Speakers
Gloria L. Blackwell
Chief Executive Officer,
American Association of University Women
Keynote Address: Title forthcoming
Gloria L. Blackwell serves as Chief Executive Officer of the American Association of University
Women, leading the organization during a critical period of growth, advocacy, and impact. Her
leadership is grounded in deep institutional experience and a clear vision for advancing equity for women and girls through education, economic security, and systemic change.
During her tenure, Blackwell has guided AAUW through strategic planning that strengthens
alignment between national priorities and affiliate engagement, increasing mission impact across higher education and advocacy initiatives. One of her most significant contributions is her
seventeen-year leadership of AAUW’s fellowships and grants programs, during which more than
seventy million dollars was awarded to women scholars and equity focused programs in the
United States and globally.
Blackwell has expanded AAUW’s outreach to girls and women of color through initiatives that
promote economic security and access to opportunity, including STEMEd for Girls and AAUW Money Smart. She has overseen National Science Foundation funded projects and other higher education and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) initiatives, reinforcing AAUW’s role as a national leader in equity driven programming. With a strong international development background, she also leads AAUW’s global engagement and serves as the organization’s primary representative to the United Nations.
A nationally recognized thought leader on equity in higher education, STEM access, economic
empowerment, and the gender pay gap, Blackwell is a frequent speaker and contributor across major platforms. Her work has been featured by TIME, USA Today, The Washington Post, the Chronicle of Higher Education, Bloomberg for Education, and ABC News.
Her leadership has been recognized by organizations including the International Alliance of Women, Diverse Issues in Higher Education, Crittenton Services of Greater Washington, and
She’s the First.
Before joining AAUW, Blackwell served as Director of Africa Education Programs at the
Institute of International Education and worked with the Peace Corps as both a staff member and
volunteer in Africa. She holds a master’s degree in education and human development from The
George Washington University and a bachelor’s degree in international affairs from Georgetown
University’s Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, with additional study at the American
University in Paris.
Women, leading the organization during a critical period of growth, advocacy, and impact. Her
leadership is grounded in deep institutional experience and a clear vision for advancing equity for women and girls through education, economic security, and systemic change.
During her tenure, Blackwell has guided AAUW through strategic planning that strengthens
alignment between national priorities and affiliate engagement, increasing mission impact across higher education and advocacy initiatives. One of her most significant contributions is her
seventeen-year leadership of AAUW’s fellowships and grants programs, during which more than
seventy million dollars was awarded to women scholars and equity focused programs in the
United States and globally.
Blackwell has expanded AAUW’s outreach to girls and women of color through initiatives that
promote economic security and access to opportunity, including STEMEd for Girls and AAUW Money Smart. She has overseen National Science Foundation funded projects and other higher education and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) initiatives, reinforcing AAUW’s role as a national leader in equity driven programming. With a strong international development background, she also leads AAUW’s global engagement and serves as the organization’s primary representative to the United Nations.
A nationally recognized thought leader on equity in higher education, STEM access, economic
empowerment, and the gender pay gap, Blackwell is a frequent speaker and contributor across major platforms. Her work has been featured by TIME, USA Today, The Washington Post, the Chronicle of Higher Education, Bloomberg for Education, and ABC News.
Her leadership has been recognized by organizations including the International Alliance of Women, Diverse Issues in Higher Education, Crittenton Services of Greater Washington, and
She’s the First.
Before joining AAUW, Blackwell served as Director of Africa Education Programs at the
Institute of International Education and worked with the Peace Corps as both a staff member and
volunteer in Africa. She holds a master’s degree in education and human development from The
George Washington University and a bachelor’s degree in international affairs from Georgetown
University’s Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, with additional study at the American
University in Paris.
Danielle M. Conway, JD, LLM
Dean and Donald J. Farage Professor of Law
Penn State Dickinson Law
Session Title: Forthcoming
Danielle M. Conway serves as Dean and Donald J. Farage Professor of Law at Penn State
Dickinson Law, where she is nationally recognized for her leadership in legal education,
institutional transformation, and equity driven reform. Her work bridges law, policy, and public
education, with a sustained focus on expanding access and advancing justice for historically
marginalized communities.
Before joining Dickinson Law, Dean Conway served for four years as dean of the University of
Maine School of Law and spent fourteen years on the faculty at the University of Hawaiʻi at
Mānoa William S. Richardson School of Law. There, she was the inaugural Michael J. Marks
Distinguished Professor of Business Law. Earlier in her career, she held faculty appointments at
Georgetown University Law Center and the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law.
A leading scholar in procurement law, entrepreneurship, intellectual property, and licensing, Conway is the author or editor of six books and casebooks, along with numerous scholarly articles, chapters, and essays. Her scholarship and public speaking center on public education, institutional accountability, and the actualization of rights for Indigenous Peoples, minoritized communities, and rural populations. Her most recent work examines how antiracist leadership and structural change can reshape legal education, faculty recruitment, and admissions practices.
Conway is the co-recipient of the inaugural Association of American Law Schools Impact
Award, honoring individuals who have made a significant positive impact on legal education.
She received this recognition for her leadership in founding the Law Deans Antiracist
Clearinghouse Project, launched in June 2020 to provide resources and guidance for addressing
racism in law schools and the legal profession.
In addition to her academic leadership, Conway serves as a co-chair of the Select Penn State
Presidential Commission on Racism, Bias, and Community Safety. She has also served
internationally as a Fulbright Senior Scholar in Australia and as Chair in Law at La Trobe
University.
Dickinson Law, where she is nationally recognized for her leadership in legal education,
institutional transformation, and equity driven reform. Her work bridges law, policy, and public
education, with a sustained focus on expanding access and advancing justice for historically
marginalized communities.
Before joining Dickinson Law, Dean Conway served for four years as dean of the University of
Maine School of Law and spent fourteen years on the faculty at the University of Hawaiʻi at
Mānoa William S. Richardson School of Law. There, she was the inaugural Michael J. Marks
Distinguished Professor of Business Law. Earlier in her career, she held faculty appointments at
Georgetown University Law Center and the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law.
A leading scholar in procurement law, entrepreneurship, intellectual property, and licensing, Conway is the author or editor of six books and casebooks, along with numerous scholarly articles, chapters, and essays. Her scholarship and public speaking center on public education, institutional accountability, and the actualization of rights for Indigenous Peoples, minoritized communities, and rural populations. Her most recent work examines how antiracist leadership and structural change can reshape legal education, faculty recruitment, and admissions practices.
Conway is the co-recipient of the inaugural Association of American Law Schools Impact
Award, honoring individuals who have made a significant positive impact on legal education.
She received this recognition for her leadership in founding the Law Deans Antiracist
Clearinghouse Project, launched in June 2020 to provide resources and guidance for addressing
racism in law schools and the legal profession.
In addition to her academic leadership, Conway serves as a co-chair of the Select Penn State
Presidential Commission on Racism, Bias, and Community Safety. She has also served
internationally as a Fulbright Senior Scholar in Australia and as Chair in Law at La Trobe
University.
Joyce M. Davis
Opinion Editor, PennLive and The Patriot News
Session Title: America’s Media in Crisis
Joyce M. Davis is Opinion Editor for PennLive and The Patriot-News and brings decades of experience as an award-winning journalist, editor, and global media leader. Her career spans international reporting, public media leadership, and advocacy for freedom of the press and human rights, positioning her as a trusted voice on the state of journalism in the United States and abroad.
Davis has worked with some of the most respected media organizations in the world and has lived and reported across multiple regions, including the Middle East, Central Asia, and Europe. She previously served as Associate Director of Broadcasting for Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty in Prague, overseeing coverage related to Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Central Asia. Earlier in her career, she held senior editorial roles with National Public Radio, including Middle East Editor, Deputy Foreign Editor, Senior Foreign Editor, and Director of News Staffing.
In addition to her journalism career, Davis is president and chief executive officer of the World
Affairs Council of Harrisburg, which she founded in 2010 to foster global awareness and civic
engagement in Central Pennsylvania. She also serves on the board of directors of the World
Affairs Councils of America.
Davis has authored two books examining conflict, faith, and political violence in the Middle East and has contributed to academic and policy-focused publications on terrorism and global affairs. Her work has earned four honorary doctorate degrees in recognition of her commitment to freedom of the press and human rights.
Through her reporting, leadership, and public engagement, Davis continues to challenge
audiences to critically examine the role of media in democracy and the responsibilities of
journalism in times of political and social uncertainty.
Davis has worked with some of the most respected media organizations in the world and has lived and reported across multiple regions, including the Middle East, Central Asia, and Europe. She previously served as Associate Director of Broadcasting for Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty in Prague, overseeing coverage related to Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Central Asia. Earlier in her career, she held senior editorial roles with National Public Radio, including Middle East Editor, Deputy Foreign Editor, Senior Foreign Editor, and Director of News Staffing.
In addition to her journalism career, Davis is president and chief executive officer of the World
Affairs Council of Harrisburg, which she founded in 2010 to foster global awareness and civic
engagement in Central Pennsylvania. She also serves on the board of directors of the World
Affairs Councils of America.
Davis has authored two books examining conflict, faith, and political violence in the Middle East and has contributed to academic and policy-focused publications on terrorism and global affairs. Her work has earned four honorary doctorate degrees in recognition of her commitment to freedom of the press and human rights.
Through her reporting, leadership, and public engagement, Davis continues to challenge
audiences to critically examine the role of media in democracy and the responsibilities of
journalism in times of political and social uncertainty.
Morgan Flood
Policy Research Specialist, Central Pennsylvania Food Bank
Session Title: Public Policy at the Pantry: Innovative Tools to Address Food Insecurity in
Central Pennsylvania
Morgan Flood is a Policy Research Specialist with the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, where
she contributes to data-driven policy and program initiatives focused on addressing hunger and food insecurity across the region. Her work blends research, technology, and community engagement to inform practical solutions that improve access to food and social services.
Flood is a key contributor to the Food Bank’s Community Hunger Mapping initiative, with a
particular focus on quantitative and geographic analysis. She is the primary author of the
organization’s Policy Blog and supports a range of policy and program analysis projects, including the rollout of paperless neighbor intake tools at partner food pantries. Her work
emphasizes using data to drive equitable and efficient service delivery.
A 2025 to 2026 AAUW National Career Development Grant awardee, Flood is pursuing a
Master of Public Policy along with a graduate certificate in Geographic Information Systems at
Temple University, with anticipated graduation in December 2026. She plans to apply her
training to advance policy solutions that address poverty, hunger, and systemic inequities.
Before joining the Impact and Policy Research team in 2022, Flood worked in the Central
Pennsylvania Food Bank’s Youth Programs department, where she collaborated with partners to implement federal and privately funded child hunger programs and supported strategic planning and grant initiatives. Earlier in her career, she completed an AmeriCorps term with Lancaster Lebanon Habitat for Humanity.
Flood earned her undergraduate degree in history, political science, and economics from the
University of Pittsburgh, graduating summa cum laude. In recognition of her leadership and
impact, she was named to the Harrisburg Young Professionals Twenty in their 20s Class of 2024.
she contributes to data-driven policy and program initiatives focused on addressing hunger and food insecurity across the region. Her work blends research, technology, and community engagement to inform practical solutions that improve access to food and social services.
Flood is a key contributor to the Food Bank’s Community Hunger Mapping initiative, with a
particular focus on quantitative and geographic analysis. She is the primary author of the
organization’s Policy Blog and supports a range of policy and program analysis projects, including the rollout of paperless neighbor intake tools at partner food pantries. Her work
emphasizes using data to drive equitable and efficient service delivery.
A 2025 to 2026 AAUW National Career Development Grant awardee, Flood is pursuing a
Master of Public Policy along with a graduate certificate in Geographic Information Systems at
Temple University, with anticipated graduation in December 2026. She plans to apply her
training to advance policy solutions that address poverty, hunger, and systemic inequities.
Before joining the Impact and Policy Research team in 2022, Flood worked in the Central
Pennsylvania Food Bank’s Youth Programs department, where she collaborated with partners to implement federal and privately funded child hunger programs and supported strategic planning and grant initiatives. Earlier in her career, she completed an AmeriCorps term with Lancaster Lebanon Habitat for Humanity.
Flood earned her undergraduate degree in history, political science, and economics from the
University of Pittsburgh, graduating summa cum laude. In recognition of her leadership and
impact, she was named to the Harrisburg Young Professionals Twenty in their 20s Class of 2024.
Susie Mosser, DA
Reproductive and Eco Psychologist
Vice President of Programs, AAUW Garrett County, Maryland
Session Title: Wombs That Weave
Susie Mosser is a reproductive and eco-psychologist, therapist, educator, and advocate whose work centers on women’s wellness, trauma, and the long-term impact of violence on the body and mind. She serves as vice president of programs for the AAUW Garrett County, Maryland branch and is a full-time visiting professor at Garrett College, where she teaches psychology and related disciplines.
Mosser owns and operates a private clinical practice as a Pennsylvania licensed clinician,
specializing in perinatal mood and anxiety, perinatal bereavement, and women’s wellness. Her professional path blends psychology, childbirth education, and advocacy, informed by her early work as a childbirth educator and doula. She is also a public speaker, author of multiple nonfiction works, and has been featured in national publications for her research and clinical expertise.
Mosser’s doctoral research examined the global impact of violence against women, including
rape used as a weapon of war, and introduced the concept of the “package of victims,” a
framework she developed to describe how trauma affects not only women but also developing fetuses through in-utero stress. Her work explores how epigenetics and phenotypic plasticity can inform healing and therapeutic intervention later in life. From this research, Mosser developed new terminology and treatment approaches that continue to influence her clinical and academic work.
Mosser’s advocacy is rooted in lived experience. A survivor of domestic violence and having
been born from sexual violence, she has dedicated her career to amplifying agency, safety, and healing for women, children, and minoritized communities worldwide. She began her career at a domestic violence shelter and continues to champion trauma-informed care through research, teaching, and practice.
Mosser owns and operates a private clinical practice as a Pennsylvania licensed clinician,
specializing in perinatal mood and anxiety, perinatal bereavement, and women’s wellness. Her professional path blends psychology, childbirth education, and advocacy, informed by her early work as a childbirth educator and doula. She is also a public speaker, author of multiple nonfiction works, and has been featured in national publications for her research and clinical expertise.
Mosser’s doctoral research examined the global impact of violence against women, including
rape used as a weapon of war, and introduced the concept of the “package of victims,” a
framework she developed to describe how trauma affects not only women but also developing fetuses through in-utero stress. Her work explores how epigenetics and phenotypic plasticity can inform healing and therapeutic intervention later in life. From this research, Mosser developed new terminology and treatment approaches that continue to influence her clinical and academic work.
Mosser’s advocacy is rooted in lived experience. A survivor of domestic violence and having
been born from sexual violence, she has dedicated her career to amplifying agency, safety, and healing for women, children, and minoritized communities worldwide. She began her career at a domestic violence shelter and continues to champion trauma-informed care through research, teaching, and practice.
Meghan Kissell
Senior Director of Policy and Member Advocacy, American Association of University
Women
Session Title: Forthcoming
Meghan Kissell serves as Senior Director of Policy and Member Advocacy at the American
Association of University Women, where she leads the organization’s nonpartisan federal policy agenda and supports grassroots advocacy across AAUW’s national membership network. Her work centers on translating research and mission priorities into effective policy action.
Kissell brings more than two decades of experience developing nonprofit policy positions and designing targeted advocacy strategies that engage policymakers, stakeholders, and community leaders. Her leadership has helped advance policies focused on equity, access, and social impact at the federal, state, and local levels.
Prior to joining AAUW, Kissell worked on state and local health policy with the Campaign for
Tobacco Free Kids and led efforts to advance LGBTQ equality in the Deep South with the
Human Rights Campaign. She also worked with the Conservation Lands Foundation, helping to
lead local and national campaigns in the Western United States that resulted in the permanent
protection of more than five million acres of public land.
Earlier in her career, Kissell served as AAUW’s Field Director, supporting local advocacy
engagement and volunteer-led voter outreach efforts. She holds a master’s degree in social work with a concentration in community organizing from Howard University and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Allegheny College.
Association of University Women, where she leads the organization’s nonpartisan federal policy agenda and supports grassroots advocacy across AAUW’s national membership network. Her work centers on translating research and mission priorities into effective policy action.
Kissell brings more than two decades of experience developing nonprofit policy positions and designing targeted advocacy strategies that engage policymakers, stakeholders, and community leaders. Her leadership has helped advance policies focused on equity, access, and social impact at the federal, state, and local levels.
Prior to joining AAUW, Kissell worked on state and local health policy with the Campaign for
Tobacco Free Kids and led efforts to advance LGBTQ equality in the Deep South with the
Human Rights Campaign. She also worked with the Conservation Lands Foundation, helping to
lead local and national campaigns in the Western United States that resulted in the permanent
protection of more than five million acres of public land.
Earlier in her career, Kissell served as AAUW’s Field Director, supporting local advocacy
engagement and volunteer-led voter outreach efforts. She holds a master’s degree in social work with a concentration in community organizing from Howard University and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Allegheny College.
Andrea Miller
Executive Director, People Demanding Action
Session Title: Forthcoming
Andrea Miller is Executive Director of People Demanding Action and a nationally recognized
leader in voting rights, digital organizing, and election strategy. Her work sits at the intersection of technology, policy, and grassroots engagement, with a sustained focus on protecting democracy and expanding civic participation.
Miller is a founding board member of the Center for Common Ground and the founding
president of the National Women’s Political Caucus of Virginia. As an information technology
and political director, she designs and administers large scale digital phone banks and texting programs that support voter engagement and mobilization efforts nationwide.
From 2013 to 2015, Miller led the Progressive Round Table on Capitol Hill, convening members
of Congress, nonprofit leaders, and activists to coordinate strategy around key policy priorities.
Her advocacy has contributed to legislative outcomes at both the federal and state levels,
particularly in the areas of voting rights, climate policy, and the Equal Rights Amendment.
In 2008, Miller was the Democratic nominee for Virginia’s Fourth Congressional District. Through her leadership and organizing work, she continues to shape conversations about civic
power, representation, and the future of democratic participation.
leader in voting rights, digital organizing, and election strategy. Her work sits at the intersection of technology, policy, and grassroots engagement, with a sustained focus on protecting democracy and expanding civic participation.
Miller is a founding board member of the Center for Common Ground and the founding
president of the National Women’s Political Caucus of Virginia. As an information technology
and political director, she designs and administers large scale digital phone banks and texting programs that support voter engagement and mobilization efforts nationwide.
From 2013 to 2015, Miller led the Progressive Round Table on Capitol Hill, convening members
of Congress, nonprofit leaders, and activists to coordinate strategy around key policy priorities.
Her advocacy has contributed to legislative outcomes at both the federal and state levels,
particularly in the areas of voting rights, climate policy, and the Equal Rights Amendment.
In 2008, Miller was the Democratic nominee for Virginia’s Fourth Congressional District. Through her leadership and organizing work, she continues to shape conversations about civic
power, representation, and the future of democratic participation.
Yaa Anima Opare Appiah
PhD Candidate, Nuclear Engineering, Penn State University
AAUW 2025 International Fellow
Session Title: Permission to Fail: A Revolution We Still Haven’t Finished
Yaa Anima Opare Appiah is a Ph.D. candidate in Nuclear Engineering at Penn State University,
where her research focuses on nuclear fuel materials, safeguards, and nonproliferation. Her work bridges advanced technical research with a commitment to equity, education, and global security.
Before beginning her doctoral studies, Appiah served as an Assistant Research Officer in
Nuclear Materials Accounting at Ghana’s Nuclear Regulatory Authority. She holds advanced
degrees from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and Beijing University of
Chemical Technology and completed postgraduate education in Radiation Protection through the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Appiah is a 2023 Schlumberger Faculty for the Future Fellow and a 2025 AAUW International
Fellow. She is deeply engaged in mentoring and outreach efforts that support women and
underrepresented students in STEM, with a particular emphasis on building pathways into
nuclear science and engineering.
In addition to her research and advocacy work, Appiah serves as president of Women in Nuclear
at Penn State and as networking chair for Penn State’s chapter of the Institute of Nuclear
Materials Management. Through leadership, scholarship, and community engagement, she works to shape a more inclusive and globally connected future for the nuclear field.
where her research focuses on nuclear fuel materials, safeguards, and nonproliferation. Her work bridges advanced technical research with a commitment to equity, education, and global security.
Before beginning her doctoral studies, Appiah served as an Assistant Research Officer in
Nuclear Materials Accounting at Ghana’s Nuclear Regulatory Authority. She holds advanced
degrees from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and Beijing University of
Chemical Technology and completed postgraduate education in Radiation Protection through the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Appiah is a 2023 Schlumberger Faculty for the Future Fellow and a 2025 AAUW International
Fellow. She is deeply engaged in mentoring and outreach efforts that support women and
underrepresented students in STEM, with a particular emphasis on building pathways into
nuclear science and engineering.
In addition to her research and advocacy work, Appiah serves as president of Women in Nuclear
at Penn State and as networking chair for Penn State’s chapter of the Institute of Nuclear
Materials Management. Through leadership, scholarship, and community engagement, she works to shape a more inclusive and globally connected future for the nuclear field.
Jamie Polglaze, CSE
Senior Education Manager, Society of Family Planning
Secretary, AAUW Huntingdon, Pennsylvania
Session Title: How Reproductive Health Research Leaves Many Behind
Jamie Polglaze is senior education manager at the Society of Family Planning, a national
organization dedicated to advancing just and equitable abortion and contraception care grounded in scientific evidence. A certified sex educator, Polglaze brings more than a decade of experience in reproductive health education, research translation, and professional training.
Polglaze’s work spans higher education and clinical settings, including training college students as peer sexual health educators and developing continuing medical education programs for physicians. Her approach emphasizes inclusive, evidence-based education that reflects the lived experiences of diverse communities and addresses persistent gaps in reproductive health research
and care.
Polglaze holds a bachelor’s degree in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies from American
University. In addition to her professional work, she serves as secretary of AAUW Huntingdon,
Pennsylvania, where she supports advocacy and community engagement aligned with AAUW’s
mission.
Through education, research informed advocacy, and public engagement, Polglaze works to
ensure reproductive health science and policy better reflect the needs of all people.
organization dedicated to advancing just and equitable abortion and contraception care grounded in scientific evidence. A certified sex educator, Polglaze brings more than a decade of experience in reproductive health education, research translation, and professional training.
Polglaze’s work spans higher education and clinical settings, including training college students as peer sexual health educators and developing continuing medical education programs for physicians. Her approach emphasizes inclusive, evidence-based education that reflects the lived experiences of diverse communities and addresses persistent gaps in reproductive health research
and care.
Polglaze holds a bachelor’s degree in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies from American
University. In addition to her professional work, she serves as secretary of AAUW Huntingdon,
Pennsylvania, where she supports advocacy and community engagement aligned with AAUW’s
mission.
Through education, research informed advocacy, and public engagement, Polglaze works to
ensure reproductive health science and policy better reflect the needs of all people.
Alexis Ronickher, JD
Partner, Katz Banks Kumin LLP
Session Title: Sexual Harassment in the Workplace: What Is the New Status Quo Nearly a
Decade after #MeToo?
Alexis Ronickher is a partner at the civil rights law firm Katz Banks Kumin LLP and a nationally
recognized employment and whistleblower attorney. She represents clients in complex, high-
profile matters involving sexual harassment, retaliation, whistleblower protections, and civil
rights violations across the United States.
Ronickher serves on the firm’s executive committee and is co-managing partner of its California office, dividing her time between Washington, DC, and San Francisco. She litigates cases in federal and state courts as well as administrative proceedings and has secured significant jury verdicts and settlements on behalf of her clients. Her work includes representing whistleblowers in qui tam actions resulting in multimillion dollar recoveries and individuals bringing claims against powerful institutions and public figures.
Ronickher’s leadership and impact have earned national recognition. She was named to Forbes’
inaugural list of America’s Top 200 Lawyers in 2024 and to America’s Best in State Lawyers for
California in 2025. She has also been recognized by the National Law Journal as an Elite Woman of the Plaintiff’s Bar and a Plaintiffs’ Law Trailblazer. She has been listed in Best Lawyers in America for employment law since 2020 and in Super Lawyers in Washington, DC,
since 2019.
Ronickher speaks frequently on workplace rights, sexual harassment law, and whistleblower
protections and has authored numerous publications on employment law. Her work continues to shape conversations about accountability, power, and equity in the workplace.
recognized employment and whistleblower attorney. She represents clients in complex, high-
profile matters involving sexual harassment, retaliation, whistleblower protections, and civil
rights violations across the United States.
Ronickher serves on the firm’s executive committee and is co-managing partner of its California office, dividing her time between Washington, DC, and San Francisco. She litigates cases in federal and state courts as well as administrative proceedings and has secured significant jury verdicts and settlements on behalf of her clients. Her work includes representing whistleblowers in qui tam actions resulting in multimillion dollar recoveries and individuals bringing claims against powerful institutions and public figures.
Ronickher’s leadership and impact have earned national recognition. She was named to Forbes’
inaugural list of America’s Top 200 Lawyers in 2024 and to America’s Best in State Lawyers for
California in 2025. She has also been recognized by the National Law Journal as an Elite Woman of the Plaintiff’s Bar and a Plaintiffs’ Law Trailblazer. She has been listed in Best Lawyers in America for employment law since 2020 and in Super Lawyers in Washington, DC,
since 2019.
Ronickher speaks frequently on workplace rights, sexual harassment law, and whistleblower
protections and has authored numerous publications on employment law. Her work continues to shape conversations about accountability, power, and equity in the workplace.
Kerry Sautner, EdD
President and Chief Executive Officer, Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site
Session Title: A Time for Liberty: Rights, Responsibility, and the American Social Contract
Kerry Sautner is president and chief executive officer of the Eastern State Penitentiary Historic
Site, a nationally recognized museum that interprets the origins and ongoing impact of American criminal justice reform. Under her leadership, the site connects its complex history to contemporary conversations about justice, rights, and responsibility, engaging hundreds of
thousands of visitors each year.
Eastern State Penitentiary was the world’s first penitentiary and pioneered the large-scale use of
solitary confinement in the early nineteenth century. Today, the site’s public history programming emphasizes multiple perspectives, centers marginalized voices, and invites visitors
to examine the lasting consequences of policy decisions on individuals and communities.
Prior to joining Eastern State Penitentiary, Sautner served as chief learning officer at the
National Constitution Center, where she oversaw visitor experience, educational programming,
and national civic education initiatives. Earlier in her career, she worked in program development at the Franklin Institute and has served as an adjunct professor at Drexel University
and the University of Pennsylvania.
Sautner holds a doctorate in education leadership and management from Drexel University, with a focus on creativity and innovation in educational institutions. She earned a master’s degree in education from Drexel University and a bachelor’s degree in biology and marine science from Rutgers University. She currently serves as president of the Lower Merion School District
Board, is a member of the Forum of Executive Women, and serves on the American Bar Association’s Public Education Advisory Commission.
Site, a nationally recognized museum that interprets the origins and ongoing impact of American criminal justice reform. Under her leadership, the site connects its complex history to contemporary conversations about justice, rights, and responsibility, engaging hundreds of
thousands of visitors each year.
Eastern State Penitentiary was the world’s first penitentiary and pioneered the large-scale use of
solitary confinement in the early nineteenth century. Today, the site’s public history programming emphasizes multiple perspectives, centers marginalized voices, and invites visitors
to examine the lasting consequences of policy decisions on individuals and communities.
Prior to joining Eastern State Penitentiary, Sautner served as chief learning officer at the
National Constitution Center, where she oversaw visitor experience, educational programming,
and national civic education initiatives. Earlier in her career, she worked in program development at the Franklin Institute and has served as an adjunct professor at Drexel University
and the University of Pennsylvania.
Sautner holds a doctorate in education leadership and management from Drexel University, with a focus on creativity and innovation in educational institutions. She earned a master’s degree in education from Drexel University and a bachelor’s degree in biology and marine science from Rutgers University. She currently serves as president of the Lower Merion School District
Board, is a member of the Forum of Executive Women, and serves on the American Bar Association’s Public Education Advisory Commission.
Celina Stewart, JD
Chief Executive Officer, League of Women Voters of the United States
Session Title: Unite and Rise: An Initiative to Defend Democracy
Celina Stewart serves as chief executive officer of the League of Women Voters of the United
States, leading the nation’s longest standing nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering voters and defending democracy. Her leadership advances voting rights, civic participation, and fair election systems at a critical moment for democratic institutions.
Before becoming CEO, Stewart held multiple senior leadership roles within the League,
including director of advocacy and litigation, senior director of advocacy and litigation, and chief counsel. In these roles, she guided national legal and policy strategies addressing voter access, election integrity, and constitutional protections.
Prior to joining the League, Stewart served as chief operating officer of an electoral reform
nonprofit, as legal counsel to Stacey Abrams, and as executive director of the Congressional
Black Caucus Institute. Her career reflects a sustained commitment to civil rights, public service, and institutional accountability.
Stewart is a frequent national commentator on voting rights and democracy and has appeared
across major media outlets, including MSNBC, CNN, CBS News, NPR, Reuters, TIME Magazine, and The New York Times. In May 2025, she testified before the United States Senate,
warning that proposed legislation such as the SAVE Act would impose undue burdens on
eligible voters and urging lawmakers to protect fair and accessible elections.
She earned her Juris Doctor from Western Michigan University Law School and a bachelor’s
degree in sociology from Spelman College. Stewart has served on numerous boards and advisory bodies, including the Bar Association of the District of Columbia, the Women’s Bar Association of DC, the NAACP DC Branch, and the American Bar Foundation.
States, leading the nation’s longest standing nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering voters and defending democracy. Her leadership advances voting rights, civic participation, and fair election systems at a critical moment for democratic institutions.
Before becoming CEO, Stewart held multiple senior leadership roles within the League,
including director of advocacy and litigation, senior director of advocacy and litigation, and chief counsel. In these roles, she guided national legal and policy strategies addressing voter access, election integrity, and constitutional protections.
Prior to joining the League, Stewart served as chief operating officer of an electoral reform
nonprofit, as legal counsel to Stacey Abrams, and as executive director of the Congressional
Black Caucus Institute. Her career reflects a sustained commitment to civil rights, public service, and institutional accountability.
Stewart is a frequent national commentator on voting rights and democracy and has appeared
across major media outlets, including MSNBC, CNN, CBS News, NPR, Reuters, TIME Magazine, and The New York Times. In May 2025, she testified before the United States Senate,
warning that proposed legislation such as the SAVE Act would impose undue burdens on
eligible voters and urging lawmakers to protect fair and accessible elections.
She earned her Juris Doctor from Western Michigan University Law School and a bachelor’s
degree in sociology from Spelman College. Stewart has served on numerous boards and advisory bodies, including the Bar Association of the District of Columbia, the Women’s Bar Association of DC, the NAACP DC Branch, and the American Bar Foundation.
Joseph S. Thomas, MD
Hospitalist, Buffalo Medical Group
Assistant Chair, Department of Internal Medicine, Mercy Hospital at Buffalo
Session Title: Your Body, Their Choice? Policy Impact on Women’s Healthcare
Joseph S. Thomas is a hospitalist physician at Buffalo Medical Group and assistant chair of
Internal Medicine at Mercy Hospital at Buffalo. In addition to his clinical practice, he serves as a
clinical instructor for medical residents and students, with a focus on patient centered care, health equity, and medical education.
Thomas is also a digital media editor for the Journal of Hospital Medicine and a nationally
recognized public health educator. Since 2020, he has written the blog Managing Health
Expectations and built a substantial following across social media platforms, where he addresses public health misinformation, reproductive justice, and health policy through accessible, evidence-based education.
Thomas’s work has been featured in op eds for MedPage Today and The Buffalo News, and he
has appeared on podcasts including Diversify in Path, The Physician’s Guide to Doctoring, and
The Black Doctors Podcast. Through both traditional and digital media, Dr. Thomas works to bridge the gap between clinical knowledge and public understanding.
Thomas brings a clinician’s perspective to conversations about how policy decisions directly
affect women’s healthcare, access, and outcomes, grounding advocacy in lived patient
experience and medical expertise.
Internal Medicine at Mercy Hospital at Buffalo. In addition to his clinical practice, he serves as a
clinical instructor for medical residents and students, with a focus on patient centered care, health equity, and medical education.
Thomas is also a digital media editor for the Journal of Hospital Medicine and a nationally
recognized public health educator. Since 2020, he has written the blog Managing Health
Expectations and built a substantial following across social media platforms, where he addresses public health misinformation, reproductive justice, and health policy through accessible, evidence-based education.
Thomas’s work has been featured in op eds for MedPage Today and The Buffalo News, and he
has appeared on podcasts including Diversify in Path, The Physician’s Guide to Doctoring, and
The Black Doctors Podcast. Through both traditional and digital media, Dr. Thomas works to bridge the gap between clinical knowledge and public understanding.
Thomas brings a clinician’s perspective to conversations about how policy decisions directly
affect women’s healthcare, access, and outcomes, grounding advocacy in lived patient
experience and medical expertise.
Peggy Shippen
Leadership Development Committee, AAUW California and AAUW Oregon
Volunteers First
Session Title: Forthcoming
Peggy Shippen is a long-time AAUW leader and advocate with more than three decades of
experience advancing equity through education, public policy, and volunteer engagement. Her
work spans higher education, civil rights enforcement, and organizational leadership
development, with a focus on empowering volunteers as drivers of mission impact.
Shippen holds a bachelor’s degree in special education and a master’s degree in rehabilitation
counseling from the University of Arizona. Her professional career includes service as an
investigator and community consultant for SAIF Corporation in Oregon, personnel director for
Umpqua Community College, and investigator for the Montana Human Rights Bureau, where
she specialized in cases involving sexual harassment and disability discrimination in housing, employment, and education.
An AAUW member for more than thirty years, Shippen is a dual member in California and
Oregon. As president of the Eugene, Oregon, branch, she launched the Civics, History, and
Political Science program for high school students and played a key role in the passage of
Oregon’s Civics Bill 513, which requires one semester of civics education for graduation.
While wintering in Southern California, Shippen joined the Palm Springs Branch, where she
served as Tech Trek Coordinator for four years. She also served as public policy chair for the
Salem, Oregon, branch and is currently in her fourth year on the AAUW California Leadership
Development Committee. In that role, she led the development of Volunteers First, an initiative
focused on strengthening volunteer leadership and engagement across AAUW.
experience advancing equity through education, public policy, and volunteer engagement. Her
work spans higher education, civil rights enforcement, and organizational leadership
development, with a focus on empowering volunteers as drivers of mission impact.
Shippen holds a bachelor’s degree in special education and a master’s degree in rehabilitation
counseling from the University of Arizona. Her professional career includes service as an
investigator and community consultant for SAIF Corporation in Oregon, personnel director for
Umpqua Community College, and investigator for the Montana Human Rights Bureau, where
she specialized in cases involving sexual harassment and disability discrimination in housing, employment, and education.
An AAUW member for more than thirty years, Shippen is a dual member in California and
Oregon. As president of the Eugene, Oregon, branch, she launched the Civics, History, and
Political Science program for high school students and played a key role in the passage of
Oregon’s Civics Bill 513, which requires one semester of civics education for graduation.
While wintering in Southern California, Shippen joined the Palm Springs Branch, where she
served as Tech Trek Coordinator for four years. She also served as public policy chair for the
Salem, Oregon, branch and is currently in her fourth year on the AAUW California Leadership
Development Committee. In that role, she led the development of Volunteers First, an initiative
focused on strengthening volunteer leadership and engagement across AAUW.
Katie Pincura, DrPH
Associate Professor, Rutgers University
Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
Session Title: Small Policy, Big Impact: How to Change Local Hiring Practices to Promote Pay
Equity
Katie Pincura is an associate professor at Rutgers University’s Bloustein School of Planning and
Public Policy, where she leads the undergraduate public health program and teaches at the
intersection of public health, policy, and equity. Her work focuses on how local policy decisions
shape health outcomes, economic opportunity, and workforce equity.
Pincura has been deeply engaged in advocacy related to pay equity and fair hiring practices. She previously served as policy chair for AAUW North Carolina and AAUW Western Carolina
University, leading statewide efforts to eliminate salary history questions from local government
job applications. That work helped advance more equitable hiring practices and was featured by
North Carolina Policy Watch and presented at AAUW forums across the state.
Pincura’s broader scholarship examines health policy, health education, and the structural
determinants of health, with particular attention to underserved and historically marginalized
communities. Through research, teaching, and advocacy, Pincura emphasizes practical policy
interventions that produce measurable, local impact.
Pincura holds a Doctor of Public Health degree from Georgia Southern University and serves on
the Board of the New Jersey Public Health Association. Her work continues to inform conversations about equity driven policy at the community level.
Public Policy, where she leads the undergraduate public health program and teaches at the
intersection of public health, policy, and equity. Her work focuses on how local policy decisions
shape health outcomes, economic opportunity, and workforce equity.
Pincura has been deeply engaged in advocacy related to pay equity and fair hiring practices. She previously served as policy chair for AAUW North Carolina and AAUW Western Carolina
University, leading statewide efforts to eliminate salary history questions from local government
job applications. That work helped advance more equitable hiring practices and was featured by
North Carolina Policy Watch and presented at AAUW forums across the state.
Pincura’s broader scholarship examines health policy, health education, and the structural
determinants of health, with particular attention to underserved and historically marginalized
communities. Through research, teaching, and advocacy, Pincura emphasizes practical policy
interventions that produce measurable, local impact.
Pincura holds a Doctor of Public Health degree from Georgia Southern University and serves on
the Board of the New Jersey Public Health Association. Her work continues to inform conversations about equity driven policy at the community level.
Alice Yoder
County Commissioner, Lancaster County
Session Title: Collaboration in an Unfinished Revolution
Alice Yoder serves as a Lancaster County Commissioner, bringing decades of public health and community leadership experience to local government. Her work focuses on collaboration,
systems-level problem solving, and advancing policies that improve health, safety, and quality of life for residents.
Prior to her election in November 2023, Yoder served as executive director of community health
at Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health. In that role, she established the Wellness Center and Community Health Department and served as maternal-child health director. She led countywide community health needs assessments and implemented strategic plans addressing critical public health challenges.
Yoder has played a central role in building coalitions to address issues including child abuse, domestic violence, mental health, substance use disorder, food insecurity, refugee health, childhood lead poisoning, and housing instability. She also held a leadership role in Lancaster County’s COVID 19 response, overseeing testing and contact-tracing initiatives.
Yoder’s public service extends beyond the county level. She has served on numerous state
boards and commissions, including the Governor’s Commission for Children and Families, the Governor’s Advisory Board of Health, the Governor’s Health Innovation Workgroup, the Pennsylvania Cancer Coalition, and the Pennsylvania Health Improvement Steering Committee. As Commissioner, she remains focused on addressing homelessness, expanding affordable housing, advancing rehabilitation-focused approaches within the justice system, and developing a countywide health department.
systems-level problem solving, and advancing policies that improve health, safety, and quality of life for residents.
Prior to her election in November 2023, Yoder served as executive director of community health
at Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health. In that role, she established the Wellness Center and Community Health Department and served as maternal-child health director. She led countywide community health needs assessments and implemented strategic plans addressing critical public health challenges.
Yoder has played a central role in building coalitions to address issues including child abuse, domestic violence, mental health, substance use disorder, food insecurity, refugee health, childhood lead poisoning, and housing instability. She also held a leadership role in Lancaster County’s COVID 19 response, overseeing testing and contact-tracing initiatives.
Yoder’s public service extends beyond the county level. She has served on numerous state
boards and commissions, including the Governor’s Commission for Children and Families, the Governor’s Advisory Board of Health, the Governor’s Health Innovation Workgroup, the Pennsylvania Cancer Coalition, and the Pennsylvania Health Improvement Steering Committee. As Commissioner, she remains focused on addressing homelessness, expanding affordable housing, advancing rehabilitation-focused approaches within the justice system, and developing a countywide health department.
Kate Campbell Stevenson
Actor, Performer, and Women’s Activist
Session Title: A Musical Journey with Eleanor Roosevelt
Kate Campbell Stevenson is an actor, singer, producer, and women’s activist who brings history to life through performance and storytelling. In A Musical Journey with Eleanor Roosevelt, Stevenson portrays the former First Lady through song, monologue, and movement, tracing Roosevelt’s journey as a woman who overcame fear, found her voice, and embraced her power as a global change maker.
Stevenson has appeared in more than thirty Broadway musicals produced in regional theaters across the United States. Her notable roles include Eliza in My Fair Lady, Marian in The Music Man, Julie in Carousel, Agnes in I Do! I Do!, and Mother Abbess in The Sound of Music. In
1995, she created Women: Back to the Future, a series of one-woman musical performances
designed to educate, inspire, and highlight the accomplishments of women throughout history.
A lifelong community activist, Stevenson has served in numerous leadership roles supporting
women’s empowerment and civic engagement. She is a former board chair of Empowered
Women International and has been recognized multiple times as one of Maryland’s Top 100
Women, including induction into the Circle of Excellence. In 2018, she was honored as an
AAUW Maryland Woman of Distinction and later served as co-president of AAUW Maryland
from 2018 to 2020.
Stevenson’s additional honors include the Maryland Business and Professional Women Woman of Achievement Award and the Dorothy Lloyd Women’s Rights Award from the Maryland State Education Association. Stevenson has also served as a board member and president of the
Maryland Women’s Heritage Center and as a board member of the Rachel Carson Landmark
Alliance. Through performance, advocacy, and education, Stevenson continues to inspire
audiences to connect history with action.
Stevenson has appeared in more than thirty Broadway musicals produced in regional theaters across the United States. Her notable roles include Eliza in My Fair Lady, Marian in The Music Man, Julie in Carousel, Agnes in I Do! I Do!, and Mother Abbess in The Sound of Music. In
1995, she created Women: Back to the Future, a series of one-woman musical performances
designed to educate, inspire, and highlight the accomplishments of women throughout history.
A lifelong community activist, Stevenson has served in numerous leadership roles supporting
women’s empowerment and civic engagement. She is a former board chair of Empowered
Women International and has been recognized multiple times as one of Maryland’s Top 100
Women, including induction into the Circle of Excellence. In 2018, she was honored as an
AAUW Maryland Woman of Distinction and later served as co-president of AAUW Maryland
from 2018 to 2020.
Stevenson’s additional honors include the Maryland Business and Professional Women Woman of Achievement Award and the Dorothy Lloyd Women’s Rights Award from the Maryland State Education Association. Stevenson has also served as a board member and president of the
Maryland Women’s Heritage Center and as a board member of the Rachel Carson Landmark
Alliance. Through performance, advocacy, and education, Stevenson continues to inspire
audiences to connect history with action.
Jill Follows, JD, MSN
Main Representative, International Alliance of Women to the United Nations
Session Title: NGO Engagement at the United Nations: Stories from My Advocacy on CEDAW,
Crimes Against Humanity, and More
Jill Follows serves as the Main Representative of the International Alliance of Women to the
United Nations at UN Headquarters, where she advocates for women’s rights and human rights
through global policy engagement and coalition building. Her work focuses on advancing
international accountability and elevating nongovernmental organization voices within UN
systems.
Follows previously served as a United Nations Observer for the League of Women Voters of the
United States and as Co-director of Action and Advocacy for the League of Women Voters of
the Fairfax Area. In that role, she convened the Fairfax Coalition for CEDAW and helped lead a
successful campaign resulting in the adoption of a county wide CEDAW resolution. AAUW of
Alexandria was among the coalition partners engaged in that effort.
Follows is a co-founder of the Human Rights Special Interest Group and a principal author of its human rights briefs. She is also the playwright of the CEDAW Trilogy, using performance and
storytelling as tools to educate and mobilize audiences around women’s rights and international human rights frameworks.
Through her advocacy at the United Nations and her work with grassroots and international
organizations, Follows brings a practitioner’s perspective on how policy, persistence, and
collaboration shape progress on the global stage.
United Nations at UN Headquarters, where she advocates for women’s rights and human rights
through global policy engagement and coalition building. Her work focuses on advancing
international accountability and elevating nongovernmental organization voices within UN
systems.
Follows previously served as a United Nations Observer for the League of Women Voters of the
United States and as Co-director of Action and Advocacy for the League of Women Voters of
the Fairfax Area. In that role, she convened the Fairfax Coalition for CEDAW and helped lead a
successful campaign resulting in the adoption of a county wide CEDAW resolution. AAUW of
Alexandria was among the coalition partners engaged in that effort.
Follows is a co-founder of the Human Rights Special Interest Group and a principal author of its human rights briefs. She is also the playwright of the CEDAW Trilogy, using performance and
storytelling as tools to educate and mobilize audiences around women’s rights and international human rights frameworks.
Through her advocacy at the United Nations and her work with grassroots and international
organizations, Follows brings a practitioner’s perspective on how policy, persistence, and
collaboration shape progress on the global stage.