Salem College will welcome Triad-area college students to its campus for a day of professional development, networking and inspiration as the school hosts its inaugural Women’s Conference, Developing Emerging Professionals, Saturday, September 29, 2012.

This day-long event will provide students the opportunity to learn and practice many of the skills critical to building a successful career in today’s highly competitive and ever-changing marketplace.

“While women have made great strides in professional achievements over recent years, inequality among many of the top leadership positions still prevails. As a professor at Salem College, nothing gives me greater pleasure than to work with bright young women who will become future business leaders around the globe. Preparing students with practical, out-of-the-classroom knowledge, experience and skills helps them develop greater confidence to compete in professional arenas,” says Alyson Francisco, Kimbrough Professor of Business and Economics at Salem College and director of the Salem College Center for Women in Business.

The conference also aims to foster relationships among Salem College, its Center for Women in Business, local female professionals and students from area academic institutions. Participants will learn about networking, resume writing, interview skills and negotiating their worth with confidence. Every component of the event is focused on strengthening practical skills for professionalism.

The conference will culminate with a keynote address by critically-acclaimed actress and activist, Kathy Najimy, who has appeared in more than 20 films, including starring roles in the Sister Act movies, Hocus Pocus and Hope Floats. In television, she is highly regarded for her part in Chicago Hope and the opening musical number of the 1995 Academy Awards. She has also performed on Broadway, and was in the first production of “The Vagina Monologues.”

A Lebanese American, Najimy is an outspoken advocate for women’s issues, especially those regarding the image and confidence of young women. In accepting Salem’s invitation to speak, she said, “This is exactly the kind of venue I seek, to speak to young women who want to change the world.”

The Women’s Conference is sponsored by the Salem College Center for Women in Business and the Salem Signature Leadership program, made possible by grants from BB&T and area sponsors. The keynote address will be offered free of charge to the public. A nominal registration fee of $20 will be required of conference participants. Registration is available online. More information at womenscon.com.