Assistant Secretary Duckworth Honored With Women of Distinction Award

WASHINGTON, June 5 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Yesterday, the Department of Veterans Affairs Assistant Secretary for Public and Intergovernmental Affairs L. Tammy Duckworth was honored by AAUW/NASPA along with four other women at the University of Maryland, College Park. She accepted the Women of Distinction Award during the 2009 National Conference for College Women Student Leaders.

"Today, we have women serving in combat and being recognized for their valor and fierceness in battle. And when they return home, President Obama and Secretary Shinseki are committed to improving the care that our brave warriors receive," Assistant Secretary L. Tammy Duckworth said. "I am honored to be here today in the company of such accomplished and talented women."

Since 1985, the National Conference for College Women Student Leaders has provided a platform to help thousands of college and university women to develop leadership skills, network with other student leaders, and interact with women who hold leadership positions. The 2009 National Conference for College Women Student Leaders, June 4-6, is expected to draw more than 300 campus leaders to the University of Maryland, College Park. The conference is hosted by the AAUW Leadership and Training Institute and the NASPA Center for Scholarship, Research, and Professional Development for Women. AAUW is among the world's leaders in philanthropic support for women's higher education and is committed to ending the underrepresentation of women and girls in leadership and key professional positions. NASPA, the leading voice for student affairs administration, policy, and practice, affirms the commitment of student affairs to educating the whole student and integrating student life and learning.

This year's Women of Distinction awardees also include Diane Rehm, host of The Diane Rehm Show; Anucha Browne Sanders, senior associate athletic director of marketing at the University at Buffalo; Martine Rothblatt, founder of United Therapeutics; and Melissa Poe Hood, founder of Kids for a Clean Environment. Nontombi Naomi Tutu, daughter of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, will give Saturday's keynote address.