“Women’s Education, Women’s Empowerment” is the theme of this year’s slate of events in MTSU’s National Women’s History Month celebration.

“It’s important to take time each year to celebrate the achievements of women, past and present,” says Anne Fraley, co-chair of the MTSU National Women’s History Month Committee and interim director of the June Anderson Center for Women and Nontraditional Students.

“When we look back, we find courageous women who overcame challenges in their day and circumstances and who inspire us to meet and overcome the challenges we face in this day.”

Academy Award-winning actress Marlee Matlin will be the keynote speaker at 4 p.m. Thursday, March 22, at Tucker Theatre. Doors will open at 3:15 p.m. Matlin will sign her books immediately following her presentation.

“Marlee Matlin is a woman who inspires many of us to persevere in the face of difficulty and against daunting odds,” says Fraley of the hearing-impaired actress. “She does so with humor and grace, giving voice to every woman determined to build a better life for herself and others.”

This event is free and open to the public. Seating will be limited, however, and tickets are required. Attendees may pick up tickets in person at the Tucker Theatre box office March 19-21 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.

People with hearing impairments may contact Valerie Avent at 615-898-5725 or valerie.avent@mtsu.edu to reserve seats in a section close to the stage and/or to request CART, or Communication Across Real Time, translations.

CART requests must be made by Monday, March 19. Reservations for people with hearing impairments must be made by 4 p.m. Wednesday, March 21, and tickets picked up at Tucker Theatre by 3:45 p.m. on March 22. After 3:45 p.m., those tickets will be available for walk-ins.

Other NWHM highlights include:

•  The annual “Clothesline Project,” a display of T-shirts featuring messages from domestic-violence survivors, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. April 9-10 on the Keathley University Center knoll. For more information, contact Kristen Michelle Franks at kmf3r@mtmail.mtsu.edu;
•  “Equal Pay Day,” an educational campaign aimed at informing the public about wage and salary disparities on Tuesday, April 17, at the KUC;
• “Take Back the Night,” a public speakout on violence against women on Tuesday, April 17, on the KUC knoll, followed by a candlelight vigil and march around campus; and
• “Becoming a Thistle Farmer: Learning to Walk with Courage and Humility,” a presentation by the Rev. Becca Stevens, 12:30-2 p.m. Tuesday, April 3, in the KUC Theater. Stevens is co-founder of Magdalene House, a residential community serving women recovering from violence, prostitution, addiction and life on the streets.

Organizers also have planned two panel discussions on women’s issues: “Looking Back and Moving Forward: The Women’s and Gender Studies Program at MTSU” on March 21 and “Women at MTSU: Retrospective Views” on March 28. Please visit mtsunews.com/womens-panel-discussions for more details on those events.

All these events are free and open to the public.

For more information on National Women’s History Month, contact the June Anderson Center for Women and Nontraditional Students at 615-898-5989 or Fraley at anne.fraley@mtsu.edu. A printable calendar of events also is available at www.mtsu.edu/jac/docs/NWHM_Calendar_2012.pdf.

— Gina K. Logue (Gina.Logue@mtsu.edu)