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©2026 Women’s Leadership Center at Williams Bay

Leadership

Wе are
Women Leaders

Women have always had the capacity to take on big challenges and ask the tough questions. And we’ve always cared deeply about the world. The Women’s Leadership Center is where women leaders come together to share their gifts towards that bigger goal. Because what’s impossible for one is possible for many.

Ann M. Drake

Chair + President Women’s Leadership Center at Williams Bay

Ann M. Drake is President and Chair of the Women’s Leadership Center at Williams Bay, which she founded in 2020. Designed by award-winning architect and MacArthur Fellow Jeanne Gang, the Center brings together accomplished women in an extraordinary space to reflect, connect, and collaborate on generating fresh approaches to complex challenges …

Ann M. Drake

Chair + President

Ann M. Drake is Chair and President of the Women’s Leadership Center at Williams Bay, which she founded in 2020. Designed by award-winning architect and MacArthur Fellow Jeanne Gang, the Center brings together accomplished women in an extraordinary space to reflect, connect, and collaborate on generating fresh thinking to address complex concerns.

Ann is also the President and Founder of Lincoln Road Enterprises, a philanthropic organization focused on elevating women’s leadership and creating a future in which women are at the forefront of improving the world we live in. Lincoln Road advances initiatives impacting women’s leadership in the fields of public and private enterprise, global supply chain, engineering and technology, infrastructure and design, and space and astrophysics.

Before launching the Women’s Leadership Center at Williams Bay, Ann was Chairman and CEO of DSC Logistics, an innovative supply chain and logistics management partner to some of the world’s leading companies. Under her guidance, DSC helped transform supply chain management from a commodity service into a powerful business strategy based on collaborative partnerships. During this time, Ann founded AWESOME (Achieving Women’s Excellence in Supply Chain Operations, Management and Education) to build awareness of and support for women in supply chain. AWESOME ultimately became the preeminent community for senior women in that field.

Ann has been honored for her service numerous times, including the Distinguished Alumni Service Award from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, the Distinguished Service Award from the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP), the Salzberg Medallion for Lifetime Achievement from the Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University, and the Schultz Award for advancing women in transportation and logistics from the McCormick School at Northwestern. She has been inducted into the Chicago Business Hall of Fame by Junior Achievement Chicago and into CSCMP's Supply Chain Hall of Fame. The Council of 200 (C200) gave Ann their “Voices That Change the World” Luminary Award in 2026.

In 2027, Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University will christen their new state-of-the-art building on the Evanston campus the Ann McIlrath Drake Executive Center in recognition of Ann’s transformative generosity.

A graduate of the University of Iowa, Ann received her MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University in 1984.

Ann has been honored for her service numerous times, including: the Distinguished Alumni Service Award from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, the Distinguished Service Award from the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP), the Salzberg Medallion for Lifetime Achievement from the Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University, and the Schultz Award for advancing women in transportation and logistics from the McCormick School at Northwestern. She has been inducted into the Chicago Business Hall of Fame by Junior Achievement Chicago and into CSCMP's Supply Chain Hall of Fame.

A graduate of the University of Iowa, Ann received her MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

I realized I wanted to throw my wholehearted support behind helping women succeed in areas I think are crucial to our future—and making that future better for everyone.

Our Team

  • MarySue Barrett

    Senior Vice President-Programming & Partnerships

    MarySue Barrett

    Senior Vice President-Programming & Partnerships

    MarySue Barrett is the Senior Vice President-Programming & Partnerships, forging impactful collaborations that will improve our world for everyone. Convening decision makers across think tanks, women’s leadership organizations, universities, and more, the goal is to ensure that women are at the forefront of accelerating bold ideas and solving global challenges.

    MarySue draws on a notable track record as a policy changemaker. For 25 years, she was President of the independent Metropolitan Planning Council, quadrupling the scale of the organization. Early in her career, she served in Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley’s Administration as Chief of Policy. She was selected for seven international leadership exchanges, including one sponsored by the International Women’s Forum.

    MarySue is the founder of MSB Policy Consulting, LLC and has a long affiliation with The Brookings Institution as a Nonresident Senior Fellow. She volunteers as a Board member and Governance Committee Chair for Current, a water innovation hub. In addition, she is an enthusiastic alum of Leadership Greater Chicago and active member of both The Chicago Network and the Economic Club of Chicago.

    MarySue received her B.A. from Northwestern University and studied nonprofit management at Harvard Business School.

  • Jennifer Nix

    Senior Vice President-Marketing Communications & Strategy

    Jennifer Nix

    Senior Vice President-Marketing Communications & Strategy

    Jennifer Nix is the Senior Vice President-Marketing Communications & Strategy. In this role, Jen is responsible for leading marketing communications and strategy in support of the company’s mission, purpose, and vision. Her focus areas include advancing business strategy and programs and developing its marketing, communications, media relations, content and brand strategies.

    Previously, she served as Senior Vice President, Human Resources and Communications for CJ Logistics, a global supply chain company. Prior to that, she led Marketing Communications at DSC Logistics, a major national third-party logistics provider, founded and led by Ann Drake, which joined with CJ Logistics in 2018. With entrepreneurial roots, Jen spent the first 15 years of her career at Nexus Distribution, a regional public warehousing and transportation provider, founded by her family.

    Jen has a BS from the University of California, Los Angeles. She completed the Logistics Management Executive Series at Northwestern University Transportation Center. She is past President of the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) Chicago Roundtable.

  • Yvette Howard

    Vice President, Property Management & Visitor Experience

    Yvette Howard

    Vice President, Property Management & Visitor Experience

    Yvette Howard is Vice President for Property Management & Guest Experience where she oversees daily operations, guest experience, events, vendor coordination and overall property readiness.

    Before stepping into her current role, Yvette served as Vice President for Operations at George Williams College of Aurora University, where she spent many years leading campus operations, facilities, conferences, and special events while supporting students, faculty, guests and the surrounding community.

    Known for her strong leadership skills, thoughtful hospitality and attention to detail, Yvette is passionate about creating welcoming spaces where people feel comfortable, inspired and cared for. She enjoys bringing people together, developing meaningful guest experiences and helping organizations operate smoothly behind the scenes. Yvette also owns Dreaming Tree Venture, LLC, where she spends her free time helping friends and family with their real estate needs.

    In her free time, Yvette enjoys attending concerts, traveling, and spending quality time with her loved ones.

  • Elizabeth Stigler

    Chief of Staff

    Elizabeth Stigler

    Chief of Staff

    Liz Stigler is Chief of Staff. As Chief of Staff, she oversees a wide variety of the organization’s operational pursuits Founder Ann Drake.

    Liz joined in 2021 after leading communications and external relations for The Chicago Network since 2013. She began her career at the Poetry Foundation and Poetry magazine.

    A Chicago native, Liz grew up in the Hyde Park neighborhood. She received a B.A. in English from Carleton College and her M.B.A. with Distinction as a Nicholson Scholarship Fellow from DePaul University Kellstadt Graduate School of Business.

  • David Copeland

    Chief Financial Officer (and WLC Board Member)

    David Copeland

    Chief Financial Officer (and WLC Board Member)

    David Copeland is the Chief Financial Officer where he oversees accounting and finance in support of the organization's mission.

    Previously, David served as CFO of DSC Logistics (now CJ Logistics America), driving strong financial performance through revenue growth and improved efficiency. Earlier, he held finance controller and accounting roles at Equity Office, Crate & Barrel, Deloitte, and the Chicago Housing Authority.

    In 2017, David was named Chicago CFO of the Year in the Mid-Size Private Company category by the Financial Executives International (FEI) Chicago Chapter. He also served as a business instructor with the Peace Corps' Economic Development Program in Kazakhstan.

    David holds a degree in Accounting from the University of Illinois Gies School of Business.

  • Karen Terry

    Vice President-Editorial Operations & Content Strategy

    Karen Terry

    Vice President-Editorial Operations & Content Strategy

    Karen Terry is Vice President-Editorial Operations & Content Strategy, where she is the chief writer and lead storyteller, overseeing the full lifecycle of content creation across platforms and audiences.

    Karen began her career as an award-winning corporate television scriptwriter/producer and marketing copywriter, fulfilling that role for more than three decades. Midlife, she redirected her energies toward coaching and teaching, conducting more than 2,000 sessions as a Human Emergence Coach at the Wright Foundation for the Realization of Human Potential (where she became Adjunct Faculty) and as a Coach Fellow at Modern Health (an online mental health platform). She is also a lecturer in the School of Education & Social Policy (SESP) at Northwestern University and a Coach Educator in Northwestern’s Executive Learning & Organizational Change (ELOC) program. Before coming to the Women’s Leadership Center at Williams Bay, Karen was an Assistant Professor in the School of Business at Maharishi International University in Fairfield, Iowa.

    In other leadership roles, Karen has served on the boards of the Evanston Historical Society, the Evanston Public Library, the Child Care Center of Evanston, the Talking Farm, and the Village Chicago. She became Board President at the Evanston Public Library, the Talking Farm, and the Village Chicago.

    Karen has a Bachelor of General Studies degree (Highest Distinction) from the University of Michigan and an MA in Radio-TV-Film from Northwestern University. She also has an MA and EdD in Transformational Leadership & Coaching from Wright Graduate University. The International Coaching Federation has recognized Karen with a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) credential.

  • Casey Stelletello

    Vice President-Programming & Partnerships

    Casey Stelletello

    Vice President-Programming & Partnerships

    Casey Stelletello is Vice President-Programming & Partnerships. In this role, Casey leads complex cross-functional initiatives spanning communications strategy, systems transformation, enterprise partnerships, and large-scale event production.

    Prior to her role as Vice President-Programming & Partnerships, Casey held senior leadership roles at AWESOME (Achieving Women’s Excellence in Supply Chain Operations, Management and Education), where she oversaw operations, programming, marketing, partnerships, and communications for the organization. Earlier in her career, Casey led enterprise marketing initiatives across multiple business units at Capstone Logistics where she supported a company-wide CRM transformation and managed a major corporate rebrand.

    Casey holds a BS in Public Relations from Marquette University and an MBA with a focus in Marketing & Management from Loyola University-Chicago.

  • Kathy Clark

    Director, Finance

    Kathy Clark

    Director, Finance

    Kathy Clark is a finance and operations professional with experience in organizational planning, financial management, and business operations. Throughout her career, she has contributed to financial operations, workforce management, and strategic planning initiatives across the technology, distribution, and publishing industries.

    Kathy served as Controller and HR Manager for The Tech Group's Chicago operation, supported sales and operational strategy as a Strategic Analyst for W. W. Grainger, Inc.'s FindMRO.com division, and led operations planning and analysis initiatives for Rand McNally & Company.

    She earned a Bachelor of Science in Finance from the College of Business at Illinois State University.

  • Amy Fanale

    Vice President-Partner Services

    Amy Fanale

    Vice President-Partner Services

    Amy Fanale is Vice President-Partner Services. She establishes the business processes, operating model, and strategic partnerships that scale the company. Amy partners across functions and with external stakeholders to drive collaboration, efficiency, and long‑term growth.

    Previously, Amy applied her extensive B2B software and hardware background as Marketing Lead at Panasonic, expanding market share across the manufacturing, foodservice, retail, and hospitality sectors. Her diverse experience in client relations, marketing, product management, product marketing, management and software implementation consulting, and supply chain management has led to senior roles at organizations such as e2open (Wise Tech Global), GS1 US, and Blue Yonder.

    Amy’s expertise in developing and executing strategic marketing initiatives (including increasing product adoption and spearheading initiatives) has garnered industry recognition, including the Food Safety Innovation Award and a Bronze Telly Award.

    Amy holds a dual degree (BSBA) in Marketing and Supply Chain Management from The Ohio State University.

  • John Carpenter

    Facilities Director

    John Carpenter

    Facilities Director

    John Carpenter is the facilities director. His responsibilities include serving as the operational lead for the stewardship, maintenance, safety, and overall functionality of the Center campus. He oversees the building’s mechanical systems, preventive maintenance planning, security, and day-to-day facilities operations.

    Before joining the staff of the Women’s Leadership Center, John worked as a Senior Superintendent at Pepper Construction. In that role, John led complex commercial construction and renovation projects for a wide range of clients, from Allstate to IKEA to the Barrington, IL School District.

    John has certifications in many areas, including OSHA’s 30-hour certification in workplace safety, building code compliance, corporate fleet safety and vehicle inspection, and First Aid/CPR/AED.

  • Julia Twarog

    Lead Analyst

    Julia Twarog

    Lead Analyst

    Julia Twarog is a Lead Analyst where she manages CRM data. Her work includes cleaning and validating data, building reports, and supporting strategic initiatives through research and analysis.

    Before this role, Julia focused on data analysis through academic and applied projects, including work in statistical modeling. She was also active in Alpha Phi Omega, a national service fraternity, where she held leadership roles and helped lead service initiatives.

    Julia holds a Bachelor of Science in Statistics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, with minors in Business and Informatics.

  • Madeline Sukhdeo

    Manager of Marketing Communications

    Madeline Sukhdeo

    Manager of Marketing Communications

    Madeline Sukhdeo is Manager of Marketing Communications, where she oversees the editorial calendar, drives the organization's growing social media presence, and contributes content across a range of channels. She also plays a central role in advancing the Drake Scholar Network, including serving as a key organizer of the annual scholar retreat.

    Prior to stepping into this role, Madeline served as the Center's Network & Communications Specialist, where she engaged senior women leaders in shaping the vision for the future Women's Leadership Center, supported strategic event planning, and expanded the organization's social media reach.

    Outside of work, Madeline is a salsa dancer, a self-described novice tennis player, and a proud cat mom to Pickles and Mango.

    Madeline holds dual degrees in Psychology and Writing Seminars from Johns Hopkins University, with minors in Entrepreneurship and Marketing.

Advisory Board

  • Cady Coleman

    Retired Astronaut, NASA

    Cady Coleman

    Retired Astronaut, NASA

    Cady Coleman is a former NASA astronaut, retired United States Air Force Colonel, scientist, pilot, musician, and mom. A sought-after speaker on a wide range of topics, including leadership and team building, Cady is known for her advocacy for inclusion in STEM/STEAM fields. She is also a highly regarded media adviser and on-air expert for space news and exploration.

    Cady lives in Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts, with her husband, glass artist Josh Simpson. They have two adult sons.

  • Donna Zarcone

    Board Director, Cigna Group, Duchossois Capital Management, Halstatt LLC, Smithsonian Institution

    Donna Zarcone

    Board Director, Cigna Group, Duchossois Capital Management, Halstatt LLC, Smithsonian Institution

    Donna F. Zarcone is the retired President and CEO of The Economic Club of Chicago.

    She previously served as president of Harley-Davidson Financial Services, Inc. (HDFS) and board chairman for Eaglemark Savings Bank, which are subsidiaries of Harley-Davidson, Inc. In her tenure as president of HDFS, the company grew from $1.2 billion to over $6 billion in assets under management. Earlier in her career, Donna served as CFO for two successful entrepreneurial startups in technology leasing and financial services.

    Donna currently serves on the corporate boards of The Cigna Group, Duchossois Capital Management and Halstatt, and previously served on the boards of CDW Corporation, Quinnox and The Jones Group. Donna also serves on the National Board of the Smithsonian Institution, the statutory board of NACD Corporate Directors Institute. She is a frequent speaker on corporate governance topics.

    Throughout her career, Donna has engaged extensively in volunteering and supporting organizations committed to women in leadership roles and has worked to mentor and sponsor talented women leaders for executive and board roles. Her inclusive leadership style and commitment to lifelong learning was profiled in the book, “Women in Business, The Changing Face of Leadership” with the chapter entitled, “Leading a Learning Organization.”

    Donna received her MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and bachelor’s degree in accounting from Illinois State University. She is a NACD Certified Board Director and a CPA.

  • Ellen Rudnick

    Senior Advisor and Former Executive Director, Polsky Center

    Ellen Rudnick

    Senior Advisor and Former Executive Director, Polsky Center

    Ellen Rudnick currently serves as Senior Advisor-New Venture Programming at the University of Chicago’s Polsky Center. She previously served as the Executive Director of the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the University of Chicago, and as an Adjunct Professor of Entrepreneurship.

    Prior to joining U-Chicago’s Booth School of Business, Ellen spent 25 years in business management and entrepreneurial activities, primarily in the healthcare and health information services industries. She served as President & CEO of Healthcare Knowledge Resources, as President of HCIA, as Chairman of Pacific Biometrics, and as a corporate Vice President at Baxter Healthcare Corporation.

    Ellen serves, or has served, on numerous corporate and non-profit boards including Liberty Mutual, Old National Bank, Patterson Companies, HMS, 1871, Matter, and the Kaplan Institute at Illinois Tech. She is an advisor to many start-ups that emerge from Chicago Booth’s entrepreneurship programs.

    Ellen has also been the recipient of many honors, including the Illinois Venture Capital Association’s (IVCA) Richard M Daley Award; 1871’s Entrepreneurial Champion Award; Today’s Chicago Woman 20th Anniversary Hall of Fame; and the YWCA Leadership Award.

    Ellen received her B.A. from Vassar College and her MBA from Chicago Booth.

  • Donna de St. Aubin

    President & Principal, St. Aubin, Haggerty & Associates, Inc. (and WLC Board Member)

    Donna de St. Aubin

    President & Principal, St. Aubin, Haggerty & Associates, Inc. (and WLC Board Member)

    Donna de St. Aubin is President of St. Aubin, Haggerty & Associates, Inc., a consulting firm specializing in organization and talent development.

    In addition to her experience in human resource management, planning and internal staffing, Donna has also been involved in major corporate mergers, acquisitions, divestitures and consolidations. She has worked with many organizations creating organizational structures and succession plans for long-term success of the business. Donna develops executive and leadership processes to attract, engage and retain top talent. This includes defining leadership attributes, change management, building global leadership brands, evaluating organization effectiveness and creating workforce strategies.

    A frequent speaker before industry and management groups, Donna has taught at the University of Colorado and the University of Wisconsin Executive Management Institute. She is a past faculty member of the Keller Graduate School of Management and is a long-standing faculty member of the Graduate School of Banking at Colorado and the Missouri School of Banking.

    Donna is a co-author of two books—50 Plus One Tips When Hiring & Firing Employees and Attract, Engage and Retain Top Talent: 50 Plus One Strategies Used by the Best. She is a member of IWF Chicago and the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO). She is also a member of the Board for Arc of Hope and Arlen Music Productions.

    Donna received her BA in Spanish Language and Literature from St Catherine University and her MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

  • Chevy Humphrey

    President & CEO, Griffin Museum of Science & Industry

    Chevy Humphrey

    President & CEO, Griffin Museum of Science & Industry

    Chevy Humphrey is President & CEO of the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry, the largest science museum in the Western Hemisphere.

    Previously, Chevy was President & CEO of the Arizona Science Center. She has also been involved in the leadership of numerous other organizations, including the American Alliance of Museums and the Association of Science and Technology Centers. She serves on the boards of such esteemed institutions as the Argonne National Laboratory, the Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago, the Helios Education Foundation, and the Sandra Day O’Connor Institute.

    For her leadership and her commitment to mentoring others, Chevy has been honored multiple times. The WNBA named her a Visionary Leader; Forbes included her in their list of “50 Over 50;” Crain’s Chicago Business put Chevy on their list of “Notable Women in STEM;” and the Phoenix Business Journal called Chevy one of their “Most Admired CEOs.” They also made her the first recipient of their “Mentor of the Year” award.

    Chevy has an MBA from Northeastern University and a Doctorate in Business Administration from Grand Canyon University. She has further studied executive education at Stanford University Graduate School of Business, The Wharton School, the University of Phoenix, and Yale University.

  • Eva Maddox

    Former Design Principal, Perkins & Will / Lead Design Advisor

    Eva Maddox

    Former Design Principal, Perkins & Will / Lead Design Advisor

    Eva L. Maddox is a former Design Principal and a member of the Board of Perkins+Will, a global design practice, in addition to being the founder of the Branded Environments discipline. Named by Fast Company as one of the “change agents… designers, & dreamers who are creating your future,” Eva has provided Branded Environments services to many leaders within the corporate, education, healthcare and civic arenas, including DuPont, Ogilvy & Mather, Haworth, Bank of America, Northwestern University, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, and the Griffin Museum of Science & Industry. She is also the co-founder of Archeworks with Stanley Tigerman.

    She is a member of the University of Cincinnati Foundation Board of Trustees as well as a member of DAAP’s Advisory Board for the Study of the Practice of Architecture. Eva is a member of IIDA’s College of Fellows and the Interior Design Hall of Fame.

    Eva has been recognized for design excellence on an international basis, garnering over 100 awards. She has also received numerous professional accolades and honors, including Contract’s Legend Award (2011), selection as a Purpose Prize Fellow by Civic Ventures (2007 & 2008), the IIDA Pioneer in Design Award (2005), International Women’s Forum “Women Who Make a Difference” Award (2004), plus being named “Chicagoan of the Year” by Chicago magazine (2002). The International Interior Design Association recognized her outstanding leadership and contribution to the design profession with the Leadership Award of Excellence (2000).

    Eva received her Bachelor of Science in Design in 1966 from the University of Cincinnati’s College of Design, Art, Architecture & Planning. In 2006, Ms. Maddox was honored with a Doctorate of Fine Arts by the University of Cincinnati Board of Trustees.

  • Janet Foutty

    Former CEO, Deloitte Consulting / US Board Chair – Deloitte

    Janet Foutty

    Former CEO, Deloitte Consulting / US Board Chair – Deloitte

    Janet Foutty is a nationally recognized technology and business leader who spent 33 years at Deloitte, culminating her career as CEO of Deloitte Consulting and Executive Chair of Deloitte US. During her tenure, she led the firm through significant transformation driven by technology, talent, and purpose.

    Today, Janet is increasingly focused on the intersection of artificial intelligence and the future of work, partnering with companies, educators, and policymakers to navigate the implications of AI for workforce transformation and economic opportunity. Her work centers on helping leaders and institutions adapt to rapid technological change while ensuring the benefits of AI are translated into more inclusive and sustainable outcomes for workers and society.

    A best-selling author on women’s leadership, Janet also focuses on advancing women’s health—a mission she pursues through leadership roles with Women’s Health Access Matters (WHAM), Amboy Street Ventures, and the Milken Institute’s women’s health initiatives, all dedicated to addressing the historic underinvestment in research, innovation, and commercialization. She also remains active in the technology space through select board and advisory roles.

    A long-tenured Chicagoan, Janet and her husband are deeply connected to the civic and cultural life of the city. She currently serves on the boards of The Chicago Network, Argonne National Laboratory, and the Graham School at the University of Chicago, as well as the Advisory Council for the Women’s Leadership Center. In 2025, she was named Junior Achievement Chicago Business Person of the Year.

  • Francesca Cornelli

    Dean, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University

    Francesca Cornelli

    Dean, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University

    Francesca Cornelli is the Dean of Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management. She is also a professor of finance and holds the Donald P. Jacobs Chair of Finance at Kellogg.

    A global educator, Francesca has taught at some of the top schools in the world, including the London School of Economics, the Indian School of Business in Hyderabad, the New Economic School in Moscow, the Wharton School and the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University. Prior to joining Kellogg, Francesca was a professor of finance and deputy dean at London Business School, where she led the Private Equity Institute.

    A renowned scholar, her research interests include corporate governance, private equity, privatization, bankruptcy, IPOs and innovation policy. She has been an editor of the Review of Financial Studies, one of the top three finance journals, and previously served on the board of editors of the Review of Economic Studies and as an associate editor at the Journal of Finance.

    Franceca helped create and became a board member of AFFECT, a committee of the American Finance Association designed to promote the advancement of women academics in the field of finance. She serves on several boards, including Edizione, GSM Grosvenor Inc., Civic Consulting Alliance, Ryan Specialty Holdings, Inc., and Lyric Opera of Chicago.

  • Dorrit Bern

    Former Chairman, President & CEO, The Charming Shoppes, Inc. (and WLC Board Member)

    Dorrit Bern

    Former Chairman, President & CEO, The Charming Shoppes, Inc. (and WLC Board Member)

    Dorrit Bern is the former Chairman, President and CEO of Charming Shoppes Inc., a $3 billion Fortune 500 corporation and owner of the brands Lane Bryant, Fashion Bug, Catherine's Plus Sizes, Crosstown Trader catalogs, and Petite Sophisticates. It was also the publisher of Figure magazine.

    Dorrit joined Charming Shoppes from Sears Roebuck & Company, where she was Executive Vice President in charge of Home Fashion and Women's Apparel and the first female officer in the company’s history. Before working for Sears, Dorrit worked in merchandising for The Bon Marchè and Joske’s department stores.

    In addition to serving on numerous boards over the years, Dorrit has been a visiting professor at the University of Washington’s Foster School of Business and is on the board of two of the nation’s leading business schools–the Foster Business School at the University of Washington and Jay H. Baker Retail Advisory Board at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School. She is a member of the Committee of 200 (C200).

    Dorrit is the recipient of many awards, including the Distinguished Leadership Award from the Foster School of Business at the University of Washington; E&Y’s 2001 “Entrepreneur of the Year” in Greater Philadelphia; Moore College of Art and Design’s Visionary Woman Award (2004); the HUG (Help Us Give) Award from the Intimate Apparel Industry (2005); and the Paradigm Award for Pennsylvania’s Most Distinguished Women (2006). Dorrit has also been named to the list of “Pennsylvania’s Best 50 Women in Business” (1997) and the Philadelphia Business Journal's “Women of Distinction” (1998).

    Dorrit received a B.A. in Business Management from the University of Washington.

  • Angela V. Olinto

    Former Dean of the Division of the Physical Sciences, University of Chicago

    Angela V. Olinto

    Former Dean of the Division of the Physical Sciences, University of Chicago

    Angela V. Olinto is Provost of Columbia University and the Rutherfurd Professor of Astronomy and Professor of Physics. As Provost, Angela is Columbia’s chief academic officer, and works to support the President in the development and implementation of the University’s strategic academic priorities while also leading the deans and faculty in their pursuit of research and teaching excellence. In addition to the Office of the Provost, she oversees a number of centers and institutes, offices, and other academic resources, including the Data Science Institute, University Libraries, the Italian Academy, and the Columbia University Press.

    Prior to joining Columbia in March 2024, Angela was Dean of the Division of the Physical Sciences and the Albert A. Michelson Distinguished Service Professor in the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics, the Kavli Institute for Cosmological Physics, and the Enrico Fermi Institute at the University of Chicago. She previously served as Chair of the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics there from 2003 to 2006 and again from 2012 to 2017.

    As a scholar, Olinto is best known for her contributions to the study of the structure of neutron stars, primordial inflationary theory, cosmic magnetic fields, the nature of the dark matter, and the origin of the highest energy cosmic rays, gamma-rays, and neutrinos. She is the Principal Investigator of the POEMMA (Probe Of Extreme Multi-Messenger Astrophysics) space mission and the EUSO (Extreme Universe Space Observatory) on a super pressure balloon (SPB) missions, and was a member of the Pierre Auger Observatory, all designed to discover the origin of the highest energy cosmic particles, their sources, and their interactions.

    Angela is a member of the National Academy of Sciences, of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences. She is a fellow of the American Physical Society and of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. She received the Brazilian Order of Rio Branco medal at the rank of Commander in 2023, a Chaire d’Excellence Award of the French Agence Nationale de Recherche in 2006, the Llewellyn John and Harriet Manchester Quantrell Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching in 2011, and the Faculty Award for Excellence in Graduate Teaching in 2015 at the University of Chicago.

    She received a BS in Physics from the Pontifícia Universidade Católica of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1981, and PhD in Physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1987.

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