Speakers
- Kim Gandy
- Heidi Hartmann
- Dorothy I. Height
- Julianne Malveaux
- Janice L. Mathis
- Gail Perry-Mason
- Astrid Pregel
- Jane E. Smith
- E. Faye Williams
Kim Gandy
Kim Gandy is serving her second term as president of the National Organization for Women (NOW) and the NOW Foundation. Gandy oversees NOW and NOW Foundation's multi-issue agenda, which includes: advancing reproductive freedom, promoting diversity and ending racism, stopping violence against women, winning LGBT rights, ensuring economic justice, ending sex discrimination and achieving equality for women. Gandy also chairs the NOW Political Action Committees, which help elect feminist candidates to federal, state and local office.
Since 2001, Gandy has led campaigns on issues ranging from women's health to Social Security, from equal education opportunities to media justice. During Gandy's presidency, NOW organized conferences on issues affecting women of color and women with disabilities, campaigned against Wal-Mart as a Merchant of Shame, and fought for greater access to emergency contraception.
A long-time activist, Gandy has served NOW at the local, state and national level since 1973, including three years as Louisiana NOW president. After receiving her law degree in 1978 from Loyola University, Gandy served as a Senior Assistant District Attorney in New Orleans, and later opened a private trial practice, litigating countless cases seeking fair treatment for women. Gandy served on the drafting committees for two groundbreaking federal laws: the Civil Rights Act of 1991 and the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act.
Heidi Hartmann, Ph.D.
Dr. Heidi Hartmann is the president of the Washington-based Institute for Women's Policy Research (IWPR), a scientific research organization that she founded in 1987 to meet the need for women-centered, policy-oriented research. Dr. Hartmann is also a Research Professor at The George Washington University.
Hartmann is a co-author of Still A Man's Labor Market: The Long-Term Earnings Gap, Unnecessary Losses: Costs to Americans of the Lack of Family and Medical Leave, Equal Pay for Working Families, and Survival at the Bottom: The Income Packages of Low-Income Families with Children. She has published numerous articles in journals and books and her work has been translated into more than a dozen languages. Hartmann lectures widely on women, economics, and public policy, frequently testifies before the U.S. Congress, and is often cited as an authority in various media outlets.
Prior to founding IWPR, Hartmann was on the faculties of Rutgers University and the New School for Social Research and worked at the National Research Council/National Academy of Sciences. In 1994, Hartmann was the recipient of a MacArthur Fellowship Award for her work in the field of women and economics. She is Vice-Chair of the National Council of Women's Organizations and co-editor of the Journal of Women, Politics & Policy.
Dr. Dorothy I. Height
Dr. Dorothy Irene Height is the chair and president emerita of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW), having served as its fourth president from l957-l998.
For nearly half a century, Dr. Height has given leadership to the struggle for equality and human rights for all people. In the early 1930s, Height's career as a civil rights advocate began, as she worked to prevent lynching, desegregate the armed forces, reform the criminal justice system and establish free access to public accommodations. Height was assistant executive director of the Harlem YWCA in 1937 when Mary McLeod Bethune, founder and president of NCNW, invited Height to join the organization in her quest for women's rights to full and equal employment, pay and education.
Height was national president of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority from 1947 to l956. In 1960, Height was the woman team member leader in the United Civil Rights Leadership along with Martin Luther King, Whitney H. Young, A. Philip Randolph, James Farmer, Roy Wilkins and John Lewis. In addition to her domestic work, Height became known for her internationalism and humanitarianism, lecturing and studying around the world.
Height has received numerous awards and honorary degrees. On her 92nd birthday Height was presented the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civil and most distinguished award presented by the U.S. Congress.
Julianne Malveaux
Dr. Julianne Malveaux is the president of Bennett College for Women in Greensboro, N.C. An economist, author and commentator, Dr. Malveaux is shaping public opinion on issues such as race, culture, gender, and their economic impacts.
Malveaux's work appears regularly in USA Today, Black Issues in Higher Education, Ms. Magazine, Essence, and the Progressive. Her weekly columns appear in numerous newspapers including the Los Angeles Times, the Charlotte Observer, the New Orleans Tribune, the Detroit Free Press and the San Francisco Examiner. She appears regularly on CNN, BET and Howard University Television, and has hosted talk radio programs in Washington, San Francisco and New York.
Malveaux edited Voices of Vision: African American Women on the Issues; co-edited Slipping Through the Cracks: The Status of Black Women; authored Sex, Lies, and Stereotypes: Perspectives of a Mad Economist; and co-authored Unfinished Business: A Democrat and A Republican Take On the 10 Most Important Issues Women Face.
A committed activist and civic leader, Malveaux serves on the boards of the Economic Policy Institute, The Recreation Wish List Committee of Washington, D.C., and the Liberian Education Trust. Malveaux received her MA degree in economics from Boston College, and earned a Ph.D in economics from MIT. A native San Franciscan, she founded the multimedia production company Last Word Productions, Inc.
Janice L. Mathis
Janice L. Mathis is vice president of The Citizenship Education Fund, a progressive research and education organization specializing in equal opportunity, equitable education funding, limits to media concentration and corporate diversity and responsibility. An attorney, Mathis was the founder and managing partner of a private law practice specializing in real estate, probate, civil litigation and child support enforcement.
Mathis previously served as the chief of staff for Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., and the vice president and general counsel of The Rainbow PUSH Coalition. In 1988, Mathis served as the deputy issues director for the Dukakis Bentsen Presidential Campaign.
Mathis has been published in the New York Times, among other publications, and has appeared on local and national television. She is a speaker and lecturer on topics including the federal courts and civil rights and effective negotiation.
Mathis is a member of a number of organizations, including the Democratic National Committee, the State Bar of Georgia, the League of Women Voters of the United States, the United Way, the YWCO, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and the National Council of Young Political Leaders.
A resident of Athens, Ga., Mathis earned her BA in Economics and Public Policy at Duke University and her law degree at the University of Georgia, in addition to studying at Oxford University.
Gail Perry-Mason
Gail Perry-Mason is well known in the securities industry, where she climbed the corporate ladder from receptionist to First Vice President of Investments for investment firm Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. She wrote Money Matters for Families and co-authored the best-selling book Girl, Make Your Money Grow!: A Sister's Guide to Protecting Your Future and Enriching Your Life.
Known for advancing economic empowerment in the Detroit, Mich., community, Perry-Mason founded and directs a youth investment club, along with a money camp for teens called Money Matters. The money camp has taught financial life skills to more than 1,000 young people in the Detroit metro area. In addition, Perry-Mason has conducted financial training sessions and workshops for companies such as DaimlerChrysler, IBM and Wells Fargo.
Perry-Mason also serves on the Board of Directors for Spaulding for Children, Starr Commonwealth and DSA-Detroit Public Schools, Board of Advisors for women. She has received numerous community service awards, including the Professional Woman of the Year by the National Council of Negro Women in 2005; New Detroit Bridging the Gap awards for her investment in youth in 2004; the Tavis Smiley Youth Investment Award in 2004; and she was elected one of Detroit's Most Influential Women in the Financial Industry in 1999 by The Women's Informal Network.
Astrid Pregel
Astrid Pregel is the president of Feminomics Inc., a consulting company working at the intersection of gender, leadership, entrepreneurship and the economy. Throughout her diplomatic career, Pregel has been a passionate advocate for the economic empowerment of women. Her North American programs in support of women business owners entering the international marketplace have been recognized around the globe. She is a senior advisor to the Interdisciplinary Center for Leadership and Entrepreneurship at the Georgia Institute of Technology and an advisor to the Siegel Institute of Ethical Leadership at Kennesaw State University.
Pregel retired from Canada's Foreign Service in 2003, capping her 25 year career as Canada's first woman Consul General to the Southeastern USA, resident in Atlanta. She also was the first woman appointed Minister Counselor at the Canadian Embassy in Washington D.C., where she oversaw the entire scope of Canada's commercial interests with the U.S. -- the largest trading relationship in the world. Pregel began her career in Nairobi, Kenya, where she worked in the commercial and development assistance sectors in 10 East African countries, traveling extensively from Madagascar to Somalia. She also spent four years working in India, one of her favorite places on the planet. Pregel's global wanderings have shown her that where women are educated and empowered, economic growth and stability follow.
Jane E. Smith, Ed. D.
Dr. Jane E. Smith is Executive Director of the Spelman College Center for Leadership and Civic Engagement (LEADS). The mission of LEADS is to develop and teach a leadership model based on the experiences of African-American women leaders.
Dr. Smith began her professional career in 1975 as assistant to the president at Spelman College. From 1981 to 1990, she was the managing director of INROADS, Inc., responsible for corporate placements for college interns. In 1991, Smith joined the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change as director of development. From 1994 to 1998, she led the award-winning Atlanta Project at The Carter Center, where she reported to former President Jimmy Carter. From 1998-2001, Smith was president and CEO of the National Council of Negro Women. Prior to rejoining Spelman College in 2004, Smith was CEO of Business and Professional Women/USA.
Smith was appointed by former President Bill Clinton to the National Women's Business Council and by former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright to the United Nations Beijing Plus Five Conference delegation.
Smith holds a Doctorate of Education in Social Policy Analysis from Harvard University, a Masters in Sociology from Emory University, a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Spelman College, and honorary doctorates from Spelman College and Texas College.
Dr. E. Faye Williams - luncheon speaker for special track
Dr. E. Faye Williams is the national chair of the National Congress of Black Women (NCBW) and a life-long peace and human rights advocate. She is a lawyer, minister, public speaker and a successful entrepreneur, who also is president and CEO of Natural Health Options.
Dr. Williams was the first African American to run a viable political campaign for U.S. Congress in Louisiana, narrowly missing victory. She later worked as White House Liaison to the U.S. Department of Energy during President Bill Clinton's first term. Williams was an organizer of 1995's Million Man March and 2000's Million Family March.
Prior to chairing NCBW, Williams served as general counsel under the late C. DeLores Tucker. She is former counsel to the U.S. Congress and Representative Mervyn M. Dymally, and served as a professor of International Law at Southern University Law Center in Baton Rouge, La.
Williams holds a Ph.D. in Public Administration from City University at Los Angeles, as well as a Masters of Public Administration from the University of Southern California and a J.D. degree from Howard University School of Law. Williams recently completed her Doctor of Ministry degree at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C.
Among many other awards, Williams was named one of Ebony Magazine's 100 Most Influential Black Americans.
