Contact: Sasha Steinberg

STARKVILLE, Miss.—Mississippi State’s Student Association is welcoming Olympic medalist and entrepreneur Shawn Johnson East next week as part of the organization’s Fall Lecture Series.

Taking place Tuesday [Nov. 1], the 7 p.m. presentation will be held in Bettersworth Auditorium at the university’s historic Lee Hall.

Free tickets for MSU students and the general public are available from the Center for Student Activities in Colvard Student Union, Suite 314. Students must present their student ID to claim tickets.

Since she was a little girl, Johnson East dreamed of competing for the United States in the Olympics. When she was named to the U.S. Olympics Gymnastics Team in 2008, she already was a two-time National Champion and a World AA Champion. At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Johnson East helped establish the U.S. as one of the most talented teams in the world, winning the individual gold medal in the balance beam and three silver medals in the individual all-around, floor exercise and team categories.

In 2009, Johnson East published her first book, “Shawn Johnson, Olympic Champion: Stories Behind the Smile,” and also received the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Sullivan Award, one of the  most prestigious honors in U.S. amateur sports. That same year, Johnson East was crowned champion of ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” eighth season. In 2012, she earned second place on the popular dance competition’s “All-Stars” show.

Also in 2012, Johnson East published her New York Times best-selling book, “Winning Balance: What I’ve Learned So Far About Love, Faith and Living Your Dreams,” and announced her retirement from competitive gymnastics following a knee injury.

Along with competing on the seventh installment of the hit show “Celebrity Apprentice” in 2014, Johnson East co-founded TheBodyDepartment.com, a site that serves as an outlet for positive discussions on body image, wellness, fitness and other health-related topics.

In addition to gymnastics, Johnson East is known for her philanthropic endeavors, including work with many animal-, children- and cancer-focused charities. For more biographical information, visit http://shawnjohnson.com.

For more on Johnson East’s presentation and the MSU Student Association, visit www.sa.msstate.edu or follow on Twitter and Instagram @MSU_SA.

MSU is Mississippi’s leading university, available online at www.msstate.edu.