1:00pm, March 3, College Place United Methodist Church

Columbia College welcomes Harriett Jane Olson, the 2010 Staley Lecturer. Ms. Olson is deputy general secretary of the Women's Division of the General Board of Global Ministries of The United Methodist Church. She will be speaking on the work of United Methodist Women in addressing the needs of women, children and youth around the world.

As deputy general secretary, she is the chief executive officer of the Women's Division, the national administrative and policymaking arm of United Methodist Women. United Methodist Women is a nearly 800,000-member organization within The United Methodist Church. Its purpose is to foster spiritual growth, develop leaders and advocate for justice. United Methodist Women members give about $20 million a year for its global mission work related to women, children and youth.

A graduate of Houghton College and Harvard Law School, Ms. Olson served as senior vice-president for publishing at The United Methodist Publishing House prior to joining the General Board of Global Ministries.

In selecting Ms. Olson as the 2010 Staley Lecturer, the Staley Lecture Committee recognizes the common mission of advocacy for women shared by Columbia College, a United Methodist college for women, and United Methodist Women. The committee is especially pleased that Ms. Olson will be with us for the first chapel service in March, Women's History Month.

The Staley Distinguished Christian Scholar Lecture Series is funded by the Thomas F. Staley Foundation of Larchmont, N.Y. The series brings Christian speakers who are relevant to today's culture to college campuses throughout the country. The foundation believes that the message of the Christian Gospel can be presented in a contemporary light, making it relevant and meaningful to all generations.