Maj. Gen. Marcia Anderson to speak at UW-Whitewater leadership event

August 06, 2014

A trailblazing leader from the United States Army Reserve will visit the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater on Wednesday, Aug. 27.

Maj. Gen. Marcia Anderson, the Army's first female African-American major general, will give two keynote addresses as part of the campus's annual Women in Higher Education Leadership event.

"We are delighted to have Maj. Gen. Anderson share her diverse and unique experiences with the UW-Whitewater community," said Beverly Kopper, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs. "As a university that continually seeks out new ways to serve our students, region, state, nation and the world, we are honored to welcome an individual who is also so dedicated to service."

"She has an amazing story that's definitely worth hearing and will resonate with people from a variety of backgrounds," said Lt. Col. Carl Meredith, chair of the Department of Leadership, Military Science and Aerospace Studies. "I think the fact that she is a citizen-soldier -- meaning she has served in both the military and civilian sectors simultaneously while rising in positions of increased leadership and responsibility -- will add tremendous value to the learning opportunities of those in attendance."

Both keynote addresses will take place in Timmerman Auditorium in Timothy J. Hyland Hall. At 11 a.m., Anderson will present "Value of Leadership and Diversity to Personal and Professional Development" for UW-Whitewater faculty and staff members. At 3 p.m., she will present "My Journey of Service and Patriotism," which is open to the public.

While the purpose of the Women in Higher Education Leadership event is to increase the professional development and networking opportunities for women -- and to celebrate their contributions to the workplace -- Kopper said the event is open to all.

Since October 2011, Maj. Gen. Anderson has served as the senior adviser to the chief of Army Reserve on policies and programs, including force structure, congressional budget and appropriations, development of manpower and personnel policies, as well as Department of The Army and Department of Defense matters. She is currently on leave from the United States Courts, where she serves as the Clerk of Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Wisconsin, located in Madison.