Derreck Kayongo, a former child refugee who now serves as the senior advocacy coordinator in the Southeast for the CARE International relief organization, will deliver the keynote address at Western Carolina University’s the 11th annual Gender Research Conference on Thursday, March 15.

The conference, themed “Women and Poverty in the Global Economy,” will be held at WCU’s A.K. Hinds University Center. Registration begins at 9 a.m.

Kayongo will speak on “The Role of Women in the Fight against Global Poverty” during his address, set for 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. in Grandroom A of the University Center.

Kayongo’s family fled Uganda during the tyranny of Idi Amin in 1979, and he has gone on to become a voice for marginalized and vulnerable people around the globe. Now a naturalized U.S. citizen, he has worked with the American Friends Service Committee as program director for the Southeast Peace Education program and has been director of the Southeast region for Amnesty International.

Following Kayongo’s address, a series of presentations will be offered by WCU faculty members and students from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. The conference will also offer lunch for $10 from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. in Illusions, and Mary Jean Ronan Herzog, professor in WCU’s School of Teaching and Learning, will present the lunchtime address “Faculty Women and the Glass Ceiling at WCU: Differences in Salary and Position in Academia.”

Lunch will be followed by more presentations and discussion from 2 to 4:50 p.m.

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