Women's Leadership Fellows
Running for over a decade, the Women’s Leadership Fellows program is a cohort of students currently enrolled at the Trachtenberg School.
The cohort builds community and leadership through two professional development retreats, monthly leadership pods, informational interviews, and networking events. Over the academic year, the Fellows focus on strength building, conflict resolution, verbal and nonverbal communication, goal setting, workplace confidence, and management skills. There are additional optional social, volunteer, and career development activities that members are encouraged to attend.
Student Chairs coordinate the planning and logistics of the program in partnership with the Trachtenberg School Administration.
Please direct questions about the program to wlf
gwu [dot] edu (wlf[at]gwu[dot]edu).
Program Details
Mission
The Trachtenberg School’s Women’s Leadership Fellows Program prepares students to be successful public service leaders through professional development, mentorship, and networking.
Goals
- Leverage individual strengths and core competencies for leadership success
- Foster self-empowerment and confidence-building to close the leadership gap
- Master critical professional skills to successfully navigate workplace complexities
- Connect dynamic cohorts of women to build community capacity
Networking
Trachtenberg School alumni, including previous Women’s Leadership Fellows, connect with current participants through informational interviews and other events. These opportunities provide fellows with coaching and professional development support.
Current Cohort Chairs
Maren Nicolaysen
Maren Nicolaysen is a second year MPA student pursuing a certificate in budget and public finance. Through her current position at the DOJ Office of the Inspector General, and past work at the U.S. Department of State and on Capitol Hill, her experience spans federal policy research, local government advocacy, and student-led initiatives addressing social equity, food insecurity, and political polarization. A recipient of the Wolcott, Walter Green, and National Academy of Public Administration Herbert Roback fellowships, Maren brings a global perspective to domestic policy challenges and is passionate about promoting effective governance through cross-sector collaboration.
Sarah Davitian-Reiner
Sarah is a second-year Master of Public Administration student with a concentration in Social Policy and Advocacy. She is currently the Campaigns and Events intern at Oxfam America, but has garnered a range of experiences across sectors. She worked as a Public Affairs Intern at Dewey Square Group and engaged in development research and outreach at Women's Lunch Place, a shelter for women experiencing food insecurity and homelessness in Boston. In her free time, Sarah enjoys curating playlists, exploring DC museums and restaurants, singing, and traveling. Inspired by all the women who came before her, Sarah is dedicated to making a positive impact through a career in public service.
2025 - 2026 Cohort
Stephanie Armstrong
Stephanie Armstrong is a second-year Master of Public Policy student also pursuing a graduate certificate in Data Science. She graduated from California State University, Chico with a degree in political science and international relations before moving to Washington, DC. She is deeply interested in how data and analysis can shed light on important questions and guide better policy, and hopes to continue that path through research at a think tank. Stephanie brings hands-on experience in government HR, legislative tracking, banking, and student services, along with a strong foundation in client support, administrative systems, and public-facing communication. Her journey of growth and self-discovery has shown her that authenticity and resilience are every bit as important as technical skills.
Logan Bulls
Logan Bulls is a first-year MPA student at George Washington University’s TSPPPA. She earned her B.A. in International and Global Studies with a Politics minor from Sewanee: The University of the South in 2021 and has since built a career focused on advocacy and civic change. Most recently, Logan served as a paralegal and intake specialist at the Human Trafficking Legal Center, where she supported immigration litigation, analyzed national trafficking trends, and expanded survivor access to legal and social services. Previously, she coordinated statewide advocacy campaigns for Medicaid expansion and led anti-hunger initiatives at the Tennessee Justice Center, strengthening policy impact across rural communities. Logan is eager to deepen her leadership in public service while cultivating a values-driven community at Trachtenberg. Outside of work and school, she enjoys marathon training on the Mount Vernon Trail, traveling, spending time with family, and exploring new restaurants and cocktail bars with friends.
Giovanna Calderon
Giovanna Calderon is a first year MPA student with a concentration in Non-Profit management. Currently, she serves as a Senior Program Associate and DOJ Partially Accredited Representative with the Children's Program at Amica Center for Immigrant Rights. Giovanna holds a BA in Law and Society as well as MA in Ethics, Peace, and Global Studies from American University. Giovanna's experience spans various public interest areas, with a focus on housing and immigrants rights. She has previously held roles at the United States House of Representatives, American Bar Association, and DC Office of Attorney General. Through these experiences and current role at Amica Center, Giovanna is dedicated to building a lasting impact in public service.
Emma Davie
Emma Davie is a bilingual second-year Master of Public Policy candidate, concentrating in Environmental Policy. Emma graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a BA in Political Science and Minor in Media and Information from the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. Recently, she completed an internship in the office of U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar from January to August of this year. Her responsibilities ranged from conducting legislative research, obeying to Congressional protocols, supporting the Press Relations team and coordinating summer-session interns. In her spare time, Emma loves to photo collage, paint, explore DC museums, spend time in nature, and travel with family and friends. With great aspirations to serve as a future leader, Emma is eager to gain valuable support and mentorship from the WLF community!
Suzette Escamilla Morales
Suzette serves as the Deputy Director for Mexican Affairs at DHS, where she advances U.S. interests and turns complex policy into clear strategy. With experience spanning security, migration, and international engagement, she blends sharp analysis with a collaborative spirit. Outside her day job, you’ll find her enjoying great food, traveling with her husband, or hanging out with her pup
Katelyn Hetrick
I'm Kate, a second year MPP student at the Trachtenberg School at GW with a concentration and certificate in budget and public finance. I am currently interning with the Office of State and Local Finance at the U.S. Treasury, and plan to work in budget and tax policy. Outside of school and work, I love hiking, cooking, and listening to my vinyl collection.
Hyejin Kim
Hyejin Kim is a first-year Master of Public Administration student from South Korea. Before moving to Washington, D.C., she spent 12 years in Tokyo, earning a degree in international relations and building an eight-year career as an international conference project manager. In that role, she led large-scale global events for organizations such as the World Bank, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and Asian Development Bank, collaborating with leaders from government, academia, and industry. Fluent in Korean, Japanese, and English, Hyejin is passionate about international cooperation and public service. She also enjoys mentoring students and professionals as a language tutor. Outside of academics, she practices taekwondo (2nd degree black belt) and loves traveling.
Alyssa Kimura
Alyssa is a first-year Master of Environmental and Sustainability Policy student pursuing a Graduate Certificate in Geographic Information Systems. She has an academic background in environmental science and policy, peace and justice studies, and political science, along with extensive research experience bridging climate change, urban infrastructure, and social equality. Alyssa’s path to GW was inspired by her dedication to addressing social-environmental issues impacting her hometown in Southern California and aspires to approach her professional endeavors with a critical lens that helps form equitable, scientifically-informed policies that prioritize human health and the Earth. Alyssa is a community-service oriented person who, since moving to DC, volunteers as a GW Votes Ambassador and at GW’s Food Pantry, “The Store”. In her spare time, Alyssa enjoys baking and cooking, learning new creative hobbies, spending time with her friends and family, and watching tv shows.
Heidi Mattson
I am a second year MPP student with specialization in global gender policy. I graduated with my bachelors degree from the university of Kansas with a double major in political science and global and international studies as well as a double minor in history in Russian and East European studies. I am originally from Oklahoma. Last year I entered on Capitol Hill for Representative Cleaver’s Office and the Helsinki Commission. I am currently an intern in government affairs with the Council on Foreign Relations. In my free time, I enjoy photography, reading, yoga, pilates, long walks with my dog Duncan, and exploring new parts of DC.
Addie Melchior
Hi, I’m Addie Melchior! I graduated in 2020 with a degree in Communications, concentrating in Public Relations, and a minor in African-American Studies. I’ve always been passionate about social policy, local government, and advocacy, which is why I’m pursuing my Master of Public Administration. For the past 4 1/2 years, I’ve been living and working in Charleston, South Carolina, but I’ve recently moved to fulfill a lifelong dream of living in Washington, D.C. I’m so happy to be here and excited about all the opportunities to learn, grow, and connect. Outside of school and work, my cat Remi is my pride and joy.💛
Judith Obregón
Judith Obregón is an M.P.A. candidate at GW’s Trachtenberg School and a U.S. Department of State Gilman Scholar, whose study-abroad service in Spain inspired her commitment to transform global learning into local impact. She advanced this mission by launching Bright Light STEM to expand opportunities for Indigenous children in science and by co-creating Cuentos Indígenas (Indigenous Tales) to preserve the language and oral heritage of the Wayuu Nation in Colombia. Judith also coordinated clean-energy partnerships with a Canadian nonprofit to align Indigenous priorities with sustainable development. In Peru and Colombia, she developed education programs and built coalitions that advance educational equity, while broader experience across Europe and the Middle East, including international business projects, deepened her diplomacy-minded perspective. Judith focuses on inclusive policy and international collaboration to shape education initiatives that break barriers, expand opportunity, and make a positive impact in the world.
Gynelle Sackie-Mensah
I’m someone who’s deeply curious about a lot of things and how they connect. My main interests sit at the intersection of program evaluation and policy analysis; because that’s how I make sense of how policies actually work (or don’t) to make an impact. I’m also drawn to tech policy (understanding AI is very important, yho!) and the broader questions of social justice, especially women’s political empowerment and racial justice; all that.
Outside of the policy/tech/justice world, I really value joy and play. Dancing is one of my favorite ways to unplug and feel free, and I’ll never turn down a good comedy show. Right now, my guilty pleasure is Riverdale (seasons 5–7 specifically). I know it’s technically a drama/crime show, but since it took that mystical turn, it became unintentionally funny.
Gabrielle T. Scott
Gabrielle T. Scott is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Public Policy and Public Administration, building on her Juris Doctor and Master of Business Administration. As an emerging professional, she has gained experience across government, the private sector, and legal advocacy, including roles with Apple, the U.S. Senate, and Maryland Legal Aid. Her career and academic research focus on advancing equity in frontier technologies, from supply chain innovation to telecom infrastructure, competition, and intellectual property rights. Gabrielle is passionate about developing forward-looking policy strategies and dismantling barriers to implementation. Alongside her professional and academic pursuits, she remains active in several campus organizations, enjoys reading in serene environments, crafting flower bouquets, taking long walks to the monuments, and binge-watching her favorite shows. Refusing to be complacent, Gabrielle continues to push toward her goals while promising to reach back and uplift a little girl who may look just like her.
Lydia Woodley
Lydia is a recent graduate from St. John's University. She currently volunteers with the Red Cross and is a Wolcott Fellowship Recipient. She is interested in state management and urban policy.