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:
March 11th, 2021 at 4:00PM EST
News
“Entrepreneurs aren’t born; they’re made:” Henry Nasella discusses the importance of mentorship and necessary skills for entrepreneurs
Written by Madison Neuner Henry Nasella, ‘77, has had an impressive career in entrepreneurship. In 1988, he became the first president of Staples, seeing it grow from $8 million to over $1 billion in revenue. Then, he was the CEO of Star Markets. Today, he is...
Tesla intern Fernanda Lopez is learning to lead and empowering others to follow
A Pursuit of Peace with Ambassador Swanee Hunt, Roosevelt Lecturer of Public Policy, Harvard Kennedy School of Government
Mentorship: Where I’ve Found It, How it’s Helped and Where You Can Look – Elina Agrawal, DMSB’23
Alumni Natasha Taylor Embraces Creativity to Have an Impact While Having Fun—And Empowers Other Entrepreneurs to Do the Same
Meet the Ambassadors of Women Who Empower
Will Young Voters Show Up to the Polls (Or the Mailbox) This Election?
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:
Colleen Hall, AMD’09 – Manager, Business & Legal Affairs, Sony Music Publishing
Meet our 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'21About 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.
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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