Vital Voices Director Theresa Loar to speak at Fairfield University | Press Releases

Theresa Loar, former director of the White House Interagency Council on Women and Senior Coordinator for International Women's Issues at the U. S. Department of State, will speak on Wednesday, April 18, at 7:30 p.m. in Fairfield University's Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts. The event is co-hosted by the university's International Studies and Women's Studies departments and UNIFEM/USA/CT, the branch of the United Nations dedicated to women's issues worldwide.

Ms. Loar is executive director of Vital Voices Global Partnerships, a new organization whose mission is to promote women's roles in building strong economies and vibrant democracies around the world. A principal advisor to former First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton and former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright on international women's issues, Loar also led the U.S. government's campaign to combat trafficking in women and children, citing it as one of the most egregious human rights violations and a modern-day form of slavery.

Loar also served as a diplomat representing the United States in Mexico and South Korea. Prior to her diplomatic career she was an entrepreneur and advertising executive in New York City for such award-winning campaigns as "Where's the Beef?" for Wendy's International. She lives outside of Washington, D.C. with her family.

Also on the program, a Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to Anita Houston of New Canaan, a longtime member and supporter of United Nations activities including the International Hospitality Committee, the World Affairs Study Group and the annual UN Day in New Canaan. She was also instrumental in forming an "Adopt a Minefield" group in New Canaan whose purpose was to pay for the removal of land mines in a town in Cambodia. Through the participation of many town organizations which raised $50,000, the mines are in the process of being cleared.

Tickets to the event are $10, free for students, and may be reserved by calling the Quick Center Box Office at (203) 254-4010 or toll-free at 1-877-ARTS-396. A Q&A session led by Katherine Kidd, Ph.D., director of international studies, follows the talk.

Co-sponsors of the lecture are 50/50 by 20/20, UNA/USA/CT, Housatonic Community College Women's Center and Black Studies Union, Igbo Women's Association of Connecticut, American Association of University Women/CT and Bahai.