WCF Fellowship Class of Summer 2012

To learn more about our Fellowship Program, click here.

Tessa Ross, Communications Fellow

Tessa just finished up her Bachelor’s degree in Political Science at California State University, Fullerton. Throughout her college career, she has volunteered much of her time to the causes of social justice and equality, taking active roles in organizations such as Stop Hunger Now, Providence Community Services, and the Queer Straight Alliance. Her desire to fight for women’s rights was sparked by taking Gender Studies courses, and she realized that working with WCF was an opportune way to combine her Political Science background with her passion for female equality. Needless to say, she is thrilled to be a part of the team and looks forward to this fantastic opportunity!

Carly Rushford, Communications Fellow

Carly is a rising senior at Colby College in Waterville, Maine. As an International Studies and Government double major, her interests have ranged from human rights in the Middle East to women’s role in politics. She spent last fall in Geneva, Switzerland studying French and International Relations. Prior to working with WCF, Carly worked in Geneva with a French non-profit organization, in Washington, DC with the Business Council for International Understanding, and she taught at an all-girls school in Tamale, Ghana. A DC native, Carly is excited to return home for the summer and work with WCF as a Communications Fellow to help reach greater gender parity for women in the political process.

Sarah Evans, Annie Kahn Feinsod Development Fellow

Sarah is currently pursuing her Masters in Public Administration with a concentration in Nonprofit and Public Management at Cornell University.  She has worked and interned in the fields of education, nonprofit development, and women’s rights. Currently, she serves as the Editor-in-Chief of The Cornell Policy Review, and is an active volunteer at the Cornell Women’s Resource Center.  Sarah is particularly interested in strategies to increase public participation of marginalized groups, including expanding political opportunities for women.  She is excited to help support and work towards these goals as a Women’s Campaign Fund Fellow.  Sarah received a Master of Art in English Rhetoric at Binghamton University, and a Bachelor of Science in Women and Gender Studies at the State University of New York, College at Brockport.

About the Annie Kahn Feinsod Fellowship: This fellowship was made possible with the generous support of Roger J. Herz in honor of his grandmothers, Annie Kahn Feinsod and Bertha Wurmser Herz. Roger's underwriting of this vitally important program elevates awareness of the critical role of the two suffragists in fighting for many of the rights our fellows have today. The fellows’ high caliber work on behalf of WCF are a tribute to the leadership exhibited by Annie Kahn Feinsod and Bertha Wurmser Herz.

Heather Honstein, Development Fellow

Heather is a 2012 graduate of Tulane University where she received her B.A. in International Development and Economics with an academic and professional focus on Sub-Saharan Africa. Living, learning, and volunteering in post-Katrina New Orleans since 2008, community development and social entrepreneurship is something she sees as key to rebuilding neighborhoods and improving lives. Heather has also spent time in both Kenya and South Africa where she has learned that the greatest improvements within communities come from the individual members themselves, with economic empowerment among women and female-headed households being a critical step in this process. Heather is excited to be working for the Women’s Campaign Fund. With her previous experience in community development and campus event planning, she contributes her support and expertise to the WCF Development team and looks forward to learning about the nation’s political process firsthand as we head towards elections in November.

Rosie Wennberg, Development Fellow

Rosie Wennberg is a rising senior at Colby College in Waterville, Maine, where she is a Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and Spanish double major. Rosie hopes to earn honors in her WGSS major over the course of her senior year, when she will be writing a thesis on masculinity and homosexuality. After three years of competing for Colby's varsity swim team, she has been named captain for her senior year. Rosie is very excited to work for the WCF and start what she hopes to be a long-term career in women's rights advocacy!

Brittany Chevalier, Programs Fellow 

Brittany is currently pursuing a Master of Arts degree in Women's History from Sarah Lawrence College. She became interested in women's issues and advocacy while pursuing her undergraduate degree at Wellesley College. Next year she will be writing her thesis on women's autonomy and independence in New York City through the lens of advanced transportation, specifically the subway system and bicycle, between the years of 1890 and World War I. Part of her interest in understanding the history of women in American society is in order to comprehend the role of women leaders in history. She has addressed women's issues regarding reproductive rights in her studies with much fervor and is extremely passionate about encouraging women to run for public office now and into the future. Brittany is looking forward to being part of the WCF team and working to advance women in the political arena.

Crystal Shatzer Espie, Bertha Wurmser Herz Political and Programs Fellow

Crystal is proud to call Oregon and the District of Columbia home. She is a senior at American University double majoring in Political Science and Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies. She is also in the Women, Policy and Political Leadership undergraduate certificate program and is the President of Iota Iota Iota, the Women’s and Gender and Sexuality Studies Honor Society. Crystal is one of the newest and youngest appointed members to the District of Columbia’s Commission for Women. She will be representing Ward 3. She is passionate about women’s rights, which led her to apply for a fellowship with the Women’s Campaign Fund. Crystal is thrilled to be a political and programs fellow for the WCF and can’t wait to help women get elected to public office.

About the Bertha Wurmser Herz Fellowship: This fellowship was made possible with the generous support of Roger J. Herz in honor of his grandmothers, Annie Kahn Feinsod and Bertha Wurmser Herz. Roger’s underwriting of this vitally important program elevates awareness of the critical role of the two suffragists in fighting for many of the rights our fellows have today. The fellows’ high caliber work on behalf of WCF are a tribute to the leadership exhibited by Annie Kahn Feinsod and Bertha Wurmser Herz.

Jesse Kelley, Political Fellow

Jesse will begin her third year of law school at the University of Mississippi School of Law this fall. Prior to beginning her legal education, Jesse attended Troy University and graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in English. She interned on Capitol Hill with former Congressman Bobby Bright and worked as a law clerk in a criminal defense firm in Enterprise, AL. While Jesse has always had an interest in law and politics, she is also a founding member and choreographer for Hinge Dance Company, a professional outfit in Oxford, MS. She believes that the WCF’s purposes of advocating women’s health rights, advancing woman in all political arenas and attributing strength and purpose to female candidates is an increasingly important cause and cannot wait to begin work this summer!

To Apply for a Fall 2012 Fellowship Click Here