Spectrum - Volume 19 Issue 22 February 28, 1997 - Russell-McCloud BHM keynote speaker tonight

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Russell-McCloud BHM keynote speaker tonight

By Christine Geier,

University Relations intern

Spectrum Volume 19 Issue 22 - February 28, 1997

Virginia Tech will conclude its Black History Month celebrations by sponsoring an address by renowned motivational speaker Patricia Russell-McCloud.

Russell-McCloud's speech, sponsored by the university's Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Office and the Black History Month Committee, will be held tonight in Squires Colonial Hall at 7 p.m.

Russell-McCloud is known for her powerful, articulate, award-winning messages on such topics as workplace issues, multiculturalism, race relations, and women, family, and children issues.

She began her career as a teacher in Detroit public schools. From 1973-1983, Russell-McCloud served as senior managing attorney for the Federal Communications Commission. She now is the president of her own motivational speaking and professional training association in Atlanta.

As the national president of The Links Inc., Russell-McCloud represents a 9,600-member volunteer service organization of African-American women. The Links Inc. prides itself on improving the quality of life in diverse communities, as well as collectively volunteering more than two million community-service hours over the past two years.

Russell-McCloud is a lifetime member of the NAACP and a member of the National Urban League. Her most memorable speech, "If Not You, Who? If Not Now, When?" is recorded in the Congressional Record. She has received keys to more than 275 American cities and was named the Outstanding Entrepreneur in Georgia by Women Looking Ahead Magazine . Russell-McCloud's achievements have also been recognized by the National Association of American Universities and Land Grant Colleges and the National Association for Equal Opportunity in America.

A graduate of Howard University Law School, Russell-McCloud also studied at Harvard University.

A reception will follow her talk in the Black Cultural Center, located in Squires. Both the talk and the reception are free and open to the public.