COOKEVILLE, Tenn. (Oct. 4, 2006) – In celebration of Oct. 18 as “Love Your Body Day,” Tennessee Tech University’s Women’s Center is hosting a presentation by Nashville psychologist, writer and publisher Peggy Elam at 11:45 a.m. at the Backdoor Playhouse.

The topic of Elam’s presentation will be “The F-Word: Why Fat is Not a Four-Letter Word.”

With a bachelor’s degree in English-journalism from Mississippi University for Women and master’s and doctoral degrees in clinical psychology from Vanderbilt University, Elam combined her passion for both professions when she founded Pearlsong Press Inc.

The publishing company is dedicated to providing “personally empowering mind-body-spirit-positive fiction and nonfiction that entertains, as well as enriches and informs.”

From January 1998 through December 2000, Elam served as the emotional health and well-being expert for iVillage’s AllHealth.com web site, and she has also been a guest speaker for online chat sessions at America Online, WebMD and the Something Fishy web site for eating disorders.

She has been featured in local and national media — from the Wall Street Journal to Nashville public television — and interviewed about issues ranging from anxiety to eating disorders and body image to menopause.

Elam’s holistic focus on integrating mind, body and spirit has led her to study various spiritual and alternative healing processes. Her studies culminated in formal training in massage and bodywork at the Natural Health Institute in Nashville.

She has held a number of professional offices, including president of the Nashville Psychological Association in 1995, president of Tennessee Women in Medicine and two-year member of the board of directors for the Tennessee Psychological Association.

Women’s Center student worker Hannah Holland has developed a PowerPoint presentation to open the event, and she will serve as the program’s announcer.

For more information about Elam’s presentation, call the TTU Women’s Center at 931/372-3850.

--Tracey LeFevre
This information posted 9 October 2006