Top News
Dr. Abdi: Keeps Hope Alive
I just finished this amazing – and inspiring – autobiography of Dr. Hawa Abdi and her work in Somalia. I’ve heard Dr. Abdi speak several times, and met one of her courageous daughters, Dr. Deqo Abdi. But, the book provides so much more insight than those interactions. It gives a clear and nuanced account of her life, her accomplishments, her challenges and her work. Somalia is a tough place to do this work – taking in families, providing needed health care and other services. While most would shy away from the challenges, or be deterred by them, Dr. Abdi and her daughters are not. But the book is much more than a guide to her work and her determination, it is a portrait of a real woman who faces personal and family challenges, … Read entire article »
Recent Blogs
Increasing Political Participation & Women’s Leadership
Speaker, “Women and Leadership: Closing Session,” The Women in Public Service Project Institute at Smith College, Northampton, MA, June 5, 2014. Panelist, “Madame Parliamentarian: Lebanese Women in Politics,” American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, Washington, DC, May 27, 2014. Speaker, “Public Speaking & Building Self Confidence,” Kabul University, September 2012. Speaker, “Communications Strategies: Turning Your Passion into Effective Advocacy,” The Women in Public Service Project Institute at Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA, June 15, 2012. Moderator, The Arab Spring and Women: Comparing Democracies in the U.S. and Abroad, Sewall-Belmont House & Museum, Washington, DC,March 8, 2012. Trainer, Leading Political and Legislative Change, and Strategic Planning to Implement Legislative Change, Vital Voices of Afghanistan: A Leadership and Legislative Skills Training Program for Afghan … Read entire article »
Middle East/North Africa
Panelist, “Madame Parliamentarian: Lebanese Women in Politics,” American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, Washington, DC, May 27, 2014. Speaker, “Women’s Empowerment and Professional Development through Networking,” International Visitor Leadership Program (Saudi Arabia), Washington, DC, March 26, 2014. Speaker, “Women Leading Africa,” Senator Chris Coons Annual Opportunity: Africa Conference, Wilmington, DE, March 10, 2014. Panelist, “Arab Spring or Arab Autumn: Women’s Political Participation in the Arab Uprisings and Beyond,” Woodrow Wilson Center, Washington, DC, January 30, 2014. Speaker, “Women Leaders: Promoting Peace and Security,” International Visitor Leadership Program (Iraqi Women), Washington, DC, January 31, 2014. Speaker, “Women’s Leadership Roles,” US State Department Digital Video Conference (DVC) with US Embassy in Tel Aviv, April 17, 2012. Moderator, The Arab Spring and Women: Comparing Democracies in … Read entire article »
Politics & Election Strategy
Panelist, “Madame Parliamentarian: Lebanese Women in Politics,” American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, Washington, DC, May 27, 2014. Speaker, “Women as Political Leaders,” International Visitor Leadership Program (Afghanistan/Pakistan/Nepal), Washington, DC, March 4, 2014. Speaker, 2012 Election Analysis, US State Department Digital Video Conference (DVC) with US Embassy in Cyprus, December 2011. Speaker, 2010 Election Analysis, US State Department Digital Video Conference (DVC) with US Embassies inRussia; New Zealand; Romania and Taiwain, November2010. Member, NDI International Observer Delegation, Yemeni Parliamentary Election, April 1997. … Read entire article »
IFES Alum – That’s Me!
Privileged to be interviewed by IFES for my work: IFES Alum Continues to Empower Women Around the World You are currently a Senior Policy Advisor to the U.S. State Department’s Office of Global Women’s Issues. What does this work entail? Overall, the Secretary’s Office of Global Women’s Issues (S/GWI), headed by Ambassador Catherine M. Russell, seeks to ensure that women’s issues are fully integrated in the formulation and conduct of U.S. foreign policy. S/GWI works to promote stability, peace and development by empowering women politically, socially, and economically around the world. My responsibility as a Senior Policy Advisor is to oversee S/GWI’s work on women, peace and security issues, women’s economic empowerment and women’s political participation. There … Read entire article »
Women’s Political Participation: Arab Spring or Arab Autumn?
Honored to have been a part of this important panel at the Woodrow Wilson Center on women’s participation: “Arab Spring or Arab Autumn: Women’s Political Participation in the Arab Uprisings and Beyond.” … Read entire article »
Teaching Experience
Stephenie is a Professorial Lecturer at the Women & Politics Institute at American University (AU) in Washington, DC where she teaches courses on women and public policy. During the summer and fall of 2011, she will be teaching a newly designed class on Women World Leaders at AU. Since 2005, she has taught: Women World Leaders; Women and the United Nations; Women, Politics and Public Policy;andAdvocating for Womens Rights. She is also the designer ofa two week certificate program entitled, African Womens Leadership in Public Life, which was a partnership of Vital Voices African Womens Leadership Initiative and AUs Women & Politics Institute. … Read entire article »
“Higher Education Today” Focuses on American University of Afghanistan
I am usually the interviewer or moderator, but I was honored to be on Steven Roy Goodman’s television program, “Higher Education Today” to talk about the American University of Afghanistan (AUAF). The other guest was my friend Leslie Schweitzer who is on the board of trustees for AUAF, and also is the founder and chair of Friends of AUAF. Here’s the link. As an aside, I took this photo last winter from the administration building at AUAF, looking out toward Darul Aman Palace. … Read entire article »
Secretary Kerry: Advancing Afghan Women
It isn’t the first time I have heard Secretary Kerry talk about the importance of women to Afghanistan’s future – but it might have been in the most beautiful venue, Gaston Hall at Georgetown University. Secretary Kerry joined former Secretary Clinton, former First Lady Laura Bush, and many others in a bi-partisan show of support for Afghan women. In his remarks, Secretary Kerry made a compelling case for the progress Afghanistan has made since the fall of the Taliban. As he said: “in 2001 …there were only 900,000 Afghan children in school, and all of them were boys. Today, nearly 8 million students are in school, and more than a third of them are girls. …In 2001, maternal mortality … Read entire article »
HuffPost: Review of Martha Johnson’s “On My Watch”
Here is my Huffington Post review of Martha Johnson’s new book, On My Watch: Leadership, Innovation & Personal Resilience. A great read for anyone who is interested in how leaders at every level of an organization can think about innovation, transparency, and organizational design. It comes from someone who has literally been there, in the most exhilarating and most difficult of organizational and personal times, and is willing to share her story. … Read entire article »