National Women’s Hall of Fame (NWHF) today announced it is hosting a power-packed forum in Washington, DC June 26 to celebrate the 40^th anniversary of the Patsy T. Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act, commonly known as Title IX.

It states “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”

These 37 words became law on June 23, 1972 and changed the sports, education and occupational landscape for women’s equality and progress in the United States.

“While its impact is most noticeable in the development of women’s sports, Title IX’s far reaching influence is also felt in education. It provided women with opportunities in higher education and research, opening paths for women in greater numbers, to enter various professions that were once closed,” said Beverly Ryder, President, NWHF Board of Directors. 

“The NWHF feels it is timely for us to celebrate the achievements since the law was first enacted as well as reflect on the areas of focus in the future,” said Ryder.

Titled Leading. Achieving. Winning. 40 Years of Title IX, the event includes a panel discussion about the social and political impacts of the legislation, followed by a networking reception.

A panel of accomplished women’s rights, political and social leaders will participate in the panel discussions. They have either been involved in authorship of the bill or implementation of Title IX:

Honorable Birch Bayh – Former Senator Bayh represented the State of Indiana with distinction in the U.S. Senate from 1963 to 1981.  He is known as the "Father of Title IX” because of his role in crafting the original legislation and seeing through its passage in the Senate.  An outstanding champion for women’s equality, Senator Bayh was also the principal architect of the Equal Rights Amendment, a proposed Constitutional amendment guaranteeing equal rights to women, which has been ratified by 35 states.

Dr. Bernice R. Sandler – A Senior Scholar at the Women’s Research and Education Institute in Washington, DC, Dr. Sandler consults with institutions and others about achieving equity for women. She is also an Adjunct Associate Professor at Drexel University College of Medicine. Dr. Sandler spent more than 50 years advocating women's rights and is today widely known as the “Godmother of Title IX” for her pivotal role in creation and implementation of the law. She began fighting for the rights of women in education after she personally experienced sex discrimination when she was told by the University of Maryland that she came on "too strong for a woman" to be hired in academia.

Donna de Varona - At only 14 years old, Ms. de Varona was the youngest member of the 1960 Olympic swim team, but she competed only in the relay heats. By the 1964 Olympics, however, she had become the best known woman swimmer in the world – she had set 18 world records in the interim. She was voted by both AP and UPI as the top female athlete of 1964. She has also been very active in promoting women's sports, and amateur sports in general. Ms. de Varona was inducted to the National Women’s Hall of Fame in 2003.

Eleanor Smeal - Recognized throughout the nation as a women’s rights leader, Ms. Smeal appears frequently on television and radio, testifies before Congress on a wide variety of women’s issues, and speaks to diverse audiences nationwide on a broad range of feminist topics. For over two decades, she has played a leading role in both national and state campaigns to win women’s rights legislation, and in a number of landmark state and federal court cases for women’s rights. One of the architects of the modern drive for women’s equality, Ms. Smeal is known as a political analyst, strategist, and grassroots organizer. She has played a pivotal role in defining the debate, developing the strategies, and charting the direction of the modern day women’s movement.

Joann E. Flaminio - She is the 23^rd president of the Boston Athletic Association, the first woman to be named president. Ms. Flaminio brings a proven track record of strategic management, legal expertise, and superior leadership skills to her new role.

Kathrine Switzer – The first woman to run the Boston Marathon as a numbered entry, Ms. Switzer entered and completed the race in 1967, five years before women were officially allowed to compete in it. She was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame in 2011 for creating a social revolution by empowering women around the world through running.

Linda D. Hallman, CAE - As the Executive Director and CEO of the American Association of University Women (AAUW), Ms. Hallman is a nationally respected leader with more than 20 years of executive-level experience. Under her leadership, AAUW ramped up its fellowships and grants program by an extra half-million dollars annually, allowing the organization to continue its primary commitment to break through barriers for women and girls at a time when many women have flocked back to graduate school because of the dismal job market.

Angela Hucles – A former member of the US Women’s National Soccer Team, Ms. Hucles is a two-time Olympic gold medalist, two-time World Cup participant and winner of the US Soccer Foundation’s Humanitarian of the Year award.  Ms. Hucles now uses her experience to support domestic and international organizations that empower women and girls.

Also on the panel is a representative from the President’s Council on Fitness, Sport and Nutrition.

While things have been improving, there are lots more to be done, said Ms. Ryder. The panelists will also discuss opportunities and impediments to improve women equality especially during a volatile economic environment.

The reception will honor three individuals – Senator Bayh, late Congresswoman Patsy T. Mink and Dr. Sandler - for their pioneering roles in the writing and implementation of Title IX.

A visionary leader and pioneer in education reform, Representative Patsy T. Mink (Hawaii) is also recognized as a major author and one of the key sponsors of Title IX in the House of Representatives, which she helped write and pass as a response to the adversities she faced as a woman during her own education experience. In 1964, Mink was elected as the first woman of color and first Asian American in the House of Representatives and went on to serve 12 terms. With the help of Rep. Edith Green and Sen. Birch Bayh, Title IX was passed in 1972.  She was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame in 2003.  

Former Secretary of State Dr. Condoleezza Rice will make opening remarks at the reception, while House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi will do the closing remarks. Dr. Rice was the first female African American secretary of state, as well as the second African American and second woman to hold that position. Ms. Pelosi was the first woman to hold the office of Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives (2007-2011), and to date has been the highest-ranking elected female politician in American history. She is the first woman to lead a major party in Congress.

Also participating is Senator Barbara A. Mikulski, the longest serving female Senator in United States history and a 2011 National Women’s Hall of Fame Inductee.  Senator Mikulski continues to be one of the foremost proponents of women’s rights in the U.S. Congress.

The Title IX event is sponsored by AAUW, Good Makers, Gallup, Lifetime, ITT Corporation, Northrop Grumman, Soccer Foundation and most recently the Universities Space Research Association.

Funds raised during this forum will go to support the National Women’s Hall of Fame’s work to recognize and showcase pioneering women.

Program Details
Date: June 26, 2012
Location: The Gallup Building, 901 F Street, NW, Washington, DC 20004
Time: 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Leadership Forum: 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Panel One Celebrating Success: 40 Years of Achievement
Panel Two Unfinished Business: Pushing for Progress

Cocktail Reception: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Opening Remarks by Dr. Condoleezza Rice
Awards Presentation
Closing Remarks by House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi

Event Cost: Varies.  Click here to purchase tickets!

About Title IX
Title IX, also known as the Patsy T. Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act, is the section of the Education Amendments of 1972 which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in any federally funded education program or activity (Department of Justice). President Nixon signed Title IX into law on June 23, 1972.  Title IX was named after Ms. Mink upon her death on October 29, 2002, in recognition of her role as principal author for this section.

About the National Women’s Hall of Fame
The National Women’s Hall of Fame is the nation’s oldest membership organization dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the achievements of great American women. It was created in 1969 in Seneca Falls, the birthplace of the American Women’s Rights Movement by a group of local women and men who believe that the contributions of American women deserved a permanent home in the small village where the fight for women’s rights began.  The NWHF, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit national membership organization, is currently housed in the Helen Mosher Barben Building, in the heart of the downtown Historic District of Seneca Falls, New York.

National Women's Hall of Fame

National Women's Hall of Fame

The National Women's Hall of Fame is the nation's oldest membership organization dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the achievements of outstanding American women. This esteemed group grows with each Induction Ceremony and as women continue to influence and shape the arts, athletics, business, education, government, humanities, philanthropy and science.

More from National Women's Hall of Fame