Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, will present a public talk titled, "Keeping Politics out of Women’s Health" at the Woodrow Wilson School on Wednesday, March 28, 2012, at 4:30 p.m., in Dodds Auditorium, Robertson Hall. Richards is visiting the Wilson School as part of its "Leadership and Governance Program," which brings prominent policy makers to Princeton for a multi-day visit so that students can meet and learn from exemplary public leaders. *This is a free event, but tickets are required.

Richards has served as head of Planned Parenthood since 2006.  Every year, through its nearly 800 health centers nationwide, the 95 year old organization provides family planning and reproductive and sexual health care services to nearly three million people, and sex education to more than 1.1 million people.

During her tenure, Ms. Richards has expanded the organization’s advocacy for access to health care; led a nationwide campaign to preserve access to Planned Parenthood preventive care through federal programs; started the Youth Initiatives Program, which trains hundreds of young people each year in leadership skills and health care advocacy; and invested in Planned Parenthood Online, a website that provides mobile access to health information and is visited by 33 million visitors each year.  Under her leadership, the number of Planned Parenthood’s supporters has doubled, reaching a total of more than six million.

Before joining Planned Parenthood, Richards served as deputy chief of staff for House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi.  In 2004, she founded and served as president of America Votes, a coalition of 42 national grassroots organizations, working to maximize registration, education, and voter participation nationwide. 

In 2011, Richards was named to TIME magazine’s annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world.  She has also been recognized as a national leader by the National Council of Jewish Women, U.S. Action, and the Puffin/Nation Prize for Creative Citizenship.  A 1980 graduate of Brown University, in 2010 she received an honorary doctorate from that institution.  Richards serves on the board of the Ford Foundation.

*A limited number of tickets to Dodds will be available to all Princeton University students, faculty, and staff on a first-come, first-serve basis beginning at noon Monday, March 26 2012 at the Frist Campus Center Ticket Office. Ticketing will continue from noon to 6 p.m., Monday through Tuesday, while supplies last.   The ticket office will issue one ticket per Princeton University TigerCard ID, and individuals may bring up to two TigerCard IDs.

For the general public, any remaining tickets will be distributed through a wait line on the day of the event, starting at 4:00 p.m.

For those unable to secure a ticket, the talk will be simulcast in Bowls 001, 002, and 016, on the lower level of Robertson Hall for non-ticket holders.  Seating is limited and will be on a first-come, first-served basis.

The event will be webcast live at http://www.princeton.edu/webmedia and archived online for later viewing on the Woodrow Wilson School’s Webmedia site – http://wws.princeton.edu/webmedia.

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