State Conference Keynote Speakers and Presenters
Friday, April 5
7:30 p.m. Remarks from the Secretary
Valerie A. Arkoosh, MD, MPH, Pennsylvania Department of Human Services
Valerie A. Arkoosh, MD, MPH, was appointed to lead the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services by Governor Josh Shapiro on January 17, 2023.
Prior to this role, Secretary Arkoosh served on the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners for eight years, serving as Commission Chair from November 2016 through January 2023. As a physician and public health professional, Secretary Arkoosh was at the center of Montgomery County’s efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, leading a data- and science-driven approach to the unprecedented challenge. Arkoosh’s leadership was praised during the county’s response, especially her transparency and public communication throughout the pandemic.
Arkoosh is a graduate of the University of Nebraska College of Medicine and received a Master of Public Health from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She performed her residency at Jefferson Medical College in Anesthesiology with a special focus in Obstetrics. Prior to stepping into public service, Secretary Arkoosh was Professor of Clinical Anesthesiology and Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Perelman School of Medicine of the University of Pennsylvania.
Upon obtaining her Master of Public Health in 2007, Arkoosh became deeply engaged in the national effort to achieve comprehensive health care reform. She led the National Physicians Alliance, a national non-profit organization of physicians, who, putting their patients before profits, joined a broad-based nation-wide coalition for reform. During this time, she developed policy and legislative strategy, and promoted public engagement in Washington, D.C., Pennsylvania, and throughout the country. Dr. Arkoosh maintains comprehensive knowledge of the implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and its impact on individuals and the health care system.
Saturday, April 6
10:00-11:15 a.m. Learning Circles
- Hands-on Advocacy Activity, Sandra Miller, AAUW PA Public Policy Chair
Sandra Miller, Public Policy Chair, has been involved in the public policy world since her days in the Governor’s office under Governor Thornberg. Her passion for policy and how we as citizens can affect our government has led to many opportunities in education policy over the past 20 years. Currently, Sandra is the Advocacy Coordinator for Education Voters of PA and has been working with the campaign, PA Schools Work, for many years. Newly retired after 16 years as a school director at Saucon Valley School District, she hopes her volunteer time with AAUW will be an asset to the organization and looking forward to working with all the branches and other statewide organizations in fulfilling the mission of AAUW – empowering women through advocacy. A member of Easton and Bethlehem branches, she is ready to support all efforts to engage our members in the coming year. Sandra lives in Saucon Valley with her husband, mother and sister, and her two sons as they complete their graduate work.
- What are the Greatest Needs Fund and the Legacy Circle – and, why should we care” – an update on the need for donations to the Greatest Needs Fund and Joining the Legacy Circle, Sally Kalin, AAUW PA Funds Chair
I joined AAUW State College in 1981 as a means of engaging with my local community. I had noticed that the women who were prominent in State College were members of AAUW, and my interactions with them told me that they were an exceptional group. Since then, I have served AAUW State College in many Board positions, most recently three years as co-president. I am the currently Immediate Past President of my Branch, co-chair of strategic planning, and AAUW PA Funds Chair.
For nearly 40 years, I have volunteered for our annual Used Book Sale. The economic engine of our Branch, the Sale has enabled us to advance AAUW’s mission through grants, programs, and scholarships. My Sale responsibilities include oversight for the pricing and sales of collectibles and special collections.
I retired twelve years ago after a 40-year career in academic librarianship, the last fifteen years as Associate Dean of Libraries at Penn State. My professional experience in public services and my advocacy of values such as social responsibility, lifelong learning, and inclusion have served me well as an active member of AAUW.
- Updating Your Branch Bylaws with the Latest Revisions, Deb Roney, AAUW PA Bylaws Chair; Advancement Committee, AAUW National
Deb Roney is currently the AAUW PA Bylaws Chair and a member of the National Advancement Committee. At the national level, Deb earlier served on the College/University Relations (C/U) Committee. At the state level, she has also been co-president, C/U liaison, public policy chair, AAUW Funds chair, bylaws chair, District 4 coordinator (South Central District, when PA had five districts), nominating and elections committee chair, and yearbook co-editor. For AAUW Huntingdon Branch, Deb is currently co-administrator, secretary, C/U liaison, webmaster, yearbook chair, and international co-chair. Earlier, she served as program vice president, education chair, public policy chair, and Sister-to-Sister Summit chair. She also co-founded and served as advisor for the AAUW @ Juniata Student Organization.
Professionally, Deb is retired from Juniata College, where she worked 1998-2023. At her retirement, she was assistant professor of English, teaching writing and linguistics, and director of Juniata College’s Language in Motion program and the National Language in Motion Consortium, which she had founded. Deb graduated from Dartmouth College in their first-ever co-ed class and earned her master’s in Slavic Languages and Literatures and PhD in Slavic Linguistics from The Ohio State University.
- Open Membership, Discussion and Questions about removing the Education Requirement for AAUW Membership, Ajla Glavasevic Laussegger and Ann Pehle, AAUW PA Past President
Ajla Glavasevic Laussegger serves as Deputy General Counsel & Global Data Privacy Officer of a global chemical manufacturing company in Conshohocken, PA, Quaker Houghton. There, she leads the Data Privacy organization, advises on business matters, drafts and reviews contracts, and provides legal support and leadership in litigation, regulatory matters, corporate restructuring, labor and employment matters, corporate compliance, crisis management, corporate governance, artificial intelligence, investigations, mergers and acquisitions, environmental matters, and day-to-day business needs of the organization. Prior to her work at Quaker Houghton, Ajla was an Associate at a general practice firm, where much of her work focused on corporate clients, as well as litigation, immigration matters, labor and employment, and criminal defense. Ajla received her J.D. at the University of Cincinnati College of Law and has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, concentrating on Financial Analysis from the University at Buffalo, where she also competed as a D1 heptathlete on a national level. Ajla is a former a member of the USA Women’s Bobsled Team.
Ajla serves on the board of AAUW PA as the Diversity Officer, and previously served as the Secretary. Ajla’s family immigrated from Bosnia to the United States under refugee status in 1995 and she’s married to an Austrian National. Ajla is a mother to a 4-year-old son, Julius, and a 2.5-year-old daughter, Philippa.
For Ann Pehle, it all starts with AAUW’s Strategic Plan. AAUW’s focus on gender equity sets us apart from other organizations in our communities and on the state level, providing a unique membership opportunity for persons interested in empowering women as individuals and as a community.
Since joining AAUW Carlisle in May 2015, I “went all in,” as my mother would say. With Public Policy as a focus, it makes sense that I served as AAUW Carlisle Public Policy Co-Chair 2015—2017 and AAUW Pennsylvania Public Policy Co-Chair 2016—2018. I had the privilege of branch support to be AAUW Carlisle President for two terms 2017—2021. And then used this experience to be AAUW Pennsylvania President for two terms, 2018—2022.
I am a Chicago native and eldest of three girls. I attended the University of Wisconsin – Madison and have an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University. Upon retiring from an over 30-year human resources executive career, I relocated to Silver Spring Township in 2013.
My involvement in AAUW has led to friendships with incredible women and provided an opportunity for continued learning, from new computer applications to how to speak to an elected official about an issue. What an amazing nine years this has been!
- How to Close the Sale: Strategies to Join and Keep Members, Karen Wellin, AAUW Membership VP
Karen Wellin has been a member of AAUW for over twenty years with dual memberships in both the Valley Forge PA and Tampa FL branches. She has served her Valley Forge PA branch as President and Co-VP Programming and treasures all the friendships that she has made being a member of a branch. A graduate of Cornell, Karen spent her professional life working in test kitchens, technical food service sales, working with children with special needs, and supervising volunteers in a science museum. Her passion at any job has been the role of mentor for all the young women that she hired, trained, and with whom she worked. Now retired, Karen is active in the Lions Club, her church, alumnae affairs, and being involved in the AAUW PA Membership VP activities.
Saturday, April 6
12:45 p.m. Keynote: Women in American Politics: From Exclusion to Protest, to Participants, to Policymakers
Kimberly S. Adams, PhD, Professor of Political Science at East Stroudsburg University; Board of Directors AAUW National and National Organization for Women (NOW)
Dr. Kimberly S. Adams is an accomplished political scientist and activist with more than 17 years of experience in academia and the private sector. She has a track record of success in publication and public speaking and served as a political analyst on national and local news programs. She has presented research and given over 100 talks domestically and internationally on women, race, and politics. Dr. Adams is a highly effective professional mediator and conflict manager, having received certificates of completion from Harvard Law School’s Program on Negotiation (PON) and CORA Good Shepard Mediation, in Philadelphia in 2021. She serves on the board of Directors for the National Organization for Women (NOW), the American Association of University Women, (AAUW), and the Feminist Majority Foundation (FMF). She also serves on the Political Action Committees (PAC’s) for NOW and FMF. Dr. Adams holds active memberships in the National Congress of Black Women, the NAACP, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, and the American News Women’s Club. She’s a charter member of the African American Museum of History and Culture. Her passion is teaching and creating opportunities for her students to gain first-hand experiences in politics. She also enjoys playing tennis, reading biographies, and traveling. Her favorite country to visit is Croatia, where she has journeyed nearly a dozen times.
Saturday, April 6
2:00 p.m. Generative AI: The Evolution of Machine Learning and Why It Matters
Ajla Glavasevic Laussegger, Deputy General Counsel & Global Data Privacy Officer, Quaker Houghton; AAUW PA Diversity & Inclusion Chair; Governance Committee, AAUW National
Saturday, April 6
3:15 p.m. AAUW’s Advocacy in Action: Opportunities for Impact
Meghan Kissell, Senior Director, Policy and Member Advocacy, AAUW National
Meghan Kissell is the Senior Director of Policy and Membership Advocacy at the American Association of University Women (AAUW). She leads AAUW’s non-partisan and mission-driven public policy at the federal level and supports the grassroots advocacy work of AAUW’s membership network.
Meghan has more than 20 years of nonprofit policy and issue developing and implementing targeted social impact strategies designed to engage key stakeholders and policy makers to advocate for positive policy outcomes.
Prior to joining AAUW, Meghan worked on state and local health policy with the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids and led efforts to expand LGBTQ equality in the Deep South with the Human Rights Campaign. She also worked for the Conservation Lands Foundation to help lead local and national campaigns in the Western United States resulting in the successful protection of more than 5 million acres of public land. She was also previously AAUW’s Field Director, supporting local advocacy engagement and volunteer get out the vote efforts.
Meghan has a Master’s degree in Social Work with a focus on community organizing from Howard University and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Allegheny College in Pennsylvania.
Saturday, April 6
4:30 p.m. 100 Years of Motivation: Panel Discussion with Branch Presidents from Carlisle, Erie, Harrisburg, Johnstown, Reading and State College
Moderated by Lori Woods, AAUW PA Program Vice President
Kate Elkins, Carlisle Branch
Kate joined the Carlisle Branch in 2017 and, after a stint as Public Policy Chair, is currently branch President. She grew up with her ten siblings (eight of them boys) in Dearborn, Michigan, learning to hold her own with the guys. This led her to study at the Univ. of Notre Dame in one of the first classes admitting women, graduating with a degree in Social Work. She met her husband, Walter, while spending her sophomore year in Innsbruck, Austria, where, after graduation, she worked for three years as a social worker. After returning to the States, her husband’s job took her to Dallas, TX. A search for part-time work while their son was in elementary school brought her to a lamp shop which changed the course of her career path. Kate eventually managed the lamp repair, restoration, and custom lamp department both at that store and, subsequently, at a lamp shop in Clearwater, FL following another move. After her husband’s retirement, they moved to Central Pennsylvania, where Kate started her own company – Lamp Doktor, LLC.
Loretta Seigley, Erie Branch
Loretta Seigley is currently serving as President of the AAUW Erie Branch. She is currently retired after a career which included roles as Professional Nurse, Professor of Nursing and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Marymount University in Arlington, Virginia. She is particularly interested in working with AAUW colleagues to support underserved groups of women and children through outreach activities in the Erie area.
Christine Zuzach, Harrisburg Branch
Christine Zuzack has been actively involved in AAUW for over 12 years, serving in numerous leadership positions in the Harrisburg Branch. She is retired from a 40-year career in higher education administration. She now spends her time golfing, hiking, biking, traveling, and spending time with her granddaughters.
Kathy Howanek, Johnstown Branch
Kathy Howanek became a member of the Johnstown Branch of AAUW in 2005 following 30 years of employment with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, most of those years spent in the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation.
As a member of the Johnstown Branch, she served in several capacities including, Write-Read-Write Chair, Membership V.P., Secretary and currently as Co-president with Georgia Yeager.
Karen Parish, Reading Branch
Karen has been Co-President of the Reading Branch since 2020. She holds a Master’s Degree from University of Nebraska, Lincoln in Urban Planning and a BA from University of Pittsburgh. She is interested in the lives of women through history and enjoyed working with the Reading Branch to prepare Branch history for the 100th Anniversary.
Sally Kalin, State College Branch
Saturday, April 6
7:30 p.m. Keynote: The Power of Vulnerability
Gisele Fetterman, Nonprofit Founder, Hugger, Dreamer
Gisele Barreto Fetterman, the Second Lady of Pennsylvania is a trailblazer in her own right. Born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Gisele’s mother took her and her younger brother to the United States when she was seven, all of them undocumented immigrants. They lived in a one-room apartment in New York City and were teaching themselves English while her mother worked cleaning hotels and houses. After 15 years of living in the shadows, Gisele received her green card in 2004 and became a United States citizen in 2009.
Gisele has devoted her life to helping others, with a focus on nutrition, food equity and meeting Pennsylvanians’ basic needs. With just an empty shipping container and an open lot, Gisele opened the Free Store, distributing household goods, baby items and bicycles to those in need. In addition, she co-founded 412 Food Rescue, which sends volunteers to retailers who have surplus food that risks going bad and delivers it to nonprofits that serve the hungry. Gisele also co-founded the nonprofit For Good PGH which drives numerous initiatives on inclusion including “Hello Hijab,” which produces miniature hijabs for dolls, promoting tolerance and diversity. Most recently Gisele founded The Hollander Project, a business incubator for female entrepreneurs.
Beyond founding and supporting multiple organizations, Gisele is an unapologetic advocate for marginalized groups, especially the immigrant community as she herself was once a Dreamer. Gisele is passionate about many policy reforms and is particularly outspoken on marijuana legalization and is a medical marijuana patient herself.
Sunday, April 7
9:00 a.m. Break-Out Sessions
- Branch Board Counterparts
- AAUW PA: NextGen-GenAI and the Future of Career Development
Ajla Glavasevic Laussegger, Deputy General Counsel & Global Data Privacy Officer, Quaker Houghton; AAUW PA Diversity & Inclusion Chair; Governance Committee, AAUW National