STAFF CONTRIBUTORS
Gloria Blackwell Gloria is AAUW’s Director of Fellowships, Grants and International Programs. She is responsible for the oversight and management of AAUW’s annual $4.5 million fellowships and grants programs, as well as management of the NSF-funded National Girls’ Collaborative Program. On the international front, Gloria is the liaison to AAUW’s International Affairs Committee and manages relationships with AAUW’s international partners, such as CARE. Her professional background includes long-term engagement at the Institute of International Education, and positions as a Peace Corps staff member and Volunteer in Africa, where she has travelled extensively. Gloria received a master’s degree from George Washington University and graduated from the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown after studying in Paris. First and foremost Gloria is committed to supporting opportunities for improving the conditions of women and girls globally, in her professional and personal life.
Liz Bolton Liz is the senior editor and writer in the AAUW Communications Department. She holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and interdisciplinary studies from American University and a master’s in public policy and women’s studies from George Washington University. When not correcting dangling clauses or scouring the Internet for equity issues to blog about, she can be found running or riding her new bike around the streets of D.C.
Seth Chase Seth joined AAUW’s Public Policy and Government Relations Department in 2004 as senior grassroots coordinator. In 2006, he was promoted to field director. Seth plans and manages AAUW’s voter education and turnout campaign, as well as grassroots advocacy on AAUW’s public policy priorities, including e-advocacy, and constituent lobbying to members of Congress.
Christianne Corbett Christianne is a Research Associate at the AAUW Educational Foundation. She holds a master’s degree in cultural anthropology and bachelor’s degrees in government and aerospace engineering. Prior to coming to AAUW, she worked on Capitol Hill as a legislative fellow and worked as a mechanical design engineer for eight years. Christi also taught high school math and science in Ghana as a Peace Corps Volunteer.
Kate Farrar Kate, director of the AAUW Leadership and Training Institute, manages programs that help women and girls acquire the skills they need to succeed and assume leadership roles in their academic, professional, and personal lives. Previously, Kate was the associate director of national programs and policy at Wider Opportunities for Women, where she led a nationwide effort to help low-income families achieve economic independence. She serves on the board of the Younger Women’s Task Force, a project of the National Council for Women’s Organizations. Kate has a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Connecticut (go Huskies!) and a master’s in public administration from the Maxwell School of Syracuse University. Kate thrives on finding new things to do in D.C., including her latest pottery classes (eek!)
Kelley Gallagher Kelley serves as program officer overseeing AAUW’s Career Development Grants, Community Action Grants, and Selected Professions Fellowships programs. Before joining AAUW in 2007, she managed grant programs for the national anti-hunger organization Share Our Strength. Kelley has served as an advocate for survivors of sexual assault, providing crisis support and counseling, and currently volunteers in a local night shelter for homeless women. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio, and is completing a master’s in public management from the University of Maryland.
Lisa Goodnight Lisa is the Sr. Media Relations and Marketing Outreach Associate at AAUW. Lisa has been a communications consultant at the National Association of Hispanic Journalists, National Association of Black Journalists and she spent several years as a newspaper staff writer for two papers in New Jersey, The Record and Burlington County Times. Lisa has also worked for the federal government on a campaign to get ordinary Americans talking about how to fix the health care system. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the College of Journalism, University of Maryland, at College Park.
Linda Hallman Linda joined AAUW in January 2008 as its new executive director. Hallman has a long history of executive-level association and foundation experience in the Washington, D.C., area. Most recently, she served as vice president of policy and government strategy, external and member relations, with the National Alliance for Health Information Technology (NAHIT) in Washington, D.C. Hallman earned a master’s degree in organizational management from George Washington University and a bachelor’s degree in music education from Indiana University.
Anne Hedgepeth Anne is the government relations coordinator in AAUW’s Public Policy and Government Relations Department. She works hard to advance AAUW’s policy priorities on Capitol Hill and organizes AAUW’s weekly Lobby Corps program. Anne is a 2007 graduate of Davidson College in NC with a bachelor’s degree in economics. This fall she has volunteered to coach a youth field hockey team in Loudon County – surely a more intimidating project than her day job!
Lecia Imbery Lecia, AAUW’s public policy grassroots coordinator, promotes advocacy efforts among AAUW members. She works primarily with AAUW’s e-advocacy programs, including Action Network and Washington Update, and she provides technical assistance to state and branch public policy leaders. After earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in structural engineering, Lecia worked in the engineering field for several years before switching to the world of nonprofits. Before coming to AAUW, Lecia served as a program manager for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and the Volunteer Center, both in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Christy Jones A seasoned management executive with trade, professional, and philanthropic associations, Christy is AAUW’s director of membership. A CAE, Christy has been a speaker, author and most recently served on the design team of ASAE’s Global Summit on Social Responsibility. An honors graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University in political science and international relations, Christy is a card-carrying “news junkie” whose interest in global events has been heightened by extensive travel and experiences with cultures and people around the world.
Holly Kearl Holly is program manager for AAUW’s Legal Advocacy Fund. She previously worked at the National Women’s History Museum as program director. Building off past volunteer work at domestic violence shelters, she’s a weekly volunteer with the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network’s Online Hotline. Holly received a bachelor’s degree from Santa Clara University in California in both history and women and gender studies. She earned a master’s degree in public policy and women’s studies from George Washington University in Washington, D.C., where she wrote a thesis on ways women are combating street harassment.
Lisa Maatz As AAUW’s top policy adviser, Lisa works to advance AAUW’s priority issues on Capitol Hill, through the executive branch, and in coalition with other organizations. Lisa has done similar work for the NOW Legal Defense and Education Fund and the Older Women’s League, and was a legislative aide to U.S. Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (D-NY). Her grassroots advocacy career began when she was the Executive Director of Turning Point, a battered women’s program. Her areas of expertise include gender equity in education, Title IX, retirement security, pay equity, and other civil rights issues related to women and girls. Maatz is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Ohio University, has two Master’s degrees from Ohio State, and holds an adjunct appointment with the Women and Politics Institute at American University.
Kathryn Montiegel Kathryn joined AAUW earlier this year as the website assistant. She comes from St. Louis, Missouri, where she worked in development, communications, and volunteer management for a variety of nonprofit organizations including a homeless service provider, a healthcare research foundation, and a shelter for victims of domestic violence. Kathryn is a 2001 graduate of Saint Louis University (Go Billikens!) with a bachelor’s degree in urban affairs.
Amanda Petersen Amanda is the program assistant for International and American Fellowships where she works to provide fellowships and support for women pursuing higher education both nationally and globally. She holds a bachelor’s degree in History and Women’s Studies from Wheaton College in Norton, Massachusetts. She balances her office job by spending her free time outdoors as much as possible.
Claudia Richards Claudia is Jane of all trades at AAUW, having worked in the development office for 13 years, in meetings for two years, and in membership, where she is currently the field relations manager. Claudia has visited 26 of the 48 contiguous states; she can also name at least one AAUW member in every U.S. state and territory.
Osob Samantar Osob is a recent graduate from the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, VA. Osob graduated as a double major in both Political Science and International Affairs. Originally from Somalia, Osob came to the United States at a very young age. As a hobby, she enjoys dabbling in video production and editing.
Tracy Sherman Tracy, AAUW’s government relations manager, develops effective legislative strategies that advance AAUW’s policy priorities of gender fairness, equity in education, and women’s economic self-sufficiency. Before joining AAUW, Tracy worked on Capitol Hill, covering a number of legislative issues for several members of Congress. She earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Washington University in St. Louis and a master’s degree in political management from George Washington University.
Peggy Woods-Clark Peggy is the AAUW website manager. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Kansas (Rock Chalk Jayhawk KU!). Before coming to AAUW, she worked in various capacities, including business analyst and web strategist for an adult distance learning course provider.
CURRENT AAUW FELLOWS
REBECCA HERR Rebecca is a third-year law student at the University of Maryland and a fellow with the AAUW Legal Advocacy Fund.
Mandy Toomey Simultaneously changing careers and countries, Mandy joined AAUW’s Fellowships and Grants Department as a summer intern to assist in revitalizing the Alumnae Corner and building a network for fellow alumnae. After a two-year teaching stint with Teach for America, Mandy lived and taught in Brazil for four years. She has returned to the United States to begin a master’s program in public communications at American University in the fall. In the meantime she is excited about spending the summer immersed in an environment of motivated, intelligent women who are making a difference in the world.
2008-09 AAUW STUDENT ADVISORY COUNCIL MEMBERS
Taqwaa Falaq Saleem Taqwaa is a member of AAUW’s 2008–09 Student Advisory Council. A native of Savannah, Georgia, Taqwaa is a graduate student at Georgia Southern University and plans to become an administrator in higher education. In addition to involvement in many community and campus activities, this fall Taqwaa has worked with the National Council for Negro Women to help people register to vote.
Brittany Anderton Brittany is a senior Cell and Molecular Biology major at Washington and Jefferson College in Pennsylvania. She has served as both Treasurer and Vice President of GIVE (Get Involved in Volunteer Experience), a community service organization at her school. With GIVE, Brittany has participated in two Habitat for Humanity Collegiate Challenges.
Meg Beyers Meg is a junior at Agnes Scott College majoring in Women’s Studies, Sociology and Anthropology with a minor in History. She has been the president of her class since her first year and is an active member of many campus organizations dealing with LGBTQ activism, women’s rights, and international justice. She developed a yearly campus-wide community service initiative,and she founded the Campus Coalition to Stop Sex Trafficking.
Frances Dávila Frances is a junior at Georgetown University, in Washington, DC, majoring in Culture and Politics, with a focus on how race, religion, and politics affect women’s identity. She is a leading activist in the United Feminists organization on campus and has recently been chosen as a Women Advancing Gender Equity fellow by Georgetown women alumni.
Aslee Oliver Ashlee is a sophomore at Hollins University in Roanoke, VA, majoring in Gender and Women’s Studies and Biology with a minor in Economics. She is currently the Co-Vice President for the Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance and Academic Policy Member At-Large at Hollins University.
FORMER CONTRIBUTORS
MICHELLE GELLMAN Michelle was an intern working with the AAUW Leadership and Training Institute. She has completed her first year of college at Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts, where she is majoring in psychology and minoring in legal studies and Hebrew. Her goal is to attend law school. She is an active student, participating on the track and field team and in the psychology, pre-law, and pottery clubs.
JACKIE HUBBELL Jackie was a 2008 summer fellow at AAUW in the Public Policy and Government Relations Department. She is currently an undergraduate at Boston College, earning her bachelor’s degree in English literature and women’s studies. While at BC, she has worked in the offices of the Boston College Women’s Studies Program as well as the National Association of Women in Catholic Higher Education. In the summer of 2007, she interned at the Feminist Majority Foundation in Los Angeles, learning to grassroots organize on college campuses throughout the state of California.
David Kirkwood Dave, an AAUW member-at-large, is retired from Unisys Corporation, where his experience included leadership positions in computer research, engineering, manufacturing, and finance. He is currently the president and CTO of a small software development corporation. Dave’s interests include computer algorithm development, strategic planning and leadership development, and activities that promote cultural acceptance of diversity. He earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Iowa State University.
CHANDRA PALMER Chandra was a 2008 fall fellow at AAUW in the Leadership and Training Institute department. She is a M.A. candidate at the University of Denver where she is studying international development, environmental policy, and gender policy discourse. She attended Illinois College where she studied international relations, French, and political science. Chandra hopes to seek a career path with the possibilities of international travel because she is has not seen enough of the world yet!
Anna Rappaport Anna Rappaport, FSA, MAAA, is a nationally and internationally recognized actuary and expert on the impact of change on retirement systems and workforce issues and a frequent speaker and author. She is president of Anna Rappaport Consulting and serves as senior fellow on Pensions and Retirement for the Conference Board. She is passionate about creating a better future for older Americans and improving the retirement system in America, particularly for the many women who do not fare well at older ages. For more information about her, see http://www.annarappaport.com/.
