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Dominion Lecture Series
FWC: Celebrating 34
years on campus
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This Year's Dominion Lecture
April 2, 2008
Jill Ker Conway |
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Jill Ker Conway
was born in Hillston, New South Wales.
The story of her early life is known to those who have read her
best-selling memoir The Road from Coorain. She is a
graduate of the University of Sydney in History and English, and earned
her Ph.D. in history at Harvard in 1969. Ms. Conway served as Vice
President for Internal Affairs at the University of Toronto from 1973 to
1975. In 1975 she became the first woman president of Smith
College and served ten years in that post.
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Since 1985 she has been a Visiting
Scholar and Professor in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's
program in Science, Technology and Society. She holds thirty-eight
honorary degrees from North American and Australian Colleges and
Universities. Ms. Conway is a director of a number of major American
companies, including Merrill Lynch and Co., Inc., Colgate-Palmolive Co.,
and Nike, Inc. She also served as director of Lend Lease Corporation
from 1992 to 2003 and Chairman from 2000-2003.
Ms. Conway is the author of several best-selling books: The Road from
Coorain, published in 1989; Written By Herself, an anthology of American
women's autobiography published in 1992; True North, the second
installment of her memoirs, spanning her life from 1960 when she left
her native Australia to 1975 when she accepted the presidency of Smith
College; and When Memory Speaks - Reflections on Autobiography.
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Ms. Conway has also edited three anthologies of women’s autobiography
from around the world, the most recent being In Her Own Words, published
by Vintage Books. Her latest books include a mystery novel written in
collaboration with Elizabeth Kennan under the pseudonym, Clare Munnings,
titled Overnight Float, Norton, 2000, and A Woman’s Education, Knopf,
2001, the third installment of her memoir picking up in 1975 when she
began as the first woman president of Smith College.
Ms. Conway was married to the late John J. Conway, Canadian war hero and
Professor of British History at Harvard. She makes her home in Boston,
Massachusetts.
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The
Dominion Lecture Series
Every year, the FWC
brings to campus a notable woman of excellence to speak to students and
members of the JMU community about issues vital, challenging and of
primary importance to women.
Initiated in November
1975, the series has consistently given the campus a rich diversity of
leaders whose voices have energized the spirit and activism of women and
men concerned and committed to consciousness raising and progressive
action.
Suggestions and
nominations for future speakers should be addressed to the FWC
president Dr. J. Flohr at any time. You can become active in organizing,
administering or promoting events by joining FWC. Please use the
contact link at the bottom of the page.
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