Staff

Julia is a passionate, driven leader with a long history in gender justice. Prior to GEN, Julia worked for eight years at the Girl Scouts of Central Texas running various outreach programs that served at-risk girls. While at the Girl Scouts, Julia directed a troop for girls with incarcerated mothers and the program was featured in an award-winning winning documentary called Troop 1500.

Ami is deeply passionate about gender justice and is a phenomenal fundraiser. She received her Master's in Nonprofit Management while also working at Girls Incorporated of Greater Indianapolis. Ami managed the We Are Girls Conference for three years, before moving into fundraising as Development Director in 2013, and transitioning to Chief Development Officer in 2018.

Caroline has worked with girls for over a decade and is a spirited proponent of self-compassion and self-worth. Prior to GEN, she was Caroline was Director at Camp Champions, where she created intentional frameworks and programs to support every girl at camp. She's also worked with Pheonix House, a residential rehabilitation organization designed for at-risk youth 13 to 18, leading group therapy.

Steve is a powerful advocate for gender equity, and is the engine behind GEN's operations. Steve spent 20 years in banking, financial planning, investment management, and running the operations of various professional firms before transitioning to nonprofit operations and management for the decade prior to beginning at GEN.

Lisa is a non-profit development expert and community leader. With 15+ years experience in communal nonprofit work, she currently serves as the President the National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) Houston Section, on the Lyon Cohen Symposium and Membership Committees at Beth Israel, and on the Advisory Council for Volunteer Houston.

Elena is a driven development professional working toward social justice. Prior to GEN, she was Administrative Director at Center for Maximum Potential Building Systems, a sustainability nonprofit. Beyond work, Elena is an active Young Women's Alliance member, serves on the STEMed Labs Advisory Council, and provides pro bono development consulting to Austin Bat Cave and Lone Star Victims Advocacy Project.

Sidney wants all girls to know that they are enough, and she holds a key role in program team coordination and alignment. Sidney has a Bachelor of Social Work and her passion for girls' issues began when she worked with After-school Centers on Education (ACE), and Communities in Schools (CIS).

Blair is an logistics mastermind and event planner extraordinaire. She planned the Las Vegas AIDS Walk for Aid for AIDS of Nevada, the largest non profit in Southern Nevada to support people with HIV and AIDS. Afterward, she managed the 5K and "Knockout Cancer for Canlelighters Kids" events for Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation of Nevada.

Brittany is a passionate girl advocate and movement-builder. She was a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar and earned her graduate degree in Media Studies at Rhodes University in Grahamstown, South Africa. Prior to her current role at GEN, Brittany served as Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas’ Community Outreach Specialist.

Claudia is passionate about giving back to her community. She was born and raised in Austin, specifically a proud member of the Dove Springs area and is a first generation college graduate. Claudia has held a multitude of roles at GEN: volunteer, intern, AmeriCorps VISTA Summer Associate, Hays County Program Coordinator, and now Outreach Program Coordinator.

Eveling is a dedicated social work professional with a passion for empowering youth. Currently pursuing a Master's in Social Work, she's previously run groups for the Boys and Girls Club, was a summer camp counselor at the YMCA, interned both at AVANCE-Austin and  Workers Defense Project, and worked with at-risk youth at River City Youth Foundation.

Chelsea serves girls with immense intentionality. Prior to GEN, she volunteered at Project Transition’s Doug’s House – a hospice for those diagnosed with AIDS, Front Step’s the ARCH – Austin Resource Center for the Homeless, and Inside books – a nonprofit dedicated to sending books to Texas prison inmates.

Izzy has long loved engaging girls in conversations about the unique pressures of girlhood. She interned for Thistle Farms’ residential recovery program in Nashville, TN where she worked with women survivors of trafficking, prostitution, and addiction. Later, she interned with the Children’s Bureau of New Orleans where she provided general, as well as grief and trauma counseling, for children and adolescents.

Chloé is passionate about education, empowerment, and mental health support. She's provided group therapy to female inmates in a correctional setting, as well as interned with an organization in Sydney, Australia, CanTeen, for adolescents and young people affected by cancer by providing online and phone counseling, as well as facilitating camps and programs for the young people.

Kameryn is an ardent supporter of women and girls. During college, she was a volunteer hotline advocate for STAR (Sexual Trauma Awareness and Response), volunteered at Iris Domestic Violence Shelter, held leadership roles in the Minority Women's Movement, and was Volunteer Coordinator Intern at Girls on the Run South Louisiana.

Miranda is driven to bolster gender equity through community support. She's pursuing dual master's degrees in Social Work and Public Affairs at University of Texas at Austin. She's served as Assistant Student Program Coordinator in UT's Department of African and African Diaspora Studies and first found GEN as a Communities in Schools intern at Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders, where she co-facilitated a Girl Connect group.

Amy supports the GEN staff to do their best work. She honed her organizational and administrative skills in nonprofit, state government, and museum settings, and currently volunteers for Project Transitions, a local organization supporting those living with HIV/AIDS in Central Texas.

Chaeli studies creative writing and is helping GEN take its communications to the next level. She is a senior at the University of Texas at Austin studying English and Creative Writing. She enjoys reading YA novels, writing short stories, and playing with her dog.

Mariangela studies advertising and supports GEN in being a data-driven agency. Mariangela is involved with Habitat for Humanity, interned at a nonprofit organization, Brownsville Wellness Coalition, in 2017 in the social media department, and has also interned at a small jewelry business, Oliv & Frankie, for two years in the media and marketing department.

Experience Sarah brings to Girls Empowerment Network her passion for using data to improve people’s lives. She has worked with children since her very first job at El Buen Samaritano’s childcare center. She worked from 2010 to 2016 at the Schubert Center for Child Studies at Case Western Reserve, building bridges between academic research and