AAUW Announces New Board of Directors for 2022-23 Term

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The American Association of University Women (AAUW) has announced changes to its board of directors. Two new directors—Monique Taylor and Dale Satake—are joining the board, and three others—Peggy Cabaniss, Cheryl Sorokin and Mary Zupanc—were re-elected to serve on the 15-member panel for the new term starting July 1, 2022.

“We are very happy to welcome our new and returning board members,” said AAUW Board Chair Julia T. Brown, Esq. “This team of leaders brings a wide variety of skills and experiences that will be extremely valuable to AAUW as we continue to work toward our goals of equal opportunity and economic security for all women.”

“Our current landscape—from systemic racism to ongoing attacks on reproductive rights—have forced many of AAUW’s issues to the forefront of national conversations,” said Gloria L. Blackwell, AAUW’s chief executive officer. “Women can’t wait any longer. We will continue to take bold action to advance gender and racial equity and to advocate for all women and girls. Our board plays a critical role in shaping our priorities and moving our mission forward at this momentous time in America’s history.”

The 2022-23 AAUW Board of Directors includes:

Julia T. Brown, Esq., Chair, a lawyer with extensive experience in executive management, financial management, nonprofit formation and governance, as well as compliance enforcement. She has served in the U.S. Army and worked in corporate America and at all levels of government in Oklahoma, the District of Columbia, California and New Mexico. She has held a variety of AAUW positions at the national, state and branch levels.

Malinda Gaul, Vice Chair, a practicing employment lawyer in San Antonio, Texas, who has worked with several nonprofit organizations to advance the rights of women. She chaired the Women and the Law and Labor and Employment Law sections of the State Bar of Texas and was president of the Texas Employment Lawyers Association. She served in a variety of AAUW positions at all levels, including president of AAUW Texas.

Peggy Cabaniss, Finance Vice Chair, who worked in the investment field as a financial planner and investment advisor. She was the owner and co-founder of HC Financial Advisors, Inc., a fee-only financial planning and investment advisory firm in Lafayette, California. She has held leadership positions in the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors, including a stint as chair of its national board.

Cheryl Sorokin, Secretary, an attorney who spent much of her career at the Bank of America, where she was executive vice president and corporate secretary. She is a published author on corporate governance and now consults on governance matters with Veaco Group. Currently, she is president of Marin Villages, a nonprofit that helps older adults remain active, connected and independent in their home. At AAUW, she has held leadership positions at the branch and national level, including serving on the national board since 2017.

Kimberly S. Adams, Ph.D., Director, an accomplished political scientist and activist with more than 15 years of experience in academia and the private sector. She has a track record of success in publications and public speaking on topics related to race, gender and politics. She is a member of numerous organizations devoted to research, equity, social justice and women’s equality. She previously served as a selection panelist for AAUW’s American Fellowships and Research Publication Grant programs.

Joseph Bertolino, Director, is president of Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven. Previously, he was president of Lyndon State College in Lyndonville, Vermont, and vice president for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs at Queens College/City University of New York. He is a teacher, lecturer and prolific author, including co-authoring a book on peer mentorship. He has served in leadership roles on numerous national boards.

Lisette Garcia, Ph.D., Director, is assistant vice president for diversity, inclusion and belonging at Penn State University. Previously, Dr. Garcia was the executive vice president and chief operating officer for the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility. She is a trained researcher with degrees from The Ohio State University, Virginia Tech and Penn State. Garcia has dedicated her career to exploring educational and employment issues within the realm of corporate social responsibility, discrimination and diversity and inclusion. She also serves on the board of directors for Collegiate Directions Inc. and currently chairs the Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Committee of the Southern Sociological Society.

Elizabeth Haynes, Director, has more than 30 years of experience as both an employee and volunteer for non-profit organizations in California and Canada. She has held the positions of secretary, president and director of strategic planning. She is a professionally registered parliamentarian and serves as parliamentarian for the Canadian Federation of University Women. At AAUW, she has held leadership roles in her local branch and the Michigan state association.

Jenna Kirkpatrick Howard, Director, is senior vice president at Lockton, where she works with nonprofit and for-profit organizations to identify, assess and manage their financial, operational and reputational risks. Within her firm, Jenna is appointed to the executive committee for the Northeast Series of Lockton Companies. She also serves on two steering committees for Lockton—Women in Leadership and the Diversity Equity & Inclusion Council. Jenna is the 2022 Chair of the Elite Women Producer (EWP) group within Lockton. Outside of Lockton, she has served on the nonprofit boards that support of families in underserved communities around the Washington, D.C. area and national equity organizations, specifically focused on advancing women and girls.

Jeanie Sell Latz, Director, has been a leader in public, private, academic and nonprofit sectors. She served as executive vice president, chief legal officer and corporate secretary of Great Plains Energy. She currently teaches in the Bloch School of Management at the University of Missouri, Kansas City. She also consults in the areas of corporate governance and strategy. She received a B.S. degree in business education from Missouri State University and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Missouri.

Edwina Frances Martin, Director, is a public interest lawyer with deep experience in public policy, government relations, nonprofit management and strategic communications. She is currently commissioner and public administrator of Richmond County (New York City). Previously, she was counsel and deputy-chief of staff for a New York City council member and a litigation associate at several private-sector law firms. She does volunteer work in in her community and in the New York City legal field.

Shaila Rao Mistry, Director, is president of Jayco MMI, an aerospace medical-device company. She is the founder and chief executive officer of the STEM Institute for organizational growth, leadership development, strategic planning and foresight. She has deep experience in economic development and advancement from perspectives of small business, human resources, talent protection, policy, advocacy and corporate social responsibility, and has worked on a variety of issues, including decent work and fair pay, trafficking and digital human rights on the Internet. She is a global speaker and sits on notable boards at state, national and global level, including California State and University of California.

Dale Satake, Director, a former entrepreneur and corporate marketing executive with experience in operations, marketing, project management, client relations and finance. At the AAUW national level, she has served as nominating committee chair and is currently in her second term as advancement committee chair. She has also held leadership roles at the state and local levels. Dale is currently board president of Side by Side Youth Services, which provides services to traumatized children, youth and their families in four counties.

Monique Taylor, Ph.D., Director, provost and chief academic officer at Champlain College in Burlington, Vermont. Dr. Taylor has spent the past 18 years working in international higher education with teaching and administrative positions in Mexico, China, the United Arab Emirates, Israel and Palestine. She spent the early part of her academic career as a professor at Occidental College in Los Angeles and has held teaching and research fellowships at Amherst College, Occidental College and the UCLA Center for Afro American Studies. She holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in sociology from Harvard University and a B.A. in sociology from Yale.

Mary L. Zupanc, M.D., Director, a professor in the Ddpartment of pediatrics and neurology at the University of California, Irvine (UCI). She is also the UCI division chief of pediatric neurology, the chief neurology strategy officer and the co-medical director of the CHOC Neuroscience Institute. She has published many articles in peer-reviewed journals and has authored several book chapters, particularly on pediatric epilepsy, infantile spasms and epilepsy surgery. She has served on the executive board of the Child Neurology Society and is currently on the board of directors for the Child Neurology Foundation.

# # #

The American Association of University Women (AAUW) advances gender equity for women and girls through research, education, and advocacy. Our nonpartisan, nonprofit organization has more than 170,000 members and supporters across the United States, as well as 1,000 local branches and more than 800 college and university members. Learn more and join us at www.aauw.org.