MEET OUR BOARD

Amy Falk Sheldon

Board Co-Chair

Amy Falk Sheldon

Amy Falk Sheldon

Board Co-Chair

Amy Falk Sheldon is President of Sheldon Strategic Fundraising LLC, a consultancy she founded in January 2008 to help nonprofits develop long-term relationships with individual and foundation donors. Most recently, she served as the Director of Resource Development at National Parent Teacher Association (National PTA), the largest and oldest child advocacy organization in the U.S., raising revenue from corporate and foundation partners to support programs for parents and children. Prior to National PTA, Amy served as Vice President for Strategic Partnerships for the National Council for Community and Education Partnerships (NCCEP), an organization focused on strengthening the pipeline of low-income students enrolling and succeeding in college. A graduate of Northwestern University, Amy has nearly 30 years of development experience working with national and regional nonprofits.

Jennifer Cortner

Board Member

Jennifer Cortner

Jennifer Cortner

Board Member

Jen is a veteran marketing executive experienced in delivering breakthrough marketing and advertising campaigns for global brands. Most recently, Jen was an executive leader on Hilton’s global marketing team as Vice President, Creative Content Production and Marketing Operations, where she led the execution of complex, global marketing campaigns across Hilton’s portfolio of brands.  Before Hilton, she was Vice President of Creative Operations and Partnerships at Discovery Communications, leading the delivery of creative campaigns for some of Discovery’s most popular shows, including Shark Week, Deadliest Catch, and Puppy Bowl.  Jen is passionate about building high-performance teams and is known for inspiring innovation, critical thinking, and a culture of collaboration and resiliency. She is currently partnering with business leaders to help multi-generational teams navigate change and develop the next generation of leaders.

Katie Gibson

Board Member

Katie Gibson

Katie Gibson

Board Member

Katie Gibson brings over 25 years of independent school leadership experience and a deep commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB). Her expertise encompasses strategic leadership, change management, curriculum development, and talent retention across educational institutions. As the current Head of School at School for Friends, a Quaker early childhood center in Washington, D.C., Katie is guided by these core values. After graduating from New York University with a major in dance education, Katie’s career began at Packer Collegiate Institute in Brooklyn, evolving over 14 years from a dance teacher into a K-12 leader, where she honed her passion for building inclusive school communities. Katie went on to attain a Master’s in Educational Leadership from Teachers College, Columbia University, before serving in a wide variety of leadership roles in several high-profile independent schools, including Dean of Students at The Ross School, Upper School Division Head at the Ranney School, and High School Principal at Georgetown Day School. A respected national educational consultant and presenter, Katie has addressed critical topics such as faculty culture, leadership dynamics, and building identity-conscious leadership teams. Her dedication to advancing women in leadership is evident through her involvement with AISGW’s Leadership Initiative and Emerging Leaders program. Katie also serves on an independent school board in NYC and is honored to contribute to the Washington Area Women’s Foundation’s vital mission in the DMV.

Lynn English

Board Co-Chair

Lynn English

Lynn English

Board Co-Chair

Lynn English is the President of English Hudson Consulting, a fundraising, executive search, and strategic planning firm. She has a thirty-year career in fundraising, philanthropy, and nonprofit development. Lynn previously served as a fundraising executive for organizations including AARP Experience Corps, Center for Community Change, Latin American Youth Center, and the National Trust for Historic Preservation. A native Washingtonian, Lynn is deeply committed to organizations serving women and girls in our community. She is honored to join the WAWF board and to continue her service on the Board of Directors for the Academy of Hope Foundation. Lynn is a proud mom of three and is an avid runner.

Maxene Bardwell

Board Member

Maxene Bardwell

Maxene Bardwell

Board Member

Maxene serves as Chief Administrative Officer for Prince George’s County Government. She is a well-credentialed executive and highly respected executive with over 25 years of leadership in internal audit within the financial services, public utility, and government sectors. She holds degrees from Notre Dame of Maryland University and The Ohio State University and is actively involved in professional advancement and public service. Maxene currently serves on the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (AICPA) Council, is the Immediate Past President of the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA)-Central Maryland Chapter, sits on the board of the Association of Inspectors General, and is a Board member of Washington Area Women’s Foundation. A mentor and now Chair of the Maryland Association of CPA’s (MACPA), and winner of the 2021 AICPA Outstanding CPA in Local Government Impact Award, she is recognized for her commitment to ethical leadership, accountability, and professional development.

Michelle Rice

Board Member

Michelle Rice

Michelle Rice

Board Member

Michelle Rice is the President at TV One and CLEO TV, where she oversees the networks’ business, operational, and creative aspects. In her role, she works with strategic partners to create linear and digital content campaigns in response to a myriad of political and social issues that profoundly impact communities of color. Prior to joining TV One, Michelle had stints at iNDemand, NBC Cable Network and Black Entertainment Television (BET). A graduate of Temple University and the University of Southern California, she is actively involved on the Boards of several local civic, community and charitable organizations, including EasterSeals, Calvary Women’s Services and United Way of the Nation’s Capital.

Sara Stump

Board Member

Sara Stump

Sara Stump

Board Member

Sara is a creative and marketing professional with nearly two decades of experience in creative and content strategy. She excels at combining audience insights, communication strategy, and organizational objectives to envision and execute impactful, human-centered, and award-winning experiences. Sara is also an experienced facilitator who helps teams tackle complex questions and empathize with their audiences. Most recently, she served as a Senior Communications Officer at the Gates Foundation. In addition to her professional endeavors, Sara is an active fundraiser for Children’s National Hospital through the Race for Every Child and an advocate for children’s cancer research. Previously, she served as Board Chair of Glovebox, a Boston-based nonprofit dedicated to helping emerging artists gain recognition for their work. She also held the position of Vice-Chair of IDSA Boston, where she contributed to growing programming and membership for the professional organization. Sara earned a Master’s in Education from Harvard Graduate School of Education and a B.F.A. in Industrial Design from Rochester Institute of Technology. Outside of her career and volunteering, Sara enjoys spending time with family and friends, running in Rock Creek Park, and reading a good book.

Shannon Scott

Board Member

Shannon Scott

Shannon Scott

Board Member

Shannon Scott is currently the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for NCTA – The Internet and Television Association. In this role, she develops short-term and long-term strategies to ensure excellent financial health and sustainability for the organization, reporting financial results to the Board of Directors. Prior to this role, Shannon was the CFO at New Venture Fund, and worked with their Board of Directors, oversaw external partnerships with banking and accounting providers, managed the board’s finance committee, and represented the Fund in conversations with donors and project staff. Previously, Shannon was at the Greater Washington Community Foundation, where she also served as CFO and set financial policy and strategy. She also served as CFO at the National Housing Trust and the Council on Foundations, and spent over 12 years as the Controller at Capital Impact Partners, a community development financial institution providing capital and technical assistance for community groups. Shannon is a certified public accountant (CPA) and holds a Bachelor of Accountancy from George Washington University and an MBA in finance from the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business. She currently serves on the board of City First Enterprises, a DC-based community development financial institution; Miriam’s Kitchen, a nonprofit providing services to end chronic homelessness in Washington, DC. and is an Advisory Board Member for the Global Center for Gender Equality which works to build a world where all people, regardless of their gender, have equal opportunities, choices, and life outcomes.

Shenique V. Gray

Board Member

Shenique V. Gray

Shenique V. Gray

Board Member

Shenique’s career with Deloitte and in public accounting spans 18 years. She has led through major change and transformation and served some of the Firm’s most influential and strategic clients. With a career that is as diverse as it is profound, Shenique has masterfully navigated various professional landscapes, always leaving an indelible mark of excellence with skills that include empathy, agility, strategic vision, technical depth, relationship strength, resilience, and operational dexterity. But what truly sets Shenique apart is her unwavering commitment to making a difference. She is a fierce advocate and mentor to many, leading by example and inspiring others to follow. Shenique has professional experience in the U.S. and in the Caribbean/Bahamas, auditing and advising large public and emerging growth companies on a broad spectrum of accounting and business issues, including insurance broking, revenue recognition, investment valuation, expected credit losses, internal controls, and financial reporting. She has also held leadership roles in the areas of Growth, Operations, Quality and Talent, and currently serves as the Audit & Assurance Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Leader for the East Region of the US.

Tiffani Whittaker

Board Member

Tiffani Whittaker

Tiffani Whittaker

Board Member

Tiffani Whittaker serves as Managing Attorney Logan Title. Before diving into title law, she practiced law in the areas of Municipal Finance and Affordable Housing and worked as a legal career counselor and law firm administrator. Throughout her career, Tiffani has served as a legal professional with a track record of community involvement, fundraising and strategy implementation. In addition to her role with the WAWF, Tiffani is the Vice President of the Board of the University of Pennsylvania Black Alumni Society, a member of the Development Committee for the Frederick Douglass Museum and Cultural Center (Highland Beach, MD) and is a member of the Board of Advisors for the birdSEED Foundation. Additional community involvement includes The Links, Inc. (Potomac Valley Chapter), Jack & Jill of America, Inc. (Washington, DC Chapter), National Cathedral School, and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. (Federal City Alumnae Chapter). She dedicates her time to causes impacting women, children, people of color and those with Autism, and has served as a volunteer fundraiser and advisor for political campaigns. Tiffani holds a Juris Doctorate from Georgetown University and a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Pennsylvania.

Victoria Vrana

Board Member

Victoria Vrana

Victoria Vrana

Board Member

Victoria Vrana is a senior leader in innovation and philanthropy at the helm of GlobalGiving. Victoria joined GlobalGiving from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, where she served as Deputy Director of Philanthropic Partnerships, overseeing portfolios in policy, data, and everyday giving. Previously, Victoria held positions with Venture Philanthropy Partners, the Morino Institute, and Millennium Communications. Early in her career, she directed Network of East-West Women Online, the first online network linking women’s rights activists and NGOs in post-Soviet countries with global counterparts. Victoria studied in Germany and Hungary and has a degree in comparative literature from the University of California, Davis. She serves on the board of directors of the Washington Area Women’s Foundation and the Paypal Giving Fund.