Our Team
Our Staff
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Founder and Executive Director
Susan sets the vision and strategic direction for WomenStrong, including its grantmaking, the Learning Lab model, knowledge and learning, and communications.
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Program and Equity Manager
Hannah supports the management and organization of the Learning Lab community, and works to ensure diversity, inclusion, and equity are reflected in WomenStrong and Learning Lab activities.
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Senior Advisor for External Communications
Elizabeth leads strategic external communications to support the awareness and engagement of WomenStrong and its partners.
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Director of Research
Amy leads WomenStrong’s Knowledge and Learning efforts, including assessing WomenStrong’s model and providing technical guidance to partners on monitoring, evaluation, and learning.
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Director of Learning and Organizational Strengthening
Chisina oversees the Learning Lab, including technical areas focused on girls’ education, women’s health, violence prevention, and economic opportunity.
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Senior Advisor for Program Communications
Michelle leads WomenStrong’s program communications, amplifying the work of WomenStrong and its partners.
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Senior Grants Manager
Denise leads the development and implementation of WomenStrong’s grant systems and policies, oversees the organization’s portfolio of agreements, and manages the full lifecycle of grants.
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Senior Research & Learning Specialist
Mara evaluates WomenStrong’s support for its grantee partners and works with them to strengthen their monitoring, evaluation, and learning efforts.
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Director of Strategy and Engagement
Naomi directs strategy and fundraising efforts, drawing on her extensive experience as a program manager, technical advisor, and researcher.
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Chief Operating Officer
Bianca oversees WomenStrong’s operations, finances, administration, IT systems, and team resources and strategy.
Our Board of Directors
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WomenStrong International Board Member
Prof. Yasmine Ergas is Director of the Specialization on Gender and Public Policy and Lecturer in the Discipline of International and Public Affairs at the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University, and Senior Advisor to Columbia’s Institute for the Study of Human Rights.
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WomenStrong International Board Member
Steve Kass serves as Senior Environmental Counsel at Carter Ledyard and Milburn LLP, and Adjunct Professor at Brooklyn Law School and at NYU’s Center on Global Affairs.
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WomenStrong International Board Member
Ms. Catherine A. Lee, founder and manager of Lee International Business Development since 1997, focuses her current practice on climate change policy, projects and programs domestically and internationally.
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Dr. Howard C. Mandel, MD, FACOG
WomenStrong International Board Member
Dr. Howard C. Mandel, FACOG, is a practicing obstetrician gynecologist in Los Angeles with extensive leadership in political advocacy.
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WomenStrong International Board Member
Prof. Geeta Mehta is an adjunct professor of architecture and urban design at Columbia University in New York, where she teaches seminars and design studios that have worked in India, China, Austria, France, Ukraine, Colombia, Brazil, Jamaica, Ghana and Kenya.
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WomenStrong International Board Member
Heather Goldberg Mendelow is an attorney and teacher. Most recently, Heather practiced law at Pfizer as a Senior Corporate Counsel for a variety of drug portfolios. Prior to practicing law, Heather taught elementary school in Compton, California for three years as a Teach For America corps member.
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WomenStrong International Board Member
Pam Schutz, a seasoned financial services executive, is the retired CEO of Retirement and Protection for Genworth, a spin-off of GE.
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WomenStrong International Board Member
Community activist, environmental health researcher and advocate; Co-Founder and Executive Director of WE ACT For Environmental Justice (WE ACT)
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WomenStrong International Board Member
Robin Smalley, an Emmy Award-winning television director/producer/writer, is co-founder of mothers2mothers, a Cape Town based NGO providing education, empowerment and support to pregnant women and new mothers living with HIV/AIDS in Africa.