UVI Attracts National Leaders & Experts to Speak at Upcoming Events

(March 17, 2013)

Virgin Islands (PRWEB) March 17, 2013

The University of the Virgin Islands has attracted an impressive list of national leaders and experts to speak at major upcoming UVI events. Prominent businesswoman, entrepreneur and philanthropist Loida Nicolas Lewis, will be the featured speaker in UVIs inaugural presentation of the 13D Entrepreneurship Speaker Series, at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, March 18, in the Administration and Conference Center on the St. Thomas campus. Lewis is the chair and CEO of TLC Beatrice, LLC, a family investment firm. She is the widow of Reginald F. Lewis, known as Americas first African-American billionaire. In 1994, Lewis assumed the leadership of the $2 billion multinational food company TLC Beatrice International after her husbands death. When she took over as chair and CEO of TLC Beatrice International, Loida Lewis won over a skeptical business community by selling corporate assets, paying down debt, downsizing and increasing earnings. After running the company for six years, in 2000 she sold the company and its related businesses, achieving a 35 percent return on investment for its shareholders. She was named the Top Business Woman in America in 1995 by Working Woman Magazine. She will speak on the topic Corporate Governance and Ethics.

Harvard Law School Professor Charles J. Ogletree, Jr. will be the speaker for the Annual Alfred O. Heath Distinguished Lecture Series. Ogletree is a prominent legal theorist who has made an international reputation by taking a hard look at the complex issues of law, and by working to secure the rights guaranteed by the constitution for everyone equally under the law. He is the author of several books, and the recipient of many national awards and honorary degrees. He is the founding and executive director of the Charles Hamilton Huston Institute for Race and Justice, which has engaged in a wide range of educational, legal and policy issues. Prof. Ogletree will speak on the topic The Impact of President Obamas Re-election and Gun Violence in the Virgin Islands.

The lecture series is scheduled for April 4, at the Reichhold Center on UVI's St. Thomas campus and April 5, in the Great Hall on the Albert A. Sheen Campus on St. Croix. Both events begin at 6 p.m.

Former U.S. Congressman, Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus and President of the NAACP Kweisi Mfume will be UVIs 2013 commencement keynote speaker. Mfume has had an illustrious career as a lawmaker, activist and commentator starting first as a member of the Baltimore City Council. In local government service, Mfume led efforts to diversity city government, improve community safety and enhance business development. As a congressman, Mfume consistently advocated landmark business and civil rights legislation. As head of the NAACP he raised the organizations national profile, raised significant outside contributions and helped to restore its prominence among the nations civil rights organizations. Mfume has served on many boards, is the recipient of 10 honorary doctorate degrees and has won hundreds of other awards, proclamations and citations. UVIs St. Thomas campus commencement ceremony will be held on May 11, and the St. Croix Albert A. Sheen Campus commencement ceremony will be held on May 12.

The public is invited to the 13D Entrepreneurship Speaker Series and the Alfred O. Heath Distinguished Lecture Series, which are both free.

UVI President Dr. David Hall said that securing speakers of such stature is a tremendous sign of UVI's ability to attract outstanding national leaders to the University. All of the speakers have excelled in their fields and made outstanding contributions to business, politics, civil rights and the legal profession, Dr. Hall said. It is impressive that they are sharing their knowledge, insights and wisdom with the University and the community, Dr. Hall added. He noted that each will speak on relevant topics.

Economic development and gun violence are two of the major challenges facing the Virgin Islands, Dr. Hall said. These speakers will enlighten the UVI community and the broader community about how we can address these critical challenges, he said. They are inspirational and transformative individuals who can inspire our students to be agents of transformation, Dr. Hall continued. Each of them will hopefully inspire us all to reach a little deeper and find the individual and collective will to make a difference in the world.

For more information, call UVIs Public Relations Office at (340) 693-1057.

Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2013/3/prweb10540280.htm.

Page: 1

Related Keywords:medical procedure/test, medical research, medical staff, medical specialisation, medical service, medical conditions, plastic art, entertainment award, entertainment (general), arts (general), arts, culture and entertainment, economy, business and finance, financial and business service, business enterprises, public relation, business (general), work relations, public holiday, international relations, civil and public service, public officials, public employees, public finance, church and state relations, education, adult education, further education, university, religious education, education, adult education, further education, religious education, government aid, government debt, government contract, education, adult education, further education, religious education, government health care, government, national government, government departments, non government organizations (NGO), market research, research and development, medical research, science and technology, applied science, material science, human science, natural science, philosophical science, research, science (general), animal science, micro science, , weather science, agricultural research and technology, society, American football, Major League Baseball (North American Professional) - American League, Major League Baseball (North American Professional) - National League, Major League Baseball (North American Professional) - Special (e.g. All-Star, World Series), National Basketball Association (North American Professional), African Games, fishing industry, cinema industry, radio industry, television industry, music industry, process industry, mass media, news media, media, social security, social sciences, social issue, social issues (general), social conditions, social problems, social services, social conflict