pubTalk

Last week I attended a film screening for the PBS documentary film, Iron Ladies of Liberia from the "Independent Lens" series. The film documents President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s first year in office as president of Liberia. Her presidency is of particular importance as she is the first democratically elected woman president of an African nation. Fondly referred to as the “Iron Lady,” she has appointed other “iron ladies” to leadership positions in her administration. She surrounds herself with other strong women, creating a solid backbone and pipeline of women leaders.

President Johnson Sirleaf is coming to the University of Minnesota as part of the 2009 Distinguished Carlson Lecture Series. Most recent speakers in this series include General Colin Powell and President Bill Clinton. The event is free and open to the public and will take place Friday, April 10 at 2:00pm in Northrup Memorial Auditorium.

As is made evident in the PBS documentary, President Johnson Sirleaf’s speech will surely reveal a dynamic and powerful leader who has had the courage to lead a country out of civil war and away from corruption and to rebuild its failing economy and infrastructure.