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Alumna tells students why Congress needs more women

Susan Brooks

Susan Brooks

Miami University alumna Rep. Susan W. Brooks, R-Ind., will address the critical role women play in politics at 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 6, as part of the Darrell M. West Lecture in American Politics series.

Brooks’ topics include public leadership and her experiences that navigated the path she pursued.

“We need more women to be engaged in our political process and take on leadership roles in government institutions like Congress,” Brooks said. “This is a message I will expand upon during my lecture using both a mix of history, current events and personal experience.”   

Her lecture, “Red, White and Few: Why the U.S. Congress Needs More Women,” takes place in Pavilion A in the Armstrong Student Center. Tickets are not required for the lecture, which is free and open to the public. A small reception follows the lecture.

Brooks graduated from Miami in 1982 with degrees in both political science and sociology.    

“I look back on my time as an undergraduate student in Oxford with significant fondness and am extremely grateful for the unparalleled academic education and valuable life experiences I received,” she said.

She later earned her law degree from the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law and practiced at two Indianapolis firms. Brooks also served as the senior vice president and general counsel at Ivy Tech Community College prior to her election as a member of the House of Representatives. She currently serves on Congress’ Education and the Workforce, Ethics and Homeland Security committees.

The series is made possible through a gift from Darrell M. West (Miami ’76). He established a fund to honor his experience as a student in Miami’s department of political science.

"The West Lecture series offers Miami students the opportunity to learn and engage on the issues that shape our future governance and politics,” said Bryan Marshall, political science professor.