MTSU will host an event called Women of True Grit on March 12, 1: 00 PM- 5:00 PM at Tucker Theatre. This event is free an open to the public, no registration or ticket required.

The event, which is part of MTSU’s Women’s History Month celebration, was inspired by the book Edie Hand’s Women of True Grit, which profiles more than 60 women who navigated with grit to transform their lives and those of the people around them. This event features several of the women profiled in her project.

Event moderator, Dean Beverly Keel states, "From board rooms and laboratories to recording and dance studios, these women have thrived and become role models for others.  They will share their stories of battling racism, sexism, disabilities, cancer, loss and other obstacles on their journey to fulfill their dreams. There will be something for everyone!”

The event, which will be held in Tucker Theater, begins at 1 p.m. with the keynote conversation with Edie Hand, a businesswoman, international speaker, media personality, filmmaker, and mom. She’s also an author of 35 books who has also been a television producer, host and advertising agency owner. She is the author of the book Women of True Grit, and Dr. Shelia Nash-Stevenson, a NASA engineer who was the first African American female in the state of Alabama to receive a Ph.D. in physics. She holds a patent for an optical fiber holder. She won NASA’s Modern Figure Award and was selected to attend the premiere of the movie Hidden Figures.   

The June Anderson Awards will be held at 2 p.m.

Hand will moderate a panel at 2:40 p.m. called “Hallmark, Healing and Hope” that features:

Lana King the former CEO of Hallmark Channel, Lana presided over all network operations, doubling the channel’s ratings, distribution, and advertising revenues. Nielsen applauded those results as the most successful channel launch in the history of cable television. Previously, as President of Network Distribution for the Fox Broadcast Company, she helped establish FOX as one of the nations’ strongest networks with cutting edge strategies and an instrumental role in the formation of several of the networks crown jewels including Fox Sports, Fox News and the Fox Children’s Network.

Marion MacKenzie Pyle, the award-winning writer, director, producer and president of Legacy Media Lab, a full-service media production company for television, stage and film. She is also the author of Healed, Healthy and Whole: How We Beat Bladder Cancer;

And Paula Mosher Wallace, best known for being the Founder of Bloom In The Dark, Inc., Paula is a Media Executive with credentials as a Producer, Director, Writer, and Cohost of 2 award winning international television shows licensed with over 40 TV networks. Paula also created a television studio, streaming network, podcast, 7 published books, and online courses.

Keel will moderate a panel at 4:20 p.m. called “Finding Your Voice” that features:

Anastasia Brown, an award-winning entertainment industry veteran who has experience as a label executive, artist manager, music supervisor and content creation. She discovered Keith Urban and later served as as judge on the TV show Nashville Star. She is the author of Make Me a Star: Industry Insiders Reveal How to Make It in Music;

Alie B. Gorrie, a disability inclusion consultant and theater artist who is on a mission to build a more inclusive world. Born with low vision, she frequently speaks about disability awareness and inclusion while teaching acting and dancing classes to other aspiring performers with disabilities. She organizes nationwide trainings to promote the inclusion of people with disabilities in the workplace. She also co-produced and hosted Able: A Series, which can be found on Amazon;

Kelly Lang, a singer and songwriter whose songs have been recorded by George Jones, Lorrie Morgan, Jerry Lee Lewis, B.J. Thomas and Ricky Skaggs. She is the author of I’m Not Going Anywhere, which offers life lessons as she shares her experience with breast cancer. She is a member of the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame;

And Gina Miller, an entertainment executive and social justice activist who is known for advocating for recording artists. She is senior vice president/general manager of MNRK (formerly Entertainment One), where she oversees day-to-day operations and creative output for Nashville, including MNRK subsidiaries Light Records and IndieBlu Music. She also leads the Nashville Network of the National Association of Black Female Executives in Media and Entertainment and has twice been included in Billboard’s Women in Music issue of the industry’s top female executives.

A copy of Edie Hand’s Women of True Grit, will be provided to the first 300 attendees.

The event is sponsored by the College of Media and Entertainment, the Distinguished Lecture Committee and The National Women’s History Month Committee. For more information, please contact Beverly Keel at Beverly.Keel@mtsu.edu or 615-898-5150.