UAlbany's Center for Women in Government and Civil Society Names 2013 Class of NEW Leaders

ALBANY, N.Y. (May 23, 2013) – The Center for Women in Government and Civil Society at the University at Albany announces its NEW Leadership New York 2013 Class. The elite group comprises 20 diverse and accomplished women who hail from colleges and universities across New York State. NEW LeadershipTM New York is a program of the Women's Leadership Academy at the Center for Women in Government & Civil Society, and is the first and only program of its kind in New York state. The program is part of the National Education for Women’s (NEW) Leadership Network, a bi-partisan program designed to educate college women about the political process and train them to become effective leaders.

Center for Women in Government and Civil Society NEW Leaders from a previous class.

The week-long summer program strengthens the policy knowledge and skills of undergraduate women, while helping them become successful advocates for change. NEW Leaders meet and speak with New York state elected officials, community and civic leaders, and senior government officials, all of whom donate their time and talents to mentor participants and share successful political engagement and community organizing strategies.

“This program focuses on strengthening participants’ self-efficacy, leadership capacity and capabilities,” said Center for Women in Government & Civil Society Executive Director Dina Refki. “Participants walk away with a deeper knowledge of leadership ethics and principles, a richer understanding of how political campaigns are organized and how community advocacy is accomplished; and a renewed commitment to advancing women’s leadership on a personal and collective level.”

The 2013 class of NEW Leaders includes:

·         Antoinette Astuto, SUNY Oneonta

·         Anna Bitterbaum, SUNY Binghamton

·         Lauren Brady-Haskell, Russell Sage College

·         Ariana Cember, SUNY New Paltz

·         Laila Clark, SUNY Binghamton

·         Jenny Fischman, SUNY New Paltz

·         Brittany Glenn, Sage College of Albany

·         Deena Lettas, CUNY Hunter

·         Melissa Luong, SUNY Binghamton

·         Katherine McCaffrey, Farmingdale State College

·         Thearse McCalmon, Russell Sage

·         Mary Nardella, SUNY Oneonta

·         Molly McNeely, SUNY Orange

·         Janell Salmon, SUNY Binghamton

·         Johanna Sanders, SUNY Binghamton

·         Theresa Taylor, College of Saint Rose

·         Morgan Thomas, Syracuse University

·         Sharika Valerio, CUNY Hunter

·         Jamara Wakefield, New School for Public Engagement

All NEW Leaders are presented with an opportunity to develop and implement a campus or community action project with support from the Center. Past projects by NEW Leaders include “Kicks for Cancer,” a college soccer tournament to promote women's health and wellness, and raise awareness about breast cancer; and “Soul Survivors: Women Unite Against Rape,” a conference to designed to promote resources available to sexual assault survivors.

“It is through the strength of our public/private community of partners that this extraordinary programming continues to be available. Driven by a shared vision and commitment to excellence in women’s leadership, the support and sponsorship of visionaries from the University at Albany and SUNY Binghamton along with CSEA, Southwest Airlines, Maximus and the Ernest O. Reaugh Trust Fund allow the best and the brightest undergraduate women in New York State to engage in this opportunity – regardless of financial need or constraint,” said Bonnie Beard, director of Women & Leadership at the Center.

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