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ASU, community female leaders gather for Teach for America luncheon


women gathered for luncheon at ASU's Old Main
April 09, 2014

On April 4, 50 female leaders from across the ASU and surrounding community gathered at Old Main on the Tempe campus for Teach For America’s Women in Leadership Luncheon. Recalling the building’s early days educating young women entering the teaching profession, the event provided an opportunity for current and aspiring female leaders to connect, reflect and seek new ways to grow their leadership.

Andrea Stouder Pursley, Teach For America’s executive vice president of alumni affairs, delivered the keynote speech. Pursley began her career as a sixth grade teacher in Phoenix. She previously served as executive director of Teach For America’s Phoenix region and launched the Sanford Education Project, an innovative collaboration between Arizona State University and Teach For America in 2010.

The event also featured a panel discussion moderated by Christina Spicer, Teach For America’s managing director of development, who earned both her undergraduate and graduate degrees from ASU. Panelists included Lisa Keegan, A for Arizona executive director, who leads the joint project of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and the Tucson Hispanic Chamber that seeks to accelerate the number of A quality public schools in Arizona; and Melissa Trujillo, Be A Leader president and CEO, who co-founded the foundation with her husband as a platform for young, aspiring students, and an incubator to develop academic and leadership skills required of elementary and high school students to become college-bound, focused and prepared.

Following the presentations, attendees enjoyed additional time to network with one another and the featured speakers. Each went home with a copy of Keegan’s book, "Simple Choices."

Media contact:
Kaitlin Gastrock, Kaitlin.Gastrock@teachforamerica.org
Teach For America