(Posted November 7, 2005)

HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- Barbara Farmer, host of the WPSX-TV's talk show, "What Matters," will host a discussion of "Diversity in America: Sensitivity Begins at Home" at Juniata College at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 17 in Alumni Hall in the Brumbaugh Academic Center on the Juniata campus.

The event is free and open to the public. The event is sponsored by the Huntingdon Branch of the American Association of University Women.

Farmer will give a talk, and also involve the audience in an exercise designed to make people think about their perceptions of diversity.

Farmer, principal of the Houserville/Lemont Elementary School in State College, Pa., is the host of "What Matters," a talk show on WPSX-TV that features live call-in questions from the area viewing audience. The program features guests who focus on topics of race, diversity and inclusion. The show is aired at 7 p.m. Tuesday nights in rotation with other Penn State-sponsored programs.

Farmer, together with her husband, Edgar Farmer, a professor of workforce education and development at Penn State, and Jay Rojewski, a professor of workforce education at the University of Georgia, edited the book "Diversity in America: Visions of the Future -- Real Issues and Real People." Farmer started her hosting duties for "What Matters" in August 2004.

She has been principal of the State College-area school since 1997. Farmer earned a bachelor's degree in education from Hampton University in Hampton, Va. in 1967. She went on to earn a master's degree in 1994 from North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro, N.C., and a doctorate in education in 1998 from Penn State University.

Farmer has been a guest lecturer at a variety of colleges and universities across the country. She also is very active in her community. She is a chair for the Professional Development Committee for the State College Area School District and a chair for the Act 48 Professional Recertification Committee. She is a member of the Communities That Care/Care Partnership Education Committee for Centre County and the Minority Policing Committee Community Task Force for Centre County.

In principle and practice, AAUW values and seeks a diverse membership. There shall be no barriers to full participation in this organization on the basis of gender, race, creed, age, sexual orientation, national origin, and disability. AAUW promotes equity for women, education and self-development over the life span, and positive societal change. AAUW membership is open to all graduates who hold an associate or higher degree from a regionally accredited college or university. Student affiliate memberships are also open to any enrolled students.

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.