Our Mission
The Appointments Project & Ready to Run Kansas Women’s Leadership Series is a collaboration between the Women’s Foundation and the University of Kansas Institute for Leadership Studies. The collaboration is built on a shared belief that increasing the number of women’s voices in civic spaces throughout Kansas – including politics and civic boards and commissions – promotes equity, opportunity, and economic strength in our state. Kansas is built on a rich history of women’s civic leadership at all levels of our social fabric, and a bright future for our state will depend on their leadership driving our social, political, and economic engines.
Through this collaboration, it is our mission to provide workshops and programming that enhance women’s civic leadership capacity. And it is our vision that as we increase the number of women prepared to run for political office and sit on local and statewide boards and commissions, our state will thrive.
Advisory Board
Barbara Ballard, Senior Associate Director, Dole Institute of Politics, and State Representative for the 44th District of Kansas
Mayor Kay Barnes, former Mayor of Kansas City
Mary Birch, Government Relations Coordinator, Lathrop GPM
Kim Wallace Carlson, Director of Engagement — Entrepreneurship, Public Affairs, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation
Melissa King, collegiate representative, Washburn University
Cherylyn LeBon, Partner, Dunlap Bennett & Ludwig
Steve Morris, former Kansas Senator and President of the Senate
Christina Ostmeyer, Communications Director, Kansas Appleseed
Sandy Praeger, former Kansas Insurance Commissioner
Linda Sheppard JD, Senior Analyst and Strategy Team Leader, Kansas Health Institute
Blanca Soto, Southwest Kansas Campaign Director, Kansas Appleseed
Joni Wickham, Founder, Wickham James Strategies & Solutions
Donna Wright, Principal, Kansas Business Services LLC
Executive Team
Mary Christine Banwart, Ph.D., Director, Institute for Leadership Studies, University of Kansas
Wendy D. Doyle, President and CEO, Women’s Foundation
Beth A. Felski, Appointments Project Director, Women’s Foundation
Robert J. Glenski, National Appointments Project Director, Women’s Foundation
Emily Hedges Vietti, Partnership Director, Appointments Project & Ready to Run Kansas Women’s Leadership Series