Ann Ida Gannon, BVM, Center for Women and Leadership
Loyola University Chicago | Piper Hall
6525 North Sheridan Road | Chicago, Illinois 60626
(with apologies to Dr. Seuss)!”
“Oh, the places you'll go
Emily
L. Barr
The 2008 Ann Baum Speaker
The Ann F. Baum Women and Barr has been honored for her civic involvement, and
was appointed by Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley
Leadership Speaker Series to be on the State Street Commission. She currently is
In 2006, the Gannon Center became the fortunate recipient the State Street Commission’s Vice Chair. The Chicago
of a bequest from the estate of the late Ann and Alvin H. Urban League recognized Barr’s contributions to the
Baum family for a speaker series. Ann and Alvin Baum were League by selecting her as their 2006 Spirit Award Sponsored by:
close friends of Sr. Ann Ida Gannon, BVM, and wished to winner. The Niagara Foundation, promoting diversity, The Gannon Center for
support the work of the Center. We are pleased that Emily L. tolerance and global fellowship, honored her with their
2006 Communications Award. In 2004, she received Women and Leadership
Barr is our speaker for the second lecture in this annual series,
which focuses on women and leadership in the professions. the Luminary Award from the Girl Scouts of Chicago,
recognizing her community involvement and visionary
leadership. In 1998, she received the Dante Award from
the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans.
Emily L. Barr – ABc 7 chicago President
and General Manager “Oh, the places you'll go
Emily L. Barr is the President and General Manager of ABC
7 Chicago (WLS-TV), the ABC-owned station in Chicago, (with apologies to Dr. Seuss)!”
Illinois. She has held this position since April 1997. Under
her leadership, ABC 7 has strengthened its dominance in February 20, 2008 In Association with:
the market. Currently, ABC 7’s entire news lineup is rated
Terry Student Center, Rooms 303-304 The School of Communication
#1 in Chicago.
26 E. Pearson
Barr’s vision to create a street-level studio that would give Water Tower Campus
viewers a window into the world of television was realized
in April 2006, when the state-of-the-art State Street Studio 4:00 pm Emily L. Barr
debuted and became ABC 7’s new broadcast home.
5:00 pm Round table discussion
Barr has positioned ABC 7 as the most technologically 6:00 pm Reception
advanced television station in Chicago. Under her leader-
ship, the station moved into the new era of High Definition The Ann Ida Gannon, BVM,
television in January 2007, becoming the first Chicago Center for Women and Leadership
station to offer viewers a complete schedule of local news initiates creative programming
and programming in stunning HD television. Among other that supports, strengthens, and
“firsts” Barr spearheaded were the station’s acquisition of the enhances women’s leadership. Its
city’s only HD helicopter, video podcasting and extensive mission encompasses women on
distribution of news, weather, traffic and information via and off campus.
handheld and wireless devices. ABC 7 has also expanded To register for the program
local coverage with its use of additional digital channels contact the Gannon Center
including a 24-hour digital news and weather channel.
at: 773.508.8430
Barr is actively involved in the Chicago community and gannoncenter@luc.edu
serves on multiple boards including Chicago Central www.luc.edu/gannon.
Area Committee, Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce,
Children’s Memorial Hospital Foundation and the Greater This program is free and open to the public.
Chicago Food Depository. Currently, Barr is the President of
the Board of United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Chicago, and
is the past Chairman of the Board for the Illinois Broadcast-
ers Association and a current Vice Chair-TV for the IBA.
She is also a member of the Economic Club, the Executive’s
Club and the Chicago Network.