(Posted October 17, 2000)

Juniata College will welcome Anita Perez Ferguson as its 2000-01 Woodrow Wilson Visiting Fellow during the week of October 22. During her visit, Ms. Ferguson will present a public lecture on "The Changing Face of American Politics." The speech will be held Tuesday, October 24 at 8:15 p.m. in Alumni Hall of the Brumbaugh Science Center. Admission to the public speech is free.

Ms. Perez Ferguson, of Santa Barbara, Calif., is currently a speaker, trainer and author of "A Passion for Politics." In addition to her Woodrow Wilson Fellowship, she serves as a weekly commentator on WAMC National Public Radio, New York; writes a monthly column in Latina Style magazine; and serves as the NWPC Special Representative to the NGO Forum of the United Nations. Prior to her 1995 election as the first Hispanic head of the National Women?s Political Caucus, Perez Ferguson served as a White House Liaison to the U.S. Department of Transportation, and National Director of Training at the Democratic National Committee.

A frequently quoted news source on subjects including women in politics, political strategy, election reform and minority issues, Perez Ferguson was named one of Roll Call newspaper?s "Politics Fabulous 50," and one of the "100 Most Influential Hispanics in the United States" by Hispanic Business magazine. Following an undergraduate degree in communications from Westmont College, she earned an M.A. in counseling psychology from the University of Santa Clara and an M.A. in management from the University of Redlands.

Perez Ferguson has been a featured speaker/participant for organizations including the International Platform Association, the League of Women voters, the American Political Science Association, the American Enterprise Institute, the International Women?s Leadership Conference and at Harvard University?s JFK School of Government. She has spoken to audiences in the United States, Latin America, Africa, Asia and Europe.

The Woodrow Wilson Visiting Fellows program was established to serve as a connection between the liberal education and the world beyond the campus by bringing thoughtful and successful practitioners to colleges for a week of classes and informal discussions with students and faculty. The Foundation matches the interests of the colleges with the experience and availability of the fellows. Together, they help to equip students for the social, political, and economic settings they will enter and illuminate the roles they may play as professionals and informed citizens.

The Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation has developed and conducted programs in higher education since 1945. More than 200 colleges have participated in the Visiting Fellows program since 1973.

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