Former Olympic figure skater Michelle Kwan is coming to Southeast Missouri State University to give a presentation called "Aspiring to Greatness: What it Takes to Win."

Kwan will talk to her audience about planning and preparing for success as part of the 2012-13 Speaker Series at the Show Me Center.

"Michelle is a good fit for the Speaker Series because she has a wide range of knowledge and experience with health and wellness, public policy, government and community service," coordinator for campus programming Joanna Shaver said. "As an Olympic athlete and now as an adviser on public policy in the State Department, she knows what it takes to succeed. Her knowledge should be quite enlightening for our students."

Getting Kwan to come to campus was not an easy task.

"To bring Michelle to campus, we had to make an offer, a complete contract and work with her agency to plan logistics," Shaver said. "There are many offices on campus that help, such as the Show Me Center and University Relations."

Kwan won her first World Junior Championship in 1996 at the age of 13. Three years later she received second place in the national and world championships. In 1998, she appeared in the Winter Olympics held in Nagano, Japan, finishing with a silver medal. She also finished with a bronze medal in the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City. Kwan is a nine-time U.S. champion and a five-time world champion.

She has won a total of 43 championships during the course of her career. She was also named the most decorated figure skater in U.S. history, meaning that she was the face of figure skating during her time.

"I've watched Michelle compete in ice skating competitions since she was quite young," Shaver said. "She's an amazing athlete with a winning attitude."

Off the ice, according to speakers.com, Kwan was named America's first Public Diplomacy Envoy by the Secretary of State and was appointed by President Barack Obama to the President's Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition. She was also named Sportswoman of the Year by both the U.S. Olympic Committee and the Women's Sports Foundation while also winning the Sullivan Award as the top amateur athlete in America.

"She is someone that many of our students grew up watching on television, so we hope that the students will feel a connection to her," Shaver said.

While Kwan hasn't officially retired from figure skating, she hasn't competed since the 2006-2007 season. Kwan decided to put her career on hold to focus on a Master of Science degree in law and diplomacy at Tufts's Fletcher School in Medford, Mass.

"I'm looking forward to hearing her speak about her skating accomplishments, but I'm also interested in all of the things she has accomplished off the ice," Shaver said.

Kwan will speak at 7:30 p.m. March 6 at the Show Me Center. Tickets are required for entry and are free for Southeast faculty, staff and students with a valid Southeast ID. Anyone without a valid Southeast ID can purchase tickets for $10 at the University Center room 202, the Center for Student Involvement in the UC room 204 or the Show Me Center box office.

"She will speak then have a moderated question and answer," Shaver said. "Guests may submit questions for Michelle as they enter the Show Me Center."