, owner of Body Indulgence Spa.