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Welcome to our blog – another great way to stay connected with what’s going on in the world of PLEN!
January 30, 2012 | by: lital shair
January Programs Update
Women & Public Policy
At PLEN’s 30th annual Women & Public Policy Seminar, women college students and graduates from across the country gathered in Washington, DC for a week-long program focusing on various aspects of public policy. Lisa Maatz, Director of Public Policy and Government Relations at the American Association of University Women (AAUW) started off the week with an overview of the public policy process, sharing with program participants her extensive background in advocacy work and encouraging students to pursue their interest in policy work. Additionally, students were able to choose two out of four specialized seminar tracks, including Finance Policy, Education Policy, Sustainability Policy, and Healthcare Policy. Site visits allowed students to meet with women from the USDA Office of the Chief Scientist, The Kaiser Family Foundation, the Union of Concerned Scientists, and the U.S. Department of Education, among other places. Insightful experiences from the week included:
- A panel discussion with PLEN alumnae who have pursued careers in public policy. Shama Farooq,
Deputy Public Defender in Fredericksburg, Virginia, and Kate Eltrich, Associate Director for Legislative Affairs at the Office of Management and Budget, discussed how their PLEN experiences shaped their interest in the various aspects of policy work and their careers in the policy field.
- Career development workshops, where students learned skills that are crucial to beginning and advancing a career, including how to write an effective resume, network with co-workers and mentors, and negotiate their salaries. Women in the policy field as well as PLEN alumnae added their insights and expertise to these workshops.
- A discussion with women leaders in the private financial sector as part of PLEN’s Finance Policy Track. Students heard from Monique Frazier, Vice President and Director of Federal Government Relations, HSBC-North America, and Marcia Bradford, Senior Vice President and Senior Relationship Manager, Government
and Institutional Banking, Wells Fargo. Ms. Frazier, who received PLEN’s mentor award in 2006, shared with participants how her public policy experience has given her a unique insight into the financial sector, as she uses her policy background to monitor and analyze proposed banking legislation. Ms. Bradford, who also tracks government legislation, described to participants her work coordinating relationships with nonprofits, and illustrated to students how they could apply their interest in policy to the financial sector.
- Learning about local education policy in the Cannon House Office building as part of PLEN’s Education Policy Track. Participants met with inspiring women working on improving education in Washington, D.C., including Kaye Savage, Founder and CEO of the public charter school Excel Academy, and Ahnna Smith, Senior Advisor in the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Education as well as D.C. Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner. Participants were excited to hear how these women are able to influence change on a local/grassroots level while still pursuing their interest in policy.
- A discussion about international development and sustainability with Hillary French, Programme Officer at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and Stephanie Adrian, Senior Advisor at the Office of International and Tribal Affairs, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as part of PLEN’s Sustainability Policy Track. Both women, who influence global and domestic environmental policy in various capacities, eagerly answered student questions about their work, background, and their interest in sustainability policy.
- A panel on research in health policy as part of PLEN’s Health Policy Track. Participants heard from researchers at prominent think thanks, including the Economic Policy Institute and the Brookings Institution, who described their work conducting research on policy and proposed legislation on both the federal and state level related to health insurance and health costs.
Participants concluded this jam-packed week with a debriefing session, where they discussed how much they learned about the various aspects of public policy, and the inspirational women leaders in the policy field.
This wrapped up PLEN’s two week whirlwind of seminar series, though we are looking forward to our upcoming Women & Congress Seminar in March. Check out PLEN’s Facebook page to view the rest of the week’s photos!
Women & Science/Technology
PLEN kicked off 2012 with its Women & Science/Technology Seminar from January 3-7. Over 30 women college students and graduates traveled to DC for a week spent learning about science policy, technical innovations, and the legislative process. After
getting to know one another, seminar participants received an introduction to the legislative process and how Washington works, learned how to write an effective resume, and heard from women leaders involved in different aspects of the science policy field. Highlights from the week included:
- A meeting with accomplished women scientists working on Capitol Hill, including Congressional Science Policy Fellows Dr. Anna Quider and Dr. Elizabeth O’Hare. Both Dr. Quider and Dr. O’Hare have used their extensive science backgrounds to inform current legislation initiatives on topics ranging from international science cooperation to disability rights.
- A discussion at the White House Conference Center with Dr. Pat Falcone, Senior
Policy Analyst at the Office of Science and Technology Policy, Executive Office of the President. Dr. Falcone imparted to PLEN participants interested in science policy the importance not only of having a strong technical background in the sciences, but also of being able to communicate oftentimes complex concepts effectively in order to shape policy.
- A day-long visit to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), where participants met with women scientists from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) to hear more about clinical science work at a federal agency and learn about implementing, and the challenge of implementing, research discoveries.
- An insightful meeting with Dr. Margaret Little at the Fordham Institute. Dr. Little, the Director of the Kennedy Institute of Ethics, spoke about bioethics in the 21st century, emphasizing the need for responsible research in the science field.
- At the end of the week, participants shared their experiences from their week in Washington with Dr. Arianna Sutton Grier, a AAAS Science and Technology Fellow at the National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration (NOAA). Students overall felt this experience gave them an opportunity to network with other women interested in pursuing science research and policy. Additionally, students were able to clarify their educational and career goals by hearing the experiences of women leaders in the science and technology fields.
- On the final day, students heard from keynote speaker Dr. Luciana Borio, Acting Director of Counterterrorism and Emerging Threats, Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Dr. Borio, who has an extensive background in biodefense-related issues, illustrated how a science background can be applied in securing our country from terrorism and other biological threats, in addition to conducting lab research and shaping domestic science policy.
View the rest of the week’s photos on PLEN’s Facebook Page. Photos and highlights from PLEN’s Women & Public Policy Seminar are coming soon!
January 25, 2012 | by: pamela o’leary
Get Appointed: State and Local Boards and Commissions
One way to become a political appointee is to become a Schedule C appointee in the federal government. Another option to consider is getting appointed to state or local boards and commissions, which can also serve as a stepping stone for elected office. Overall, volunteering is a great first start, followed by establishing an expertise in an area. Here are the pathways of two young women who have achieved such positions. You can get appointed too!
Gubernatorial Appointee
Edda Collins Coleman, Board of Trustee, Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth
Edda began her political career early on by volunteering with a gubernatorial campaign while still in college. After proving herself through a strong work ethic, she was offered a paid position as Special Assistant to Governor Mark Warner in the Virginia Liaison Office on Capitol Hill where she handled legislation concerning energy, environment, labor, and natural resources. She continued her career trajectory by building up her healthcare credentials by working in the health care advocacy profession and on presidential campaigns. Four years since she first began volunteering in college, she was appointed as a Board of Trustee, Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth (VFHY).
Edda shares that the greatest part about serving on the VFHY board is the ability to give back to the state she loves. As part of the program committee, she helps to ensure that funds are available for childhood obesity and youth smoking prevention programs, sends out grant opportunities all over the state, and implements various programs. In terms of advice to young women wanting to get appointed, Edda shares, “Figure out your passion and then educate yourself in that subject matter. My time with America’s Health Insurance Plans prepared me for this opportunity. The key is volunteerism, expertise and relationship building. When you are an expert, the sky is the limit!”
County Appointee
Jamie Shopland, Commissioner, Frederick County Commission for Women
Jamie learned about the Frederick County Commission for Women when her friend invited her to attend a public meeting. After attending the public meeting, she was invited to the Commission’s annual strategic planning meeting. Inspired by the strategic planning meeting and the opportunity to pursue her passion of working on women’s issues, Jamie offered to volunteer for the Commission and share her IT skills. After connecting with one of the Commission’s founding members, Connie Devilbiss, at the strategic planning meeting, Connie suggested that Jamie convert her volunteer work into an internship for which she could obtain credit as part of her coursework at Hood College. Seeing her initiative and high quality work, the president of the Commission agreed to give Jamie the chance to be the Commission’s first intern. While in school, Jamie interned with the Commission for the Spring and Summer 2011 semesters. It was not long before the president began suggesting to Jamie that she should take the next step and serve as a commissioner.
Beginning her appointment in September 2011, Jamie’s favorite part about serving thus far has been the tremendous opportunity to meet community leaders, impact the lives of women in her county, and form partnerships with local organizations. Since her September appointment, Jamie has been elected to the Executive Committee position of Recorder and as Chair of the Legislative Committee. Jamie’s advice for becoming a county appointee is to start by finding a board or commission in your community whose mission speaks to you and then volunteer for that board or commission. Similar to Edda, Jamie also advises that when you volunteer, be sure to work incredibly hard and always go above and beyond. Demonstrating a high level of passion and commitment could lead to board or commission appointment as it did in Jamie’s case.
Resources: Unlocking the Cabinet: Where Women Stand in State Appointments and Where We Need Them to Go
December 5, 2011 | by: colette luke
Last month over 49 women attended PLEN’s Law & Public Policy Seminar. Over the course of three days, the women listened to the advice of prominent female attorneys and elected officials in public policy; had their resumes critiqued; toured the Supreme Court and even spoke to Supreme Court Justice Ruth Ginsburg! The women left with 
a better understanding of the type of path they want to pursue after college or, for some, their next career move. A large group left ready to apply to law school while others decided to look towards a masters in public policy. All in all, these three days were crucial in shaping the women’s career goals.
Being out of college for about four years now, I understand first-hand the importance of attending one of these seminars. When I left college, I was confused and directionless. There were so many things I was interested in and so many career paths I wanted to pursue. If I had attended PLEN during my college days, I believe I would have been able to narrow down my career choices and figure out a plan that worked best for me earlier on. But oh well – we all figure things out at our own pace, which is another nice thing about PLEN seminars. They are open to everyone! You don’t have to be a senior in college, but you could be a person who is in the business world and wants to make a career switch to the legal side.
There were so many discussions that I enjoyed, but I’ll just list a few here on the blog. 
One of my favorites was learning how to negotiate a salary with career consultant Alyssa Best. She started off asking the group – “Who feels comfortable negotiating their first salary right out of school?” Only half of the group rose their hands. After the one-hour talk with the consultant on how to negotiate and why women hold back from negotiating, the consultant asked the same question – “Ok, so now after hearing everything we talked about, who’s ready to negotiate their first salary?” All of the women in the conference room rose their hands without any hesitation.
My other favorite moment was meeting female Supreme Court law clerks. Standing in a room at the Supreme Court, the law clerks were extremely helpful in giving advice on what type of clubs they were a part of and academic standings in law school that may have helped them get their positions at the Supreme Court. They were energetic and candidly talked about the ups and downs of their job.
… and then walking in unexpectedly was Justice Ginsberg! That was a once in a lifetime opportunity for all of us. Standing in front of us was a woman who remained steadfast in protecting women’s rights for many years – it was an unbelieveable moment.
If you’re reading this blog and are debating on whether or not to attend a PLEN seminar, I would definitely encourage you to try one out. It will change your career life and help you narrow down your choices. You’ll also leave with important information like writing a resume, salary negotations and how to apply to law school. You’ll also get to spend time in the exciting and progressive city of the District of Columbia.
September 8, 2011 | by: jamie shopland
From Our PLENtern…
Today concludes the end of week 3 of my 15-week internship with the Public Leadership Education Network (PLEN). I was compelled to intern for PLEN based on its mission to prepare women to lead and my experience during their week-long International Policy seminar in May 2010. The seminar was so inspiring and eye-opening that I wanted to give something back to an organization that gave me so much. Check out more about this fantastic organization and read reviews from other students on GreatNonprofits.
So far, I have enjoyed my internship experience. During my first week, I was deployed on a fact-finding mission tasked with pulling demographic data from RegOnline to capture how many students considered themselves traditionally underrepresented in the public policy field based on their race or ethnicity. Pulling and analyzing the data confirmed that overall, 1/3 of PLEN seminar attendees are considered traditionally underrepresented. Not long after I delivered the report, the Executive Director gave me a high-five and told me that I had contributed in my first week. I felt warm and fuzzy.
Last week and this week, I’ve been researching and creating a donor program for individuals that support PLEN’s programs. This has been a challenging process since I have very little experience in the fundraising aspect of non-profit work, but that’s one skill I’m here to learn. I delivered a very rough draft of my work today to the Executive Director and was happy to learn that I am going in the right direction. Yahoo!
Also this week, I attended a fantastic meeting hosted by the National Council of Women’s Organizations (NCWO) (acronym pronounced “nick-woe” – who knew) with influential women leaders in attendance. Checkout the meeting agenda and handouts. Oh, and 10 minutes before the meeting, I was asked to present less then 5 minutes of information about PLEN and its upcoming seminars because the ED couldn’t attend. Thrown to the wolves (in a good way), but I think I handled it fine, at least that’s what I was told. I kind of liked the rush, but I couldn’t tell you what I said up there. Thank goodness the video recorder ran out of power! I’m pretty sure my voice was shaking.
What I have not thoroughly enjoyed thus far is my commute thanks to that darling mother nature. But that’s part of what I wanted to get out of this experience, too. After concluding week 3 of my internship with a fairly productive day, I ended it with a 2.5 hour commute home due to torrential rain and flash flooding. I can’t help but wonder what weather phenomenon I will encounter next week during my DC commute. I’m certainly getting plenty of exposure to worst-case commuting scenarios.
Week 1 – Earthquake, 6 hours to get home
Week 2 – Light rain/train delays, 2 hours to get to DC and 2 hours to get home
Week 3 – Torrential rain and flash flood warning, 2.5 hours to get home
12.5 hours commuting that I will never get back. Good thing I have reading material on the metro. I’m currently reading Social Media for Social Good: A How-To Guide for Nonprofits by Heather Mansfield and the The Gift of Fear and Other Survival Signals that Protect Us From Violence by Gavin de Becker. Lets just hope we don’t have another blizzard this year. Checkout this article about the worst commutes around the world. I can’t believe DC isn’t listed.
August 26, 2011 | by: pamela o’leary
Happy Women’s Equality Day!
Ninety-one years ago today, women in America finally won the right to vote! Did you know that the suffrage movement was largely led by young women such as Alice Paul and Lucy Burns? Did you know that their organization, the National Woman’s Party (NWP) was the first political organization in the United States to picket the White House? As a result, many suffragists were imprisoned, went on hunger strikes, and were violently force-fed against their will. We are all indebted to their sacrifice.
If you did not know all this, I did not either until I pursued an M.A. in Applied Women’s Studies. Sadly, women’s contributions to society have been left out of most of the history books. While not entirely historically accurate, a fun way to learn about the suffrage movement is to watch Iron Jawed Angels , an HBO film with Hilary Swank.
In short, the fight for women’s rights in the United States began in 1848 in Seneca Falls , and was closely connected to the abolition movement. The original suffrage leaders were Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia Mott, and Susan B. Anthony. But after internal division over supporting the 14th and 15th Amendments, which prioritized granting African American men the right to vote first, there was a lull in the suffrage movement until the early 1900s when Alice Paul and Lucy Burns took over.
August 08, 2011 | by: kristina hamilton
As the saying goes, all good things come to an end. PLEN’s 2011 Women & Public Policy Summer Internship program concluded at the end of July, and our interns have shared their final thoughts and reflections in the recent Intern Blog.
Over the past 10 weeks, PLEN interns have transformed from being uncertain and anxious about what they would get out of their summer in Washington, to more confident and knowledgeable young women on subjects like salary negotiation, the history of the Equal Rights Amendment, writing press releases, and presenting themselves professionally.
This time around, our interns blogged about the inequities of voter identification laws concerning women, seniors and low-income citizens; the importance of maintaining a positive attitude as an intern; how this internship changed her life; finding a second home in Washington; and how laborious tasks help an NGO reach a greater goal. Their experiences are diverse, meaningful and interesting, so we encourage you to step into their worlds via their blogs this month!
July 22, 2011 | by: courtney holt
Last week our Public Policy Summer Internship students visited 
Capitol Hill to meet with women leading the nation’s public policy agenda, including Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska who just this past year won an historic write-in vote which made her the first Senator in more than 50 years to do so. Her advice to students who hope to run for office someday: Get involved early, learn and immerse yourself in issues, and be a good representative in your community first.
Students also had the chance to sit down with Representative Debbie Wasserman-Schultz’s Chief of Staff Tracie Pough to talk about what it’s like working for the DNC Chairwoman and the vast gender gap on Capitol Hill (only 35% of Representatives have a female Chief of Staff).
Claire-Shapiro Trombley of Senator Barbara Boxer’s office advised students to take internships as a first step toward getting into an ultra-competitive Capitol Hill job, and Lindsey Mask of Representative Buck McKeon’s office and Founder of Ladies DC gave advice on finding your niche and surrounding yourself with a powerful network of women.
July 06, 2011 | by: kristina hamilton
The PLEN staff has had the great pleasure of working with five outstanding young women during our annual Women & Public Policy Summer 
Internship. We are currently midway through the program, and the interns have had tremendous experiences that have truly helped them develop as professional young women. Whether it is concerning their internship at an advocacy organization, meeting with accomplished women during our weekly PLEN seminar or enjoying tunes at Jazz in the Garden, our interns have a lot to share.
For the first time ever, we have given our interns the opportunity to blog about their Washington summer experience. The PLEN Intern Blog seeks to provide firsthand thoughts and reflections of our interns, and give them the chance to zone in on some of the aspects of their summer that have affected them the most. They have chosen to write about life as a recent college grad in a tough job market; the state of Planned Parenthood in her home state; the discovery of the horrors of human trafficking and child marriage; stylish, yet appropriate dress for all occasions; and how to put your best foot forward in a job interview. Our interns’ blogs speak to the impact of the diverse situations they have faced in their summer internships and in Washington, in general. We hope you will read on!
Please note that the views of our interns do not reflect the views of PLEN as an organization.
June 20, 2011 | by: courtney holt
PLEN is thrilled to welcome Barnard College, leading New York liberal arts college and partner of Columbia University, as a PLEN member school. Abigail Lewis, a long-time PLEN supporter and now Program Director at the Athena Center at Barnard College, shares her view on what makes PLEN so unique:
I am the Program Director of the Athena Scholars Program at the Athena Center for Leadership Studies at Barnard College. We are excited to join PLEN this summer, and to get our Scholars to attend PLEN’s wonderful programs starting this fall!
I first became aware of PLEN while working at Douglass Residential College, Rutgers University. Many Douglass students participate in PLEN programs and internships, and I was fortunate to chaperone the Douglass Social Justice House to the Women & Congress program in March 2010. The students learned so much from the Congresswomen, Senators, and Hill staffers in terms of policy and poise. I was moved to see how my students responded to these women leaders, and I really believe that the PLEN program is one of the best co-curricular programs offered to college women.
When I started my job at the Athena Center, I made it a priority to join PLEN so my new students would have the same opportunities in broadening their horizons. PLEN lets students imagine themselves as the future leaders in government, policy, and global affairs; this is done through the fantastic guest speakers, the intellectual discussions, and the chance to meet other dynamic students from other women’s colleges and programs.
June 10, 2011 | by: courtney holt
PLEN Alum Rellani Ogumoro was named Eastern
Oregon University’s 2011 President’s Scholar and was also named a 2011 Truman Scholar , the very first EOU student to receive the honor! She credits her 2010 PLEN Summer Internship experience with validating her passion for public policy reform, and for introducing her to behind-the-scenes policy work happening on Capitol Hill. Rellani will be graduating Summa Cum Laude from EOU on Saturday, June 11, and she will be addressing the 2010-2011 class during the commencement ceremony. Congratulations Rellani!
June 01, 2011 | by: courtney holt
From briefings with women policy leaders at the U.S. Department of State to a visit with Deputy Chief of Mission Anne Mette Vestergaard at the spacious and modern Danish Embassy, PLEN students last week got a feel for the varied ways in which one can shape and influence international policy. PLEN’s 2011 International Policy Seminar students met with speakers from a vast spectrum of government bodies and NGO’s, including USAID, the U.S. Department of Labor, the World Bank, the One Campaign, and the United Nations Population Fund. Highlights during the week included:
o A visit to Capital Hill, during which students met with Kathryn Cameron Porter, Nobel Peace Prize nominee and President of the Leadership Council for Human Rights. Porter created the Human Rights Caucus after a visit to the Soviet Union in 1981, and continues to fight human rights violations around the world.
o An evening networking reception at the Stewart Mott House on Capitol Hill, where students had the chance to meet and connect with young professionals working in the policy field. Students walked away with plenty of business cards and the feeling that they had a newly established network in D.C.
o With the choice to focus in either Human Rights or Global Health & Education, students were able to attend sessions that were closely tailored to their interests. Students in the Human Rights track met with women from the International Labor Rights Forum, Institute for Inclusive Security, and Vital Voices. Students in the Global Health & Education track met with women at PEPFAR, Africare, and the World Bank.
o An array of professional development opportunities, including a resume workshop led by women policy professionals and a salary negotiation training hosted by Career Coach Alyssa Best. Says Best, “Women are 85% less likely to negotiate a raise than their male counterparts, and as a result women are making significantly less money right out of college.”
o A discussion about how to pursue a career in international relations, 
hosted by a panel of women who shared their advice on how students can take advantage of a variety of academic programs and global opportunities. Students heard from Dr. Bonnie Wilson, the Associate Dean for Student Affairs at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS); Mariana Maguire, a Masters Candidate from Georgetown University; and Molly Chidester, a Research Assistant at the Brookings Institution and a former Fulbright Fellow.
May 19, 2011 | by: courtney holt
The Washington Post hosted a live chat on the art of salary negotiation with PLEN Executive Director Pamela O’Leary and PLEN Speaker and Career Coach Alyssa Best. College students and recent graduates had the opportunity to ask burning questions about how to negotiate your first salary, how to ask for better job benefits, and the enormous effect that your starting salary has on your earnings throughout your career. As O’Leary and Best say, “We think this is such a critical issue because women ask for raises or promotions 85% less than their male counterparts.”
Read the entire transcript on the Washington Post website!
April 28, 2011 | by: courtney holt
Global Women’s Network
, the largest collaborative website on women’s and girls’ organizations operating around the world, recently interviewed PLEN Executive Director Pamela O’Leary to discuss PLEN’s exciting upcoming program, the 2011 Women & International Policy Seminar. When asked what the most unique aspect of PLEN programs are, O’ Leary said:
“PLEN is really unique in the fact that it brings women to D.C. There’s something special about being here and walking around the halls of Congress, and having students actually meet the women who are moving and shaking this city.”
You can listen to the podcast here!
March 30, 2011 | by: courtney holt
PLEN Executive Director Pamela O’Leary was featured this week on the website Gender Across Borders. As part of the site’s Feminism & Education Series, O’Leary blogged about the important work that PLEN is doing in opening the pipeline for women’s leadership. On the proven success of PLEN programs in opening doors for young women, O’Leary says:
“Many PLEN alumnae now serve in 
leadership positions in Washington, DC, and many of them credit PLEN with making them believe that such career paths were possible. In addition to exposing women to new career paths and providing role models, PLEN also teaches college women professional development skills such as salary negotiation, resume writing, and networking.”
Read the rest of Pamela O’Leary’s blog post here!
March 02, 2011 | by: courtney holt
- PLEN Board Chair Barbara A. Shailor and Executive Director Pamela O’Leary with some of this year’s PLEN Awardees
Last week PLEN celebrated our 2011 Mentor Awards in style at the Embassy of the Republic of Croatia, where we gathered to honor some of PLEN’s most accomplished mentors and speakers.
Among the honorees were Congresswoman Barbara Lee, a tireless advocate for women’s issues, Nobel Peace Prize nominee and frequent speaker to PLEN students; Sarah Craven of the United Nations Population Fund, an expert on international development and a key speaker at PLEN’s annual Women & International Policy Seminar;Tracy Henke, a PLEN Corporate Advisory Council member and student speaker, as well as a long-time 
public servant at the U.S. Departments of Justice and Homeland Security; and Jamila Larson, A PLEN alumna who co-founded the Homeless Children’s Playtime Project based in D.C.
- PLEN Founder Sissy Farenthold
Awardees mingled with other PLEN mentors both past and present, as well as PLEN alums who traveled into town especially for the event. We were thrilled to see so many long-time PLEN supporters as well as some new faces in the crowd. It was truly a night to remember and we thank all those who attended and who continue to support PLEN’s work!
January 27, 2011 | by: courtney holt
PLEN Alum Kakenya Ntaiya was recently honored by the ViewChange.org Online Film Contest for her animated video portraying the obstacles overcome on her journey to become a teacher and activist for women’s education. The video, co-directed by New York filmmaker Aaron Kisner, uses a beautiful and unique style of animation to tell Kakenya’s story of growing up in a traditional Maasai village and eventually realizing her dream of building the first school for girls in her community and empowering future generations. The grand prize of $25,000 will go towards her school for girls in Kenya.
January 25, 2011 | by: courtney holt
Last week’s Women & Public Policy Seminar was PLEN’s 29th annual gathering of smart, policy-minded women hoping to learn more about what it takes to make one’s mark on the Washington political scene. For the first time this year, students were able to pick two out of four policy tracks to follow: Education, Healthcare, Sustainability and Finance. Students started out the week with a crash course on the legislative process from AAUW’s Director of Public Policy Lisa Maatz before delving into more focused policy issues in the fields of their choice. Along the way, students had the opportunity to visit government agencies and non-profits like the National Coalition on Healthcare, Sierra Club and The American Federation of Teachers to talk face-to-face with women working on the front lines to influence the nation’s policies. Other high points of the week included:
Abbott Scientists
o A briefing at the U.S. Department of State from foreign service officers and advisers working to promote democracy and represent the interests of the United States abroad. Among these fascinating women were Dana Smith, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State and Mary Beth Goodman, Senior Economic & Energy Advisor for Afghanistan and Pakistan.
o A networking reception where students mingled with members of Women in Government Relations and got a chance to tap into the wisdom and insight these amazing women had to share about advancing in the professional world.
Dr. Yvonne Maddox, Deputy Director, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
o Getting the inside scoop from a series of keynote speakers, including: Andrea Palm, Senior Advisor for Health on the President’s Domestic PolicyCouncil; Martha Kanter, Under Secretary in the U.S. Department of Education; and Sylvia Plunkett, Associate Director of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).
o A series of workshops on developing crucial professional skills like resume writing, salary negotiations, and networking; our students expressed their surprise that many of these real-world skills are not taught at campus career centers.
This concludes a dynamic and eye-opening two weeks of programs, and we look forward to keeping the momentum going with the Women & Congress Seminar this March. A big thank you to all the enthusiastic and driven students who joined us in DC for the past two weeks and the speakers and mentors who inspired them!
January 18, 2011| by: courtney holt
PLEN rang in the new year with two great week-long programs, the first of which was Women & Science/Technology, January 3-7. Students from around the country gathered in the nation’s capitol to learn more about how they could use their degrees in the science and technology fields to make a difference in public policy. Along the way, we met with an array of impressive women who are doing just that – from the laboratories of the National Institutes of Health to the halls of Capitol Hill. Highlights of the week included:
o A roundtable luncheon hosted by a group of accomplished women scientists from Abbott Laboratories. The entire week-long program was generously sponsored by the Abbott Fund, which allowed students to attend at a fraction of the original cost.
o A visit to the 300-acre campus of the National Institutes of Health in
Bethesda, Maryland to meet with a diverse group of women and see first-hand how NIH is helping to close the gender gap in sciences andengineering. Students had the chance to tour the laboratories and medical wards for a snapshot of the day-to-day work of the world’s largest clinical research center.
o A stop at the White House Conference Center to meet with Dr. Diane DiEuliis, Assistant Director of Life Sciences at the Office of Science and Technology Policy, Executive Office of the President. Dr. DiEuliis spoke candidly with students about the role of White House science and technology advisers in influencing policy and public attitude.
o An afternoon on Capitol Hill with women who work at the crossroads of science and policy every day. Among the scientists students metwith were Dr. Julia Jester of the House Science and Technology Committee and Dr. Elizabeth O’Hare, a Congressional Science Policy Fellow in Congressman Rush Holt’s Office.
o At the end of the week, students debriefed and reflected on their time in Washington with Dr. Ariana Sutton-Grier from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) . Some students were inspired by speakers to start thinking about further education and Phd programs, while others expressed a greater interest in policy-based work. Students all agreed that the experience made them more aware of the funding opportunities available for higher education, and the value of being part of a network of young women with shared aspirations.
View the rest of the week’s photos on PLEN’s Facebook Page. Photos and highlights from last week’s Women & Public Policy Seminar are coming soon!
November 17, 2010| by: courtney holt
This past weekend, PLEN hosted its 21st annual Women, Law & Public Policy Seminar, kicking off our new year of programs! Fifty-two students from colleges across the country, and with academic backgrounds as varied as political science to genetic engineering majors, gathered together for a whirlwind three-day exploration into what it’s like working in the fields of law and public policy in Washington, D.C. Some highlights included:
o Meeting some of the astounding law clerks who work for U.S. Supreme Court Justices and learning that becoming a law clerk is as rare and hard-won as “being struck by lightening.”
o Enjoying lunch at Kelley Drye & Warren, a beautiful law firm in Washington Harbour, while speaking with a panel of women lawyers to discuss their paths to law and the work-life balance
o Hearing from a variety of women holding leadership positions in public policy: students networked and asked questions of Allison Herwitt (PLEN Alum), the Legislative Director at the Human Rights Campaign; Kenia Lopez, the President of the Hispanic Bar Association; Christine Harley, the Policy and Programs Director at NAPAWF; Julie Miceli, Chief of Staff at the U.S. Department of Education; and Christine Turner (PLEN Alum), Senior Advisor at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, among others.
o Getting tips on applying to law school from women in the know, such as Veryl Miles, the law school dean at Catholic University of America, and Kate Mitchell (PLEN Alum), a current law school student in California and an intern on Capitol Hill.
September 30, 2010| by: courtney holt
The Washington Postfeatured PLEN alum and speaker Jamila Larson in a recent article about the devastating effects of poverty on the children of Washington, D.C. As the founder of the Homeless Children’s Playtime Project, Jamila is trying to find a way to enrich the experience of childhood for kids who are forced to grow up too fast under the burden of financial stress. The Playtime Project works with local homeless shelters to bring arts, crafts, libraries and playrooms to children needing a place to feel secure and happy.
Jamila attended PLEN’s Women & Public Policy Seminar in 1995.
September 1, 2010 | by: courtney holt
With the end of summer already fast approaching, we decided to check in with some of our past students to see how they spent their summer months. See what PLEN alums have been accomplishing from their offices in the nation’s capitol to a village in rural Africa:
Kelsey Moran (International ’10) recently spent a month in rural Losho, 
Kenya volunteering at a clinic and tutoring students in English. In the evenings, she mentored a 4th grade female student.
Alexis Carter (International ’10) spent the summer interning at the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs. Her duties included organizing public diplomacy activities for college students and researching cultural, political and economic trends in the East Asia-Pacific region. Currently, Alexis is studying abroad in Shanghai, China for her fall semester at Spelman College.
Lindsey Santamaria (Congress ’10) just completed an internship campaigning and fundraising for Rep. Rodney P. Frelinghuysen (R-NJ). Working directly with the Campaign Manager, Santamaria had the opportunity to attend political events and meet prominent figures in New Jersey’s 11th district, including New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.
Danielle Campbell (Public Policy ’10) spent the summer interning with the U.S. Department of Education in the Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development. She is now back at UVA to finish the last year of her Masters program in Public Policy.
See what else PLEN students have been up to in our Alum Bulletin!
August 17, 2010 | by: courtney holt
Today the White House Office of Public Engagement invited PLEN staff and alums to tour the East Wing of the White House. This is where the offices of First Lady Michelle Obama are located, as well as the family theater and the beautiful gardens first planted by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.
Although we weren’t able to bring a camera inside, we got some great group pictures in front of the grand North entrance:
July 25, 2010 | by: courtney holt
The Chronicle featured PLEN Board Member
Carmen Twillie Ambar, President of Cedar Crest College in Pennsylvania, in a recent article talking about how she manages the delicate, and sometimes chaotic, balance between raising triplets and holding academic office.
“[
Ambar] remembers when Gabrielle, one of her 3-year-old triplets, wandered onto the stage just before the curtain rose on a student ballet performance. ‘To her, everywhere on campus is home,’ Ms. Ambar says.”
July 21, 2010 | by: courtney holt
Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard’s (D-CA) website is featuring Summer intern Gricelda Ceja following the student’s visit to the Congresswoman in her Washington, D.C. office this past July. Ceja grew up in Roybal-Allard’s district in Los Angeles.
