Thurgood Marshall Fund Founder To Speak At UVI On Women’s Success, Importance Of Higher Eduction

Dr. Joyce Payne, an authority on women’s issues related to higher education and workforce participation, and the founder of the Thurgood Marshall Fund will keynote the University of the Virgin Islands’ (UVI) annual Alfred O. Heath lecture at 6 p.m. on Thursday, April 16, in the Chase Auditorium in the School of Business building on the St. Thomas Campus, and 6 p.m., Friday, April 17, at the Albert A. Sheen Campus on St. Croix, in the Great Hall.

Dr. Payne will speak on “The Importance of Higher Education for Women and the Key to Success.”

The Thurgood Marshall Fund, established in 1987, was named for the U.S. Supreme Court’s first African-American Justice, and supports and represents nearly 300,000 students attending 47-member schools, which includes public Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

With an extensive career in education, Payne served as executive director of the National Alliance for Public Trust from 2008-2009, an organization committed to advancing leadership in American education institutions. She accepted this position following her retirement as vice president of the Office for the Advancement of Public Black Colleges and Council of Student Affairs of the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU), in cooperation with the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU).

The leader has advised White House officials on issues pertinent to women’s education.  She was a senior staff member under the Jimmy Carter administration on the President’s Advisory Committee for Women and the President’s National Advisory Council on Women’s Education Programs. Payne also advised the White House Conference on Families.

According to UVI, the Alfred O. Heath Distinguished Lecture Series offers the public a setting in which to hear nationally and internationally recognized individuals discuss issues related to the challenges and opportunities faced by the global community. The series is the university’s way of recognizing and celebrating the outstanding person and accomplished citizen that is Dr. Alfred O. Heath.

As a UVI trustee emeritus and chair of the Foundation for the University of the Virgin Islands, Dr. Heath is an ardent, longtime supporter of the mission of the university.

Previous Alfred Health lecturers have included acclaimed actor Charles Dutton, publisher and editor Susan Taylor, and attorney and presidential advisor Charles Ogletree.

Feature Image: TMCF founder Dr. N. Joyce Payne speaks on stage at the Thurgood Marshall College Fund 26th Awards Gala at Washington Hilton on November 12, 2014 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Larry French/Getty Images for Thurgood Marshall College Fund)