The Women Who Empower Ambassadors Program 

Our Women Who Empower Ambassador program comprises emerging leaders from diverse, global backgrounds who have shown a passion and commitment for magnifying the mission and values of the university’s Women Who Empower initiative.

Ambassadors listen, learn, and connect with one another by sharing their personal and professional journeys. They amplify the voices and stories within the Northeastern community and lead efforts to elevate Women Who Empower.

By coming together, these individuals effect bold, meaningful change within our network, at the university, and around the world—and encourage and inspire others to do the same.

Signature Programs

EXPERIENTIAL PHILANTHROPY SERIES

Powerful philanthropy requires strategic planning, a broad outlook on the needs of society, and a humble perspective on the philanthropist’s role in fulfilling those needs. Established in 2020, the Experiential Philanthropy Series offers the Northeastern community and its volunteer leaders the opportunity to practice integrative, systems-thinking philanthropy that is inclusive of advocacy, empathy, and ethical reasoning. 

MOST RECENT EVENT

The Philanthropic Journey featuring Dona Bertarelli

September 29, 2021

INAUGURAL EVENT

A Pursuit of Peace with Swanee Hunt

December 7, 2020

BREAKING BARRIERS

Breaking Barriers is a Women Who Empower Ambassadors program that highlights women from diverse, underrepresented backgrounds who have broken barriers in entrepreneurship to reach positions of power. Through monthly workshops and webinars, these women will tackle topics such as finding funding, acquiring venture capital, and building a company, as well as maintaining good mental health and work-life balance.

INAUGURAL EVENT:

Breaking Barriers: Designing your Money Map with Nora Yousif

March 11th, 2021 at 4:00PM EST

Past Events:

MONDAY, MARCH 1—MARCH 5

International Women’s Week 2021 at Northeastern University

THURSDAY, MARCH 11
4:00PM—5:00PM

Breaking Barriers: Designing Your Money Map with Nora Yousif

THURSDAY, MARCH 25
12:30PM

From Northeastern to Now: Alumnae in the Music Industry

Featuring:

Melanie Shark, AMD’14 – Program Manager, Licensing at Mandolin
Stephanie Joseph, AMD’16Manager, Business Affairs at Universal Music Group

Colleen Hall, AMD’09 – Manager, Business & Legal Affairs, Sony Music Publishing

Sabrina Boyd-Surka, AMD’16Radio Operations & Audio Production at WHYY
Timothy Van Bloem, AMD’23 – Moderator

Meet our Ambassadors

AllAlumnae AmbassadorsStudent Ambassadors

Elina Agrawal

DMSB'23

Mary Ajibade

SSH'23

Nita Akoh

S'23

Ria Bajaj

SSH'22

Meghana Prabhu Bantwal

S'21

Binja Basimike

BHS'12, MPH'14

Molly Beck

DMSB'09, ALIGN'23

Tabitha Boyton

NCH'22

Christina Bracken

DMSB'06

Kathryn Busemeyer

KCCS'21

Renee (Allie) Cauchon

S'24

Sofia Catalina

E'20

Riya Chandra

DMSB'22

Hansika Chanrai

AMD'20

Tobechukwu Chima

S'23

Ashley Cummings

DMSB'08, MSA'09

Allegra D’Virgilio

AMD'22

Fatima Dadou

CPS'21, '23

Connie Dayina

SSH'19

Drishti Dhamani

DMSB'21

Lehar Dhamani

DMSB'24

Charmille Coleen Dizon

S'12

Harley Edge

DMSB'20

Nancy Edid

DMSB'20

Leila Marie Eid

AMD'04

Sari Finn

E'24

Caitlin Flood

S'12

Alva Gardner-Perez

DMSB'06

Damini Gawali

MS'23

Sophie Gechijian

SSH'16

Caroline Ghio

E'21

Rayna Haque

BHS'22

Shanthi Hegde

BHS'23

Thai-Anh Houang

DMSB'06

Susan Howard

DMSB'25

Emerson Johnston

SSH'23

Hilary Jones

AS'10

Seema Korumilli

DMSB'21

Rebecca Leeper

E'19

Anastasia Leopold

AMD'21

Rose Leopold

SSH'17

Cassandra Lobe

DMSB'23

Valentina Longcroft

SSH'20

Fernanda Lopez Santos

SSH'20

Stephanie Luiz

SSH'22

Kate Madigan

DMSB'15

Elina Mariutsa

DMSB'21

Emiliana Martinez

DMSB'22

Julia McCarthy

S'20

Katherine Mirabelli

DMSB'21

Lisa Mirabile

AMD'04

Kelsea Morshuk-Allen

SSH'19

Allison Murphy

SSH'18

Miracle Olatunji

DMSB'22

Madison Oppenheim

BHS'23

Olivia Orr

DMSB'17

Alyssa Pascoe

SSH'21

Jessica Peterson

AMD'17

Claire Pettit

SSH'20

Kathryn Platt

AMD'20

Katherine Quigley

DMSB'23

Devina Raithatha

DMSB'22

Madison Rifkin

DMSB'21

Ghita Sabil

S'22

Sureena Sachdev

DMSB'19

Jane Schlover

DMSB'13

Lauren Shafik

DMSB'22

Richa Shah

DMSB'23

Adwoa Sefah

S'22

Melanie Marie Shark

AMD'14, '15

Yukti Sharma

DMSB'21

Zeena Shehadeh

AMD'21

Kritika Singh

E'20

Devon Smiley

DMSB'12

Tieisha Smith

DMSB'17

Annabel Snidow

SSH'21

Natasha Taylor

AMD'17

Jae’da Turner

DMSB'16

Ankita Uppugunduri

Khoury'21

Julia Vestberg

DMSB'23

Danielle Murad Waiss

SSH'19

Sophie Warlitz

DMSB'22

Danielle Weishoff McCormick

AMD'14

Elizabeth Werner

AMD'19

Emily White

AMD'05

Rani Wise

DMSB'11

Elizabeth Woodwell

E'22

Sabrina Zhou

S'21

Leila Zuaiter

DMSB'21

About our Ambassadors

What does a Women Who Empower Ambassador do?

  • Assists the Women Who Empower team with event programming, development, and execution
  • Represents Northeastern University at special events virtually and in regions across the globe
  • Provides ideas for speakers, social media features, and other valuable connections and establishes new relationships with mission-aligned individuals and organizations
  • Engages with alumni, donors, university leadership, and friends of the university to promote and strengthen Women Who Empower programming
  • Participates in Women Who Empower mentoring, and encourage others to do so as well
  • Participates in fundraising activities for Women Who Empower and related funds such as the Women’s Entrepreneurship Initiative, WISE, Social Justice, Women in Engineering, etc.
  • Women Who Empower Ambassadors serve a one year term (subject to review)

Women Who Empower Ambassador Criteria

  • Has a strong and positive affiliation with Northeastern University
  • Embodies the Women Who Empower mission and demonstrates a commitment to advancing the initiative through their personal engagement
  • Understands the unique experiences that have influenced their time at the university and shows a willingness to share their story and encourage others to do so
  • Appreciates the power of philanthropy and contributes to mission-aligned programs and scholarships
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