Friday, April 07, 2000

WILMINGTON- Elaine F. Marshall, the first woman ever elected to a statewide, executive branch office in North Carolina will lecture at 2 p.m., Tues., April 18, in UNC Wilmington's Warwick Center ballroom III. Marshall, who is also a Fellow of the Institute of Political Leadership at UNCW and a member of the institute's board of directors, will lecture on issues concerning women in politics and government.

In addition to being secretary of state, she holds seats on the Board of Directors for the N.C. Justice Academy, the N.C. Center for Public Policy Research, and the N.C. Economic Development Board. Along with these duties, Marshall serves as a trustee of Meredith College in Raleigh.

"Secretary Marshall has been very active in reforming and modernizing the secretary of state's office by initiating the concept of 24-hour availability of the state government to its citizens," said Dr. Walt DeVries, director of the Institute of Political Leadership at UNCW, which is sponsoring the lecture. "She has gained a diverse range of experiences and is the most qualified individual in the state to speak on issues about women in politics and government."

Marshall, founder of the Harnett County Rape Crisis Center and Harnett HelpNet for Children, was named "Woman of the Year" in 1997 by the N.C. Council for Women. In 1998, the N.C. Federation of Business and Professional Women (BPW) awarded her with its "State Career Woman of the Year" title, and recently the N.C. Electronic and Information Technology Association(NCEITA) gave her its top honor for Leadership in Technology in the Non-profit/Government Sector.

Secretary Marshall worked as a school teacher, business owner, and private attorney prior to becoming secretary of state. She is a former member of the N.C. State Senate, who represented the 15th District. She holds a B.S. degree in textiles and clothing from the University of Maryland and is a graduate of the Campbell University School of Law.

This free lecture is sponsored by the UNCW Institute of Political Leadership and is open to the public. For more information contact Dr. Walt DeVries at 910-962-7579.