Innovating for the Future
Transcription
Innovating for the Future
Innovating for the Future Annual Report 2014 Our Mission “Going into the PLEN seminar almost empty-handed, I came out with a tool set and an instruction manual that I can expand upon throughout my life.” The Public Leadership Education Network is the only national organization with the sole focus of preparing college women for leadership in the public policy arena. Kotchaphorn Mangkalaphiban Junior, Wilson College Scholarship Recipient for the Science and Health Policy: Critical Issues Seminar Our Vision Each year, we bring hundreds of women from across the country to Washington, D.C. to experience the policy process firsthand. By introducing college women to role models and skills training before they enter the workforce, we seek to increase the number of women in leadership positions who influence all aspects of the decision-making process. New Seminars As we celebrated the 35th anniversary of PLEN’s founding, a spirit of innovation wove its way through our 2013-2014 seminars. To reflect the changing needs of our diverse students, we premiered three new seminars this year: PLEN360° Summit: Leadership Skills for Career Success - Gave young women who were in Washington, D.C. for the summer the opportunity to learn, lead, and leverage their D.C. experience from all angles to achieve their career goals. Unlocking Nonprofits: Innovations and Careers - College women Interested in mission-based careers learned about the diverse range of opportunities in this dynamic and growing sector. Zahra Wako Senior, St. Catherine University Participant at the Science and Health Policy: Critical Issues Seminar Leveraging Communications, Social Media & Technology for Policymaking - Students gained insight into the intersection of these cutting-edge sectors and the policy world. “The greatest thing that I took away from this seminar was a sense of excitement for my future- this amazing feeling that we as young women with voices are capable of making it and accomplishing great things.” Valerie Amaral Graduate Student, Northeastern University Scholarship Recipient for the Unlocking Nonprofits: Innovations Our Students PLEN Partners We forged new partnerships with several organizations (such as Washington Women in Public Relations and The American Association for the Advancement of Science) in Washington, D.C. Volunteers from these organizations served as mentors during seminars and provided insight into the policy world for our students. During each seminar, students meet with a range of women who are leaders in the policy field. This year, we welcomed speakers such as Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg; The Honorable Suzanne Bonamici (OR-1); The Honorable Donna Edwards (MD-4); and Heather Podesta, Founder and Partner of Heather Podesta + Partners, to share their advice and broad experiences with our students. PLEN Member Schools Barnard College, New York, NY Carlow University, Pittsburgh, PA Cedar Crest College, Allentown, PA Chatham University, Pittsburgh, PA Douglass Residential College, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ Hood College, Frederick, MD Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA Mount St. Mary’s College, Los Angeles, CA Newcomb College Institute, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA Notre Dame of Maryland University, Baltimore, MD Smith College, Northampton, MA St. Catherine University, St. Paul, MN St. Lawrence University, Canton, NY Texas Woman’s University, Denton, TX Wells College, Aurora, NY Wesleyan College, Macon, GA William Smith College, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Geneva, NY Wilson College, Chambersburg, PA This year, our network of alumnae continued to grow. PLEN students represented over 100 schools across the country, ranging from small liberal arts colleges to flagship state universities. Support and Scholarships With support from individual and corporate donors, PLEN offered financial aid and scholarships to 59 outstanding college women to attend one of our seminars. Longtime supporter K&L Gates LLP sponsored six young women to attend our Women, Law & Legal Advocacy Seminar, which takes place annually in the fall. “K&L Gates is proud to support PLEN and the impressive women who participate in PLEN programs each year. The cross-section of experiences and perspectives represented among the students is amazing, as is their passion to affect true and lasting change in the world and in their chosen professions. Our lawyers benefit from interacting with the students almost as much as the students themselves! We truly value the relationship we have built with PLEN and applaud PLEN’s efforts to develop young women leaders.” ~Valerie Jackson, K&L Gates LLP Thanks to the firm’s support, students like Jessica Castany, a senior at Mount St. Mary’s College, met Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg as well as other leading lawyers in Washington. D.C. “[The seminar] helped me gather a greater passion for what I wish to do with my life,” said Jessica. “This reinforcement helped me believe that I can do anything I put my heart and soul into.” The Future Fund Three students from Mount St. Mary’s College attended the Women & Policy in the Global Community Seminar PLEN also honored our legacy by launching the Future Fund, aimed at increasing the number of women’s voices in the public policy arena by offering increased opportunities to young women. The contributions made by the Founding Supporters of the Future Fund expanded PLEN programs to provide our students with the latest tools and knowledge needed to make their voices heard in today’s policy arena. Board of Directors Ellie Shaw (Chair), Director, Federal Government Affairs, American Express Company Lisa Kaenzig (Vice Chair) Associate Dean, William Smith College (PLEN alumna) Jennifer Stange (Secretary-Treasurer), Program Coordinator, 21st Century Blueprint Committee, SEIU (PLEN alumna) Marianne Alexander (President Emerita) Kelly Biggs, Assistant Director of Development Operations, Johns Hopkins University SAIS (PLEN alumna) Margaret Darling, Chief Evaluation & Advocacy Officer, Nueva Vida (PLEN alumna) Kristin Haffert, President and Founder, Haffert Global (PLEN alumna) Jo Jensen, Deputy Director, Digital, DDC Advocacy (PLEN alumna) Rosalyn Kempf, Director, Women’s Leadership, Mount St. Mary’s College Abigail Lewis, Associate Director, Athena Center for Leadership Studies, Barnard College Lisa Maatz, Vice President of Government Relations, American Association of University Women Mary-Alice Ozechoski, Dean of Students, Cedar Crest College Lisa D. T. Rice, Political and External Affairs Strategist; Director, Newcomb Alumnae Association Naomi Senkeeto, Policy Director, BlueCross BlueShield Association (PLEN alumna) Milly Stanges, Former Vice President of Public Affairs for ICMA-RC Jona Van Deun, Director of Coalitions, Koch Companies Public Sector, LLC (PLEN alumna) Lynda K. Walker, Esq., Executive Director and General Counsel, The Tax Council and Tax Council Policy Institute Contributing and In-Kind Donors Role Model ($10,000+) Margaret Darling Novo Nordisk Ellie Shaw & The American Express Company Mentor ($5,000 - $9,999) Marianne Alexander Lisa Kaenzig Susan Scanlan & The Fannie & Stephen Kahn Charitable Trust Barbara Shailor & The Samuel H. Kress Foundation Women in Technology Education Foundation Sponsor ($2,500 - $4,999) Maurie Dugger & The Edison Electric Institute Marta Mattox & The Eleanor Warfield Van Train Scholarship Fund Bree Raum & The American Gas Association Milly Stanges Jona Van Deun Advocate ($1,000 - $2,499) Clara Burgert Cheri Buss Carrie Collins Columbia Books Anne Doyle IBM Valerie Jackson & K&L Gates LLP Jackie Litt & Douglass Residential College Mary Kay Inc. Naomi Senkeeto & BlueCross BlueShield Association Jennifer Stange Lynda Walker & The Tax Council Policy Institute Supporter ($500 - $999) Linda Becker Anna Flores Jason Knieriem Kathleen Nilles & Holland & Knight LLP Vivian Pinn Cary Pugh & Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP & Aff Lisa D.T. Rice Van Ness Feldman Friend ($200 - $499) Aspen Community Foundation Elizabeth Bartz Michele Blair DAI Partners Michael Dunn Gregory Dyson Lynn Fox Kristin Haffert Sally Kenney Abigail Lewis Lisa Maatz Yvonne Maddox Sally McDaniel Char Mollison Mary Frances Pearson Heidi Schoenberger-Cobert Meredith Singer Contributor ($75 - $199) Cori Asaka Amy Blankenbiller Samantha Casne Lisa Darling Theodore Garrish Joan Hill Rebecca Kaenzig Jane O’Grady John Ryder Paige Santo Carolyn Schmidt Regina Truslow Bryan Van Deun Future Fund Founding Sponsors Amy Conroy Betsy Crone Yolanda Curtis Frances “Sissy” Farenthold Lisa Kaenzig Yvonne Maddox Sally McDaniel Vivian Pinn Barbara Shailor Ellie Shaw Seminar Hosts American Gas Association BlueCross BlueShield Association Carlyle Suites Hotel Edison Electric Institute Fordham Institute Holland & Knight LLP Microsoft Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP & Affiliates Verizon For Donations in the Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2014 11 Dupont Circle NW, 2nd Floor | Washington, D.C. 20036 | (202) 872-1585 | www.plen.org | [email protected]