About Us

President: Dr. Pamela Johnson 

Dr. Pamela R. Johnson is a distinguished leader in global health, digital innovation, and cultural preservation, currently serving as President of the National Women’s Foundation. Since assuming this role in 2019, she has spearheaded the expansion of the Foundation’s humanities and preservation programs, building on a rich legacy of public service and international development. Dr. Johnson previously held senior positions at USAID, where she coordinated global child survival programs and served as a social science advisor. Her expertise in government reform and global health led her to roles such as Executive Director of the United Nations Efficiency Board and Deputy Director of the Reinventing Government Initiative. She was also a co-founder and Chief Health Officer of Voxiva, pioneering digital health strategies in Rwanda and beyond.

In addition to her extensive professional accomplishments, Dr. Johnson has been a dedicated contributor to numerous boards and nonprofit initiatives, including The Commons Project, Child Health Foundation, FreshFarm Market, and the National Arts Club. An anthropologist by training, she holds a PhD from the University of California, Berkeley, and a BA from Vassar College. Her early career included assisting the renowned Dr. Margaret Mead and contributing to the Hall of Pacific Peoples at the American Museum of Natural History. A published writer and photographer featured in National Geographic and Drum, Dr. Johnson also holds a U.S. patent and has overseen preservation efforts for historic properties in Washington, DC, New York, California, and France.

Vice-President: Anna Fierst

Anna Eleanor Fierst is a Past President of the WNDC (2013–2016). For many years before taking a leadership role at the WNDC, Fierst used her background in publication management and marketing for the for-profit, and association sectors to edit a monthly newsletter for the WNDC. Previously (2011–2013), she was WNDC’s Vice President of Administration.  In addition, she worked as a fundraiser on the board of the Washington Free Clinic and for several years served in a Board position and as an Interim Director for Maryland Classic Youth Orchestras. Currently, she is Chair of the Board for the Eleanor Roosevelt Center at Val-Kill (Hyde Park, NY).  Anna participated as an interviewer and active participant in oral history projects to document the lives of women in Washington DC and in addition,  has facilitated the National Women’s Foundation  annual calendars/planners.  She holds a BA in history from Columbia University.

Treasurer: Judy Hubbard

Judy Hubbard is a dedicated community leader and public servant with a longstanding commitment to civic engagement, historic preservation, and social justice in Washington, DC. Her career spans roles in city government, nonprofit housing development, and community organizing, most recently serving as Project Manager for Women’s Voices: An Oral History of DC Women. She also served as Assistant Director for Constituent Services under DC Councilmember Mary Cheh, where she worked to address neighborhood concerns and support local initiatives. With a strong background in both interior design and political science, Judy has contributed her expertise to organizations such as the Cleveland Park Historical Society, William Penn House, and the Coalition for Nonprofit Housing Development.

In addition to her professional experience, Judy has been a tireless volunteer and advocate for over four decades. She currently serves as Co-Secretary of the Board of Directors of the Woman’s National Democratic Club and sits on the Advisory Board of the Historical Society of Washington, DC. Her past service includes leadership roles with the DC Democratic State Committee, Friends Meeting of Washington, and the Cleveland Park Historical Society, which she helped found. A passionate preservationist and active Quaker, Judy continues to support grassroots efforts that strengthen community ties and honor local history. She holds degrees in Political Science from Cedar Crest College and Interior Design with a minor in Historic Preservation from Mount Vernon College.

Secretary: Sasha Kay

Sasha “Sandy” Kay has been a member of the National Women’s Foundation Board and active in the Visual Arts and Museum Affairs Committee and in the preservation of the furniture and antiques contained at The Whittemore Mansion. Elsewhere, Kay has served as a translator at the Smithsonian Institution, worked at the St. Alban’s Opportunity Shop for over 20 years, engaged in fundraising, sales, customer relations, and distribution of the proceeds to over 60 local, national, and international charities. She has in-depth knowledge and experience with antique furniture and fine arts and is experienced and knowledgeable of piano and guitar and familiar with the necessity and process of maintaining and tuning fine instruments. She joined the National Women’s Foundation Board in 2019. 

Board Member: Cliftine Jones 

Cliftine was born in the District of Columbia and remains a District resident active in both local politics and civic affairs.  She holds a mayoral-appointed position as a commissioner on the Real Property Tax Appeals Commission which is a quasi-judicial commission overseeing residential and commercial property assessment appeals in the District.  She has worked as a real estate agent for her mother’s real estate brokerage firm, Marion Jones Real Estate, and then as a sole proprietor of her own real estate brokerage firm, Cliftine Jones, Ltd.  Cliftine is a supporter of the arts, a Kennedy Center Patron, and a long-time active member of the WNDC.

Board Member: Estell Lloyd 

A current board member, Estell Mathis-Lloyd served as Chief of Staff to two former Councilmembers of the Council of the District of Columbia where she played a key role on legislative initiatives, budget, strategic planning and policy development. Prior to working for the Council of the District of Columbia, she worked in the field of education in many arenas serving North Carolina, Maryland and the District of Columbia.  She has been instrumental in secondary curriculum design and teacher training. She has also served as a career advisor having established Career Education Resource Centers in all DCPS High Schools.  Her volunteer interests include serving as the current President of the Metropolitan Women’s Democratic Club and as Chair of the National Federation of Democratic Women, Women in Blue Advocacy Coalition. In this capacity Ms. Mathis-Lloyd developed an Advocacy Program for members in the Federation’s 46 members’ states to lobby their state legislators on issues of importance to women, families and children.  She is a member of the Black Women for Biden – Harris Campaign and the Democratic National Women Caucus.  She is also a former National Committee Woman for the DC Democratic State Committee. She received her BA degree in French and Education from North Carolina Central University in Durham and her M. Ed in Counseling from Howard University in Washington, DC. Ms. Mathis-Lloyd is the President and CEO of the Estell Mathis-Lloyd Education, Political and Social Engagement Consulting Group.

Board Member: Nuzhut Sultan 

Nuzhut was the Principal of the Washington Arts Association (WAA) for 29 years. She co-founded the company to implement educational arts and architecture tours of museum membership programs. In 2008, she closed the WAA to pursue other interests.  She has served in a variety of philanthropic and community based roles including as the Director of the Visual Arts and Museum Affairs (VAMA) Committee at the Woman’s National Democratic Club.  As the Director of VAMA, her role is the care and patience of the permanent art collection on the historic Whittemore House. Her experience with curators, art historians, conservators during the time she ran her business has given her the knowledge to care for and preserve the antiques, paintings, and sculptures. 

Nuzhat also curates four exhibits a year with the Washington area artists in the Wolf Ballroom. Other exhibitions of the permanent collection are also organized by her in the Upstairs Gallery. She is on the Board of Directors of the National Women’s Foundation and has previously served as the Vice-President of the of the National Women’s Foundation for three years. 

Board Member: Toni-Michelle Travis 

Toni-Michelle C. Travis is professor emerita of policy and government at George Mason University and a former fellow of Oxford University’s Rothermere American Institute. She has taught and conducted research on race and gender politics, as well as urban and Virginia politics.

She is the coauthor of The Meaning of Difference, which examines American constructions of race, gender, social class, and sexual orientation. She has served as a political analyst on Virginia and national politics on C-SPAN, CNN, Fox Morning News, BBC, and the local NBC, ABC, and CBS affiliates. The author of the Almanac of Virginia Politics, an annual review of state politics, she has been a commentator on Kojo Nnamdi’s “The Virginia Politics Hour” on WAMU radio. From 1998-2002, she hosted Capital Region Roundtable, a GMU-TV public affairs show. As a member of the American Political Science Association, she has served as president of the National Capital Area Chapter and the Women’s Caucus.

Board Member: Dr. Christine Warnke

Dr. Christine Warnke is an accomplished leader in international affairs, public policy, and global business development. Most recently, she served as Chief of International Affairs and Protocol Officer for the District of Columbia, where she managed relationships with 186 diplomatic missions, coordinated high-level briefings for the mayor, and facilitated cultural, technological, and diplomatic exchanges. Prior to this role, she worked in the U.S. Senate Sergeant at Arms office and held senior advisory positions in federal and local government. Her extensive public service career has included contributions to women’s leadership initiatives and foreign policy strategy, as well as recognition through numerous global and national awards, including the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.

With over 30 years of experience, Dr. Warnke has provided strategic guidance to Fortune 500 companies, international governments, and nonprofits through her work with Capitol Hill Consulting Group and Hogan Lovells. She is the founder and CEO of The Javeliin Group, a firm focused on international development and public-private partnerships, and also serves as a global strategist for a tech firm advising clients on cloud and data integration. A dedicated advocate for women and underserved communities, Dr. Warnke has helped develop educational and economic opportunities across Africa, South Asia, and the U.S. She holds a doctoral degree from the University of Maryland and continues to serve on multiple boards, including Women in Technology’s Foundry Board.

Board Member: Rosalyn Coates, Esq

Rosalyn L. Coates recently retired after 40 years of federal service. She began her legal career as Assistant Regional Attorney with the Chicago Regional Office of the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights.She moved to Washington, DC to serve as Legal Counsel to the Chief of the Equal Employment Opportunities Office at the Library of Congress. During her tenure at the Library of Congress, she served in several positions including Assistant General Counsel and Legislative Counsel. She retired as legislative counsel with the US Merit Systems Protection Board in January 2020.Ms. Coates has extensive experience in strategic planning, budgeting, and organizational development gained through her years of service as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Library of Congress Federal Credit Union and President of the Board of Directors of the Oracle Set Foundation, Inc. Ms. Coates holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Yale University and a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Iowa, College of Law.

Board Member: Bonnie Heather McCabe, PhD

Bonnie was born in Washington, D.C to a pediatrician Mother and engineer father. She grew up in Alexandria where she and her family lived on a farm. Horses were her first passion and she rode throughout her life. Working for the last 16 years of her career in the D.C. government as a health policy analyst and developing Medicaid programs in D.C agencies. She is a keen traveler and has been to over 30 countries and lived in both Jamaica, W.I and London, England. For the majority of her career, Bonnie has been involved with children and adults with disabilities and their families. She has been the Executive Director of several agencies both in the UK and the USA. She has worked on a variety of political campaigns and has worked as an advocate on Capitol Hill for numerous national organizations. She lives in Washington, DC and is an active member of the National Women’s Foundation board. 

Board Member: Michael Lee Beidler

Michael Beidler is Director for Building and Grounds, responsible for property management, maintenance, and renovations of The Whittemore House. Principal and founder of Trout Design Studio, Inc., a full-service architectural and interior design firm in Washington, DC, he has for over 35 years, focused on high-end residential and specialty commercial projects. Simultaneously, he has been actively involved in local and regional historic preservation organizations, e.g., as president of the Dupont Circle Conservancy, the Dupont Circle Citizens Association, and the ANC2B Preservation Zoning and Development committee. He is a former Historic Building Inspector and Senior Preservation Specialist in the DC Historic Preservation Office in the DC Office of Planning. Currently he serves on the board of the National Women’s Foundation, having served as its President from 2013 to 2016, and is a member of the NWF Board of Governors and the ExCom from 2013 to 2019.

Board Member: Marilyn Nevy Cruz

Marilyn Nevy Cruz is a Federal Public Defender for the District of Columbia and previously served as a staff investigator (2012–2017) and created and manages the agency’s investigative internship program. She has translated plea agreements, indictments, statements of fact, and other legal documents for attorneys from English to Spanish, and translated Spanish written statements and legal documents to English. Nevy Cruz is President of  the Rotary Foundation of Washington DC and active in National Women’s Foundation and a number of other groups including Reynolds Prospect Condominiums, Pi Sigma Alpha, Phi Gamma Chi, the National Defender Investigator Association, and the Multicultural Career Intern Program at Columbia Heights Educational Campus. She was recognized in 2021 as a young leader in Northern Virginia’s 40 under 40 program. She earned a BA in political science with a minor in criminal justice from San Francisco State University and an MA in political science from California State University Fullerton.

Board Member: Rosalyn Overstreet-Gonzalez

Rosalyn Overstreet Gonzalez, Esq., is a seasoned attorney, civic leader, and passionate advocate for youth, health education, and community engagement. With over two decades of experience, she has served as a supervising attorney at the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia, where she represents indigent clients and leads training initiatives for attorneys and law students. Rosalyn also brings a wealth of leadership experience through her previous roles as Vice President of the Nation Women’s Foundation where she spearheaded the youth civic participation programs and school partnerships. As Chairwoman of the DC State Athletics Commission, she helped establish governance rules and presided over athletic appeals.

In addition to her legal and civic work, Rosalyn is Chair of the Board of the Urban Health Media Project, where she supports the development of youth health journalists to amplify community voices around health disparities. Her dedication to education and community empowerment is reflected in her board service with organizations such as CentroNía, the Light the Way Foundation, and the Multicultural Career Internship Program. A proud Howard University alumna with a J.D. from the District of Columbia School of Law, Rosalyn also studied cultural heritage in Spain and brings a global perspective to her work. She is widely recognized for her ability to mentor emerging leaders and forge impactful partnerships across sectors.

Board Member: Suzanne Finney 

Suzanne Finney is an accomplished arts advocate, educator, and curator with a decades-long commitment to promoting cultural diplomacy and public access to the arts. She served as Vice President of the International Piano Arts Council from 2018 to 2022 and has curated exhibitions showcasing artists with dual citizenship in collaboration with international embassies. A former member of President Clinton’s Arts Transition Team, Suzanne has played key roles in arts policy, education, and community development, including teaching at Cape Cod Community College and awarding grants through the Mid-Cape Cultural Council. She chaired the Arts Committee of the Woman’s National Democratic Club, organizing exhibitions in partnership with the White House Historical Association. Suzanne holds a BFA from George Washington University’s Corcoran School of Art and pursued graduate studies at Harvard University Extension School. Her board service includes the Women’s Diplomats of Washington, the Museum of America’s, and the Washington Symphony Orchestra, reflecting her deep engagement in both local and national arts initiatives.

Board Member: Rempee Kaila 

Rempee Kalia is a dynamic data science professional and civic leader with a strong background in technology, public service, and advocacy. She holds an M.S. in Computer Science with a focus on Data Science from American University and a B.S. in Information Technology from NJIT. Rempee has gained diverse experience through roles ranging from Congressional intern in the U.S. House of Representatives to consultant intern at IBM, where she supported healthcare analytics projects. She has also been a dedicated advocate for women in STEM, serving as a Women’s Ambassador and coordinator at the Murray Center for Women in Technology. Actively engaged in leadership and community service, Rempee has held roles with the Women’s National Democratic Committee, the American University Graduate Leadership Council, and led a successful local campaign in New Jersey. Fluent in Punjabi, Hindi, and Urdu, she brings both technical expertise and a global perspective to her work.