National Geographic photographer to speak at UW-Whitewater

November 18, 2015

Annie Griffiths, one of the first women to photograph for National Geographic magazine, will present her lecture "Help a Woman, Help the Planet" as part of UW-Whitewater's Contemporary Issues Lecture Series at 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 30, at Young Auditorium. 

Griffiths has photographed in more 150 countries throughout her career. In addition to her magazine work, she is the executive director of Ripple Effect Images, a group of photographers who document the programs that are empowering women and girls in the developing world, especially as they deal with the devastating effects of climate change.  

"Annie Griffiths has combined her passion for photography and female empowerment in her role with Ripple Effect Images," said Susan Johnson, assistant dean of the College of Letters and Sciences and coordinator of the series. "Her highly visual lecture weaves images she's collected over her career with stories about women and girls in developing countries. Not only will the lecture be informative, but it will be visually stunning as well."  

Annie Griffiths is a graduate of the University of Minnesota. Her work has appeared in Life, Smithsonian, Fortune and many other publications.  She has won awards from the National Press Photographers Association, the Associated Press, the White House News Photographers Association and the National Organization of Women.  

The Contemporary Issues Lecture Series is sponsored by UW-Whitewater's College of Letters and Sciences and is co-sponsored by the School of Graduate Studies and Continuing Education.