Athens State University’s Center for Lifelong Learning is gearing up for the third annual Women’s Leadership Symposium, a chance for women to network with women and “promote their continued growth and development across multiple disciplines,” according to the event website.

“We wanted to provide a community activity for all of North Alabama and Southern Tennessee where women could connect with other women, where they would have the opportunity to network freely and where they could learn from other women’s successes as well as trials to hopefully inspire them to be better leaders, not only in their professional careers but also in their personal lives,” Kim Bell, director of CLL, said.

Last year’s symposium had an athletic theme, with panelists who were athletes or otherwise tied to sports. This year’s theme is “Honoring Women Who Serve.”

“This year, we selected women who are active military, have previously been involved in the military or who are actively giving back to their community in terms of community service,” Bell said. “… It’s not just serving in the military perspective but the whole embodiment of service.”

The leadership symposium will be 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 11, at Dynetics Solutions Complex’s Main Conference Center in Huntsville. Admission is $85 and includes lunch. Student and group discounts are available.

“We do offer continuing education credits for anyone who may need those for professional development, but they can also just expect an amazing day of interaction with other women to help them in their own growth and professional development,” Bell said.

This year’s keynote speaker is Dr. Carolyn McKinstry, author of “While the World Watched” and survivor of the 1963 bombing of 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham. Other panelists include Cathy Dickens, senior vice president of business management at COLSA Corp.; Rebekah Davis, archivist at Limestone County Archives; Lisa Williams, one of the top 10 women entrepreneurs in America and the woman chosen by the U.S. Small Business Administration to be Alabama’s Small Business Person of the Year in 2004; Jackie Warner, co-owner of “The Bridge,” a community outreach center in Athens; and Lt. Col. Jenna T. Guerrero, decorated U.S. veteran.

“The women we choose on this panel embody elegance, embody intelligence, embody sacrifices and hard work that they have had to put forth to achieve their level or position,” Bell said.

She hopes those who attend the symposium will see it is possible to balance being one’s self as a leader and as a woman.

“I think a lot of times women are under the impression that if you’re gonna be in a leadership role, you have to give up the softer, feminine side of you, that you can’t be a lady and still be in a leadership role,” she said. “And this is completely a misconception and not accurate.”

Bell also emphasized the importance of finding a way to balance the two — without being a bully or overly harsh — as well as women’s ability to accomplish the task.

“I hate to sound cliche and say, ‘We really can do it all,’ but I think that’s a dominant message in all of this,” she said.

Registration ends April 9 and can be completed online at http://www.athens.edu/CLL. For more information call 256-233-8260.