Speakers, Panelists, and More

Celia Blue is President and CEO of the Massachusetts Women of Color Coalition, an organization  dedicated to advancing equity and justice for women of color across the Commonwealth. With extensive  experience in leadership and advocacy, she has worked to amplify underrepresented voices and  dismantle systemic barriers. Her work reflects her commitment to empowering communities, uplifting  future generations, and strengthening civic engagement. Prior to being appointed as Interim Director,  Blue served as a former Chief of Staff and Deputy Director at DHS for over four years. She holds a B.S.  degree from Worcester State University and a master’s degree in business administration from Anna  Maria College and is currently enrolled in a Ph.D. Leadership program at the University of Vermont. She  has received awards for her leadership and commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, and was  named in the Power 50, Class of 2021 by Worcester Business Journal.  

Andrea Joy Campbell is the 45th Attorney General of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, becoming  the first Black woman to hold the office. As Attorney General, she aims to advance economic prosperity,  improve mental health care, break cycles of incarceration and violence, and ensure equitable access to  justice across the state. Attorney General Campbell graduated from Boston Latin School, Princeton  University, and UCLA Law School. Her career reflects a deep commitment to public service: she  advocated for children and families as a legal services attorney, worked to expand equity as counsel to  Governor Deval Patrick, and served as General Counsel at the Metropolitan Area Planning Commission.  

Tina Cassidy (she/her) is Chief Marketing Officer at WGBH and the author of Mr. President, How Long  Must We Wait? She writes about women’s rights, leadership, and social change, with a focus on the  suffrage movement. Cassidy combines her background in journalism, publishing, and communications to  highlight the impact of women’s voices across history. She values storytelling as a tool for advocacy and  empowerment. Cassidy attended Northeastern University and holds a B.A. in Journalism. 

Lisa Connelly Cook Ph.D. is currently Professor of History and Political Science at Quinsigamond  Community College since 2002. Lisa is the inspiration behind the re-enactment idea back in the 1990s.  While attending graduate school at Clark University, taking a class on women in the law, she read a book  by Eleanor Flexner called A Century of Struggle. There was a section about Worcester and the 1850  Convention, and she was surprised she had never heard of that before. “And it had just occurred to me  that—at that time it was like 1992—that 2000 would be the 150th year anniversary and it was only a few  years away and wouldn’t it be cool to do something about it!” She co-founded the Worcester Women’s  History Project in 1995, and planning for Woman 2000 began. Lisa chairs the WWHP Steering Committee  at Museum of Worcester, continuing the important work of educating women about the past to continue  to the important work of reaching equality. Lisa is a Worcester resident and received her Doctoral  Degree in History from Clark University in 2017.  

Deja Foxx is a nationally recognized activist, digital creator, and thought leader from Gen Z. She began  her advocacy as a reproductive justice organizer and later served as a policy strategist focused on equity  and access. Known for using digital platforms to mobilize young people, Foxx highlights the power of  activism and youth leadership in shaping policy. She values boldness, inclusivity, and a belief that storytelling can transform social movements. Foxx has partnered with Planned Parenthood to run  trainings, speak at events, served as a member of the board of directors for Planned Parenthood Arizona,  and helped to found the Reproductive Health Access Project in 2017 alongside untraditional youth  leaders. 

Stephanie Gorton is the author of The Idol and the Idealist, which explores the intersecting lives of 19th century reformers. A writer and historian, she is dedicated to uncovering overlooked narratives and  making history accessible to contemporary audiences. Her values are rooted in intellectual curiosity,  rigorous research, and connecting past struggles for justice to present-day activism. Gorton has an M.A.  in Literature from the University of Edinburgh and a Master of Fine Arts from Goucher College.  

Barbara Guertin is currently the Chief Operating Officer of the Museum of Worcester (MOW) and serves  on the Worcester Women’s History Project steering committee and is spearheading the 175th Event.  Barbara has over 25 years of experience in global in-house human resource management across various  industries, such as healthcare, IT, and biotech, working for many local companies such as UMass Chan  Medical School, Hanover Insurance, and Boston Scientific. Growing up in New York, Barbara developed a  passion for music and the arts, producing, directing, and casting theater, films, and corporate training  films. She is managing director of 4th Wall Stage Company which has been producing plays for Women’s  History Month for over a decade. Barbara has served on the MOW Board since 2005. She teaches  Business and Theater for several local colleges. Barbara has a B.A. from Rutgers’ Women’s College  (Douglass), and an MBA in HR Management from Fitchburg State, and Executive Education Certification  from Wharton. 

Kristina Haugland served as The Le Vine Associate Curator of Costume and Textiles and Supervising  Curator for the Study Room at the Philadelphia Museum of Art before retiring in 2023. At the museum,  she curated numerous exhibitions on diverse topics, including Fabulous Fashion: From Dior’s New Look  to Now and Little Ladies: Victorian Fashion Dolls and the Feminine Ideal. Her publications include Grace  Kelly: Icon of Style to Royal Bride (2006, Philadelphia Museum of Art/Yale University Press) and Grace  Kelly Style (2010, V & A Publishing). Kristina enjoys lecturing and writing, especially about her favorite  topic, the history of women’s underwear. She focused on eighteenth-century stays and deportment for  her M.A. thesis from London’s Courtauld Institute of Art. Her current research highlights women  inventors who improved or reformed nineteenth century corsets, and she looks forward to further  exploration of everything from bustles to brassieres during retirement. 

Parlee Jones is the founder and Executive Director of OurStory Edultainment, a cultural learning institute  that teaches Black history through the fusion of education & entertainment. She is also a co=founder of The Village Worcester, an Afrocentric cultural, learning, and healing center that builds grassroots power  by connecting BIPOC groups, healers, and individuals whose work is rooted in racial justice, learning,  creativity, community, and healing. Prior to founding these organizations, Parlee worked as a Shelter  Advocate for Abby’s House for seventeen years. Her advocacy, community-building and civic leadership  have earned her several awards, including the YWCA’s Katherine Erskine Award and the Greater  Worcester Community Foundation’s Renaissance Award.

Fredie Kay (she/her) is the Founder and President of the Massachusetts Women’s History Center and is a  Task Force member of the national 2020 Women’s Vote Centennial Initiative. A tireless advocate for  preserving and sharing women’s stories, she has dedicated her career to ensuring women’s contributions  are visible in public history. Through educational programs and community initiatives, she has worked to  connect the struggles of the past with ongoing movements for equality today. Kay’s vision is grounded in  the belief that knowing women’s history is essential to building a more inclusive future. Fredie holds a  degree from J.D. at Georgetown University Law Center, an M.P.A. from Harvard’s Kennedy School of  Government, and B.A. in Government and Politics from the University of Maryland.  

Senator Robyn Kennedy serves as a Massachusetts State Senator, where she champions issues of equity,  economic opportunity, and community well-being. With a background in public service and nonprofit  leadership, she brings a deep commitment to social justice and responsive government. Senator  Kennedy’s values are rooted in collaboration, integrity, and ensuring that all voices are represented in  policymaking. Born and raised in Worcester, Massachusetts, Senator Kennedy graduated from Holy  Name High School. She earned a B.A. from Assumption University and a Master of Public Administration  from Clark University. 

John Kowal is co-author of The People’s Constitution and serves as Vice President for Programs at the  Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law. His work explores the Constitution’s evolution through  the lens of social justice, exploring how amendments have expanded rights and protections over time.  Kowal is committed to strengthening democracy, protecting civil liberties, and educating the public about  the living nature of constitutional law. Kowal also authored the 2016 Brennan Center report Judicial  Selection in the 21st Century; “The Improbable Victory of Marriage Equality,” an essay published in the  Brennan Center volume Legal Change: Lessons from America’s Social Movements; and “The Equal Rights  Amendment’s Revival: Questions for Congress, the Courts, and the American People,” a 2019 scholarly  article published in the N.Y.U. Review of Law & Social Change. Before joining the Brennan Center, Kowal  developed and led grantmaking programs at the Open Society Foundations and Ford Foundation and  began his career as a litigation attorney in the New York City law firms of Cravath, Swaine & Moore and  Schulte Roth & Zabel. He is a graduate of New York University and Harvard Law School.  

Dominique Lee (she/her) is President and CEO of Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts and the  Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts. She began her career at PPLM nearly 20 years  ago as a health care assistant and now leads the organization with a deep commitment to health equity,  reproductive rights, and patient-centered care. Previously, Lee held senior leadership roles at multiple  Planned Parenthood affiliates, including serving as Chief Operating Officer at the largest affiliate in the  nation. Of Indigenous and Chinese descent, she is the first person of color to lead PPLM.  

Betty Machete and the Jumping Fleas is an all-woman ukulele band known for their high-energy  performances and playful spirit. Blending humor, harmony, and musicianship, the group celebrates the  joy of music-making while highlighting the power of women’s voices in the arts. Their repertoire spans  classic favorites and witty originals; all delivered with a contagious sense of fun. Through performance  and community engagement, Betty Machete and the Jumping Fleas embody creativity, collaboration,  and empowerment. 

Matthew Martin is a leader at the Boston Alliance of Gay and Lesbian Youth (BAGLY), where he works to  create safe, supportive, and empowering spaces for LGBTQ+ youth. His advocacy emphasizes equity,  health, and leadership development for young people navigating diverse identities. Martin is passionate  about advancing social justice and building inclusive communities where LGBTQ+ voices are centered.  Matthew currently works for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in Health and Human Services. 

Rev. Irene Monroe (she/her) can be heard on Boston Public Radio segment ALL REV'D UP on GBH. As a  feminist lesbian public theologian, ordained minister, and syndicated religion columnist, Monroe's  columns appear locally and nationally in several cities across the country, in the U.K., and in Canada. Her  papers are housed at the Harvard/Radcliffe Schlesinger Research Library on the History of Women in  America. Monroe's work is grounded in intersectional anti-oppression activism and praxis. Monroe says  that she" seeks to inform the public of the role religion plays in discrimination against LGBTQ+ people.  Because homophobia is both a hatred of the "other" and it's usually acted upon in the name of religion,  by reporting religion in the media, I aim to highlight how religious intolerance and fundamentalism not  only shatters the goal of American democracy, but also aids in perpetuating various forms of oppression,  such as racism, sexism, transphobia, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, to name a few." All Rev’d Up Podcast |  www.irenemonroe.com | @revimonroe  

Jailene Matias is a Worcester Public Schools graduate and currently a freshman at the College of the  Holy Cross. As a participant in Mass Audubon’s Youth Climate Leadership Program, Jailene has taken on a  variety of leadership roles as a young climate activist. She recently emceed the Youth Climate Summit in  Worcester event, where she moderated a panel of climate activists and facilitated a climate justice  workshop alongside co-leaders. Jailene was an active and dedicated member of the Worcester State  University Upward Bound program, where she assisted with organizing a fundraiser during the 2025  Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Youth Breakfast. Upward Bound students, including Matias, came together  to raise money to rent a bus to take their peers on a college tour. Under Matias’s leadership, the Upward  Bound program visited Boston University during the 2025 spring semester. 

Lauren Morocco (she/her) prides herself on a career rooted in nonprofit work. Currently the Director of  Strategic Outreach and Development of Catholic Charities Worcester, Morocco specializes in managing  end-to-end grant operations, from research and calendar planning to writing, submission, and reporting.  She also leads fundraising, event planning, and communications strategies that strengthen donor  engagement and drive visibility. Morocco received her B.A. from Assumption University and a Master’s in  Museum Studies from the University of Leicester. 

Anne Marie Murphy (she/her) is the author of A Proper Fit: Women at Work in a City of Corsets (a  history of Worcester's corset industry with a focus on its women) and Amazing Women of Worcester (a  coloring book featuring biographies of twenty of the city's most amazing ladies). Her interest in the  corset-making businesswomen of Worcester probably stems from her own thirtyplus years of self employment as the owner of a company that provides legal research to the entertainment industry  across North America. She recently started a publishing company Story Gopher LLC to work with local  authors who want to see their books in print. She has a Master's degree from the UCLA Film School and  a B.A. in English Literature from Bowdoin College. 

Doreen Nichols (she/her) is Head of HR Business Partnering and Global Talent at Amylyx and a Board  Member of the Northeast HR Association. She has extensive expertise in workforce development,  organizational leadership, and building equitable workplace practices. Nichols is committed to fostering  inclusive environments where all employees can thrive, and she champions diversity as a driver of  business success. Nicholas has experience in higher education, where she worked at Tulane University as  the Associate Vice President of the Work Force Management Organization from 2013 to 2017, and with  other prior HR roles. Doreen led various departments and collaborated with the Executive Leadership  Team to set and achieve strategic objectives. Nichols has a B.S. in Technical Management / HR from  DeVry University.  

Bishop Nathan D. Pipho joined Ascentria’s Board of Directors following his election as Bishop of the New  England Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Before becoming bishop, he served  as pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Worcester, Massachusetts, where he was actively involved in  church and community life. Within the ELCA and New England Synod, Bishop Pipho has demonstrated a  longstanding commitment to justice, inclusion, and leadership development. Bishop Pipho was ordained  in 2002 at St. John Lutheran Church in Sudbury, MA. He holds a Master of Divinity from the Lutheran  Theological Seminary at Philadelphia (now United Lutheran Seminary), a master’s in public  administration from Harvard Kennedy School, and a B.A. from Wartburg College in Iowa. 

Karon Shea has been a business owner for 45 years. She has produced and commentated on hundreds  of fashion shows throughout New England. Her commitment to the community is evident in her  leadership of numerous charity events, including the Harvey Ball. Shea is a founding member of the  Hanover Theatre, board member of the Boys and Girls Club, board member for the Canal District Alliance  Group, fashion coordinator for the Colorectal Cancer Alliance Fashion Show, and served as License  Commissioner for nine years for the City of Worcester. She received the Friends of the Worcester Public  School award in 2024 from the Worcester Educational Development Foundation and received the "Key to  the City" in 2010 and 2024. She recently established the Shea Foundation to support the Burncoat High  School Spirit Team, enhancing dance and music programs for the city's students in the arts.  

Stefanie Silva (she/her) is the Director of Programs and Events for the Worcester Regional Chamber of  Commerce. Prior to her role at the Chamber in 2021, Stefanie was the Sales and Catering Manager at the  Sheraton Framingham Hotel; selling, detailing, and executing corporate galas, fundraisers, and all social  events, including weddings. From 2005-2017 Stefanie worked for Outback Steakhouse Bloomin Brands,  as the Regional Director of Training. Her passion for the advancement and opportunities of the youth  was rooted in her at a young age from attending Girls Inc. in Worcester. Stefanie serves as the Committee  Chair for the Worcester Women’s Leadership Conference. She currently serves on the Advisory  Committee on the Status of Women for the City of Worcester, as well as the Board of Directors for Girl  Scouts of Central and Western MA and Board of Directors for CASA Project Worcester. Born and raised in  Worcester, Silva holds a degree from Worcester State University. 

Dr. Lauran Star (she/her) is a company culture expert, keynote speaker, and author of Inclusion: It's Time  to Focus on the Right Needle. She specializes in helping organizations create workplaces where diversity  and inclusion drive innovation and collaboration. Drawing on research and lived experience, she challenges leaders to embrace disruption as a catalyst for progress. Her values are rooted in  empowerment, authenticity, and cultivating environments where every voice is heard. Dr. Star holds a  Ph.D. in Industrial Organizational Psychology, specializing in Inclusion, Diversity & Equity.  

Stephanie Yuhl is a Professor of History and Women’s Studies at the College of the Holy Cross. Her  scholarship focuses on women’s history, memory, and the politics of representation. Yuhl is committed to  teaching and mentoring students to critically examine the past and to connect historical struggles for  justice to contemporary issues. Her publications include LGBTQ+ Worcester For The Record, Worcester  Historical Museum, and A Golden Haze of Memory: The Making of Historic Charleston (University of  North Carolina Press, 2005). Yuhl holds a Ph.D. from Duke University.