Woman To Watch Roll Call featuring the inspiring women leading the charge for social good in local nonprofits.
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Michele Anderson
Habitat for Humanity | Chief Executive Officer
Originally from Virginia, Michele Anderson moved to Austin with her husband to help lead Austin Habitat to new heights and further their mission of bringing people together to build homes, communities and hope. Austin Habitat plays a crucial role locally and nationally by acting as an innovator and leader in affordable housing.
Zenae Campbell
Boys and Girls Clubs of the Austin Area | Chief Executive Officer
Passionate about equitable youth development and serving and strengthening communities, Zenae Campbell is the CEO of the Austin area Boys and Girls Clubs, bringing 20-plus years of experience, including 10 years as vice president, Programs and Club Operations at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Houston.
Jennifer Cardenas
Austin Clubhouse | Executive Director
Jen Cardenas is the executive director of Austin Clubhouse, a nonprofit whose time-tested, evidence-based approach to mental health encompasses a worldwide network of 350 Clubhouses in more than 30 countries. For nearly 14 years, Cardenas has focused her career on ending the stigma around mental health and advocating for diversity, equity and inclusion.
Irene Chang-Cimino
Musician Treatment Foundation of Austin Texas Inc. | Executive Director and Vice President
Irene Chang-Cimino joined the Musician Treatment Foundation (MTF) board in October 2019 and has served as its first executive director since July 2020. MTF has offered more than $2.5 million in care to hundreds of injured musicians. Chang-Cimino has helped MTF establish its nationwide Physicians for Musicians network and increase its capacity to assist professional musicians with free upper limb orthopedic care.
Siobhan Cook
SAFE | CARES Drop-In Manager
Siobhan Cook, human trafficking lived experience expert, serves as the drop-in manager for SAFE CARES. Cook knows her clients are the experts of their own experiences. Her goal is to bridge the gaps in services for youth who are vulnerable to trafficking by supporting their unique needs and goals.
Sandy Cox
TexARTS Association for the Visual and Performing Arts | Executive Director
Sandy Cox is a technologist, nonprofit leader and former mayor of Lakeway. She holds an electrical and computer engineering degree from Georgia Tech. She currently serves on the 7-county CAPCOG Economic Development Committee and mentors start-ups at Capital Factory. She returned to TexARTS in October 2022 as the executive director.
Tracy Frank and Heidi Wilson
Society for Animal Rescue & Adoption (SARA) | Founder / Executive Director and Assistant Director
Tracy Frank founded SARA in 1996, on what was her family’s cattle ranch. The 110-acre sanctuary is home to a wide range of animals that are adopted or live out their natural lives in a caring environment. Heidi Wilson has been with SARA for more than two years. She assists with animal care, managing volunteers, adoption queries, social media and more.
Jocelyn Franklin
Open My World Therapeutic Riding Center | Executive Director
Jocelyn Franklin is the executive director of Open My World Therapeutic Riding Center inLeander. Open My World provides life-changing adaptive horseback riding and equine assisted services and learning sessions to participants living with physical, emotional and cognitive disabilities and mental health challenges.
Laura Gómez-Horton
YWCA Greater Austin | Clinical Director
Laura Gómez-Horton (LCSW-S), clinical director at YWCA Greater Austin, embodies the mission of “eliminating racism, empowering women, helping families, strengthening communities and standing up for social justice.” A leader with more than 25 years in the mental health field, she works to increase access, develop trauma-informed programing and advocate for others.
Cindy Haas
Hound Rescue | Board of Directors/Treasurer
As a board member, Cindy Haas guides Hounds Rescue, a Texas-based nonprofit dedicated to saving hounds nationwide. Through education and advocacy, we strengthen human-dog bonds, offering at-risk hounds a second chance. Haas also founded Pink Business Advisors, offering financial services to Hound Rescue, nonprofits and small businesses.
Holly Hawk
Zilker Botanical Garden Conservancy | Executive Director
Holly is a driving force in Zilker Botanical Garden Conservancy’s growth and transformation. In 2023 alone, she broke ground on their first capital project, established an endowment, secured a botanical collection and expanded community programing. With her leadership, Austin can anticipate an exciting chapter of growth for our beloved garden.
Stacy Johnson
Central Texas Table of Grace | Founder and CEO
After entering the foster care system at the age of 2, Stacy Johnson spent the next 14 years dreaming of someday opening a children’s shelter. In May 2014, she opened Central Texas Table of Grace, an emergency shelter for children ages 6 to 17 in foster care. In 2021, Johnson launched the Grace 365 program, a supervised independent living program for young people 18 to 22.
Melissa Keller
Abigail E. Keller Foundation | Founder and President
Created in loving memory of Melissa Keller’s daughter, the Abigail E. Keller Foundation advocates for medically fragile and terminally ill children and their families. The foundation offers care baskets and birthday boxes for hospice families, collaborates with social workers on financial aid grants and aims to build a pediatric respite/hospice facility, dedicated to supporting families in need.
Andrea Magee
Music Helps | Executive Director
It is with great excitement that we announce the release of new music from Andrea Magee. Magee has not only captivated audiences with her soulful voice and mesmerizing bodhran drum, but has also made a significant community impact through her nonprofit, Music Helps, and her music festival, She Rises, uplifting women in the music industry and beyond.
Britty Mann
Planted Society | Founding Executive Director
Britty Mann leads Planted Society, a nonprofit that mitigates Austin’s environmental impact through initiatives that increase access to healthy, climate-friendly foods. Their innovative approach in food systems has saved more than 1.3 million pounds of greenhouse gas emissions, and their work with Austin’s government, elected officials and small businesses has helped foster sustainable, community-driven change.
Susan McDowell
LifeWorks | CEO
LifeWorks CEO Susan McDowell has dedicated more than 25 years to leading the organization’s mission of fearless advocacy for youth experiencing homelessness in Austin. LifeWorks provides housing, counseling, education and workforce programs for youth and young adults pursuing a life they love and a stable future for themselves and their families.
Dr. Rosamaria Murillo
El Buen Samaritano | CEO
Dr. Rosamaria Murillo leads El Buen’s mission to serve Latinos in Central Texas supporting thousands of families to access health care and COVID-19 vaccines, basic needs (food, water, financial assistance) and educational services. As a nationally recognized advocate, she has secured more than $100 million to serve diverse communities throughout Texas.
Shonnery Pettit
Center for Child Protection | President of the Board of Directors
Shonnery Pettit is the President of the Board of Directors for the Center for Child Protection. She has been involved with the Center for eight years and has served as aboard member for six years.
Denise Rodgers
Taylor Pride | President
Denise Rodgers, a native of South Texas, began her LGBTQ+ advocacy in the late’90s. Serving as a DEI professional and Pride ERG co-chair, Rodgers takes pride in leading an inclusive LGBTQ+ family. In May 2020, she initiated the Taylor LGBTQ+ Facebook group, cultivating community support and laying the foundation for the vibrant organization Taylor Pride.
Susan Schaffe
Reveal Resource Center | Executive Director
Susan Schaffer is the executive director of Reveal Resource Center, a faith-based nonprofit organization firmly committed to feeding families. In 2023, with unwavering determination and the support of the community, the center provided food to 26,432 families. Reveal Resource Center is a shining example of what can be achieved when a community comes together with a passion to serve.
Dolores K. Schroeder, MSW, J.D.
RAICES | Chief Executive Officer
Dolores K. Schroeder is CEO at RAICES, the largest immigration legal services agency in Texas. Schroeder has extensive C-suite experience navigating cross-border issues across sectors. She holds her MNR from Virginia Tech University, J.D.and MSW from Loyola University of Chicago and B.A .from St. Mary’s College, Notre Dame.
Suzanne Stone
Livestrong | President and CEO
Suzanne Stone is president and CEO of Livestrong, the Austin-based global nonprofit that asks,“Which everyday cancer problem will we fix today?” Since 1997, Livestrong, a pioneer of cancer survivorship, has improved the lives of people affected by cancer, supporting nearly 10 million survivors and investing in more than 615 cancer initiatives.
Monica von Waaden
HopeAustin | Founder and Executive Director
Monica von Waaden is the founder and executive director of HopeAustin, an organization endeavoring to ensure all Central Texas students are well nourished. Founded in 2016, in the Round Rock ISD, HopeAustin serves 75 students per week and has served more than 5,000 students per week across Central Texas. Students can be at peace knowing their next meal is secure.
Heather Whilden
Rockin’ City Rebels | Founder & Head Coach
Since 2016, Heather Whilden, a Canadian-born Texan who goes by Hot Mitts when on the track, has devoted her free time to Rockin’ City Rebels in Round Rock. “While serving on the board of directors for the adult league, I proposed a plan for a junior team.” In 2023, she accompanied the charter team to the national competition in Denver.