2016 SPEAKERS LAURIE LESHIN, Ph.D. President Worcester Polytechnic Institute Laurie Leshin is the President of Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), where she is committed to elevating WPI’s impact in communities worldwide. Leshin brings to WPI over 20 years of experience as a leader in academia and government service, and an accomplished record as a space scientist. She combines a lifelong love of learning and exploration with a strong track record of igniting action to advance critical institutions and programs. Before joining WPI, Leshin served as the Dean of the School of Science at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York. While at Rensselaer, Leshin continued her work as a scientist for the Mars Curiosity Rover mission. Before joining Rensselaer, Leshin served as the deputy director of NASA’s Exploration Systems Mission Directorate. Leshin previously served as a professor of geological sciences at Arizona State University. Leshin received a B.S. in chemistry from ASU in 1987 and a Ph.D. in geochemistry from the California Institute of Technology in 1994.
LISA MAATZ Photo Courtesy Cronkite News
Vice President of Government Relations and Advocacy American Association of University Women Lisa M. Maatz is a nationally sought-after speaker, writer, and political analyst. As Vice President of Government Relations at the American Association of University Women (AAUW), she is a frequent speaker at Capitol Hill events and has developed a reputation for her strategic approach to legislation and advocacy at all levels. Maatz works to advance AAUW’s priority issues on Capitol Hill and in state capitals nationwide. Since 1881, AAUW has been the nation’s leading grassroots voice promoting equity and education for all women and girls. Maatz leads several coalitions working to advance opportunities for women and girls, including the National Coalition for Women and Girls in Education and the Equal Pay Coalition. Her grassroots advocacy career began when she was the Executive Director of Turning Point, a battered women’s program recognized for excellence by the Ohio Supreme Court. Featured in the book Secrets of Powerful Women, Maatz also has a devoted following on Twitter (@LisaMaatz). Most recently, she is a contributor to Love Her, Love Her Not: The Hillary Paradox, an anthology released in November 2015 as an Amazon #1 Hot New Release. Maatz is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Ohio University and has two master’s degrees from Ohio State. Honors include the National Committee on Pay Equity’s Winn Newman Advocacy Award (2013), National Association of Partnerships in Equity’s first-ever Public Policy Advocate for Equity Award (2012), and the U.S. Women’s Chamber of Commerce’s 10th anniversary Trailblazer Award (2011). Lisa also has received the Women’s Information Network’s Karen Mulhauser Award (2010) for mentoring and service, and WIN’s Young Woman of Achievement Award (2001).
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