Keynote Speaker

Nina Jankowicz
Counter-Disinformation Expert
Nina Jankowicz is an internationally-recognized expert on disinformation and democratization and one of TIME Magazine’s 100 most influential people in artificial intelligence.
Jankowicz’s expertise spans the public, private, and academic sectors. She is the co-founder and CEO of the American Sunlight Project, a bipartisan group increasing the cost of lies that undermine democracy. She has advised governments, international organizations, and tech companies; testified before the United States Congress and the UK, Canadian, and European Parliaments; and led accessible, actionable research about the effects of disinformation on women, minorities, democratic activists, and freedom of expression around the world.
Gender & Politics Speaker

Dr. Caroline Heldman
Occidental College
Leading California: Inside the 2026 Governors’ Race

Betty Yee
Candidate for Governor
Elected in November 2014, Betty Yee is the former California State Controller, only the 10th woman elected to statewide office in California’s history. As Chief Fiscal Officer of the world’s then-fifth largest economy, Betty, among other responsibilities, served as a member of the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) and the California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS) boards, whose combined portfolio reached $800 billion. She led the work at both pension funds that culminated in the funds’ net zero pledges. Over her eight years as Controller, she and her audit team uncovered $7.5 billion in unallowed spending.
Betty served on dozens of boards, commissions, and financing authorities affecting policies ranging from land management, affordable housing, and alternative transportation to crime victim compensation and health and educational facilities.
With close to four decades of experience in public service specializing in state and local finance and tax policy, Betty earned a BA in sociology from the University of California, Berkeley, and a MPA from Golden Gate University in San Francisco. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of Ceres, a national sustainability organization, and the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies.
After her service as State Controller, Betty served as a Fellow with the University of Southern California Dornsife Center for the Political Future where she led a discussion and study group on the relationship of good governance and the health of our democracy.
Betty is a declared candidate for Governor.

Dr. Caroline Heldman

Jodi Balmer
Fullerton College
Professor Jodi Balma started her career as a professor of political science at Fullerton College in 2000, specializing in American politics and California state and local government. Her goal is to help students learn how to think about politics and community problems with an emphasis on critical thinking and analysis.
She is actively involved in the League of Women Voters and frequently hosts local candidate forums throughout North Orange County each election cycle. Balma is a regular on-the-record analyst for newspaper and radio media outlets such as the Los Angeles Times, Orange County Register, Voice of OC, KNX 1070, KPCC, and NPR. and hosts a podcast on North Orange County politics titled “A Slice of Orange.”

Ashley Walker
Nossaman LLP
Leadership in Higher Education Panel

Dr. Barbara Dunsheath
North Orange County Community College District
Dr. Barbara Dunsheath currently serves as the Vice President of the North Orange County Community College District Board of Trustees, where she has been an elected official since 2009. As professor of history for 24 years at East Los Angeles College, she served as Faculty Chair of Accreditation and on a variety of committees including Women/Gender Studies, curriculum, Professional Development, Distance Education, and Learning Assessment.
Barbara is also active at the state level and was elected to serve on the California Community College Trustee Board and currently is the President Elect. Previously, she co-chaired statewide Vision 2030 Taskforce and served as a commissioner for Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) from 2018-2024.
Dr. Dunsheath holds a BA in History from Bradley University, as well as an MA in History and an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from Cal State University Long Beach.

Kathryn Perkins
CSU Long Beach
Dr. Kathryn J. Perkins is Chair and Associate Professor of Political Science at California State University, Long Beach where she also serves on the President’s Commission on the Status of Women and is a President and Provost’s Leadership Fellow. Her scholarly research focuses on constitutional law, feminist legal theory, and LGBTQ politics, and her recent work has been published in the Journal of Homosexuality and the Research Handbook in Feminist Political Thought. She is also co-editing a forthcoming special issue on LGBTQ politics for the journal Politics, Groups, and Identities, serves on the Executive Council of the Western Political Science Association, and was recently elected as incoming Chair of the Sexuality and Politics section of the American Political Science Association.

Dr. Sherylle Tan
Claremont McKenna College
Sherylle J. Tan, Ph.D. is an award-winning author and scholar, leadership educator and coach, and yoga teacher with over 20 years of experience in higher education, research, and non-profit consulting. She is the Director of Internship and Research at the
Kravis Leadership Institute at Claremont McKenna College.
Dr. Tan co-authored Women and Leadership: Journey Toward Equity (with Lisa DeFrank-Cole), the 2022 Most Promising New Textbook award winner by the Textbook and Academic Author’s Association. She has served as the Chair and member of the Executive Leadership Team for International Leadership Association (ILA) Women and was recognized by the ILA Women and Leadership Member Community as a 2022 winner of the Outstanding Scholarship for Established Scholars Award.

Chloe Serrano
UCLA
Chloe Serrano is pursuing her bachelor’s degree in Asian American Studies with a minor in Public Affairs at UCLA, following her graduation from Fullerton College with honors in Ethnic Studies. Chloe has served as President of Associated Students and Student Trustee of Fullerton College. Throughout her leadership, she created policy on supporting students of marginalized identities, stipulated the need for a prayer room, ensured safety to all students on campus, and co-wrote a resolution on supporting trans, non-binary, and gender nonconforming students that was passed on a state level. She is also the co-founder of “Melanated Youth,” where she has led advocacy efforts on issues from financial aid equity to combating racial injustice. Her experience encompasses policy research, community development, and strategic communications, including roles with the California Democratic Party, Americans United, Ms. Magazine, and the Michelson Foundation. She is an aspiring public interest lawyer and plans to support progressive campaigns for the 2026 midterm elections.

Dr. Letitia Clark
South Orange County Community College District
Letitia Clark is the Chief Communications Officer for the South Orange County Community College District, where she leads public affairs, government relations, crisis communication, and brand management, with a focus on diversity, inclusion, and equity. A former mayor and city councilmember, she has championed initiatives that expand civic engagement, strengthen community partnerships, and increase access to opportunity. Dr. Clark earned her Doctorate in Public Administration from California Baptist University, where her research explored the fundraising experiences of women of color in politics. She is a passionate advocate for leadership development, equity in education, and systemic change to create pathways for women and underrepresented communities to serve in positions of power.
Women’s Health and Safety Panel

Dr. Deepti Gandhi
Physician & Menopause Expert
Over the years, Dr. Gandhi has witnessed many women navigate the complex and often challenging symptoms of perimenopause and menopause. Motivated by a desire to offer more comprehensive and effective care, she pursued advanced training and is now a Menopause Society Certified Practitioner (MSCP).
Dr. Gandhi is deeply passionate about empowering women through education, helping them make confident, well-informed choices about their hormonal and midlife health. She is known for her warm bedside manner and her thoughtful, individualized approach—one that blends a holistic approach with evidence-based medicine. Her mission is to help women not just survive, but truly thrive through midlife and beyond.

Darcy Totten
CA Commission for Women & Girls
Darcy Totten serves as the Executive Director at the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls. She has over 20 years of experience in crisis communications, journalism, public policy, and external affairs.
Darcy has built nationally recognized efforts while at the Commission including authoring the Commission’s award-winning original research report, the California Women’s Economic Blueprint for Pandemic Recovery and the award-winning #womenareessential campaign highlighting the role of women as essential workers in California’s economy. She is an expert in social impact strategies, issue advocacy, crisis communications and gender focused public policy. She is passionate about coalition building and working with intersectional and inclusive teams that prioritize historically marginalized communities.
Darcy holds a bachelor’s degree from Mills College in studio art and visual communication and a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Texas at Austin. She lives in Sacramento with her wife Jasper and too many cats.

Krista Hollinger
Planned Parenthood
Krista Hollinger, MPH, is the President & CEO of Planned Parenthood of Orange and San Bernardino Counties (PPOSBC). PPOSBC is one of the largest Planned Parenthood affiliates in the country, providing more than 270,000 medical visits last year.
Krista previously served as Chief Operating Officer for PPOSBC where she oversaw clinical operations across the affiliate’s nine health centers spanning two counties, human resources and strategic initiatives. Under her leadership and data-driven approach to enhancing the patient experience, PPOSBC has expanded access to care year over year.
Krista brings nearly 25 years of experience in health care and public policy, including roles at UC Irvine Health. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Urban Planning from UC San Diego and a Master of Public Health with a concentration in health care administration and public policy from UCLA.

Gabriella Blanchard
Human Options
Gabriella Blanchard is the Vice President of Producer Recruitment at Marsh McLennan Agency and a dedicated Board Member at Human Options, an organization committed to ending relationship violence. As both an advocate and educator, Gabriella draws on her personal experience as a survivor of domestic violence to inspire and empower women of all ages. She shares her story with courage and authenticity, encouraging others to use their voices, embrace resilience, and realize their fullest potential.
With a passion for women’s health and well-being, Gabriella is committed to fostering spaces where women can thrive personally and professionally. Her mission is to break the silence around abuse, champion self-worth, and equip others with the tools to live with strength, purpose, and hope.

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