Durham, N.C. - As part of Women's History Month, North Carolina Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue will discuss "Women, Leadership and Public Service" at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 29, in the Richard White Auditorium on Duke University's East Campus. The talk is free and open to the public.

Now in her second four-year term, Perdue has focused on improving public schools, affordable prescription drugs for seniors, programs to help youth quit smoking, healthy lifestyle choices, quality jobs and fiscal discipline. Gov. Mike Easley selected Perdue to lead the state's efforts to protect North Carolina's military bases during the Defense Department's Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC 05) process.

"Beverly Perdue is a role model not only for women, but for all North Carolinians," said Benjamin D. Reese, Jr., Duke's vice president for institutional equity. "Regardless of one's academic or career interest, public service is a critical element of good citizenship."

Prior to her election as lieutenant governor, Perdue served in the North Carolina House of Representatives for two terms and the North Carolina Senate for five terms. In the Senate, she served as co-chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee. Among her legislative accomplishments are leading Gov. Jim Hunt's Excellent Schools and Smart Start programs through the General Assembly. In the General Assembly, she was a key leader in the fight for clean water, clean air and other environmental measures such as the passage and implementation of North Carolina's Clean Water Management Trust Fund.

Perdue's talk is sponsored by Duke's Office of Institutional Equity, Hart Leadership Program, Baldwin Scholars Program and Women's Center.