Public Policy Seminar has ended

Create Your Own Event

Public Policy Seminar

10:00am EST

PLEN Introduction

Speakers

Nancy Stalowski

Executive Director, Public Leadership and Education Network

Dr. Nancy Stalowski is the Executive Director of the Public Leadership Education Network (PLEN). Nancy brings more than a decade of experience working in higher education and leadership development. For most of her career, she has worked with underrepresented students including women... Read More →

Monday January 10, 2022 10:00am - 10:20am EST

Opener | PLEN session

10:20am EST

PLEN Starter & Icebreakers

Speakers

Nancy Stalowski

Executive Director, Public Leadership and Education Network

Dr. Nancy Stalowski is the Executive Director of the Public Leadership Education Network (PLEN). Nancy brings more than a decade of experience working in higher education and leadership development. For most of her career, she has worked with underrepresented students including women... Read More →

Monday January 10, 2022 10:20am - 10:50am EST

Opener | PLEN session

11:00am EST

GWU GSPM Informational Session

Speakers

Dr. Lara M. Brown

director of the Graduate School of Political Management, the George Washington University

Lara M. Brown, Ph.D., serves as the director of the Graduate School of Political Management (GSPM) at the George Washington University.As the director, Dr. Brown sets the overarching strategy for the school; initiates and cultivates engagement with alumni and donors; serves as the... Read More →

Monday January 10, 2022 11:00am - 11:30am EST

Workshop | Speaker

11:45am EST

Keynote Address

Speakers

Representative Debbie Dingell

Congresswoman, 12th District of Michigan in the U.S. House of Representatives

Congresswoman Debbie Dingell represents the 12th District of Michigan in the U.S. House of Representatives. Before being elected to Congress, Debbie was the Chair of the Wayne State University (WSU) Board of Governors. An active civic and community leader, she is a recognized... Read More →

Monday January 10, 2022 11:45am - 12:45pm EST

Workshop | Speaker

12:45pm EST

Lunch Break

Monday January 10, 2022 12:45pm - 1:30pm EST

1:30pm EST

Networking 101

Speakers

Ally Perleoni

Manager of Government Relations, Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC)

Ally is Manager of Government Relations at the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) where she advocates on behalf of teaching hospitals, medical schools, and their physician faculty. At the AAMC, Ally works on issues related to graduate medical education (GME), Medicare... Read More →

Monday January 10, 2022 1:30pm - 2:30pm EST

Workshop | Speaker

2:30pm EST

Networking Activity

Monday January 10, 2022 2:30pm - 3:15pm EST

3:15pm EST

Break

Monday January 10, 2022 3:15pm - 3:45pm EST

3:45pm EST

Workshop: Running for Office

Speakers

Sara Blanco

Chief Program Officer, Running Start

Sara Blanco is the Chief Program Officer at Running Start. She has always been interested in women’s empowerment and became especially passionate about women’s political leadership upon joining the Running Start team. As a Latina, she’s particularly interested in empowering women of color... Read More →

Monday January 10, 2022 3:45pm - 5:00pm EST

Workshop | Speaker

10:00am EST

Morning Briefing

Speakers

Nancy Stalowski

Executive Director, Public Leadership and Education Network

Dr. Nancy Stalowski is the Executive Director of the Public Leadership Education Network (PLEN). Nancy brings more than a decade of experience working in higher education and leadership development. For most of her career, she has worked with underrepresented students including women... Read More →

Tuesday January 11, 2022 10:00am - 10:15am EST

Opener | PLEN session

10:30am EST

Workshop: LinkedIn

Speakers

Jacquelyne Howard

Administrative Assistant Professor of Technology and Women's History, Newcomb Institute

Jacquelyne Thoni Howard is an Administrative Assistant Professor of Technology and Women's History. She earned a Ph.D. in U.S. History from Fordham University, an M.A. in History from the University of San Diego, and a B.A. in History with a minor in secondary education from Loyola... Read More →

Tuesday January 11, 2022 10:30am - 11:30am EST

Workshop | Speaker

11:45am EST

Panel: HIV/AIDS

Speakers

Nupur Parikh

Policy Research Analyst for Global Health, The ONE Campaign

Nupur is a Policy Research Analyst for Global Health at The ONE Campaign, based out of D.C., where she supports a wide range of global health topics. She holds an MPH concentrated in Health Policy Analysis from Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health and a BA in International... Read More →

Lanice Williams

Gender Integration Specialist, EnCompass LLC

Lanice C. Williams is a Gender Integration Specialist II, supporting the USAID Transform: Primary Health Care Project in Ethiopia, the USAID Lesotho Karabo ea Bophelo (KB) Activity, and the USAID ADVANTAGE IDIQ: Advancing the Agenda of Gender Equality. Ms. Williams has 10 years of... Read More →

Cookab Hashemi

INOVIO Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Director of Government Engagement

Cookab Hashemi has more than 20 years of experience across Capitol Hill, the executive branch of the federal government and the private sector. She has represented organizations before Congress and current and previous Administrations on legislative and regulatory issues.In the recent... Read More →

Tuesday January 11, 2022 11:45am - 1:00pm EST

1:00pm EST

Lunch Break

Tuesday January 11, 2022 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST

2:00pm EST

Health Disparities for Marginalized Groups

Speakers

Venicia Gray

Senior Manager for Maternal and Infant Health, National Partnership for Women and Families

Venicia Gray has proudly and intentionally devoted her career in service to historically vulnerable populations. She currently serves as the Senior Manager for Maternal and Infant Health for the National Partnership for Women and Families where she supports the organization's health... Read More →

Whitney Terrill

State Principal Planner, Health Policy Division, Minnesota Department of Public Health

Whitney Terrill continues to benefit from attending PLEN's Women & International Policy seminar in 2006. Because of her wonderful experience at PLEN, Whitney invited seminar participants to the U.S. Green Building Council offices during the Women & Public Policy Seminar in 2013. She... Read More →

Hannah Reisner

Public Health Analyst, U.S. DHHS’ Health Resources and Services Administration

Hannah Reisner is a Public Health Analyst at the U.S. DHHS’ Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). While at HRSA, Hannah has worked in the grant-making process across a large portfolio of maternal and child health and behavioral health grant programs. This work includes... Read More →

Tuesday January 11, 2022 2:00pm - 3:15pm EST

3:15pm EST

Break

Tuesday January 11, 2022 3:15pm - 3:45pm EST

3:45pm EST

Networking Roundtable: Healthcare and Public Health

Speakers

Christa Wagner

Manager of Government Relations, AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges)

Christa Wagner, PhD, currently serves as a Manager of Government Relations at the AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges) where she is responsible for legislative policy and advocacy in support of medical research, public health, and academic medicine’s partnership with... Read More →

Kamya Raja

Consultant, Deloitte

Kamya Raja, MSPH, PMP, is currently a Consultant at Deloitte. Before her current role, she was a Program Analyst at the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO), a non-profit association that supports and advocates for local health departments across the... Read More →

Sung Hee Choe

Director at FasterCures, Milken Institute

Sung Hee Choe is a director at FasterCures, a center of the Milken Institute. Prior to joining FasterCures, she was a Managing Director at Avalere Health. In this role, Choe focused on a broad range of healthcare issues, with an emphasis on policies that aim to accelerate access... Read More →

Natalie Williams

Legislative Assistant, Federal Advocacy team at the American Academy of Pediatrics

Natalie Williams is a Legislative Assistant on the Federal Advocacy team at the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), an organization of 67,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being... Read More →

Tuesday Networking Roundtable Groups pdf

Tuesday January 11, 2022 3:45pm - 4:45pm EST

10:00am EST

Morning Briefing

Speakers

Nancy Stalowski

Executive Director, Public Leadership and Education Network

Dr. Nancy Stalowski is the Executive Director of the Public Leadership Education Network (PLEN). Nancy brings more than a decade of experience working in higher education and leadership development. For most of her career, she has worked with underrepresented students including women... Read More →

Wednesday January 12, 2022 10:00am - 10:15am EST

Opener | PLEN session

10:30am EST

Workshop: Salary Negotiation

Speakers

Shelby Olson

Principal, CareerLife Directions LLC

Shelby Olson is a dedicated and experienced Executive/Leadership Coach and Career Management Consultant passionate about enabling others to realize their personal and professional goals.She has coached 10,000+ hours, working with 5000+ individuals across 100s of organizations and... Read More →

Wednesday January 12, 2022 10:30am - 11:30am EST

Workshop | Speaker

11:45am EST

Panel: Careers on Capitol Hill

Speakers

Kayla Primes

Legislative Assistant, U.S Senate

Kayla Primes, a 2018 graduate of Howard University knew at a young age that she wanted to make a major impact on the world. From being the first Chair of the Cleveland Heights Youth City Council as a Junior in high school she then knew that initiating change and shaking up the world... Read More →

Bassima Alghussein

Executive Director of the Middle East Policy Council and Managing Partner, Alghussein Global Strategies

Bassima Alghussein is the Executive Director of the Middle East Policy Council and Managing Partner of Alghussein Global Strategies, an international government affairs and communications consulting firm based in Washington D.C. The firm has executed projects involving the U.S. Congress... Read More →

Sarah Arkin

Policy Director, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Democratic staff

Sarah Arkin is the Policy Director for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Democratic staff, where she also covers the Middle East and North Africa. Previously, she was Foreign Policy Advisor to U.S. Senator Bob Menendez. Prior to that she was U.S. Representative Debbie Wasserman... Read More →

Adeola Adesin

Policy Advisor, Senator Jeff Merkley

Adeola Adesina is currently a Policy Advisor for Senator Jeff Merkley. Prior to this position, Adesina has worked as a Health Policy Advisor and Legislative Assistant for Congressman Eric Swalwell, and a Legislative Correspondent for Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, where her... Read More →

Wednesday January 12, 2022 11:45am - 1:00pm EST

1:00pm EST

Break

Wednesday January 12, 2022 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST

2:00pm EST

Panel: Grassroots and Community-Based Advocacy

Speakers

Kara Fitzgerald

Deputy National Organizing Director, Everytown for Gun Safety and Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in American

Kara Fitzgerald is the Field Director for Federal and Distributing Organizing at Everytown for Gun Safety, the nation's largest gun violence prevention organization. In that role she manages and leads Everytown’s federal grassroots campaigns executed by Moms Demand Action, Students... Read More →

Jennifer Pierotti Lim

Founder and Executive Director, Republican Women for Progress

Jennifer Pierotti Lim is the Founder and Executive Director of Republican Women for Progress and was previously the Founder of Republican Women for Hillary.After RWFH gained national attention in the summer of 2016, Jennifer was invited to speak on the closing night of the 2016 Democratic... Read More →

Amalia Chamorro

Director, Education Policy Project, UnidosUS

Amalia Chamorro leads education policy for UnidosUS (formerly National Council of La Raza), the nation’s largest Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization. Her work encompasses early childhood education, K-12, and higher education. In this role, Amalia provides strategic direction... Read More →

Lauren Schandevel

Constituent Services Representative, the Office of Congressman Andy Levin (D-MI)

Lauren Schandevel is an activist, writer, and community organizer from Warren, Michigan. After graduating from the University of Michigan with her BA in Public Policy, she served as the Macomb County organizer for We The People - Michigan, a progressive nonprofit devoted to building multi-racial, working class alliances across the state, and later as a Constituent Services Representative in the Office of Congressman Andy Levin (D-MI). Lauren is currently working toward her Master of Public Policy at the University... Read More →

Wednesday January 12, 2022 2:00pm - 3:15pm EST

3:15pm EST

Break

Wednesday January 12, 2022 3:15pm - 3:45pm EST

3:45pm EST

Networking Roundtable

Speakers

Adzi Vokhiwa

Federal Affairs Director, Giffords

Adzi Vokhiwa is the Federal Affairs Director at Giffords, the gun violence prevention organization founded and led by former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords. In this role, she manages and executes Giffords’ federal legislative strategy and works with Members of Congress and their staff... Read More →

Erica Dahl

Vice President of Public Policy and Government Affairs, Vivint Solar

Erica Dahl is Vice President of Public Policy and Government Affairs for Vivint Solar. Prior to Vivint Solar, Erica served as the Director of Community Relations for the Central Region of Intermountain Healthcare in Salt Lake City and as Vice President of Government Relations for... Read More →

Anya Malkov

Senior Manager of State and Local Public Policy, Amazon

Anya Malkov is the Senior Manager of State and Local Public Policy at Amazon where she works with state and local policymakers across the Midwest and the Great Plains, sharing Amazon’s principles of customer obsession and innovation. Previously, Anya worked at The Pew Charitable... Read More →

Rachna Choudhry

Co-founder, POPVOX

Rachna Choudhry is co-founder of POPVOX, a nonpartisan platform that connects people with their lawmakers. After ten years of advocacy and lobbying for several national non-profit organizations, she realized that there is a huge disconnect between people and our lawmakers in Washington... Read More →

Denise Wilson

Team Member, Co-Equal

Denise Wilson has spent 30 years working in the legislative and executive branches of government. From 2009 to 2011, Denise served as Special Assistant in the White House Office of Legislative Affairs, where she lobbied for policy and legislative initiatives. One of six House Special... Read More →

Wednesday Networking Roundtable pdf

Wednesday January 12, 2022 3:45pm - 4:45pm EST

10:00am EST

Morning Briefing

Speakers

Nancy Stalowski

Executive Director, Public Leadership and Education Network

Dr. Nancy Stalowski is the Executive Director of the Public Leadership Education Network (PLEN). Nancy brings more than a decade of experience working in higher education and leadership development. For most of her career, she has worked with underrepresented students including women... Read More →

Thursday January 13, 2022 10:00am - 10:15am EST

Opener | PLEN session

10:30am EST

Workshop: Storytelling

Speakers

Gül Branco

founder and president, Branco Development Group (BDG)

Gül Branco is the founder and president at Branco Development Group (BDG). She is a leadership and entrepreneurship educator, mentor, and executive leadership coach. She inspires, empowers, educates, and transforms people and organizations. She was named one of The Daily Record Top... Read More →

Thursday January 13, 2022 10:30am - 11:30am EST

Workshop | Speaker

11:45am EST

Panel: Gender Equality

Speakers

Valerie Dowling

Director of the Women’s Democracy Network, International Republican Institute

Valerie Dowling has worked in the political process from grassroots campaigns to the White House. In 2015, she joined the International Republican Institute as Director of the Women’s Democracy Network where she will continue to work to increase women’s political participation... Read More →

Andrea Johnson

Director of State Policy, Workplace Justice & Cross-Cutting Initiatives, National Women’s Law Center

Andrea Johnson is Director of State Policy, Workplace Justice & Cross-Cutting Initiatives at the National Women’s Law Center. In that role, she coordinates efforts to advance state policies across NWLC’s workplace justice, income security, education, and reproductive rights and... Read More →

Kassamira Carter-Howard

Director of Programs, Resonance Network

Kassamira Carter-Howard (she/her/hers) is an artist, facilitator, organizer, and advocate living in Washington, DC. She currently serves as the Director of Programs at Resonance Network, a national network of over 3000 Black, Indigenous, immigrant, women femmes, trans and two-spirit... Read More →

Krystal Leaphart

Operations and Policy Associate, National Organization of Black Elected Legislative Women

Krystal Leaphart is an award-winner organizer and strategist from Detroit, Michigan. Krystal brings more than a decade of experience in legislative advocacy and grassroots activism to build power towards a world that is equitable for all people, especially black women and girls... Read More →

Thursday January 13, 2022 11:45am - 1:00pm EST

1:00pm EST

Break

Thursday January 13, 2022 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST

2:00pm EST

Panel: Racial Justice

Speakers

Shae Harris

Mid-Atlantic Market Manager in Corporate Responsibility, JP Morgan Chase

Shae Harris is the Mid-Atlantic Market Manager in Corporate Responsibility at JP Morgan Chase, where she leads strategic engagement among consumer, business, and nonprofit leaders while promoting community-centered solutions to address persistent drivers of economic inequality... Read More →

Joi Olivia Chaney

Executive Director, Washington Bureau and Senior Vice President, Policy and Advocacy, National Urban League

Joi Olivia Chaney is the Executive Director of the Washington Bureau and Senior Vice President of Policy and Advocacy at the National Urban League, a historic civil rights organization dedicated to economic empowerment, equality, and social justice. She is also the Founder and Principal... Read More →

Vimala Phongsavanh

Organizing Director, Congressional Progressive Caucus Center

Vimala currently serves as the Organizing Director for the Congressional Progressive Caucus Center and the Progressive Caucus Action Fund where she works to bring together community leaders, organizers, advocates, unions and policy experts to build a more just, equitable, and resilient... Read More →

Olivia Elder

Senior Engagement Coordinator for PRO Unlimited, Meta

Olivia Elder is a nonprofit professional, organizer, and dancer based in Washington, DC. Raised in Houston and New Orleans, Olivia moved to DC to attend The George Washington University, where she studied International Affairs with a concentration in Contemporary Societies and Cultures... Read More →

Thursday January 13, 2022 2:00pm - 3:15pm EST

3:15pm EST

Break

Thursday January 13, 2022 3:15pm - 3:45pm EST

3:45pm EST

Site Visit

Speakers

Rikkia Ramsey

WiLL Director, Women's Action for New Directions (WAND)

Rikkia leads WAND’s Women Legislators’ Lobby (WiLL) program, developing strategic approaches to educate state policymakers on issues concerning national security, demilitarization, the federal budget, and the domestic impacts of endless war. Prior to joining WAND, Rikkia served... Read More →

Sophia Alphas

Manager of Corporate Partnerships, Share Our Strength

Sophia Alphas the Manager of Corporate Partnerships at Share Our Strength, a nonprofit organization in Washington D.C. striving towards ending hunger and poverty in the U.S. and abroad through hands-on, community-focused campaigns. Prior to this position, Alphas worked with Share... Read More →

Alana Brown

Founder and Executive Director, The Safe Sisters Circle

Alana C. Brown is a Public Interest and Human Rights Attorney focusing on nonprofit litigation andadvocacy for survivors of domestic violence, sexual abuse, and human sexual trafficking as well asat-risk youth within the Washington, DC area and globally. In 2018, Alana founded The... Read More →

Thursday Site Visits pdf

Thursday January 13, 2022 3:45pm - 4:45pm EST

10:00am EST

Morning Briefing

Speakers

Nancy Stalowski

Executive Director, Public Leadership and Education Network

Dr. Nancy Stalowski is the Executive Director of the Public Leadership Education Network (PLEN). Nancy brings more than a decade of experience working in higher education and leadership development. For most of her career, she has worked with underrepresented students including women... Read More →

Friday January 14, 2022 10:00am - 10:15am EST

Opener | PLEN session

10:30am EST

Panel: Applying to your Next Internship or Fellowship

Speakers

Sasha Frausto

Program Manager, ACLU

Sasha Frausto is a Program Manager at the ACLU, a historic organization that works in the courts, legislatures, and communities to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to all people. Prior to joining the team, Sasha held top management positions at the... Read More →

Kim Kahnhauser Freeman

Senior Advisor, Women’s Foreign Policy Group

Kim Kahnhauser Freeman is a senior advisor at the Women’s Foreign Policy Group and is based in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan. During her 15 years with the organization, she has led numerous initiates to highlight women leaders and to expand the organization's impact. From September 2017... Read More →

Bunmi Akinnusotu

Deputy Director, Rangel Fellowship

Bunmi Akinnusotu is a foreign policy enthusiast and organizational management leader. As the Deputy Director of the Rangel Fellowship at Howard University, Bunmi builds the talent pipeline of foreign service officers and international affairs leaders. Prior to Howard, Bunmi was the... Read More →

Sharon Swabb

Chief Program Officer for Fellowships and Career Development, Robertson Foundation for Government

Sharon (McCoy) Swabb currently serves as the Chief Program Officer for Fellowships and Career Development at the Robertson Foundation for Government. Prior to this position, she served as a Career Coach in the Elliott School of International Affairs at The George Washington University... Read More →

Friday January 14, 2022 10:30am - 11:30am EST

11:45am EST

Panel: Launching your Career as a Young Professional

Speakers

Lisa Rice

President, Newcomb Alumnae Association

Lisa D. T. Rice is an independent political strategist and public policy advisor. A former vice chair of the PLEN board of directors, Lisa served as PLEN’s interim executive director in 2014-2015. She advocates for cancer care policy; women’s leadership; democracy reform; and... Read More →

Raisa Shah

Executive Assistant, Senate Democratic Leader, Chuck Schumer

Rasia Shah is the Executive Assistant to Senate Democratic Leader, Chuck Schumer. In her role, she manages the Leader's call requests, meeting schedule, and his various day-to-day needs. Prior to her current position, Raisa served as Staff Assistant for a House of Representatives... Read More →

Ariana Rodriguez

Social Media and Content Manager, Sister District Project

Ariana Rodriguez is a Social Media and Content Manager at the Sister District Project, an Emerging Leader award recipient, and an unapologetic feminist. She has been an activist since 2017 when she started the Islander Feminists at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. Under her leadership... Read More →

Friday January 14, 2022 11:45am - 12:45pm EST

1:00pm EST

PLEN Taught Me/What's your PLEN Power

Friday January 14, 2022 1:00pm - 1:30pm EST

Opener | PLEN session

1:30pm EST

PLEN Final Debrief

Speakers

Nancy Stalowski

Executive Director, Public Leadership and Education Network

Dr. Nancy Stalowski is the Executive Director of the Public Leadership Education Network (PLEN). Nancy brings more than a decade of experience working in higher education and leadership development. For most of her career, she has worked with underrepresented students including women... Read More →

Friday January 14, 2022 1:30pm - 2:00pm EST

Opener | PLEN session