Patricia Ireland, president of the National Organization for Women (NOW), will be presenting "Women's Issues in the New Century" at 8 p.m., Wednesday, March 22, in Strong Auditorium on the University of Rochester River Campus. Her speech is co-sponsored by the University's Outside Speakers Committee, Women's Caucus, and the Susan B. Anthony Center for Women's Leadership.
Since 1991, when Ireland left her corporate and commercial law practice in order to preside over NOW, Ireland has spearheaded efforts bringing the group into the forefront of contemporary politics. Currently, NOW has over 30,000 members and is well known for its role in improving social and economic conditions for women in the United States and around the world. Ireland represents NOW in England, France, Germany, Brazil, Cuba, and Kenya. In 1992 she invited women from more than 45 countries to Washington, D.C., initiating NOW's Global Feminist Conference celebrating the organization's Silver Anniversary.
Ireland has made numerous appearances on ABC's Nightline, PBS's The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, and CNN's Larry King Live. She has also been featured in major newspapers such as The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, USA Today, and The New York Times Sunday Magazine. In addition, Ireland periodically writes for the National NOW Times, which has a national subscription base of more than 300,000, and has made contact with over 30,000 individuals through her diverse speaking engagements.
Admission to Ireland's evening talk is $5 for the general public and free for University students with I.D. Parking is free on University lots after 7 p.m. weeknights.