The former U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexis M. Herman will present Winning in the Workplace at 7:30 p.m. Monday, March 4, in the Mountainlair Ballrooms as West Virginia Universitys Festival of Ideas continues.

Sworn in as the 23rd U.S. Secretary of Labor on May 1, 1997, Herman was the first African American to lead the labor department. During an era of sweeping change, she used her position to created unprecedented opportunities for Americas workforce.

Herman, undaunted by rapid globalization, internet expansion or balancing home and career, helped even the marginal sectors of the population share in an escalating national prosperity.

Through her commitment to ongoing professional training, decent work environments and a secure workforce, Herman revitalized development programs, increased productivity and transformed welfare checks to paychecks.

As labor secretary, Herman was CEO of an organization with a $39 billion annual budget and a nationwide workforce of 17,000. Under her leadership, the labor departmentfor the first timereceived a clean audit opinion on fiscal statements from 1997-99.

Hermans trail-blazing, results-oriented programs included the Youth Opportunity Movement, the most intensive outreach effort in the history of the Labor Department.

She began her career as the youngest director ever of the departments Womens Bureau. Herman also directed the White House Public Liaison Office and served as a presidential assistant.

Recognized worldwide for her accomplishments, Herman currently chairs the Coca-Cola Companys task force on diversity.

All Festival of Ideas talks are free, open to the public and produced by WVU students. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, call 304-293-SHOW or visit Arts&Entertainment on-line at www.events.wvu.edu