Too few women are in leadership roles, and a conference at Western Kentucky University will focus on the issue. 

“We wanted to do something that was a little bit different from just leadership,” said Cecile Garmon, a professor in WKU’s Department of Communication. “We wanted to do something that focused on a particular group.”

The conference, called Women Leading, will be from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Feb. 19 on Downing Student Union’s second floor. Three guest speakers will discuss how women lead, what kind of opportunities there are and how women can achieve work-life balances. 

Conference organizers include the WKU LEAD Coalition, the Ogden College of Science and Engineering and Women in Science and Engineering. The event is free and open to the public. 

Garmon, who is also director of the Center for Leadership Excellence at the Gordon Ford College of Business, said the conference is about expanding the perception of what it means to be a leader. 

“We know that leadership takes place at all different levels and all different ways of life,” she said. “We want them to see the great variety of opportunities for leadership.”

For Garmon, there’s a need for better leaders, especially those who can inspireothers. 

“It is very important that a leader understand how to motivate other people to develop themselves as leaders and to assume leadership roles,” she said. 

Jerry Daday, an associate sociology professor at WKU also organizing the conference, thinks society can benefit from a more diverse leadership pool. “Frankly, there’s just not enough women in important leadership positions,” he said. 

Daday said 170 people have registered and that they mainly consist of faculty, staff and students at WKU. Last year’s conference, which focused on inter-generational communication, had a turnout of about 50. 

Organizers request prospective attendees register by emailing Vicki Armstrong at vicki.armstrong@wku.edu or be calling 270-745-6508.

— A list of events and speakers is available at www.wku.edu/cfd/women_leading_conference.php

— Follow education and general assignment reporter Aaron Mudd on Twitter at twitter.com/aaron_muddbgdn or visit bgdailynews.com.

– Editor’s note: A previously published version of this story included an incorrect date for the conference. The story has been updated to reflect the correct information.