Lydia Bell is Director of Research and Policy at the NCAA. In this role, Lydia develops and oversees research projects on the academic and social experiences of collegiate student-athletes and works directly with NCAA staff, NCAA membership and other relevant parties...

Rohli Booker is a devoted mother of three sons and a lifelong Hoosier residing in the vibrant city of Fort Wayne, Indiana. She is the visionary founder and proud owner of Aza Image Beauty, a haven for makeup and aesthetics services located in her private beauty...

Autumn R. Carter  is a published author and an awarded keynote speaker. Autumn incorporated her self-named LLC as a brand in November of 2022, with a mission to share her story of breast cancer survivorship in the form of inspiring and motivating others through...

As a former public library director, Mónica Casanova has a keen understanding of local taxes and government funding processes. She also has advanced degrees from IUPUI in Public History and Library Science. Mónica Casanova is a graduate of Lafayette Jefferson High...

Meredith Fox is a multifaceted businesswoman who has made contributions to both the local political landscape and design world. This Michigander moved to Indiana in 2012 to continue her 13 year career in higher education and served as the Assistant Director of...

A native Hoosier, Jessica Harlan-York has devoted her entire career in service to her home state, with a passion for advocacy for those with disabilities. Currently she is the Chief Operating Officer of the Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services (DDRS) for...

Hilary Horrey is a passionate advocate for social justice, diversity, and inclusion. With nearly fifteen years of experience in higher education and non-profit sectors, Hilary now serves as the Communications Operations Manager and Co-Chair for the AES PRIDE Network...

Allissa Impink was born and raised in Indianapolis, making her proud to make her career in her hometown. For more than 18 years, she’s used her skills and experience in numerous fields, including public service, educational leadership, development, and philanthropy,...

Esa Jones is a union electrician with IBEW local 481. She is the first woman to be elected to the executive board in Local 481. Esa is also a labor committee member with the Indianapolis chapter of the NAACP and was a delegate at the 2023 NAACP National Convention....

Amy Kintz is a Senior Marketing Manager for Barnes & Thornburg LLP and is based in the law firm’s South Bend office. She is responsible for marketing and community engagement efforts for the firm’s South Bend, Elkhart, and Fort Wayne, Indiana offices, as well as...

Temeka Lomax is a native of rural East Texas where her family instilled in her a healthy respect for education and a strong sense of social justice, both of which have remained a large part of her personal and professional life well into adulthood. In her 28 years...

Millicent is a seasoned media strategist and marketing consultant with over a decade of expertise in guiding influential consumer packaged goods clients such as Procter & Gamble, Hershey’s and Coca Cola just to name a few. Currently, she is in the business of...

Kristie McKillip is the Managing Director of Midwest Large Business for Duke Energy. Her team is responsible for managing all the largest, most complex, energy intensive customers located in Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky. Prior to her current role, Kristie joined Duke...

Ti’Gre McNear is a Christian woman after God’s own heart. She is originally a native of Gary, IN. After hosting a local TV show in Gary called For Women Only, she moved to Indianapolis to find work as a tv news anchor. With those dreams deferred and after years of...

Nadine McSpadden is a nearly-lifelong Hoosier who graduated from West Lafayette High School, went to law school at IU Maurer in Bloomington, and has lived in Indianapolis for nearly 20 years. She has a passion for social justice and equity and has been fighting for...

Hollie a lifelong Hoosier with a passion for advocacy. Hollie has helped people find their voice as a pancreas transplant recipient of almost 8 years, in which Hollie's had to learn self advocacy for her healthcare, and as the mother of an amazing Autistic young man...

Leslie Salazar is a first-generation Latina raised in Whiteland, Indiana, by immigrant parents from Mexico. From an early age, her parents instilled in her the value of education and hard work. Her dad worked at a packaging factory, while her mom devoted herself to...

Sonia Santana is a lifelong advocate and social change agent.  She is currently the Senior Director of Campaign Strategy for Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) and the Action Fund. In this role, she manages the Regional Campaigns Team and aligns on...

Kelly is a committed public servant who has spent her career working for the citizens of Indianapolis. An attorney by trade, she worked as a Public Defender for seven years, advocating for indigent clients. She now works for the City of Indianapolis as the Real Estate...

Kourtney Teegardin is passionate about advocating for others, and is a skilled event organizer and fundraiser. She has worked in marketing for the majority of her career, having done so in construction, law, non-profit, and economic development industries. A resident...

Jocelyn Vare is an at-large member of Fishers City Council and currently serves as the first Democrat ever elected to Fishers municipal office. She is running for re-election in 2023 to continue serving the 6th largest city in the state. Vare ran for Indiana State...

Alexis Weaver serves as Assistant Corporation Counsel in the City of Indianapolis Office of Corporation Counsel. In that role, she advises local government clients, including the Office of the Mayor, Office of Public Health and Safety, and Department of Business &...

Gisele founded the Vote Nelas movement, the first advocacy group aimed at increasing women's political presence in Brazil. The project was formed in 2018, organized by ten women in a non-partisan manner but with a common goal: to fight for more women in politics....

Kacey Blundell, an almost 20 year resident of Indiana and Vigo County, resides in Terre Haute with her husband, two sons, and three rescue dogs. Kacey has worked in civil service for the majority of her adult career. She is currently a social worker for Vigo County...

Rochelle L. Brown is a lifelong resident of South Bend and graduate of Clay High School. During her years of service, she became a Certified Probation Officer, Court Substance Abuse Management Specialist, Executive Director and Correctional Officer in various...

Michelle Carr has been a lifelong resident of Columbus, Indiana. Michelle has worked in the customer service industry for the majority of her career.  She took this passion in serving others and in 2014 she ventured into pre-k education, eventually focusing on helping...

Samantha Douglas is a woman of God, wife, and mother of four boys. Besides family life, she is a community organizer, advocate and freelance graphic designer. She prides herself on being from a family of entrepreneurs and believes it has contributed greatly to her own...

Lauren Hall Riggins has worked in education, non-profit leadership, and policy and advocacy research for over a decade. She has earned three masters degrees in education, public affairs, and arts administration and she is currently working on completing her PhD. She...

Karla is a community volunteer, organizer and a bilingual attorney from Cuernavaca, Mexico. She comes from a working-class, immigrant family and has lived in Indianapolis for over 20 years. For over 11 years, Karla has fought for social change in Indiana through...

With many years of experience in the healthcare field and as a servant leader, Donielle Martin, has worked with organizations to provide value added solutions for Physicians and Patients. Donielle, being in healthcare has been able to influence change with providers...

Emily Masengale is the Assistant Executive Director of Christel House Indianapolis, a local innovative charter school network that has been serving the Indianapolis community for 20 years. She helps support long term strategic planning for the network, supports the...

Katie McHugh, MD is a queer OB/GYN, chronic pelvic pain specialist, and abortion provider who prioritizes compassion and advocacy in the care of her patients. She is the co-owner of Indiana Pelvic Pain Specialists and joins the faculty of the University of Cincinnati...

A dedicated public servant, Morgan started her career in the environmental non-profit field and now contributes to the common good through her work in local government. She is an advocate for climate justice and works to increase awareness on the interconnectedness of...

Monisha Mitchell is a lifelong Hoosier. She grew up on the north side of Indianapolis. She graduated from Pike High School. She has a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Indiana University and a Graduate Certificate in Public Management from the Indiana...

Crystal Neumann is a Latina, first generation American, with a passion to make a difference and become a role model for others. Given her personal experiences and listening to the experiences others have shared, she understands the responsibility she has in being a...

Kymberli Roberts is the General Manager of the Hammond Sportsplex and has been involved in the youth sports industry for more than 13 years. In 2018, she founded Hammond’s first travel volleyball club, Velocity 219, after 4 seasons the club has grown into 13...

Gina Robinson Ungar became a Hoosier in 2005, when she left her family dairy farm in Central Massachusetts and drove assorted cattle, chickens and cats to begin a new farming adventure and, ultimately, a marriage adventure in Boonville, Warrick County. She established...

Alexandra is a recent transplant to Indiana, having become a resident of the Hoosier state in August of 2016. In that short time, she has found her place affecting change all over Indiana on behalf of Hoosiers and Americans in general. While Alexandra may not be in...

Dr. Maggie Stevens anchors her work and community involvement in opportunities that allow her to directly and indirectly support individuals in achieving their goals. From advising and teaching college students to supporting individuals through community-based...

Rachel Tomas Morgan serves as Council Member At-Large with the City of South Bend. Born in the Philippines and raised in central Illinois, Rachel came to South Bend to earn a B.A. in Religious Studies and Psychology from St. Mary’s College. After gaining a Masters in...

Charmaine Samaraweera Torma believes that the cycle of poverty can be stopped through education. Every child deserves access to quality learning experiences, both inside and outside the classroom. As a passionate public education ambassador, she is committed to...

Dr. Sara Trovinger was born in Auburn, Indiana in 1983. She was in show choir and academic clubs in high school and graduated from DeKalb High School in 2002. She was also actively involved in youth group activities throughout her childhood at the First Church of...

Teryna L. Van Cleave is the Change Management Lead at AES Indiana and has been a part of the team for 13 years. Prior to her new role, she was a Team Leader in Customer Care. She is a dedicated community advocate and servant leader. Born and raised in Indianapolis,...

Jo Yocum (she/her) is the national Vice President for Playworks, a nonprofit organization with a mission to increase the health and wellbeing of kids through play. There she oversees operations in the midwest, including Indiana. She also manages the national...

A Gary, Indiana native, Tai Adkins was recently elected as the democratic nominee to serve as the 4th District councilperson on the Gary City Council. Tai received an MBA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a B.S. Degree in Industrial Management and Industrial...

Amy Back is a former Legislative Assistant with the Indiana House of Representatives. She recently worked with Evansville’s Substance Abuse Task Force for social work training and certifications to help families dealing with substance abuse. Amy sits on the Board of...

Terry Whitt Bailey is admired as a community activist, arts administrator and advocate for educational equity. Terry currently serves as Manager of Programs at the Center for Leadership Development in Central Indiana. Terry spent the previous 8 years as Director of...

Ashley Brooks loves to foster the food community that surrounds her. After filling her plate with a diverse culinary education, including culinary school, baking/pastry & cheese-making, Brooks co-launched the nationally acclaimed restaurant, Milktooth, in 2014....

Emily Weikert Bryant is the Executive Director of Feeding Indiana’s Hungry, the network of Feeding America food banks in the state of Indiana. Prior to joining the organization in 2009, Ms. Bryant gained ten years of experience in various aspects of the state...

Arica L. Buchanan has been dedicated to the federal government for more than 24 years (13 years were served in the United States Air Force). She performed exceeding well in the Gulf War (1990-1991) and Operation Desert Fox (1998), where she received numerous...

Julie Chambers graduated with honors from The University of Toledo College of Law in 2007, and she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Michigan in 2003. She is admitted to practice law in Indiana and Michigan. Julie founded...

Melinda “Mindy” Fountain,a native Hoosier, is a dedicated public servant, educator, and community builder. Currently a staff member at the Keough School of Global Affairs at the University of Notre Dame, Ms. Fountain’s career includes over a decade in the United...

Jessica García started her career in Washington, D.C. working as a Legislative Assistant for Representative Nydia Velázquez. Currently, she serves as a Constituent Services Liaison in Indiana’s 7th Congressional District for Representative André Carson. Jessica served...

Kaisa Goodman is the Public Engagement Director for the City of Bloomington, where she previously held the roles of Mayor's Chief of Staff and Special Projects Manager for Department of Economic & Sustainable Development. She is a proud graduate of Hoosier Women...

Andrea Hunley is the proud principal of an Indiana Public School (IPS) magnet school in the heart of downtown Indianapolis. She joined Indianapolis Public Schools as a principal in 2012. Prior to her career as a building administrator, Principal Hunley taught high...

Erin Marqua currently serves as the Greendale City Councilwoman At Large. Erin grew up in Greendale, Indiana and graduated from the University of Cincinnati, traveled the world and decided to raise her family in her hometown of Greendale. Erin is the Director of...

Misti Meehan was born and raised in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Misti has a Bachelor’s degree in Public Affairs and Political Science from Indiana University (Fort Wayne). She is the Chairwoman of the Allen County Democratic Party and the 3rd Congressional District...

Dr. Kara Monroe is the Provost and Senior Vice President of Ivy Tech Community College, Indiana’s community college system. A native of Indiana, Dr. Monroe holds a B.S. in Mathematics Education from Ball State University, an MBA from Jones International University,...

A lifelong Hoosier, Lindsey Pancol Madinger was born and raised in Anderson, Indiana where she currently serves as Director of Development for the Ivy Tech Community College Anderson campus. In her role as Director, Lindsey is able to partner and work closely with...

Tonda Pauley currently serves as the State President of the Indiana Democrat African American Caucus (IDAAC) for the past seven years and is a member of the Indiana Democratic Central Committee. She has previously held the position of Vice-President and Secretary of...

Carrie Summers is the Director of Legislative and Political Affairs for the Indiana Credit Union League (ICUL). In prior roles, she served as the PAC Manager and Director of Advocacy for the ICUL. Carrie also spent three years as a full-time stay at home mom and...

A native Hoosier, Michelle Study-Campbell is a graduate of Marian University and has her Masters of Public Affairs from Indiana University. With 20 years of experience in government and nonprofit leadership, Michelle found her passion for community service at an early...

Rebecca's career is focused on equity — she has had varied experiences in direct service provision and research in many sectors, including public health, climate, and workforce development. She is an incredibly proud Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, having served in...

Marie Theisz has served as an educator in her community since 1995 with experiences in special education, school counseling and social studies. She currently serves as a teacher at Terre Haute North High School and teaches US History (including Advanced Placement...

Bianca Tirado serves as the Chief Deputy City Clerk and Chief of Staff for the Office of the City Clerk. Bianca serves as the administrative arm of the clerk’s office, working to advance the Clerk’s vision of an open, honest and transparent municipal government by...

Erin Heilbrunn Vahrenkamp is a Learning & Development Manager at Deloitte. She manages a portfolio of e-learning courses that strengthen the firm’s reputation and compliance with internal policy as well as federal and state regulation and law. She has nearly...

After a two-decade journalism career in Ohio, Indiana and Washington, D.C., Faith Van Gilder is currently Chief Officer, Marketing & Fund Development, at Girl Scouts of Northern Indiana-Michiana. In the community, Faith serves on the board of directors of AVOW...

Nicole Yates serves as District Director for Congressman John Yarmuth (KY-09). Nicole has a deep knowledge of public service and political strategy. Her breadth of experience spans from consulting, statigizing and running many campaigns on the local, state and...