Board of Directors
2024-2025
Pamela Perraud
President
Pamela Perraud has been the UN Representative for the Federation of American Women’s Club Overseas (FAWCO) in New York and Geneva since 1998. She is a member of the NGO Committee on the Status of Women New York, vice-president of the Zonta Club of Houston, UN chair for Zonta District 10, and a board member of the United Nations Association-Houston. Pamela is a certified international human resource professional. She is a graduate of Connecticut College and received a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Minnesota.
Shaila Rao Mistry
Vice-President
Shaila Rao Mistry is Founder-President of Jayco MMI, an aerospace and medical device company serving Fortune 500 companies. She is Founder and CEO of STEM Institute, an organizational growth and leadership development foresight institute for strategic planning, transformational change, social impact, and public policy. Shaila is a CEO signatory and participant for the UN Global Compact on the Sustainable Development Goals, addressing economic growth, gender equity, health, and climate. She worked on passing California legislation on Women on Boards and Human Trafficking and co-authored The Charter of Human Rights and Principles for the Internet at the UN. She serves on the University of California Small and Diverse Business Advisory Council that addresses equity in jobs and education on eleven campuses. As a passionate advocate of social responsibility and advancing women’s equity, she has served on the board of directors of the American Association of University Women Board, Girl Scouts of Orange County, and National Association of Women Business Owners.
Dr. Jennifer Rogers-Brown
Clerk-Treasurer
Dr. Jennifer Rogers-Brown is an Associate Professor of Sociology at Long Island University and earned her Ph.D. in sociology from the University of California Santa Barbara. She serves as representative to the UN Department of Global Communications for Sociologists for Women in Society. She has participated in the US Women’s Caucus at the UN since its first meeting and has attended the UN Commission on the Status of Women since 2012. Dr. Rogers-Brown serves on two additional non-profit boards, Rural & Migrant Ministry (New York) and Puente a la Salud Comunitaria (Mexico).
Behjat (Beth) Dehghan
US Mission Co-Director
Beth Dehghan is the founder of Women NC, an NGO accredited to the UN Economic and Social Council with a focus on youth leadership training. She also founded the NC Coalition for CEDAW and was instrumental in the passage of a CEDAW resolution in Durham, North Carolina. She has attended the UN Commission the Status of Women every year since 1995. Beth is a member of Advisory Board of the NGO Committee for the Status of Women New York.
Patricia Bradley
US Mission Co-Director
Patrica L Bradley is a board member of Church Women United, chair of the Action and Global Concerns Committee, and NGO representative to the United Nations. She is a member of the Women’s Missionary Society of the African Methodist Episcopal Church and commissioner to Bread for the World. Patricia is a former Foreign Service Officer with the US Department of State and a member of DACOR (Diplomatic and Consular Officers, Retired). She is a member of the United Nations Association of the National Capitol Area and the Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church. Patricia received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, with a double major in International Relations and Cross-Cultural Communications. She is a founding member of the Kappa Rho Chapter, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, the first Black ADOS sorority at the University of Virginia (American descendants of those enslaved in the US).
Reneé L. Coppock
Membership Director
Reneé Coppock is a partner in the Crowley Fleck law firm where she has practiced since 1987. She is a member of the Zonta Club of Billings, Yellowstone County Human Trafficking Task Force, the NGO Committee on the Status of Women New York, and the American Association of University Women. She served as Trustee for the Montana State University Billings Foundation. She is President of the Montana Women’s Run and serves on the Zonta International Bylaws Task Force. Reneé has attended eight sessions of the UN Commission on the Status of Women and has been involved with the US Women’s Caucus at the UN since its inception.
Sung Sohn
Director for Feminist Foreign Policy
Sung Sohn is the co-founder and executive director of the Education for Social Justice Foundation based in San Francisco. She is a former bilingual resource and classroom teacher who founded the Korean/English Two-Way Immersion Program within the San Francisco Unified School District in 1994. She completed her M.A. in Education with a concentration in Language and Literacy Education at San Francisco State University. Sung is the author of Korean Two-Way Immersion Curriculum Guide (1994), “Comfort Women” History and Issues: Teacher Resource
Guide (2018), and “Comfort Women” History and Issues: Student Resource Guide (2018).
Lois A. Herman
Director for CEDAW
Lois is Founder and Managing Director of WUNRN, The Women’s UN ReportNetwork (http://www.wunrn.com). WUNRN is based on a UN study and addresses the human rights, oppression, and empowerment of women and girls all over the globe. It is considered one of the most expansive and active gender listservs in the world, reaching throughout the UN system including governments, embassies, and missions, civil society, academia, religious groups, associations, foundations, media, the private sector, and more. In the past three years, WUNRN has organized over 30 panels on women and girls at UN meetings including the Human Rights Council, the Commission on the Status of Women, the General Assembly, and the Food and Agriculture Organization. WUNRN carries credentials at the United Nations and at the European Union. Lois is a researcher and gender specialist with an extensive professional history in corporate management, including international firms. In 2015 she received the Spirit of the United Nations Award for upholding the founding spirit of the UN. Lois has served on multiple boards of directors, collaborated with organizations all over the world, and has four children. She is based in Minneapolis, Minnesota and has lived abroad over ten years.
Iblin Edelweiss Murillo Lafuente
Director for Communications
Edelweiss is a transnational feminist researcher, sociology instructor, and Ph.D. candidate at the University of Florida, Gainesville. She received a Master’s degree from the University of Toledo, Ohio, 2020 where she wrote a research thesis, Experiences of Bolivian Disabled Activist Women. She has published on the feminicides of women and girls with disabilities in a cross-cultural research project looking at Bolivia, Canada, Mexico, and South Africa. Edelweiss has managed the US Women’s Caucus website and Twitter account since 2021.
Dr. Susan H. Lee
Past President
Dr. Susan H. Lee is a sociologist and an Episcopal clergywoman. She has attended the UN Commission on the Status of Women for fifteen years as a representative of Sociologists for Women in Society. Susan has conducted research on widows and authored Rice Plus: Widows and Economic Survival in Rural Cambodia. She led a community effort to establish Our Sisters’ Place, a battered women’s shelter in Fall River, Massachusetts. Susan co-founded the US Women’s Caucus at the UN with Marilyn Fowler of Women’s Intercultural Network in 2017.
Congratulations to our new US Women’s Caucus Directors!
Dr. Susan O’Malley 2024-2026
Director for Strategic Planning
Dr. Susan O’Malley is the UN Representative for the International Federation of Business and Professional Women (IFBPW) and for Widows for Peace Through Democracy (WPD). She has served as Vice Chair, Chair, and Chair ex officio for NGO CSW/NY. Currently she is an Advisor to NGO CSW/NY. She served as the peer leader for the Social Protection Section of the Women’s Human Rights Teaching, Learning and Advocacy Resource (WHRTLAR) which includes a curriculum on Widows. She was co-chair of the Global Advocacy Research Group for CSW65 and CSW66 which prepared 6 recommendations with short briefs for the CSW66 Zero Draft. The Recommendation on inheritance and land ownership, including widows, was included in the Outcome Document for CSW66. She plays cello in the UN Symphony Orchestra and is Professor Emerita, English, The City University of New York. At CUNY she was the Faculty Trustee and Chair of the Faculty Senate for the 22 campuses and served on the executive committee of the PSC (faculty union). She holds a BA from Smith College and an MA and PhD from Tulane University. She has published in early modern English literature, civil rights, disability, and higher education.
Leslie Wright 2024-2026
Director for Advocacy
Leslie is the co-founder and Charter President of the Zonta Club of Brooklyn. She currently serves as Zonta District 3 Advocacy co-chair and was Zonta International UN Committee Chair from 2016-2020. Leslie was Chair of the NGO Committee on the Status of Women NY from 1999-2003 as well as past Organizational and First Vice-Presidents of the Conference of NGOs. She has represented several women’s organizations at the UN including Zonta International, the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS), the National Council of Women, and the Virginia Gildersleeve International Fund (now Women First). She has participated in all +5 review conferences for the Beijing Platform for Action and all meetings of the UN Commission on the Status of Women since 1997.
Leslie has decades of experience advocating for the advancement of women and girls. Before coming to New York, she was the head of Team for Communications for WAGGGS in London. While living in Connecticut, she held such professional positions as Director for Communications and Marketing for Constitution Healthcare, director of public relations for Planned Parenthood of Connecticut, and Women’s Center Director at Trinity College. She was elected to the Newington Town Council (CT) and was a delegate to the White House Conference on Families. Active in the Hartford, Connecticut area community, she was selected to the Chamber of Commerce Leadership Greater Hartford and to the New Haven Chamber’s Leadership programs. She served on numerous Boards in the Hartford area. She was named one of ten Outstanding Young Women of America and served on the AAUW National Board of Directors. A graduate in Latin American Studies from Denison University, Leslie holds master’s degrees from Rensselaer Polytechnic University and Trinity College.
Alexandra Vo 2024-2026
Director for Climate Issues
Alexandra Vo is the UN Liaison for the Federation of American Women’s Clubs Overseas (FAWCO). She is a member of NGO CSW/NY, the UN Association/Westchester, NY and a board member of Rotary Larchmont. In addition to meetings at CSW, she follows the climate crisis at the Conference of Parties (COP) where she represents FAWCO in the Women & Gender Constituency. In 2023, she gave the keynote address on climate change for the Rotary District 7230 conference. She has also worked at SEARAC, an organization that advocates for Southeast Asian communities. Alexandra came to the US originally as a “boat person” and refugee from Vietnam. She graduated from Yale University with a degree in philosophy.
Previous Board Members
The Caucus is grateful for the service of past Board members who have contributed greatly to our collective work. Together we have made a difference for the human rights of women and girls.
In Memoriam: Kathryn Brunauer Horvat
The US Women’s Caucus remembers fondly our late Board member and Treasurer, Kathryn Brunauer Horvat. Kathryn was one of our earliest members, signing on in 2016. When we formally incorporated in 2021, Kathryn became a Board member and Assistant Treasurer. In 2022, she became Treasurer and served until her death in March 2023. Kathryn helped establish the Caucus on a firm financial footing, managing our relationship with our online payment processor and credit union. In addition, she brought her years of experience in the global women’s environment, especially the UN Commission on the Status of Women, to many aspects of our Board decision-making. We are very grateful for her presence and contributions to our Caucus.
In addition to her work with the Caucus, Kathryn had long work experience as a Social Studies and English teacher and information systems specialist. In her non-profit work, she was an active participant in Women Graduates-USA, the American Association of University Women, the United Nations Association-USA, and the Virginia Gildersleeve International Fund. Her interests included the Women, Peace, and Security agenda, climate justice, and the commitment of the United States to the UN, among many others.
Deborah Charles
2021-2022
Deborah Charles is a financial services consultant with extensive work at Citibank, New York and Wells Fargo, Charlotte, NC, where she has led women and millennial market segments. Originally from New Jersey, Deborah has a bachelor’s degree in business and psychology from Centenary College, New Jersey, and an MBA from Rutgers University. In addition to banking, Deborah worked in the media while in New York, specializing in government and community affairs. At a national level, she is active in the Orange County, CA chapter of UNA-USA and was a delegate to CSW66 under their umbrella. Deborah is also involved with the Climate Reality Project in Washington. Within her local community, Deborah is a member of Mecklenburg County’s speaker bureau which educates the public on issues related to domestic violence and homelessness.
Luci Chikowero
2021-2022
Luci Chikowero is the North America and Europe Director of the Rozaria Memorial Trust, addressing child marriage, young women’s economic empowerment, and adolescent girls’ self-esteem. She is a member of the Education Committee of the Sexual and Reproductive Health Alliance of Dane County, Wisconsin. Luci has been involved with UN work since 2010 and is a member of the United Nations Association USA-Dane County. She serves on the Core Group of the UN Commission on the Status of Women North America and Europe Caucus. Luci has worked with the Gender is My Agenda Campaign and other African regional entities to promote and monitor the implementation of CEDAW and the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Brigadier General (retired) Kelly A. Fisher
2021-2022
General Kelly A. Fisher is an expert with the US Army Senior Education Program, developing and teaching curriculum on Women, Peace and Security. Before she retired from 39 years of US military service, her recent duty assignments included Land Component Commander of the California Army National Guard with concurrent duty as Deputy Commandant – Reserve Affairs, United States Army War College. General Fisher also served as special assistant to the Chief of the National Guard Bureau at the request of the Governor of Wisconsin to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the Wisconsin National Guard’s Sexual Harassment Assault Response and Prevention Program. Kelly volunteers as a founding member of the San Luis Obispo Climate Coalition Micro-Community Collaborative to promote equity, resilience and climate protection regionally and to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Dr. Gail James
2021-2022
Dr. Gail James’ career in faculty and administration, as Dean and Vice President of Academic Affairs, included a Fulbright Fellowship in India, a National Defense Education Fellowship, and post-graduate study at the Kennedy School of Government. She retired as Director of Learning Communities and Academic Achievement Center at the University of Kansas. She has served on the board of directors for Women’s Intercultural Network, Kansas City Women’s Political Caucus, the Women’s Foundation, Alliance Française, the United Nations Association of Greater Kansas City, and the Women’s Equality Coalition of Greater Kansas City. Dr. James was recently inducted into the Women’s Political Hall of Fame.
Junemarie Justus
2021-2022
Junemarie Justus is a retired technology executive, computer scientist, and entrepreneur who founded The Acorn Project, a social justice and women’s rights organization. She launched the Reel Advocacy educational film series in 2018 focusing on issues such as human trafficking, women’s rights, gender-based violence, and economic justice. She is Associate Producer of the 2021 Emmy-nominated documentary Fundamental: Women’s Rights in a Volatile World. Junemarie serves on the Santa Barbara Council of Human Rights Watch and on the boards of Women’s Economic Ventures, Women’s Intercultural Network, and Women’s Funding Network. She is a member of Harvard Women in Defense, Diplomacy, and Development (W3D), a network committed to sustainable peace. She has been a delegate to the UN Commission on the Status of Women for seven years and has been active in the US Women’s Caucus since its inception.
Donna Lent
2021-2022
Donna Lent is the President of the National Women’s Political Caucus (NWPC), in her fourth term leading the multi-partisan, pro-choice Washington DC organization founded in 1971. Previously Donna served as NWPC Vice President for Political Planning and Appointments for two terms. The NWPC recruits, trains, and helps elect women for political and appointed office. Donna also serves as the Chair of the Coalition for Women’s Appointments providing highly recommended applicants to the Presidential Personnel Office for placement within the Administration. She is the elected Town Clerk and Registrar of the Town of Brookhaven, Long Island, New York, completing her second four-year term. Donna has been a member of the US Women’s Caucus at the UN since its inception.
Kathryn (Kay) Meyer
2021-2023
Kay Meyer is a member of Zonta, the League of Women Voters, the American Association of University Women, and the United Nations Association-USA. She served as Zonta International Advocacy Chair (2012-2014) and has attended sessions of the UN Commission on the Status of Women since 2012. She has been an active participant in the Women’s Collaborative Boulder County and the US Women’s Caucus at the UN since their inception. Professionally, Kay has been a performance auditor, university board staff, internal auditor, rehabilitation counselor, and researcher. She is currently the Managing Member of Meyer Family Farm, LLC. Kay holds master’s degrees in education and business administration.
Kolieka Seigle
2021-2022
As an intersectional feminist committed to political action, advocacy, and civic engagement, Kolieka Seigle has spent the bulk of her career seeking to promote democratic participation by underrepresented minorities and improve conditions in communities of color. She currently serves as the President of the California National Organization for Women (the first African American), Executive Director of the California NOW Foundation, and the Chair of the California NOW Political Action Committee. Kolieka co-chairs the NOW Global Feminist Committee and serves on the NOW Racial Justice task force.