Breaking Barriers: Dr. Amy Aldridge to Keynote 2024 EqualiTEA
Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) is proud to host the annual EqualiTEA event, shedding light on the persistent gender pay gap and raising scholarship and programming funds for the Middle Tennessee Fund for Women and Girls. This year's event will take place at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 16 in the Student Union Ballroom, located at 1768 MTSU Boulevard, Murfreesboro, TN 37132.
The EqualiTEA event, known for its (hats optional) High Tea tradition, serves as both a fundraiser and a platform for raising awareness about the wage disparities between men and women. Equal Pay Day, which symbolizes the day women must work into the current year to earn what men earned in the previous year, fell on Tuesday, March 12, according to the National Committee on Pay Equity.
The EqualiTEA event not only raises awareness about the gender pay gap but also supports educational opportunities for women at MTSU. Proceeds from the event go towards funding two scholarships administered by AAUW Rutherford County Chapter.
Dr. Amy Aldridge Sanford, Vice Provost for Academic Programs at Middle Tennessee State University and a distinguished professor of communication, underscores the importance of addressing equality disparities. Dr. Sanford, who assumed her role at MTSU in early 2022, has been a leading voice in academia and activism. She is well-published in areas concerning social justice, activism, identity, and leadership. Her seminal work, "From Thought to Action: Developing a Social Justice Orientation," now in its 2nd edition. Dr. Sanford's dedication to social justice has earned her numerous accolades, including the Jack Kay Award for Community Engagement and Applied Scholarship by the Central States Communication Association in 2023.
Furthermore, Dr. Sanford's leadership extends beyond academia. She currently chairs the Social Justice and Activism Division of the National Communication Association and has served as the past president of the Central States Communication Association. Dr. Sanford is also a former recipient of the AAUW scholarship, which encouraged her to join AAUW early in her career.