Staff

Our committed, passionate staff bring far-reaching, interdisciplinary expertise to a broad range of policy issues all with one common goal: to inform policy, inspire change, and improve the lives of women, families, and communities. IWPR’s staff members have training in economics, sociology, psychology, international development, theology, public policy, and women’s studies, enabling us to utilize multi-disciplinary approaches to research.

Executive Leadership

Dr. Jamila K. Taylor, PhD

Position: President and CEO
Categories: Executive Leadership

Dr. Jamila K. Taylor is a national health equity leader, seasoned health policy researcher, and social justice advocate. A renowned health policy expert, Taylor’s work centers issues related to maternal health and reproductive justice, focusing on the structural barriers to health care access, racial and gender disparities in health outcomes, and the intersections between health care and economic justice.

Throughout her 20+ year career, Taylor has championed the health and rights of women both in the U.S. and around the world, promoting policies that ensure access to vital health care, including building support for abortion access, ensuring safe and compassionate reproductive and maternal health care, and dismantling structural racism within the U.S. health care system. She has held leadership positions in national organizations, such as the Center for American Progress, the Century Foundation, the National WIC Association, and others. She started her career as a congressional staffer in the office of Rep. Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA) in the late 1990s.

Taylor has testified before Congress, and published and presented extensively on various public policy issues. Her work has been seen in The Hill, RealClearPolicy, RealClearHealth, The Nation, U.S. News and World Report, Yale Journal of International Affairs, Georgetown Journal of International Affairs, Scientific American, Journal of Law, Medicine and Ethics, as well as a host of other publications. She has provided commentary on the most pressing women’s issues of our generation on NPR, Morning Consult, Women@Work—Powered by the Wharton School, C-SPAN, Fox News, Black News Channel, BBC World News, Politico Live, and other media programs. Dr. Taylor is a highly sought-after expert by national and international press, as well as by U.S. government officials, academics, advocates, foundations, and other key stakeholders. She holds a PhD in Political Science from Howard University, a Masters degree in Public Administration from Virginia Commonwealth University, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Hampton University.

Dr. Jamila K. Taylor, PhD

President and CEO

Stephanie Osborn

Position: Chief Operating Officer
Categories: Executive Leadership

Stephanie Osborn joined the Institute for Women’s Policy Research as Chief Operating Officer in 2022. Ms. Osborn leads the organizational infrastructure that powers IWPR’s research and policy advocacy to win economic equity for women, including finance, human resources, technology, administration, governance, and compliance matters. She serves on the Executive Leadership Team and is committed to IWPR’s growth and development during this critical time to protect and advance women’s power and influence.

Ms. Osborn is an accomplished nonprofit executive with 20+ years of experience in financial, administrative, and programmatic leadership. Most recently, she served as Chief Operating Officer at the National League of Cities, the premier membership and advocacy organization for U.S. cities, towns and villages and their local elected leaders. Her previous experience includes work in strategic partnerships, program development and implementation, and policy advocacy at NLC, the National Association of Counties, and American Public Works Association.

Ms. Osborn earned an Executive Scholar Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management, in 2020. She holds a B.A. from the University of Virginia and studied public administration at American University.

Stephanie is passionate about contributing to the nonprofit community. She has served on the board of directors of a Washington-DC based employee benefits collaborative for nonprofits and the board of the professional association for government procurement officials. She is an active member of FAR, the Finance and Administration Roundtable for nonprofit business leaders

Stephanie Osborn

Chief Operating Officer

Robyn Watson Ellerbe, PhD

Position: Chief Strategy Officer
Categories: Executive Leadership

As the Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR) Chief Strategy Officer, Dr. Robyn Watson Ellerbe brings over 20 years of experience in leadership, management, and research to effectively formulate strategy and lead initiatives to achieve IWPR goals, advance the organization’s mission, and extend IWPR’s reach.

Dr. Watson Ellerbe is a seasoned scientist whose research has focused on addressing health disparities that disproportionately impact minority populations. She has experience recruiting minority participants for health promotion and disease prevention research and for workforce programs aimed at increasing minority participation in the public health and Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) fields. Dr. Watson Ellerbe has served as the principal investigator for several private and government funded grants and contracts, including Hofmann-La Roche Pharmaceutical, Inc.; the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health; DC Department of Health; National Institute of Health, National Library of Medicine; and Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Adolescences and School Health, to name a few.

Dr. Watson Ellerbe has held leadership positions at association and non-profit organizations. Prior to joining IWPR, Dr. Watson Ellerbe was the Vice President of Research for the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), providing strategic direction to advance and promote research and knowledge that improves physical therapist practice. Before APTA, Dr. Watson Ellerbe was the Chief Operating Officer at the United Negro College Fund Special Programs Corporation (UNCFSP), responsible for the overall strategy and operations of all the program areas of the organization.

For two decades, Dr. Watson Ellerbe has presented at national conferences, published in peer reviewed journals, and served on national advisory boards. She is currently, the Treasurer of the HealthHIV Board and recently completed a four-year term on the National Advisory Board on Medical Rehabilitation Research, a Board that advises the directors of the NIH, the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), and the National Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research (NCMRR). Dr. Watson Ellerbe received her bachelor’s degree from the University of California at Berkeley, her master’s degree from San Francisco State University, and a doctorate in Health Services, Organization and Policy from the University of Michigan’s School of Public Health.

 

Robyn Watson Ellerbe, PhD

Chief Strategy Officer

Senior Leadership

Adrianne Troilo

Position: Vice President of People and Culture
Categories: Senior Leadership

Adrianne R. Troilo is a Senior Human Resources professional with 20 years of experience in employee relations, recruitment, retention, and workforce development. She strikes a balance with a common-sense approach to leadership and growth through innovative methodologies.  Adrianne has worked for the private sector, non-profit, and trade associations.  She has been an active member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) since 1999 and holds a Senior Professional in Human Resources designation from SHRM.

Adrianne is the Vice President, People and Culture for IWPR. Her key responsibilities include serving as the primary advocate and strategic advisor for establishing a healthy, people-centered, inspiring work culture.

Adrianne is a proud graduate of Bowie State University and holds a Master of Arts degree in Organizational Communications and a Bachelor of Science degree in Broadcast Journalism.  Adrianne lives in Silver Spring, Maryland, with her husband, Nick.

Adrianne Troilo

Vice President of People and Culture

Ambre Reed

Position: Vice President of Advancement and Philanthropic Engagement
Categories: Senior Leadership

Ambre Reed is a visionary and mission-driven leader who brings over 15 years of experience in nonprofit and higher education sectors to her role as the Vice President for Advancement and Philanthropic Engagement at the Institute for Women’s Policy Research. With a deep commitment to advancing the rights and well-being of women, families, and marginalized communities, Ambre’s innovative approach, strategic thinking, and empathetic leadership style have consistently led to remarkable outcomes.

With a profound understanding of the pivotal role empathy and attentiveness play in achieving and surpassing goals, Ambre Reed has cultivated a distinguished track record in fund development, public speaking, nonprofit management, program development, event planning, stakeholder engagement, relationship management, research and analysis, and communications. Her extensive experience includes successfully securing multi-year funding opportunities exceeding $14M to bolster the efforts of nonprofit organizations dedicated to racial and social justice, women’s empowerment, family support, and career pathways.

Ambre is known for her exceptional ability to build and lead cross-functional teams that consistently deliver superior results. Her leadership style prioritizes collaboration, inclusivity, and innovation, fostering an environment where team members are empowered to excel and achieve remarkable impact.

Throughout her career, Ambre Reed has been a vocal advocate for gender equality, social justice, and women’s empowerment. Her dedication to these causes is underscored by her instrumental role in shaping and executing initiatives that drive meaningful change. Her dynamic public speaking skills have positioned her as a sought-after speaker on topics ranging from nonprofit management to women’s policy issues, amplifying the influence and impact of the organizations she serves.

Ambre holds a Master’s in Public Administration from Georgia State University and a BS in Family Financial Planning from The University of Georgia. Her educational background, combined with her professional experiences, has equipped her with a comprehensive understanding of the complex challenges facing women and marginalized communities. Ambre’s work is deeply rooted in values of equity, diversity, inclusion, and social justice, guiding her efforts to create a more just and equitable society.

Ambre Reed

Vice President of Advancement and Philanthropic Engagement

Isaac M. Mintz

Position: Vice President of Finance and Administration
Categories: Senior Leadership

Isaac M. Mintz brings over 19 years of nonprofit experience to his role of Vice President of Finance and Administration for the Institute for Women’s Policy Research. Isaac oversees the finance and accounting functions to help support and execute the overall mission of IWPR.

Isaac’s career has been dedicated to social justice issues. He is an innovator in growth and expansion strategy and has proven his ability to challenge, change, and better existing processes, procedures, and systems.

Isaac received his B.S in Accounting and Information Systems from High Point University. He also has a Masters, cum laude, with a concentration in Accounting and a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Information Technology and Business Management.  Isaac has his CMA Certification and is a candidate for the Uniform CPA Examination.

In previous positions, Isaac has served as accounting manager, staff accountant, senior controller, and chief financial officer. In these various roles, he has gained the vital knowledge of how to grow any organization through strategic planning and financial management.

 

Isaac M. Mintz

Vice President of Finance and Administration

Nina Besser Doorley

Position: Vice President of Policy and Strategic Initiatives
Categories: Senior Leadership

Nina (she/her) is IWPR’s VP of Policy and Strategic Initiatives. In this role, she works to develop and implement IWPR’s policy and advocacy strategy. As a member of the policy team, Nina advances research and public policies that will build the long-term economic security and well-being of women and families.

Nina comes to IWPR from Capitol Hill, where she most recently served as the first-ever Executive Director of the Pro-Choice Caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives. In this role, she was instrumental in securing House passage of landmark legislation codifying the right to abortion access, as well as the first funding bills free of abortion coverage restrictions in decades. Nina also spearheaded the House response to the Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade.

Nina’s previous experience also includes seven years leading the DC office of the International Women’s Health Coalition (now Fos Feminista), where she advocated with Congress and the Executive Branch in support of sexual and reproductive health, rights, and justice – in the United States and globally. She previously served as legislative staff for Reps. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) and Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), also working as an advisor on Rep. Schakowsky’s 2010 re-election campaign.

Nina has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Mary Washington, and an MPhil from the University of Cambridge (UK), where her research focused on transitional justice.

Nina Besser Doorley

Vice President of Policy and Strategic Initiatives

William Lutz

Position: Vice President of Communications and External Affairs
Categories: Senior Leadership

William Lutz brings over two decades of strategic nonprofit communications experience to his role as Vice President of Communications and External Affairs for IWPR. He oversees all of IWPR’s communications platforms and publications and, as a member of the executive leadership team, works closely with all departments to develop and implement effective strategic communications plans to elevate IWPR’s ongoing research and policy programs.

Mr. Lutz’s entire career has been dedicated to nonprofit and social justice causes. Before joining IWPR, Mr. Lutz worked at the American Constitution Society on rule of law and racial/gender equality issues. Before that, he served as Senior Director of Communications at Families USA during the successful 2017 national campaign to block repeal of the Affordable Care Act. And prior to that, Mr. Lutz worked at Defenders of Wildlife, where he served in a dual capacity as Senior Director of Communications, overseeing all aspects of the organization’s strategic communications activities, and as Senior Director of the Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund, the organizations’ political arm, where he managed all electoral, legislative and ballot initiative campaigns. Mr. Lutz began his career as a Press Secretary and ultimately Communications Director for NARAL Pro-choice America and has worked for several political, public relations, and polling firms, including MSHC Partners and GMMB.

Mr. Lutz is a native New Yorker, a graduate of the George Washington University, and resides in VA with his wife, family and five cats. He enjoys pina coladas and getting caught in the rain.

William Lutz

Vice President of Communications and External Affairs

Research Team

Afet Dundar, PHD

Position: Senior Research Director
Categories: Research and Action Hub

Afet Dundar, PhD comes to IWPR after 12 years at the National Student Clearinghouse. As Director, Equity in Research and Analytics, Dr Dundar was responsible for establishing and driving forward the principles for an equitable, unbiased, and inclusive approach to data collection and analytics at the Clearinghouse and for championing the organization’s learning agenda for data and analytics to better reflect equity. In the early years of her tenure with the Clearinghouse, as one of the founding senior leaders of the Clearinghouse Research Center, Dr Dundar led the development and production of the national reports on student outcomes, and the education metrics development work for different platforms and services of the Clearinghouse. Dr Dundar has contributed to numerous publications on student access and success outcomes. She has a Ph.D. in education policy studies from Indiana University Bloomington.

Afet Dundar, PHD

Senior Research Director

Ariane Hegewisch

Position: Senior Research Fellow
Categories: Economy, Security, Mobility, and Equity (ESME)

Ariane Hegewisch is Program Director of Employment and Earnings at IWPR and Scholar in Residence at American University; prior to that she spent two years at IWPR as a scholar-in-residence. She came to IWPR from the Center for WorkLife Law at UC Hastings. She is responsible for IWPR’s research on workplace discrimination and is a specialist in comparative human resource management, with a focus on policies and legislative approaches to facilitate greater work life reconciliation and gender equality, in the US and internationally. Prior to coming to the USA she taught comparative European human resource management at Cranfield School of Management in the UK where she was a founding researcher of the Cranet Survey of International HRM, the largest independent survey of human resource management policies and practices, covering 25 countries worldwide. She started her career  in local economic development, developing strategies for greater gender equality in employment and training in  local government in the UK. She has published many papers and articles and co-edited several books, including ‘Women, work and inequality: The challenge of equal pay in a deregulated labour market”. She is German and has a BSc in Economics from the London School of Economics and an MPhil in Development Studies from the IDS, Sussex.

Read Ariane’s publications

Ariane Hegewisch

Senior Research Fellow

Christine Clark

Position: Acting Vice President, Research
Categories: Center for the Economics of Reproductive Health

Christine Clark has broad experience in social change advocacy, programs, and communications in the U.S. and internationally. She recently completed an eight-year term as a Program Officer in Gender Equity and Governance at the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, where she led grantmaking to promote reproductive health, rights, and justice. Previously, Christine was the founding executive director of Teen Success, Inc., an organization in California that works with teen mothers to increase educational and economic mobility and prevent intergenerational poverty. Christine began her career in social justice as a volunteer teacher in rural Namibia. After three of her teenage students became pregnant and were forced to leave school, she began teaching sex education and helping students advocate for the right of all girls to stay in school. She spent several years as part of the global team of Planned Parenthood Federation of America and led research on HIV peer support groups in West Africa for the International Center for AIDS Care and Treatment Programs. Christine holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern California and a master’s degree in public health from Columbia University.

Christine Clark

Acting Vice President, Research

Cristy Mendoza

Position: Research Assistant
Categories: Research and Action Hub

Cristy Mendoza attended The George Washington University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Economics. She is passionate about advocating for the rights of women, immigrants, and Latinx individuals. Cristy is a first-generation college graduate, who mentored other first-gen students to equip them with campus resources and academic strategies to facilitate college acclimation. She has prior internship experience in finance, project management, and tutoring marginalized students of color. Outside of work, Cristy enjoys attending concerts with her friends, exploring new restaurants, and visiting museums.

Cristy Mendoza

Research Assistant

Emme Rogers

Position: Research Assistant
Categories: Center for the Economics of Reproductive Health

Emme Rogers is an IWPR Research Assistant. Emme focuses on work with the Center for the Economics of Reproductive Health. Prior to IWPR, Emme attended Georgetown University, where she received a B.S. in Global Health. Her senior thesis covered topics regarding health care policy and delivery in Ghana. Her past work experience includes experiences in clinical settings as a care provider and as a researcher. Outside of work, Emme enjoys being outdoors exploring DC’s many trails on foot and on bike, spending time with friends, and enjoying art.

Emme Rogers

Research Assistant

Hannah Gartner

Position: Research Associate
Categories: Research and Action Hub

Hannah Gartner is a Research Associate and in her role, she will work on the Status of Women initiative and will conduct research and analysis on women’s health, economic, social, and political wellbeing. Hannah earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from the Vienna University of Economics and Business and her Master of Science in Social Policy from the University of Pennsylvania. Hannah’s research on women’s underrepresentation in economics education was published in the Review of Political Economy and the Austrian newspaper Die Presse. She has completed trainings on menstrual health equity by Columbia University and on international frameworks for gender equality by UN Women. Prior to IWPR, Hannah completed her Social Science Fellowship at CHILD USA and her Economic Mobility Fellowship in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. In her spare time, Hannah enjoys music, books, yoga, and making pottery.

Hannah Gartner

Research Associate

Jennifer Turner, PhD

Position: Senior Research Associate
Categories: Student Parent Success Initiative
Dr. Jennifer Turner is an accomplished Social Scientist with more than tens of years of experience conducting intersectional qualitative research using in-depth interviews and analyzing qualitative data.  Her research interests and work focuses on intersectionality, families, and eliminating structural and institutional barriers for women and girls.  Dr. Turner earned her doctorate in sociology with a concentration in women’s and gender studies from Virginia Tech. She received her master’s in sociology with a concentration in women’s studies from Old Dominion University, and her bachelor’s in sociology from James Madison University. 

Jennifer Turner, PhD

Senior Research Associate

Kendal Lowrey, PhD

Position: Senior Data Analyst
Categories: Research and Action Hub

Dr. Kendal Lowrey is IWPR’s Senior Data Analyst. In her role, she is responsible for managing the data and analysis for all of IWPR’s programs and issue areas. She relays study findings and insights through reports, briefs, and other materials. Dr. Lowrey’s prior analytic experience has involved creating, analyzing, and utilizing innovative data made available by the U.S. Census Bureau that sought to improve data quality and availability on hard-to-reach populations.

Dr. Lowrey is a previous National Institutes of Health T-32 Predoctoral Trainee and a Chief Evaluation Office Summer Fellow with the U.S. Department of Labor. Her research has broadly focused on sexual and reproductive health, health and health disparities, immigrant integration and assimilation, and gendered differences in socioeconomic status. She has worked cross-functionally on local, state, and federal initiatives in both quantitative and qualitative capacities on policy-relevant issue areas. She has worked with the Institute of Public Policy in coordination with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services to conduct a six-year program evaluation of the Missouri Teen Pregnancy Program and provided statistical analyses for utilization in three different court cases regarding the recently redacted changes to the public charge rule.

Dr. Lowrey received her Ph.D. in Sociology and Demography from Penn State where she also received a certificate in Quantitative Research Methods. She received her MPA from the University of Missouri with a specialization in Public Policy and her B.S. in Business Administration from Webster University. She has published her research in Sociological Science, Population Research and Policy Review, and the Journal of Marriage and Family.

Kendal Lowrey, PhD

Senior Data Analyst

Martha Susana Jaimes, PhD

Position: Research Economist
Categories: Research and Action Hub

Dr. Martha Susana Jaimes is IWPR’s Research Economist. She is a feminist labor economist with more than 10 years of experience in applied microeconomics; gender segmentation, data collection, management, and visualization; and policy design. She has a Ph.D. in Public and Urban Policy from The New School and an MS in Economics from Universidad de Los Andes in Bogota, Colombia. Her doctoral research focused on social policy, social insurance, and feminist retirement policies. Her work is centered on feminist labor economics, economics of aging and retirement security, demography, and actuarial studies, with special focus on gender and inequality. Before joining IWPR she was an adjunct lecturer at NYU and Fordham University in New York city, and previously worked as a research associate at the Schwartz Center for Economic Policy Analysis (SCEPA) at The New School as part of the Retirement Equity Lab team. She was a 2018 fellow of the Social Security Administration and the Center for Retirement Research at Boston

Martha Susana Jaimes, PhD

Research Economist

Martinique Free, PhD

Position: Project Director
Categories: Research, Research and Action Hub

Dr. Free is Project Director of Connect for Success at IWPR, an initiative that expands access to reproductive healthcare supports for community college students. In this role, she leads the expansion of high potential programs by growing partnerships and fostering connections between community colleges, community partners and other stakeholders.

Prior to IWPR, Martinique worked at American University serving as Director of an accelerated public health scholars’ program where she exposed undergraduates to topics such as health equity, advocacy, reproductive justice, epidemiology, and social determinants of health. Dr. Free served on the department’s leadership team where she provided ongoing strategic advisement to the management of the department.

Dr. Free has a plethora of professional and research experiences in Public Health within community-led programming as well as on the local and state levels conducting HIV incidence and surveillance. Dr. Free is passionate about reproductive justice and women’s health in BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) populations, health equity, and understanding cultural relevance as it relates to health promotion and disease prevention.

Dr. Free earned her doctorate in Health Education from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. She received her Master of Public Health with a concentration in Communicable Diseases and Behavioral Health Science from the University of Pittsburgh-Graduate School of Public Health. Additionally, she has a B.S. in Laboratory Animal Science from N.C. A&T State University.

Martinique Free, PhD

Project Director

Miranda Peterson

Position: Research Assistant
Categories: Economy, Security, Mobility, and Equity (ESME)

Miranda Peterson is an IWPR Research Assistant. Miranda focuses on workforce development and the future of work, employment earnings, and job quality. Miranda also works on issues such as income security and economic mobility for women. Prior to IWPR, Miranda attended Georgia Southern University, where she received a B.A. in Political Science and Philosophy and a minor in Arabic. She specializes in women’s rights research and is especially passionate about economic security for women. She served as a Political Science Research Assistant for Georgia Southern University for a year before she graduated in 2022. Outside of work, Miranda enjoys spending time with animals (especially cats), reading, and being with friends.

Miranda Peterson

Research Assistant

Noura Hassouna

Position: Research Associate
Categories: Research and Action Hub

Noura Hassouna is an international affairs scholar focusing on Global Gender Policy. Noura earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and a minor in Legal Studies from the Lebanese American University. She went on to earn her life coach certificate through The National Federation of NeuroLinguistic Programming and the Behavioral Coaching Institute. Finally, she earned a Master of Arts in International Affairs with a concentration on Global Gender Policy and the Middle East from George Washington University, where she conducted a yearlong research paper on Women-Led Activism in the MENA Region: An Activist’s Pathway for Addressing Domestic Violence. She has previously held positions at George Washington University, the Center for Civilians in Conflict, and the United Nations. She has also conducted research for the Egyptian Embassy’s Office of Commerce. In her spare time, Noura is an avid reader and a photographer who enjoys hiking and rafting.

 

Noura Hassouna

Research Associate

Victoria Gianopoulos

Position: Program Coordinator
Categories: Research and Action Hub

Victoria Gianopoulos (she/her/hers) is the Program Coordinator at the Institute for Women’s Policy Research. Within her role, she provides program support, coordination, and assistance across Research, Policy, Communications, and Advancement. She works closely with the Chief Strategy Officer and contributes to the implementation of IWPR’s strategic plan. Prior to IWPR, Victoria co-founded the Committee on Racial Equity Student Advisory Group, which successfully lobbied for accessible education on racial literacy at Virginia Commonwealth University. She earned her B.S. in Psychology at Virginia Commonwealth University, where she helped conduct lab experiments as a research assistant with the Social Psychology and Neurology Lab. Her senior thesis addressed gender differences within psychopathology, emphasizing the importance of equitable education and access to mental healthcare of all genders. In her spare time, Victoria enjoys hiking, music, and exploring museums.

Victoria Gianopoulos

Program Coordinator

Policy

Shannon Emmett

Position: Senior Policy Analyst
Categories: policy

Shannon Emmett is a Senior Policy Analyst at IWPR. In this role, she strategizes state level public policy to advance women and their families. She brings several years of experience at the Massachusetts State House where she first served as a Legislative Aide in the State Senate and most recently as a Research Director driving environmental policy. She traveled across the Commonwealth to engage with stakeholder coalitions and constituents on a breadth of environmental issues, and served as an advisor to multiple committee Chairs through policy negotiations. In response to a statewide increase in food insecurity, Shannon conducted an assessment of Massachusetts’ Food Security Infrastructure Grant program to promote equitable access to nutritious and culturally competent food.

As a former Commissioner on the Essex County Commission on the Status of Women, Shannon partnered with local nonprofits to raise awareness and provide resources to her hometown community during the COVID-19 pandemic in response to rising incidences of domestic violence.

Shannon earned a Master of Public Policy degree at Northeastern University, where her research focused on education reform, labor standards in the gig economy, as well as maternal mortality and intimate partner violence. She holds a dual Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Political Science and History from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where she was a fellow and a member of the UMass Women into Leadership Board of Directors, supporting a pipeline for young women from public education into public service.

 

 

Shannon Emmett

Senior Policy Analyst

Salma Elakbawy

Position: Policy Analyst
Categories: policy

Salma Elakbawy is a policy analyst at the Institute for Women’s Policy Research. Within her role she is responsible for creating policy advocacy materials for federal and state policymakers, coalition partners, the media and the public while analyzing policy implications of relevant legislation, regulations, and executive actions. She graduated with a B.A in political science with a minor in women’s and gender studies and an M.A. in political science and global policy studies with a concentration in women’s rights from Rutgers University. She is also a proud Douglass Woman. Salma is a recipient of the Emily Hickman Award for Global Understanding, the RAAA award for continuing graduate studies, and the Douglass Alumnae Fellowship Award. As a political scientist her expertise lies in intersectional feminist theory and analyzing policy through a gendered lens. Salma brings over 6 years of research experience to IWPR. She has worked for organizations such as the Institute for Research on Women, the Feminist Majority Foundation, and the Center for American Women and Politics at the Eagleton Institute of Politics. Salma has had her work published in Feminist Campus and Ms. Magazine.

Salma Elakbawy

Policy Analyst

Development

Beth Ramirez

Position: Associate Director of Advancement and Philanthropic Partnerships
Categories: Development

Beth Ramirez is a nonprofit professional with 8+ years’ experience developing robust fundraising campaigns for nonprofit organizations that focus on progressive issues such as reproductive rights, immigration reform, and sexual assault awareness. Her professional experience includes grant management, donor management, event planning, community organizing, and direct appeal communication.

Prior to joining IWPR, Beth worked for Planned Parenthood of South, East and North Florida where she developed a grants program that ensured Planned Parenthood patients in Florida and surrounding states continued to received access to essential reproductive health care and sexual health education.

Beth received her Masters degree in Public Administration from Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia and where she also served as the Chair of the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance, which focused on building collaboration between graduating nonprofit professionals and local nonprofits.

Beth is a South Florida native (West Palm Beach, Fl) and  first generation American of Colombian and Dominican descent. Outside of work she enjoys browsing the NYT cooking page for new recipes, playing outside with her four year old son Avery, and crafting.

Beth Ramirez

Associate Director of Advancement and Philanthropic Partnerships

Fiona Klotz

Position: Advancement Associate
Categories: Development

Fiona Klotz (she/her/hers) is the Advancement Associate at the Institute for Women’s Policy Research. In this role, she works cross-departmentally to ensure collaboration between the Advancement Team and Research, Policy, Communications and the Office of the President on all donor-related projects and programs.

Prior to IWPR, Fiona worked at George Mason University, where she co-founded, developed, and co-coordinated the Bonner Leadership Program. She also worked as a Student Mentor and Teaching Assistant for the two cohorts of students she recruited, mentored, taught, and worked alongside for 3 years. This program is ever expanding and will continue to uphold the legacy she and her colleagues have left behind.

Fiona received her BA in Social Justice and Human Rights from George Mason University in 2022 and was given multiple awards for her leadership, service, and innovation. She is passionate about Reproductive and Restorative Justice practices for policy advocacy, research, and educational transformation.

 

Fiona Klotz

Advancement Associate

Ksenia Dombo

Position: Associate Director of Advancement Programs and Philanthropic Impact
Categories: Development

Ksenia Dombo (she/her/hers) is the Associate Director of Advancement Programs & Philanthropic Impact at the Institute for Women’s Policy Research. In this role, she works to deepen donor relationships, engage and communicate with IWPR’s top supporters, and create meaningful fundraising campaigns and events.

Prior to IWPR, Ksenia worked at the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN), where she created and led the charge on implementing the organization’s planned giving program. She also spearheaded RAINN’s first-ever capital campaign, Thrive Together, which raised more than $10 million over two years.

Ksenia received her MSW from the Catholic University of America in 2018, and received her BSW from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2017. She was given multiple awards from her alma maters for her service, leadership, and independent study research

Ksenia Dombo

Associate Director of Advancement Programs and Philanthropic Impact

Operations

Diane Danielek

Position: Office Manager
Categories: Operations

Diane Danielek is IWPR’s Office Manager. She has extensive administrative management experience with a diverse range of business and organizational environments, including  hospitality groups, large trade organizations, non-profits, and tech start-ups. Prior to joining IWPR, Diane spent more than a decade with the Eatwell Restaurant Group in DC, and prior to that she was with the educational nonprofit Curriki, and the internet development firm Bixler Incorporated. She is a graduate of Ohio University and when she is not “office managing” she enjoys cooking, entertaining, reading and long walks to and fro.

Diane Danielek

Office Manager

Ali Yasser Arwand

Position: Human Resource Specialist
Categories: Operations

Ali Yasser Arwand joined the Institute for Women’s Policy Research in November of 2022 and serves as the Human Resource Specialist. Yasser is a young professional with over seven years of progressive experience including recruiting, human resource, and project management. Yasser is a results-focused individual with a demonstrated history of delivering results in a fast-paced environment.

Prior to joining IWPR, Yasser has worked in several key roles as Director of People Management and Operations and National Vice President of human resources. He has been fortunate to work for government, non-governmental, and multilateral organizations through his career. Yasser holds a Bachelor of Science degree in public policy and administration from Kabul University.

 

Ali Yasser Arwand

Human Resource Specialist

Benjamin Boykin

Position: Human Resources Specialist
Categories: Operations

Benjamin is an Executive Assistant supporting The Office of the President at The Institute for Women’s Policy Research. He come to IWPR with over 4 years of experience supporting C-level executives in the non-profit Industry and over 10 years of experience as a Financial Advisor. Benjamin studied at Augusta University where he received a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration. In his free time, he enjoys traveling, hiking, and exploring new restaurants.

Benjamin Boykin

Human Resources Specialist

Ryan Koch, M.S.

Position: Senior Director of Grants and Contracts
Categories: Operations

Ryan Koch joined IWPR in 2007 as the Development Director. He earned his MS in Social Work from the University of Texas at Austin and as an undergraduate at Virginia Tech he majored in Political Science with a minor in Sociology. His area of study and interest has been and remains focused on issues of race, class and gender. Ryan comes to the IWPR after several years successfully writing grant proposals for the City of Memphis Division of Housing and Community Development and the Memphis Housing Authority. He spent most of his time working with the Housing Authority’s Humans Services programs and the City’s homeless Continuum of Care. Ryan is responsible for ensuring the Development Department runs smoothly and is excited about helping IWPR identify new funding opportunities and expanding its support.

Ryan Koch, M.S.

Senior Director of Grants and Contracts

Communications

Susan Patterson

Position: Senior Manager of Publications
Categories: Communications, External Affairs and Communications

Susan Patterson (she/her) is the Senior Manager, Publications, and a communications specialist with a strong track record of crafting clear, concise, and impactful content that elevates the mission of nonprofits working to improve the lives of women and girls.

Before joining IWPR, Susan worked for PAI, a global sexual and reproductive health and rights advocacy nonprofit. There, she led the creation of donor communications and helped shape programmatic content and organizational collateral, ensuring each piece was accurate, on brand, and amplified the organization’s work and the urgency of its mission. Other prior experience includes three international fellowships with NGOs in Ghana, Panamá, and Thailand.

Susan holds a B.A. in Rhetoric and Communications from the University of Virginia. She lives in Washington, D.C., where she can usually be found outside running, camping, or hiking or inside curled up on the couch with her dog and cat.

Susan Patterson

Senior Manager of Publications

Tessa Dee

Position: Senior Manager of Digital Strategy
Categories: Communications, External Affairs and Communications

Tessa Dee is the Senior Manager of Digital Strategy for IWPR. Prior to joining IWPR, Tessa served as communication manager and development director for numerous organizations, including the Democracy Alliance, the American Heart Association, and the LifeScape Foundation. Inspired by her time as Miss South Dakota 2013 and the creation of the children’s literacy organization Project Bookworm, Tessa received her Master of Arts in Communications with the intention of helping non-profit organizations better their mission-driven storytelling and enhancing their public presence. In addition to her professional pursuits, Tessa also won the title of Miss South Dakota USA 2017, becoming just the second woman from South Dakota to hold both Miss America and Miss USA titles for the state. Tessa now lives in Washington, DC with her husband, Sam, and their three rescue pets, Fitz, Franklin, and Archie.

Tessa Dee

Senior Manager of Digital Strategy