Stay tuned for the list of panelists for our 2014 Summit! Below you can read about the guests we welcomed for Day of the Girl 2013.
Access to Education
Aubryn Allyn Sidle, AGE Africa
Aubryn Allyn Sidle has served as AGE Africa’s Executive Director since 2010. She has an applied background in youth leadership program design and institutional advancement. Prior to joining AGE Africa, Aubryn worked as an advocate for youth voice, educational access, and gender equity both in the US and abroad. As the Executive Director of AGE Africa, she has dedicated her time and energy to leading a talented program team in developing a curriculum model for girls’ empowerment. Aubryn obtained her Bachelor of Arts from Cornell University in Anthropology and Africana Studies, magna cum laude and her Master’s from the London School of Economics in Development Management.
Zara Bott-Goins, Maasai Girls Education Fund
Zara Bott-Goins is the Director of Development and Programs with the Maasai Girls Education Fund. In this capacity, she is an advocate for girls’ education within the Maasai community in Kenya by managing the development and programmatic needs of the organization. Zara has extensive experience working on education and development programs, particularly in Africa. Formerly she was the Country Director of The Girls Foundation of Tanzania, a non-profit dedicated to educating girls, AmeriCorps member at the American Red Cross, Peace Corps volunteer in West Africa, and Campaign Coordinator on an anti-human trafficking ballot initiative with California Against Slavery. Zara obtained a B.A. in Political Science from Southern Illinois University and an M.A. in International Relations and Diplomacy including a concentration in African Affairs from the American Graduate School in Paris.
Katherine Surko, Batonga Foundation
Katherine Surko is a senior at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School, and grew up in the DC Metro area. She currently interns at the Batonga Foundation, which focuses on providing a secondary education for girls in Africa. Before coming to Batonga, she spent six weeks in India learning Hindi and teaching underprivileged girls English under the State Department’s NSLI-Y Scholarship. In the future, she hopes to study international policy and work on building an increased understanding and appreciation for other cultures.
Lorraine Magee, She’s the First at AU
Lorraine Magee is the president of She’s the First at American University, and a junior majoring in Elementary Education with a concentration in Literature. She advocates for educational equality for all, and works with organizations like She’s the First to ensure that every child has the opportunity to achieve their potential. She has previously worked as a tutor for Life Pieces to Masterpieces, a non-profit organization in the DC area that helps young African-American men to receive academic enrichment. At American University, Lorraine is also a member of the Student Honors Board, the Gospel Choir, and AU Ambassadors. She works as a Resident Assistant for AU Housing and Dining Programs, and as a Student Staff Assistant for the University Honors Program.
Gender-Based Violence
Jazmin Albarran, My Sister’s Place
Jazmin Albarran, Latino Outreach Coordinator, has 5 years of experience in bilingual community outreach and building relationships with social service providers in the District, and 12 years of direct service experience, specializing in therapy to families, children, and young adults. A certified Domestic Violence Advocate and expert in crisis intervention on macro and micro levels, Ms. Albarran joined MSP’s staff in May, 2012.
Hannah Sydnor-Greenberg, Women’s Initiative at AU
Hannah Sydnor-Greenberg is the Director of Women’s Initiative at American University and a senior majoring in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. Hannah’s primary academic and advocacy focus center on gender-based violence, with a concentration in acts of sexual violence perpetrated against women in order instill power, control, and dominance over women as second class citizens and maintain gender inequities. Hannah’s current research and work is on the implementation of mandatory sexual assault prevention education in institutions of higher education. In addition to her work as Director of Women’s Initiative, Hannah sits on AU’s Sexual Assault Working Group and is a member of the AU’s WGSS Honor’s Society Triota.
Julie Muriuki, Vital Voices Global Partnership
Julie Muriuki is the Africa Program Coordinator at Vital Voices Global Partnership. In this capacity, she assists with the development, coordination and execution of programs in Africa that are designed to build capacity, connections and credibility of African women leaders working in the fields of Economic Development, Political Participation and Human Rights. Prior to joining Vital Voices, she was based in Nairobi as a Research Consultant at Dalberg Research A/S, part of the Dalberg Group where she provided research and analytics on issues of development, social impact and investment in Sub-Saharan Africa. Julie has also worked with NGOs in Uganda and Tanzania, focusing on preventative approaches to gender based violence and HIV/AIDS. She received her Master of Public Administration with a Concentration in International Public Service and Development from Rutgers University and her Bachelor of Social Science in Government & Politics from the University of Maryland, College Park.
Rachel Clement, Plan International USA
Rachel Clement is an MA candidate in the International Development Studies program at the George Washington University. She is concentrating on gender, youth, and development in urban contexts. She received her BA from the University of Colorado in Sociology and Spanish. She currently holds an internship with the Coalition for Adolescent Girls, a network of over 40 international organizations that design, implement and evaluate programs that benefit girls throughout the developing world who are trapped in cycles of poverty. Previous professional experience includes an internship with Plan International researching the amount of funding which either targets or reaches adolescent girls in humanitarian crises situations. She worked for two years in programming domestically serving urban, at-risk youth with Big Brothers Big Sisters. Additionally, she worked for Avanti, an NGO in a rural community in Ecuador to implement projects in education, tourism, and economic development. She is fluent in English and Spanish and conversant in German.
Daniel Rappaport, American University
Daniel Rappaport is the Sexual Assault Prevention Coordinator at American University. He has spent most of his life in the DC metro area growing up in Columbia, MD and he attended the University of Maryland in College Park. During his time in College Park, Daniel was a peer educator and led sexual violence prevention workshops at fraternities, sororities, residence halls and in several classrooms around the University of Maryland campus. Daniel also had the opportunity to act as a Peer Victim Advocate during his senior year at UMD. During his time as an advocate, he assisted survivors of rape, stalking, dating violence and sexual harassment. In 2008, Daniel graduated with a B.A. in Psychology and a certificate in Women’s Studies. He continued his education at Boston College and received his M.A. in Mental Health Counseling in 2010. While in Boston, Daniel also worked as an addiction counselor at the Addiction Treatment Center of New England leading individual and group therapy sessions. At American University, Daniel works to develop and implement sexual violence prevention programs and establish peer education and advocacy services for students, staff and faculty on and off campus.
Women’s Health
Sara Aclid, Reproductive Health Technologies Project
Sara Alcid is a feminist writer and a reproductive health and justice advocate. As a Programs and Policy Associate, she leads the Reproductive Health Technologies Project’s work on reproductive health and the environment in addition to assisting the organization’s contraception and abortion technologies programs. She helps manage RHTP’s social media presence and online organizing efforts. She is a contributing writer for Everyday Feminism and her writing has appeared in the Huffington Post, RH Reality Check, Role/Reboot, and Bedsider. A graduate of Bryn Mawr College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Gender and Sexuality Studies, she founded and previously led a chapter of the Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance and interned at Women’s Medical Fund, NARAL Pro-Choice New York and Cancer Schmancer, Inc.
Imani Marks, Advocates for Youth
Imani Marks is a member of Advocates for Youth’s International Youth Leadership Council (IYLC) where she advocates for global sexual and reproductive health and rights for young people around the world. Through her work with the IYLC, Imani mobilizes students through campus outreach activities, educates policymakers in Congress and at the United Nations and increase public awareness by providing a youth voice on critical sexual and reproductive health issues internationally. A junior at The George Washington University, Imani is studying Public Health and is also actively involved with Health Leads DC, an organization that fights to end health disparities. She also works on the Online Hotline of the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network providing live, secure, anonymous crisis support for victims of sexual violence, their friends, and families.
Jazmin Albarran, My Sister’s Place
Jazmin Albarran, Latino Outreach Coordinator, has 5 years of experience in bilingual community outreach and building relationships with social service providers in the District, and 12 years of direct service experience, specializing in therapy to families, children, and young adults. A certified Domestic Violence Advocate and expert in crisis intervention on macro and micro levels, Ms. Albarran joined MSP’s staff in May, 2012.
Kristy Birchard, Feminist Majority Foundation
Economic Empowerment
Barbara Wien, American University
Barbara Wien has worked to stop human rights abuses, violence and war since 1981. She has protected civilians from death squads in conflict zones, led eight nonprofit organizations, taught alternatives to war and violence at six universities, and delivered peace seminars in 58 countries. She is the author of 19 articles, study guides and books, including PEACE AND WORLD ORDER STUDIES, a pioneering curriculum guide for university professors, which sold over 10,000 copies and is now in its 7th edition. She has been awarded four times for her visionary leadership and moral courage by foundations, civic organizations and academic societies. She is named in Amy Goodman’s book Exceptions to the Rulers, and in The Progressive magazine for speaking truth to power. Her media appearances include The Washington Post, NBC Nightly News, Australian Public Broadcasting, Nuclear Times magazine, The Harold Saunders Show, and radio interviews in India, Uganda, Zambia, Palestine-Israel, and Australia. Her areas of expertise are civic engagement, grassroots nonviolent movements, and gender equity.
Christine Hart, Women Thrive Worldwide
Christine Hart is the Manager of Policy and Government Affairs at Women Thrive Worldwide. Using her background knowledge on human rights, Chrissy is an integral member of the Policy and Government Affairs team, tackling issues from gender-based violence to girls’ education. Chrissy joined Women Thrive Worldwide in December 2012. As Manager of Policy and Government, Chrissy provides support across Thrive’s portfolios, including girls’ education, economic opportunity, food security, foreign assistance reform, and gender-based violence. Chrissy holds an M.A. in International Human Rights degree with concentrations in Human Trafficking and Contemporary Slavery and International Human Rights Law from the University of Denver’s Josef Korbel School of International Studies, and a B.A. in Political Science and History from Colgate University. Chrissy’s passion for global women’s issues took root when she served as a Peace Corps volunteer in the area of girls’ education and empowerment in rural Burkina Faso. Upon returning from her Peace Corps service, Chrissy joined the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice & Human Rights. Her experiences working with grassroots human rights defenders at the RFK Center drove her to pursue graduate studies in the field of human rights. As a graduate student, Chrissy served as Associate Director of the University of Denver’s Human Trafficking Clinic and conducted field research on human trafficking in the Philippines and on issues facing youth in post-conflict northern Uganda.
Bernhard Gunter, American University
Bernhard Gunter is an assistant professor in the Department of Economics at American University. Dr. Gunter’s areas of expertise include development macroeconomics, debt sustainability analysis, and the social impact of globalization. He is also interested in analyzing poverty reduction policies, development strategies, and the challenge of climate change adaptation. His current research focuses on development issues of Bangladesh.
Sibyl Edwards, DC Web Women
Sibyl Edwards is a digital art director and strategist with over eight years creating successful digital campaigns for Fortune 500 companies, non-profit associations and startups. Sibyl works with organizations to help expand their digital presence, develop strategies to grow their business and build their brands. Utilizing the latest design and technology, Sibyl has helped craft a visual story for some of the nation’s top-rated brands. Her experience includes conceptualizing and designing media such as: websites, online ads and apps for a variety of publishing platforms and social networks. As a digital art director and designer, Sibyl Edwards has worked with some of the most successful agencies and companies in Washington, DC such as Social@Ogilvy, Rosetta Stone, Vocus and Marriott leading the design and strategy of some of the most innovative online advertising campaigns. As President of DC Web Women (DCWW), one of the longest-running tech nonprofits for women, Sibyl volunteers her time helping to support and advocate for women in internet-related industries. DCWW is a professional organization of more than 3000 professional technologists located in the Washington, D.C. metro area. DCWW is committed to the support and advocacy of women and girls in technology by providing a community in which they can develop and promote their leadership, technical and professional skills.
Caren Grown, American University
Caren Grown is Economist-In-Residence and Co-Director of the Program on Gender Analysis in Economics at American University. From 2011-2013, she was on leave as Acting Senior Coordinator for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment and Senior Gender Advisor in the Bureau of Policy, Planning and Learning at USAID where she led the Agency’s efforts to integrate gender equality and female empowerment throughout policies and programs. Formerly, she was Senior Scholar and Co-Director of the Gender Equality and Economy Program at The Levy Economics Institute at Bard College and Director of the Poverty Reduction and Economic Governance team at the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW). Her research interests include gender and asset ownership and aid effectiveness and gender equality. Her books include Taxation and Gender Equity, co-edited with Imraan Valodia (Routledge 2010), The Feminist Economics of Trade, co-edited with Irene Van Staveren, Diane Elson, and Nilufer Cagatay (Routledge 2007), Trading Women’s Health and Rights: the Role of Trade Liberalization and Development, co-edited with Elissa Braunstein and Anju Malhotra (Zed Books 2006), Taking Action: Achieving Gender Equality and Empowering Women (Earthscan Press 2005), Development, Crises and Alternative Visions: Third World Women’s Perspectives, co-authored with Gita Sen (Monthly Review Press 1987). Her articles have appeared in World Development, Journal of International Development, Feminist Economics, Health Policy and Planning, and The Lancet.
Lucy Lohrmann, American University
Lucy Lohrmann is currently a sophomore at American University in Washington DC majoring in International Studies with a minor in International Business. Although she loves living in DC, she originally hails from Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey. From a young age Lucy had an interest in learning about and understanding global problems such as extreme poverty and gender inequality and how the two affect each other. She was a Teen Advisor and later a Youth Champion for the Girl Up Campaign of the United Nations Foundation in her senior year of high school and freshman year of college, respectively. There she advocated for and blogged about education for the world’s hardest-to-reach adolescent girls. She also interned for a semester with the Chol-Chol Foundation, a small NGO that works with indigenous Mapuche Indian women in Chile. From her experience in the non-profit sector, Lucy has come to find that microfinancing is one of the most efficient and sustainable ways of alleviating global poverty. She was happy to join the Grameen Foundation team as an intern this fall. Lucy is also a proud member of She’s the First and is so excited to be speaking on this panel at She’s the First celebration of the International Day of the Girl.
Political Participation
Kendra Davis, Beyond Borders
Kendra Davis is the Communications & Development Associate for Beyond Borders. She has been interested in Caribbean affairs for several years and holds a particular affinity for Haiti. Prior to joining the Beyond Borders team, Kendra completed her undergraduate degree in Global Interdisciplinary Studies at Villanova University.
Emma Wall, American University
Emma Wall is currently a sophomore at American University and is an undecided major. She co-founded the club Stand Up AU which prevents and raises awareness of sexual assault on American’s campus. She interns at the Wellness Center concentrating in sexual assault prevention.
Madeline Barnett, Feminist Majority Foundation
Madeline Barnett is the Midwest Campus Organizer for the Feminist Majority Foundation. She works to create and support feminist groups and activism on college campuses throughout the Midwest. This fall, Madeline has been working in Ohio to educate and mobilize students surrounding recent state legislation that limits women’s access to reproductive healthcare. Before her work with the Feminist Majority Foundation, Madeline served as a Lobbying and Campaigning Intern for the Albert Kennedy Trust, Field Team Intern at Choice USA, and Political Fellow for Women’s Campaign Fund. Madeline graduated Suma Cum Laude from the University of Maryland in 2012 with a Bachelor of Arts with Honors in Government and Politics. She is also a member of the Phi Beta Kappa and Pi Sigma Alpha academic honor societies.
Edwith Theogene, Feminist Majority Foundation
Edwith Theogene graduated from Florida International University with a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies and minors in Labor Studies and Anthropology and Sociology. She also holds a Law, Ethics, and Society Certificate. Edwith has led multiple initiatives in Miami, Florida such as Slut Walk Miami, One Billion Rising, and the fight against Amendment 6. During her time as a student, Edwith interned with the Haitian Women of Miami and American’s for Immigrant Justice. She is Haitian-American and fluent in Haitian Creole.
More panelist information coming soon!
Day of the Girl Summit 