Marie Wilson

President of The White House Project

Many years ago, I ran for a seat on the city council in Des Moines, Iowa.  I won the seat--but that's only half the story.  I wouldn't have run at all if a woman friend on the council hadn't called and encouraged me to do it. 

The White House Project was inspired by moments like--moments when women from all walks of life realize that they're part of a larger network of women.  I invite you to become a leader today.  We can build a richly diverse, genuinely representative culture--but only if we do it together.

• Watch Marie on CNN International

Susan Taylor

Editorial Director, Essence

Susan Taylor is one of The White House Project's newest board members.  Taylor is an accomplished author, entrepreneur and creative genius. After serving as the editor in chief of Essence for two decades, Taylor became the first African-American woman to receive The Henry Johnson Fisher Award from the Magazine Publishers of America, the magazine industry’s highest honor. In 2002, Taylor was inducted into the American Society of Magazine Editors’ (ASME) Hall of Fame, which celebrates the career-long records of excellence, creativity and impact of a select group of highly influential magazine journalists.

Taylor is passionate about creating a balanced world.  When asked about The White House Project, she said, "I've been so inspired by their vision and their courage.  There's a new world on the way, and it starts with equity: progressive people, women and men, coming to the table and making peace.  The White House Project has the passion and the power to make it happen." 

Patricia Torres Ray

Minnesota State Senator, District 62
Minnesota Go Run 2005 Alumna

She came to Minnesota from southern Columbia.  She worked for the state, the county, in human services, social services, anything that allowed her to help others help themselves.  She worked alongside good people who saw problems--disparities in education and health care that shortchanged families of color--and tried to solve them.  But as the years passed, she saw leaders--elected representatives--doing nothing to move these solutions forward.  And the time came when she had seen enough.  A state senator in her district was retiring.  She thought, "Instead of talking, I'm going to act." 

Patricia won her district handily.  And though her schedule is packed now, she makes room to recruit and train candidates for The White House Project.  "I want to be there for other women.   You can't get elected--you can't lead--alone.  When we come together, we make a difference." 

Juana Rosa Cavero

Policy Manager, Colorado Tobacco Prevention Alliance
Co-Chair, Board member, COLOR (Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights)
Colorado Go Run 2005 Alumna

Powerful, insightful, dynamic, mujeres. This describes the women I met at Go Run 2005. It was so empowering to see so many women, especially women of color, who were ready to serve in public office.  Hearing the stories of those who had run and won, run and lost and of those who were getting ready to run enlightened me not only about the races, but also about the challenges and victories of women and their struggle for recognition and validation in our political system.

Dawn Randolph

Georgia Go Run 2006 Alumna

Dawn Randolph, MPA, cut her political teeth working for U.S.
Senator Sam Nunn in the early 90's. For the past twelve years
she has been assisting statewide non-profits and associations
advocating for drug-free communities and access to health care
and open government. In January of 2002, she ventured out to
form her own consulting firm maximizing limited resources and
advocating for critical issues. She ran for a newly formed State
House Seat in 2004 and for the Georgia Public Service Commission
in 2006. Although both campaigns did not produce a victory, she
took on the male dominated world of utilities to show that women
will be competitive in many political arenas. Dawn will
facilitate the workshop "Web-Based Campaigning" at this year's
Go Run training.

Camille Alexander

Chartered Financial Analyst and Institutional Consulting Director, Graystone Consulting

When you empower women, you impact the entire community. “

That’s what Camille Alexander has learned over the years – from her philanthropic work with women and children to her twenty years as a leader in the financial services industry.

Continue reading > >

Chloe Bethel

Student Government - Maryland

“Passion is infectious. If you are enthusiastic about your work,  others around you will be enthusiastic as well.”

Chloe Bethel was an active participant and a leader in student government during her middle and high school years. A student at Walt Whitman, a high school of nearly 1,800 students, she was an integral part of the leadership of the school.  Chloe was president of her freshman and sophomore classes, secretary of the SGA (Student Government Association) her junior year, and president of the school as a senior. It had been more than ten years since a girl had been elected to the SGA presidency, and she is proud of many things that she accomplished in her year as president, but a few things stand out: Continue reading > >

Grace Bonney

Design Writer – New York

“Keep a group of friends that will be honest with you.”

Based in Brooklyn, New York, Grace Bonney is designer, writer and trendspotter who spends her days buried deep within the design world. After graduating with a degree in Art and Art History from the College of William and Mary in 2003, she founded Design*Sponge, a design blog now read by over 30,000 design fans every day. Continue reading >>

Danielle Desaulniers

Student Government – New Jersey

“I am proud to be an active female in what was once considered a ‘man’s world’…I didn’t get to where I am today because I am a girl. I’m here because I was the most qualified candidate.”

Danielle Desaulniers, a recent graduate from North Hunterdon High School, has been involved in her community for as long as she can remember.  At the age of seven, she joined a community theatre group known as Show Kids Invitational Theatre and has been an active participant ever since.  Her more recent accomplishments include creating and coordinating a charity fashion show, known as Fashions for Our Gener8ion, which benefited her former middle school and the Red Cross Hurricane Relief Fund, serving as the 2007 YMCA Youth Governor and representing her state, New Jersey, this March at the United States Senate Youth Conference.  Outside of these activities, she has also traveled to Pascagoula, Mississippi and Tegucigalpa, Honduras for church sponsored mission trips.  Danielle was also awarded the 2006 Ralph Muzzey Youth Leadership Award by the Hunterdon County YMCA and a National Merit Scholarship. Continue reading > >

Kristen Eichensehr

Executive Editor, Yale Law Journal – Connecticut

“Get great mentors. Ask them how they got where they are and what you could do to get there too.”

Kristen Eichensehr is a third-year student at the Yale Law School. Some of her most valuable experiences in law school have come from her leadership positions. As the Executive Editor of the Yale Law Journal, Kristen works with the Executive Board and editors of the Journal to select, revise, and publish student and professional scholarship, She also oversees the Journal’s admissions process. Kristen has gained valuable experience in national security and civil liberties law as a member and student director of the “9/11 Clinic”—a legal practice course in which students draft appellate amicus curiae briefs in post-9/11 civil liberties and national security cases. To gain a broader perspective on national security issues, Kristen also worked for a summer in the Counterterrorism Section of the U.S. Department of Justice, where she assisted in criminal prosecutions and policy formulation. The international and domestic legal issues surrounding the current “war on terror” present difficult questions, and Kristen hopes to continue working to address these and other issues by pursuing a career in international and national security law. Continue reading > >

Tabatha Heet

Researcher, Phoenix Project – Missouri 

“Get yourself out there.  Don’t be afraid to try anything.”

Tabatha Heet, 21, is a senior undergraduate at Washington University in St. Louis, majoring in Earth and Planetary Sciences and minoring in Mathematics. Since her freshman year at Washington University, she has worked as a research assistant to Raymond Arvidson.  Much of her work has focused on finding a landing site for the upcoming Phoenix mission to Mars.  Now that a landing site has been chosen, she will act as mission documentarian and will aide in calibration and operation of the lander's robotic arm.  After graduation she plans to attend graduate school and pursue a career in planetary science/remote sensing.

Tabatha earned her private pilot's license when she was seventeen and enjoys taking her friends flying in her free time.  She is also addicted to rock climbing and loves a good book. Continue reading > >

Marisol Hernandez

Immigration Activist – New Jersey

“I was fortunate to have many teachers who helped me achieve my potential.  Now, it is my greatest hope that other people will see me that way.”

Marisol Conde-Hernandez was born in Puebla, Mexico and was brought to the U.S. by her teenage parents at 18 months of age. They settled down in Princeton, NJ, where they lived together for nine years until her parents separated. Moving around the Mercer and Middlesex Counties, Marisol focused her energies on her schoolwork as a way of coping with the separation. Continue reading >>

Brandie Hollinger

Student Body President, UCF – Florida

“I heard at a conference—and I truly believe this—that “sometimes you have to go to the edge and jump and build your wings on the way up.”  Take that risk, put yourself out there.  It’s part of a journey.”

Brandie Hollinger is a post-baccalaureate student with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from the University of Central Florida. She has been involved in the Student Government Association for four years, serving in various capacities such as: Chair of the Student Body President’s Advisory Council, Director of Campus Involvement, and Director of Campus Life. She was recently elected Student Body President by the UCF student body, making Brandie the first female president to be elected at UCF. In addition to her involvement in SGA, Brandie was selected as a member of the President’s Leadership Council and as a Class of 2007 Order of Pegasus Recipient. Additionally, Brandie was chosen to represent UCF on the 2006 Homecoming Court.

In the past, Brandie has been involved with organizations such as LEAD Scholars, African American Student Union, and CAB (Spectacular Knights), while also serving as a Resident Assistant in affiliated housing for two years. Brandie has volunteered in the community as a Junior Achievement teacher, and speaks at various elementary schools on UCF’s behalf. She is a strong proponent of servant leadership and believes in helping others.  After her term as student body President, Brandie would like to work as a registered nurse in a pediatric intensive care unit. Eventually, she would like to pursue a career in hospital administration at a children’s hospital. Brandie loves UCF and will forever be a Golden Knight. Continue reading >>

Lindsay Hyde

Founder and Director, Strong Girls, Strong Women

“Thank people who have made things happen for you.”

Lindsay Hyde is the Founder and Director of Strong Women, Strong Girls, Inc.. The mission of Strong Women, Strong Girls is to utilize the lessons learned from strong women throughout history to encourage girls and young women to become strong women themselves. By building communities of women committed to supporting positive social change, Strong Women, Strong Girls works to create cycles of mutual empowerment for women and girls. Currently, Strong Women, Strong Girls is annually serving over 400 at-risk girls and engaging 120 college undergraduate women as volunteer mentors. In the past 12 months, Strong Women, Strong Girls volunteers have dedicated over 12,000 hours of service to their communities. Continue reading >>

Sophie Jin

Journalist and Activist – Utah

“Don’t be afraid of failure.”

Sophie Jin is a proud native of Salt Lake City, Utah. She has many keen and disparate interests: in journalism, which she has pursued as a writer for the local newspaper and as an intern at the public radio station KCPW; in poverty issues, both international and local, working at the local level as an intern at Utah Issues, a political advocacy group for the poor in Utah; and in science - she has done research at the University of Utah and is currently working for the FAS Center for Systems Biology at Harvard University. She also loves good writing, photography, stargazing, and running. She will be attending Princeton University as a freshman this fall. Continue reading >>

Sheila Korth

Agricultural Researcher and Activist – Nebraska

“You meet people and face obstacles for a reason, so you just have to make the best decision you can.”

Sheila has served as the president of the University of Nebraska-Omaha's Scott Scholar Focus Group, an academic organization that mentors incoming freshman students, participates in philanthropic events and helps recruit new students to the Peter Kiewit Institute, the engineering college at UNO.

She has also been active in volunteer and mission trips to Jamaica through Mustard Seed Communities and the Winnebago Indian Reservation in Winnebago, Neb. While in Jamaica , she worked with abandoned and handicapped children and realized that even though these children were very poor compared to U.S. standards, they still live happy lives and enthusiastically practice their Catholic faith. In Winnebago, she witnessed their rich, welcoming Native American culture and learned how they are fighting to keep it alive. Continue reading > >

Rachael Livingston

Community and Religious Activist – Colorado
President and Founder of Colorado Christian University College Republicans

“Never allow anyone to look down on you for your gender, race, religion, or social status. If you have the ability to dream of it, you have the ability to do it.”

Rachael has a B.A. in History with a minor in International Studies and an emphasis in Biblical studies from Colorado Christian University. She is the founder and president of the Colorado Christian University College Republicans Group. Further college leadership experience includes: Alpha and Omega Society, Fat Boys: Homeless Ministry, Campus Prayer Ministry Leader, Crisis Pregnancy Counseling, Air Force ROTC program and Vice President of Seekers Society. She also works with the Lochwood Christian Fellowship Nursery, Sunday School and as a Youth Group Leader. Her current memberships include Planned Parenthood of America, NARAL, Colorado Right to Life and International Foothills Forum. Continue reading >>

Martha Norrick

Community Board Member – New York

“Women should not be afraid to really put themselves out there.  It is OK to screw up and fall on your face.  Everybody does it.”

Martha first became involved in politics the summer after her sophomore year at Barnard College, when she interned at the New York office of Congressman Jerrold Nadler.  There, she sat in on community meetings, drafted correspondence and testimony, and started to learn her way around New York politics.  She learned a lot, and wanted to get more involved.  Meanwhile, an Assembly seat nearby had just been vacated after Assemblyman Scott Stringer was elected Manhattan Borough President and Congressman Nadler's Manhattan Director, Linda Rosenthal, decided to run for it.  Martha got involved with Rosenthal’s campaign, first as an intern and eventually as an aide.  She also became well-acquainted with the Manhattan Borough President's office, as Borough President Stringer endorsed now-Assemblymember Rosenthal in the special election and some members of his staff volunteered on the campaign.  After a whirlwind special election, Rosenthal won and when she ran again for reelection in the fall, she hired Martha as her campaign manager.  Martha spent the summer organizing volunteers to collect petition signatures to get her on the ballot, filling out endorsement questionnaires from local unions and advocacy groups, and organizing election day operations.  Rosenthal successfully won reelection to another two-year term in November of 2006. Continue reading >>

Melissa Pelz

Industrial Engineer – Illinois

“A good leader knows when to lead and when to sit back and let others do their thing.  Mediating can be just as important as leading.”

Melissa Pelz is a senior in Industrial Engineering at the University of Illinois-Urbana/Champaign, and she will be graduating in December 2007. She has been actively involved in many organizations during her time at the University, including Service and Social Directors for the Engineering Council, Secretary for the Institute of Industrial Engineers, Panels Chair for the Student Introduction to Engineering Program, Internal Affairs Director for the EXPO (Career Fair) Committee, as well as being a member of the Student Homecoming Coordinating Committee. She has been an Engineering Learning Assistant for Engineering 100, a class for freshman, for the past two years and she is also currently a student worker for Women in Engineering program. Melissa also loves to travel, and she studied abroad in Italy the summer of 2003 and also in Madrid, Spain during the spring of 2007. Continue reading > >

Saranya Purushothaman

Cardiac Stem Cell Researcher – New York

“Combat whatever stereotypes that you come across or whatever restrictions have been put in front of you.  Overcome them and show you are capable of doing more.”

Saranya Purushothaman is a junior at Barnard College, Columbia University, where she is majoring in Neuroscience and minoring in Art History. Ever since she could remember, she has had an active interest in the medical field. This interest prompted her to become a research assistant at the Cardiovascular Institute of Mt.Sinai School of Medicine. She has been conducting research on adult cardiac stem cells for the past three years. Recently, she helped publish a paper in the Journal of Biological Chemistry on the role of cardiac stem cells after myocyte damage, which has now been recognized as the top one percent of papers reviewed in a year in significance. This summer, she traveled to Australia for the International Society for Stem Cell Research conference where she presented her work to principal investigators from across the globe on the topic of the regenerative potential of cardiac stem cells after a myocardial infarction. In the future, Saranya aspires to become a scientist in the field of cardiology in order to further investigate and prevent heart disease, the number one killer in America. Continue reading >>

Jenna Sheldon-Sherman

Teach for America Volunteer – Kansas

“It’s better to have attempted to answer the question instead of leaving the paper blank. You can’t get anything out of life if you don’t put something into it.”

In May of 2006, Jenna graduated with the highest distinction from the University of Kansas with honors in Women’s Studies and Psychology. During her college career, she was Director of the KU Alternative Breaks Program, a service learning organization dedicated to giving students hands-on opportunities with service work by providing volunteer trips for more than 200 students through Winter, Spring, and Weekend Break programs. Continue reading >>

Nicole Shunamon

Community Activist – Pennsylvania

“Reflect to progress instead of criticize.”

Nicole was born in Pittsfield, MA on January 2nd, 1987. She has lived in Pittsfield with her parents Chris and Mark for her whole life. She has two younger sisters, Amanda and Rachel. She graduated from Miss Hall’s School in 2005. In high school, she was very involved in the Pittsfield Boy’s and Girl’s Club and she was also on the MHS Varsity basketball team.  She entered Lesley University in the fall of 2005.  She is currently a human services major there and she is planning on graduating in 2009. Continue reading >>