Associate Professor of Political Science, Rutgers-Camden

Kelly Dittmar is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Rutgers University–Camden and Scholar at the Center for American Women and Politics at the Eagleton Institute of Politics. Her expertise covers gender and the campaign, ranging from the campaign strategy to voter behavior to gender bias. Kelly Dittmar, as a CAWP scholar and expert for Presidential Gender Watch 2016, is working on a project to track, analyze, and illuminate gender dynamics in the presidential race. Media includes: MSNBC, Melissa Harris Perry, Huffington Post Live, Sirius XM Radio, Ohio Public Radio, and Illinois Public Radio.

Vice President of Research and Executive Director

As the Vice President of Research at EMILY's List, Kate Black provides critical information and insight on individual races, electoral trends, and federal and state policies impacting women and families. She has previously worked as a member of the rapid response team at the Democratic National Committee in 2010 and as a member of the Research Department on the Hillary Clinton for President campaign in 2007 and 2008. Media includes: CNN, the New York Times, Refinery29, American Women, and more!

Professor of Political Science

Dr. Christina M. Greer is a Professor of Political Science at Fordham University - Lincoln Center. Her research and teaching focus on American politics, black ethnic politics, urban politics, quantitative methods, Congress, New York City and New York State politics, campaigns and elections, and public opinion. Additionally, Dr. Christina M. Greer is also a frequent political commentator. Media includes: New York Times, ABC Channel 7, NBC Nightly News, Fox 5 Good Day New York, WFUV and MSNBC.

Author; Co-Founder and Executive Director

Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner has been deeply involved in cutting edge politics and policy analysis for more than two decades. She’s worked as a consultant in the field of political strategy and policy analysis for clients such as Washington Conservation Voters, Washington Environmental Alliance for Voter Education, and more. Previously she worked as Political and Field Director of the Washington Conservation Voters to elect, endorse, and support environmentally responsible candidates. Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner is now an award-winning author, frequent public speaker, the co-founder and the Executive Director/CEO of MomsRising.org. Media includes: Today Show, CNN, New York Times, Washington Post, Associated Press and more.

Executive Vice President, Marketing, Communications, and Customer Experience

Lisa Caputo is the Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing and Communications Officer of The Travelers Companies, Inc. She is a television commentator and public speaker on politics, women and leadership, and has been recognized for excellence in business leadership, marketing and corporate affairs and more. Lisa Caputo's portfolio in both the public and private sectors has included responsibility for government relations, public policy, community relations, and line of business leadership. Media includes: CBS, Time Magazine, WNET Channel 13, Online.

Digi-Cultural Trend Analyst

Lauren deLisa Coleman, a digi-cultural trend analyst, author, speaker, and consultant, tracks trends in cultural attitudes and digital consumption and the impact of that intersection on business and politics. She has a special focus on millennials, especially the intersection of technology and voting, millennials and voting, and more. Lauren deLisa Coleman helps brands and politicos creating messaging that better resonates with today’s tech-savvy, pop culture consumer. Media includes: MSNBC, NBC's thegrio.com, and KPOO radio in San Francisco.

The Honorable Paula Stern, Ph.D.

As the former chairwoman of the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC), Paula Stern founded The Stern Group, Inc., serving national and multi-national companies and organizations on business, political, and tech policy issues that affect their competitiveness in a global economy. As once the Legislative Assistant and Senior Legislative Assistant to U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson, she wrote a definitive book on Congressional-Executive foreign policy making, titled Water's Edge: Domestic Politics and the Making of American Foreign Policy (Greenword Press). Media includes: The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, The LA Times, PBS, and more.

Board Member, Atlantic Council

Sally A. Painter is the Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer at Blue Star Strategies, LLC and has worked throughout Central Europe on security and policy issues. She was previously a senior advisor in the Clinton Administration, and helped manage the outreach and advocacy program for Secretary of Commerce, Ronald H. Brown. For the last 15 years, Sally Painter has worked with opposition leaders to promote democracy and transparency in: Albania, Argentina, Azerbaijan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kazakhstan, Romania, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Venezuela. Media includes: Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Fox News, Huffington Post, Financial Times, and Politico.

Political Director

For the 15 years, Alexandra Acker-Lyons has worked for candidates and campaigns, party committees, and progressive organizations, with an emphasis on youth politics. Alexandra Acker-Lyons is a Political and Non-profit Consultant, as well as an author of The Political Ladder: Insider Tips on Getting a Job in Politics, published in 2012. She has also worked in various capacities for the Democratic National Committee, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, and Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-NY). Media includes: CNN, Fox News, Fox Business, New York Times, Time Magazine, and Politico.

Executive Producer, Host, ESG consultant: sustainable business, innovation and women’s careers

Joan Michelson is an award-winning, creative, business and communications leader, public speaker and reporter/producer, focused on the clean energy- sustainability sector and elevating the visibility of women. She has generated millions in revenue and branding for top companies, government agencies and non-profits, and worked with top media organizations – while focusing on the clean energy issue and bringing more women into the spotlight. In 2015, Joan Michelson was nominated for a White House Champion of Change award by the Department of Energy, and was a C3E Award finalist. Media includes: Huffington Post, ABC, Greenbiz, WTOP-FM, The Atlantic, CBS, and The Washington Post.

Former Texas State Senator

Former Texas State Senator,Wendy Davis has a public service career as an elected official that spans three decades. She has done a lot of press on behalf for Hillary Clinton. Wendy Davis holds expertise on reproductive rights and misogyny as part of the presidential election and campaign, respectively. Media includes: MSNBC, CNN, NPR, The New York Times, and The Guardian.

Senior Fellow

With over thirty years of experience in government, philanthropy, and academia, Ellen Chesler is widely respected for the practical and intellectual perspectives she brings to public policy. Her areas of expertise include: women's reproductive health and rights domestically and globally, as well as issues of population and development. Ellen Chesler has also long been active in Democratic politics, especially on behalf of women candidates, most recently New York Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton and Kirsten Gillibrand, and she served as a U.S. public delegate to the 2009, 2010, and 2015 meetings of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. Media includes: Television, Print, Radio.

Founder and President

As the Founder and President of Running Start, Susannah Wellford inspires young women and girls to political leadership, with her expertise in millennial women and politics. Previously, Susannah Wellford worked for Hillary Clinton’s Health Care Task Force in the Clinton White House. As a member of the Health Care War Room staff, she planned and executed grass-roots health care events for the President and First Lady and coordinated speaking events for Congressional Members and White House staff on health care reform issues. Media includes: CSPAN, CNN, Politico, Washington Post, and MSNBC.

Independent Scholar and Entrepreneur

Dr. Kimberly C. Ellis is a Scholar of American and Africana Studies and Co-Host of "Ask a Sista: Black Women Muse on Politics, Policy, Pop Culture and Scholarship." Dr. Kimberly C. Ellis' expertise ranges from Progressives, Black Women, and Black Lives Matter - platforms and protests! Media includes: NPR, BBC_WHYS Radio, MSNBC, BlackEnterprise.com, Sirius/XM Radio, The Pittsburgh City Paper, Salon.com, Ebony.com and more!

Trial Lawyer, former prosecutor and Assistant Attorney General for MD Member, Supreme Court Bar

Debbie Hines is a Washington, DC based trial attorney, legal analyst, former Baltimore prosecutor and member of the Supreme Court bar. Debbie is an expert in criminal law, high profile criminal cases, gun control and gun laws, police brutality, death penalty, domestic violence and Supreme Court cases. Her expertise encompasses legal/political issues at the intersection of gender, race and class. In 2009, Debbie launched Legal Speaks.com, a progressive legal and political blog where she often addresses issues on gender, race and socio-economics. As a social media expert, she frequently addresses issues on gun laws, police brutality, political corruption, domestic violence, criminal justice and social justice issues. Media includes: Al Jazeera, BET, CBS, C-Span, CCTV, Fox 5 DC (“WTTG”), MSNBC, NPR, PBS, Sky News, and Huffington Post.

Independent Consultant

As the Vice President of Government Relations at the American Association of University Women Lisa Maatz prioritizes issues on Capitol Hill, in the White House, and in coalition with other organizations. As AAUW’s top policy adviser, Lisa has appeared on MSNBC on “The Ed Show” and is frequently called upon by the Associated Press, Politico, the Christian Science Monitor, the Chronicle of Higher Education, and U.S. News & World Report to comment on politics and women’s issues. Media includes: MSNBC, Washington Post, Associated Press, USA Today, Wall Street Journal and more.

Comedian, Actress, Writer, Disability Advocate

Maysoon Zayid is an actress, professional standup comedian, and writer. She is the co-founder and co-executive producer of the New York Arab American Comedy Festival. Maysoon Zayid's background stems from being a Hillary Delegate from New Jersey at DNC in 2008. Furthermore, her expertise spans from #CriptheVote which is a disability voter movement, Chris Christie, and Muslims. Additionally, Maysoon Zayid will be performing comedy at the RNC. Media includes: CNN, MSNBC, Comedy Central, Al Jazeera, BBC, and The Hollywood Reporter.

Director

Debbie Walsh is the director of the Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP) at Rutgers’ Eagleton Institute of Politics. As the director, she oversees CAWP’s multi-faceted programs that include national forums for political women and provide vital information and facilitate creative strategy-building. She also manages leadership and campaign training programs designed to empower women of all ages to participate fully in politics and public life. Debbie Walsh's expertise covers the intersection of women and politics. Media includes: Washington Post, The Guardian, MTV, Huffington Post, US News World and Report.

President and Principal

Sayu Bhojwani is the President and Founder of The New American Leaders Project (NALP), the only national organization specifically focused on preparing first- and second-generation immigrants for civic leadership. From 2002 to 2004, she was New York City’s first Commissioner of Immigrant Affairs, under Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, and in 1997 she founded South Asian Youth Action (SAYA!), the first and only organization working with South Asian youth. For all her work, she has been recognized by the Case Foundation as a Fearless Changemaker, honored by Citizens Union New York, and awarded the BMW Foundation’s Young Leaders Award in 2013. Media includes: ABC News, WNYC/NYC, The Chicago Tribune, El Diario, and The New Yorker.

President & Chief Strategist

An experienced political strategist, Atima Omara is currently the Immediate Past President of the Young Democrats of America and she has worked for a Governor and as staff on over 8 federal, state, and local Democratic campaigns in Virginia and across the country. She is a frequent speaker on Democratic politics, youth, gender, and race especially as it relates to political participation and leadership. She will be attending the DNC convention as a member of the Virginia Delegation. Media includes: CNN, CSPAN, PBS, Fox News DC (FOX 5), BBC America, Washington Post, Huffington Post, Ms. Magazine, Women’s Enews, Television, Print, Radio, Online.

Speech Coach & Media Trainer

Speech coach Chris Jahnke is passionate about helping women build the skills to effectively raise their voices. As media coach for WMC, Chris prepares advocates to speak out on social justice issues. Chris has prepped First Lady Michelle Obama & was an advisor to Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign. She has worked with more women candidates and elected officials than any other trainer and has worked to prepare speakers at the last five Democratic conventions. Media includes: NPR, Elle Magazine, New York Times, US News, Christian Science Monitor.

One of the leading progressive, grassroots voices in America

Sally Kohn is one of the leading progressive voices in America today. A CNN political commentator and the Daily Beast, Sally is a popular keynote speaker who makes audiences laugh and think. Previously, Sally was Senior Campaign Strategist with the Center for Community Change, a 45-year-old hub of grassroots organizations nationwide. Before that, Sally held a program fellowship at the Ford Foundation, helping to manage more than $15 million in annual grants to social justice organizations nationwide. Media includes: Fox News Radio - John Gibson Show, NPR, Fox News, Sean Hannity's radio show, Color Lines, Salon, Huffington Post, and The Atlantic.

Deputy Director

As Director of the Roosevelt Institute | National Network, Joelle Gamble focuses on influencing policy on the local, state and national level – from introducing new mapping systems to improve health outcomes in low-income neighborhoods to consulting with local governments on natural disaster flood prevention. Under Joelle’s leadership, Roosevelt's National Network now boasts 120 chapters in 38 U.S. states and has dramatically increased the number of student policy campaigns it supports. Media includes: Fox News, Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Sacramento Bee, and C-SPAN.

President & CEO

The founding President and CEO of Voto Latino, < a href="http://www.shesource.org/experts/profile/maria-teresa-kumar">Maria Teresa Kumar is an Emmy-nominated contributor with MSNBC. She has become a key factor in national elections by directly registering over a quarter million new voters and influencing millions more through viral, celebrity-driven campaigns. Under her leadership,Voto Latino has won numerous awards including two Webby Honoree awards, and several Promax awards for best in ethnic marketing. Media includes: CNBC, NBC affiliate, XM Satellite Radio, El Mensajero, Univision.