40 Weeks of PLEN

Where Are The Girls?

Frances “Sissy” Farenthold was a Texas state legislator, women’s college president, human rights activist — and the driving force behind PLEN’s founding in the late 1970s. In 1976, Sissy became the president of Wells College and led the charge to form PLEN in the late '70s. Sissy continued to support PLEN after leaving Wells College and continues her work in the public sector today as an international human rights activist.

Valuing Minds

“Women still undervalue themselves...even the most qualified and most powerful. PLEN can put women in front of young women and teach them that ‘it’s your mind that’s of value.’” -Cori Asaka

Leadership

PLEN Board of Directors | PLEN Advisory Council

PLEN’s First Executive Director

Marianne Alexander, PhD, was PLEN’s first executive director and over the course of PLEN’s 40-year history, served as a leader and advocate for the organization. After leading Goucher’s campus-based PLEN programs, Marianne was selected as the executive director in 1986 and led the effort to establish PLEN as an independent non-profit in Washington, DC in the late 1980s.Throughout PLEN's history, she has played an invaluable role in the lives of many young women as they got their start here.

The Power Of PLEN

How much do you know about PLEN's history? Check out our 40 Years of History and Impact report to learn more about PLEN from the beginning!

Great, Positive Change

"Attending a PLEN seminar in my senior year of college showed me the concepts I had been learning in action as a Government major. That trip to DC and seminar was a safe space to ask tough questions about the careers we were about to embark on, gaining insight from the women leaders that we aspired to be. Reconnecting with PLEN almost 20 years later and being able to share my experience to help the next generation of women leaders has been energizing, and it's own new learning experience. This generation of women is poised to make great, positive change in our world, and the PLEN seminars are the tools to help them do it." -Josie Beets

Celebrating With Member Schools

During their annual Celebrating Excellence dinner, the women of William Smith college jointly celebrated PLEN's 40th Anniversary. William Smith has been a member school since 2011, and since then has sent almost 200 students to PLEN seminars. As part of the celebration, they invited Lisa Rice, Vice Chair of the PLEN Board of Directors; Sarah Bruno, PLEN's Executive Director; Rose Cherubin HWS alumna and Senior Assistant Director of Admissions at HWS and alumna of 3 PLEN seminars; and Ellie Shaw, Chair of the PLEN Board of Directors.

Improving Lives Through Law

Shama Farooq has dedicated her professional life to supporting others through the policy and legal fields, and as she moves up in her career, she also prioritizes supporting the next generation of policy leaders through mentoring. Currently, she is a Clinical Instructor in the Gender Based Violence Clinic at her alma mater: Tulane Law School, and she has previously held jobs in law and international policy all over the world. PLEN helped set her on a path to success, and she continues to help the next generation forge their paths towards policy leadership.

Internship Program

In 1991, PLEN launched the Internship Semester Program, which brought college women and recent graduates to Washington, DC for a semester (or a summer) to connect them with internship opportunities while also providing weekly professional development workshops and trainings. Throughout the program, students interned on Capitol Hill, at the Human Rights Campaign, WUFPac, and hundreds of other organizations while also learning about improving their resumes, cover letters, networking skills, public speaking, to better prepare them for future internships and jobs.

Women Supporting Women

At PLEN, Maryam recalled the strong sense of community among the students who attended PLEN, each of whom brought their own interests and passions to the seminar. When she returned to St. Lawrence University, Maryam knew that other students at her college would likewise benefit from PLEN. With her advocacy and support from Lynn Fox, St. Lawrence University became the first non-women’s college or former women’s college to join PLEN in 2013.

Congressional Host Committee

Whether they’re hosting young women in their offices or being honored at our annual Mentor Awards, Members of Congress are constantly inspiring and motivating PLEN women to become the next generation of strong, collaborative, and dedicated women policy leaders. Thank you to the women leaders on our Congressional Host Committee!

A Labor Of Love

"I've been working with PLEN in various ways since I first came to DC more than 20 years ago. From speaking at PLEN seminars, to employing PLEN interns, to serving on the Board and even having the honor of receiving the PLEN Mentor Award, this organization has always been my volunteer labor of love. PLEN provides that most necessary combination of ingredients to give young women a boost. It's done so for 40 years, and will keep doing so until women -- especially women of color -- have their seats at the table." -Lisa Maatz

Starting Seminars In DC

In January of 1983, PLEN hosted its first seminar in Washington, DC: Women in Public Policy. Today, 36 years later, marks the first day of the Women in Public Policy seminar 2019.

An Entrepreneurial Spirit

Now a Commercial Buy Analyst at Nielsen in Chicago, Aku Aquaye spent each of her years at Barnard College building up her diverse leadership experience. Her list of on- and off-campus involvements is long, but there's one thing that connects them all: her entrepreneurial spirit and interest in business policies. Although she came to PLEN without concrete post-graduate plans, she quickly learned that “there’s something exciting in leaving a place of comfort and exploring something new.”

Setting Women On The Right Track

Each year, PLEN gives out tens of thousands of dollars in scholarships to help young women on their track to policy leadership. In 2015, Molly Willeford was able to attend the Women in Global Policy seminar with a scholarship sponsored by alumna and previous member of the Board of Directors, Jen Stange. Previously unclear about her professional path, she's now working at an international nonprofit in Washington, DC and has a Master's in International Affairs all thanks to the generous donations that made her scholarship possible.

New Millennium, New Seminar

In January 2000, PLEN rang in the new millennium with a brand new seminar: Women in Science/Technology Policy! From January 10-14, PLEN hosted 15 undergraduate women who were all pursuing careers in science and/or technology. This seminar and all student scholarships were funded by the Oracle Foundation and prepared students for active participation as civic leaders in public debate and policy issues.

Alumnae Leaders

In 2010, PLEN established a special part of the annual Mentor Awards: the Marianne Alexander Alumnae Leadership Award, named after PLEN's first executive director. The first award honored alumna Kristin Haffert, who went on to found Mine The Gap, an organization that empowers leaders to create and sustain gender-inclusive work environments.

Solidifying My Goals

Donya Khadem came to PLEN with a clear set of post-graduation career goals: she wanted to get some experience in the policy world before attending law school. However, she recalled going into the seminar very stressed; she knew it was going to be difficult to get the policy job that she wanted and convince her parents that this was the right decision. Donya left PLEN with a new set of skills, growing confidence, and a network of supportive women to help her launch her policy career.

Why I Give To PLEN

Lynn Smith Fox is a former Senior Adviser at the Federal Reserve Board and is now on PLEN's Advisory Council and works with PLEN women at Member School St. Lawrence University. The mission of PLEN is near to her heart, and she gives to PLEN because of the opportunities PLEN programs provide to young women of all backgrounds and financial capacities.

Magic On Capitol Hill

From visiting every single tourist location possible, to meeting with women on Capitol Hill, to talking to lobbyists and nonprofit executives, Andrea López-Rivera was awe-struck with each experience she had in D.C. She not only learned about the policy process and the plethora of careers available to her, but also realized that D.C. is where she is meant to be.

Honoring Women Mentors

In 1994, PLEN established the annual PLEN Mentor Awards to honor women who are not only leaders in their field, but who also dedicate their time to mentoring the next generation of women leaders. Since the first ceremony, we've honored over 100 women who are leaders from government, nonprofits, research institutions, and universities for their commitment to helping women coming up the ladder behind them.

Becoming An Agent Of Change

Jessica Lopez wouldn't have been in Washington, DC if her friend hadn't encouraged her to go to PLEN. Since her seminar, she has continued to mentor the next generation of leaders and teach them the importance of civic engagement.

In The City Where It Happens

Did you know that PLEN wasn't always in Washington, DC? From our first programs in 1979 on college campuses, to our first DC program in 1983, PLEN was headquartered on Wells College in Aurora, NY. In 1988, PLEN relocated to Washington, DC to be in the city where the policy changemaking happens.

PLEN Inspired My Dedication To Public Service

From working at nonprofits, to hospitals, to higher education, Christina Coiro Powell is in the midst of an impressive career in public service - and she credits her passion to PLEN. At the Women in Science and Technology Policy seminar, Christina learned how she could match her passion for making a difference and interest in science, and set out to work in science in the public sector.

Everything Finally Clicked

As a senior at Tulane University, Kathee Facchiano thought she knew exactly what her plan was. However, when she attended her first PLEN seminar, she learned that working on Capitol Hill was what she really wanted to do... and she's been there ever since.

A Doctor’s Advice For Her Daughter In STEM

Dr. Helene Sheena saw firsthand the impact of PLEN when her daughter, Brittney, attended the Women in STEM Policy seminar. As a woman in STEM herself, Dr. Sheena understands the hurdles that women face while forging a career path in STEM. Through her daughter's PLEN experience, she saw the important skills and knowledge Brittney acquired to help her throughout her "career jungle gym."

Focusing On What Unifies Us

Jenny and Wintta are on opposite sides of the political spectrum, but their friendship shows the importance of connecting with and learning from people of all backgrounds and perspectives.

PLEN Was The Start Of My DC Love Story

Lindsey Santamaria came to PLEN wondering if she would one day be in the same seats as the women who sat in front of her cohort and shared their stories. Fastfoward to 2018, and Lindsey is exactly where she hoped to be: working in policy in Washington, DC, and inspiring the next generation of PLEN women.

Equality & Inclusion In Law

As the Senior Advisor to the Management Committee and Global Director of Diversity and Inclusion at K&L Gates, Valerie Jackson is committed to diversifying the legal sector. K&L Gates has sponsored numerous scholarships for young women to attend #PLENLaw, and Valerie has been both a PLEN Advisory Council Member and Mentor Award Honoree!

United Nations World Conference On Women, Beijing, China

Christine Turner had just participated in PLEN’s Women and Public Policy seminar when PLEN arranged an extraordinary opportunity for her on the other side of the world: attendance at the UN World Conference on Women in Beijing. In addition to learning about the world’s priorities concerning the status of women, the Conference helped her recognize her passion.

Lifelong Leader With PLEN

Lisa Kaenzig attended three (yes, three!) PLEN seminars, and passed on what she learned through a mentorship program that she set up at Douglass College at Rutgers University. Now, as the Dean of William Smith College, Lisa continues to encourage young women to attend PLEN seminars and offers them endless support.

A Supportive Network Of Women

Before attending a PLEN seminar, Brittney Kohler knew that she was meant to be in Washington, DC, but she wasn't sure how to get there. PLEN demystified the world of public policy and introduced her to significant women mentors, and Brittney continues to give back to the PLEN community as a PLEN speaker and mentor.

The Next Generation Of Leaders

At the 2017 #PLENWCNL seminar, Gabriella Morris (Senior Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at UNICEF USA) dedicated her keynote address to the inspirational role PLEN Founder Sissy Farenthold played in her professional life.

Full Circle Mentorship

“It is important understand what you can offer to the students and seeing how that can come full circle.” -Amy Lin, PLEN Alumna

Giving Back To PLEN

Attending the Women, Law, and Legal Advocacy seminar had a huge impact on Naomi Senkeeto's career path. Now the Managing Director of Policy at BCBSA, Naomi has given back to PLEN through serving on the Board of Directors, mentoring students, and speaking about her own professional experiences.

Washington, DC: Still A Tough Town For The Ladies

In 2012, The Atlantic featured a story about the barriers women in Washington, DC still face in policy in politics. The article begins with a story PLEN knows well: an informational interview and advice from a current woman leader to an emerging one.

The Power Of Networking

Lisa D. T. Rice first heard of Mallory Ladd on Twitter when she and her colleagues were raising money to fund their trip to a PLEN seminar. When the two were paired up during a resume review session at the Women in Global Policy seminar, they learned the true power of networking.

Seneca Falls Seminar

To celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Seneca Falls convention, a group of PLEN women stayed at Wells College and visited historic sites of the women's movement, met with local women leaders and political offices, and analyzed women's public leadership roles, both past and present.

Maryem Aslam’s 4 Important Life Lessons

Before PLEN, Maryem Aslam didn't have an interest in a policy career. In Washington, DC, she quickly learned that her background in Biology and Psychology is not a hindrance, but an asset to diversifying the world of policy making.

Original 5 Schools

40 years ago in July, PLEN is born! 5 schools -- Wells, Spelman, Goucher, Stephens, and Carlow -- partner to form "a program designed to encourage women to participate more actively in public life and to educate college-aged women about realities and opportunities in the political process."