Nov. 3, 2014 ROCHESTER, Mich. - In an effort to inform student-athletes about gender differences and how that can affect the way they act, Oakland University Athletics has invited Don McPherson to speak on campus this Monday at 7 p.m. inside the Oakland Center Banquet Rooms. The presentation will be to the 300-plus student-athletes and staff, and is open to all Oakland University students.

"This is a great Life Skills event for our student-athletes and staff," said Director of Athletics Jeff Konya. "I have heard Don speak and he does a tremendous job educating student-athletes on the gender differences and how that can lead to other issues. We felt it was important to be proactive on this topic and give our student-athletes all the resources we can to make good decisions."

McPherson played in the NFL for the Philadelphia Eagles (1988-89) and Houston Oilers (1990). He attended Syracuse where he earned All-America honors as a quarterback. In 1995, he turned his focus to the issue of "men's violence against women", as director of Sport in Society's Mentors in Violence Prevention Program. He has testified twice before the United States Congress and has worked closely with the U.S. Departments of Education and Defense on issues of sexual violence education and the military, respectively.

McPherson has received several honors in recognition of his service, including the Frederick Douglas Men of Strength Award, given by Men Can Stop Rape, Champions for Change, presented by Lifetime Television, The Creative Vision for Women's Justice, presented by the Pace University Women's Justice Center and a Leadership Award from the National Center for victims of Crime.

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