Robin Roberts, commentator for ABC’s Wide World of Sports, host of Sunday mornings’ Sport Day and play-by-play commentator for ESPN’s WNBA coverage, will wax philosophical for an Iowa State audience about being a woman in a field traditionally ruled by men.

Her speech will be held tonight at 8 in the Sun Room of the Memorial Union.

Her presentation, which is part of the Women’s Week lectures series, is free and open to the public.

“I like to talk about basketball and the demands on [the student athletes’] time,” Roberts told the Daily Wednesday afternoon. “There’s an excitement in women’s sports right now with the WNBA, and, of course, this year’s World Cup.”

Her speech, which is titled, “Women in Sports and the Media,” will address the difficulties women face in the workplace.

It also will touch on taking the skills learned in an athletic environment and using them in the real world.

“I think her story is significant, not just for women but for all students,” said Pam Thomas, director of the Margaret Sloss Women’s Center. “It’s about being in an all male-dominated workplace but deals with all stereotypes and what it takes to rise to the top.”

Roberts’ speech is hosted by the Women’s Week Coordinating Committee and VORTEX, a student-athlete leadership program at ISU.

“We wanted to do something different and collaborate with a department we haven’t yet, so we decided to coordinate with the Athletic Department,” Thomas said. “It’s timely to do something like this, with someone who brings a lot of expertise.”

Some of Roberts accomplishments include hosting the men’s and women’s NCAA basketball tournaments, LPGA events, the prime time-interview program “In the Sportslight” and the Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee.

She’s also reported for ESPN during the summer and winter Olympics, as well as announcing the play-by-play for the Eastern Regional Final game of the NCAA tournament.

Before she worked for national television, Roberts was a sports anchor and reporter at a variety of stations, including WHMD/WFPR Radio in Hammond, La., WLOX-TV in Biloxi, Mo., WSMV-TV in Nashville, Tenn., and WAGA-TV in Atlanta, Ga.

“I have heard her speak and she’s just wonderful, very inspirational,” said Pat Miller, program coordinator of the Committee on Lectures

Miller noted that there will be an opportunity to speak with Roberts after her speech.