Visiting University of Hawai'i law professor Mari Matsuda will take the podium today as the first speaker for the Ah Quon McElrath Distinguished Lecture in Social Change and Justice series.

Matsuda will speak at the Manoa campus Art Auditorium from noon to 2 p.m. The first tenured Asian-American law professor in the United States, Matsuda is an "activist scholar" who will talk about her fight for social justice.

Born and raised in Hawai'i, Matsuda received her juris doctorate degree at the UH William S. Richardson School of Law in 1980.

The UH Ethnic Studies Department created the Ah Quon McElrath Fund for Social Change and Justice to inspire UH students and others toward civic engagement. It is named in honor of McElrath, the long-time labor leader, social worker and community advocate.

The fund will help pay for an annual forum or lecture series on topics related to progressive social change. The fund may also go for students and the community in the form of educational conferences, publications and internships.

A fundraising luncheon is scheduled for Nov. 20 at the Kapi'olani Community College cafeteria. For more information, call Dean Alegado, chairman of the Ethnic Studies Department, at 956-6915.