GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN (August 14 , 2006) -

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In celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the Aquinas College Jane Hibbard Idema Women's Studies Center, National Public Radio's talk show host Diane Rehm will give a free lecture on Tuesday, October 24 at 12:30 p.m. in the Aquinas College Performing Arts Center, 1703 Robinson Road S.E. Seating is on a first come-first served basis. In her talk, Women Make a Difference: An Hour with Diane Rehm at Aquinas College, Rehm will discuss her career in public radio, current events and books. There will be time for questions from the audience. Rehm's visit to Aquinas is sponsored by Founders Bank & Trust.

Rehm will give a second talk, A Conversation with Diane Rehm, at a 6 p.m. 20th Anniversary Celebration dinner in Cascade Hills Country Club, 3725 Cascade Road S.E. All of the profits from this event will go toward continuing and enhancing the many programs offered to the public by the Aquinas Jane Hibbard Idema Women's Studies Center. The tickets are $150 each. For information or to make a reservation for the dinner, please call (616) 632-2979 or email womenscenter@aquinas.edu. Seating is limited.

Rehm began her career in radio in 1973 as a volunteer at WAMU (American University Radio, Washington, DC) and served as host and producer of two health-oriented programs. In 1979 she was selected host of WAMU's local morning talk show Kaleidoscope which was renamed The Diane Rehm Show in 1984. The Show has been described by Newsweek as one of the most interesting talk shows in the country. The award-winning program has been distributed by National Public Radio since 1995 across the nation as well as in Europe and Japan since 1996 via satellite. It's also heard on U.S. military installations around the world via Armed Forces Radio.

Finding My Voice, Rehm's first book, was published in 1999 by Knopf. In it she talks about her childhood, marriage, broadcast career and vocal difficulties. It is now in its fourth printing. Rehm and her husband co-authored Toward Commitment: A Dialogue about Marriage, a book focusing on the art of building and maintaining a strong relationship. The book was published in 2002 by Knopf.

In 1998, Rehm was diagnosed with spasmodic dysphonia, a neurological condition that causes strained and difficult speech. After finding treatment, she wrote several articles and produced a program on the little-known disease. The National Council on Communicative Disorders recognized her work with the Communication Award, and the Maryland Speech-Hearing-Language Association honored her with a Media Award.

Among the many honors Rehm has received are the 2004 Paul H. Nitze Senior Fellow at St. Mary's College of Maryland; Class of 2004 Hall of Fame, Washington, DC Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ); 2004 Clinical Social Work Leadership Award for her program's focus on mental health issues; 2003 Calvary Women's Services Hope award (the honor recognized Rehm's commitment to offering hope and empowerment to people, specifically women in need, through her volunteer and professional work); and the 2003 Montgomery County Chapter of the National Organization for Women's (MCNOW) Susan B. Anthony Award (Rehm was honored for her exceptional work and commitment as an advocate for women's rights throughout the country.)