The Women’s Center at the University of North Florida will present the Women’s History Month Luncheon featuring keynote speaker Kim Barker, the award-winning journalist who inspired the movie “Whiskey Tango Foxtrot,” noon Tuesday, March 12, in the John A. Delaney Student Union, Building 58W, Ballroom, Room 3703.
Barker will discuss her time as a war correspondent as well as “Visionary Women: Champions of Peace and Nonviolence” which is this year’s national theme for Women’s History Month.
Barker served as The Chicago Tribune’s South Asia bureau chief from 2004 to 2009 and used her firsthand experiences to author a dark comedic memoir, “The Taliban Shuffle: Strange Days in Afghanistan.” This book recounts her experiences as a reporter in Afghanistan and Pakistan. It served as the inspiration for the movie “Whiskey Tango Foxtrot” featuring stars such as Tina Fey, Martin Freeman and Margot Robbie.
Barker currently works as a New York Times journalist who specializes in investigative reporting and narrative writing. Before joining The New York Times, Barker worked for ProPublica as an investigative reporter, primarily focusing on campaign finance and the fallout from the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision.
She has received numerous awards and honors throughout her career including the Edward R. Murrow Press Fellowship from the Council on Foreign Relations (2009-10).
Following the luncheon, there will be a book signing and a Q&A session. Luncheon tickets can be purchased via the website or at the UNF Ticket Box Office, Roy Lassiter Hall, Building 8, Room 1100. General admission tickets cost $25. Tables are also available for $250; each seats eight guests and includes table signage, preferential seating and recognition during the program.
For more information about the event, contact Joanna Young, Women’s Center coordinator, at (904) 620-5515 or via email.
A celebration of Women’s History Month, this annual luncheon provides a vehicle to celebrate women, their accomplishments and their contributions to society. The luncheon humbly began as a potluck event for faculty, staff and students at the University over thirty years ago but has since evolved into one of the premiere Women’s History Month events in Jacksonville. Community partners, faculty, staff and students come together each spring to hear from globally-recognized speakers, who serve as pioneers in advancing women across the world. The Susan B. Anthony Award and the Women’s History Month Scholarship are awarded each year during this hallmark event.
UNF, a nationally ranked university located on an environmentally beautiful campus, offers students who are dedicated to enriching the lives of others the opportunity to build their own futures through a well-rounded education.
