Board of Directors

Karen Clark

Founding WIL Board Member, 1993 & past Chair of WIL
Retired Partner, law firm of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
Education:  BA Stanford; MA in history,  University of Washington; JD, University of Michigan

WIL has been a passion of mine for almost 20 years.  I walked and campaigned for choice even before Roe v. Wade.  I genuinely believed that the Roe v. Wade decision would permanently provide women with reproductive freedom.  What a hopelessly naïve idea!  Now we’re fighting for our rights as women all over again and WIL is more needed and more relevant than ever.

Sara Dick

Senior Account Manager at Sitesafe, a telecommunications firm offering regulatory compliance service

Kellie Freeman

CH2M HILL – Orange and Riverside Counties Area Manager, Public Involvement
Education:  BA Journalism and Psychology, San Diego State University

Women elected officials are essential to protecting   reproductive freedom and comprehensive sex education.  I enjoy interacting with individuals who also value the balance women bring to the legislative process.

Pam Gilmour (awaiting better photo)

Passionate defender of a woman’s right to choose
Mother of 2 girls; Grandmother of 2 boys
Retired attorney
Former Treasurer of Pro-Choice Orange County
Former Board member of Planned Parenthood
Board member and former Chair of WIL

Thirty-nine years after Roe v. Wade and women continue to fight for their reproductive rights   I fully embrace WIL’s mission that only when we elect pro-choice women to represent us, at all levels of government, will our reproductive rights be defended and protected.  I applaud all pro-choice women who run for office.  Whether they win or lose, they made the commitment to represent our reproductive rights and that benefits all women.

Jill Kanzler

Business owner, Kanzler Public Affairs
Executive Director of Support Our Anaheim Resort (S.O.A.R.)
Education:  B.S. in Political Science and International Relations, University of Southern California

I fully support the mission to help elect strong women  and advocate for women’s reproductive rights and freedom. I love being around like-thinking, smart, talented women who stand up and take action for what they believe.

LaDonna Kienitz

Tax Attorney
Education:  MLS, Dominican University, River Forest, Illinois:
MBA, Northwestern Univ., Kellogg School of Management, Evanston, Illinois;
JD, Western State University College of Law, Fullerton, California;
LL.M. in Taxation, University of San Diego, San Diego, California

I believe that it is imperative that a woman have complete autonomy over her own body. We must all work to ensure that there is no governmental or regulatory intrusion into a woman’s right to make her own decisions about her own body and medical care available to her.

Jeanette Miller

State President , National Program V.P. of AAUW (American Assoc of University Women)
Member, AAUW Foundation Board
Past President and Treasurer of WIL

I have been a staunch supporter of women’s rights since college.

Barbara Mozan

Founding WIL Board Member, 1993
Orange County Community Foundation (retired)
Education:  BA, University of St. Francis, Skokie Illinois
Graduate studies in Public Administration, Cal State University, Long Beach

I strongly agree with the mission of Women in Leadership.

Elizabeth “Liz” Dorn Parker,

WIL Member since 1994
Elected Member, OC Board of Education and Co-owner of Tulsa Rib Company
Education:   B.A. UCLA (art history),  Master of Public Administration, CSUF

I believe in Women In Leadership because it is a vibrant organization supporting women leaders in business, education and of course politics.  Being bi-partisan is key to understand the issues facing women in America transcends party affiliation.  I believe WIL’s focus on guaranteeing a woman controls her own body is truly the basis of ensuring a strong democracy and economy for our country.

Lorraine Prinsky

Elected Trustee, Coast Community College District, Professor Emeritus, Cal State University, Fullerton
Education: Ph.D. from UCI, BA from UCLA
Website:  www.lorraineprinsky.com

Since the first time I attended a WIL event (about ten years ago), I have enjoyed enlightening, thoughtful presentations by women who are leaders in their fields.  WIL has provided me with the opportunity to meet and question candidates for office and becoming a better informed voter.  At a time of sharp political divisions, it is notable and gratifying that WIL has provided a bipartisan forum that brings together women who share an appreciation for reproductive choice.  I am honored to be a WIL-endorsed elected official.

Patricia Schuler, CLU, ChFC

WIL member since 1993, Board member since 1995
Education:  BA Psychology, minor in Business, CSULA;
International Graduate Studies, Chapman University
Masters in Public Administration, University of Southern California

Women in Leadership is an amazing organization.  We started in 1993 to elect more moderate, Pro-Choice women to public office, to protect our rights.  We have helped change the face of politics in Orange County.

Melinda Seely

Founding WIL Board member, 1993 and current WIL Chair
Educator and business owner (retired)
Education:  BA California Sate University, Long Beach
Life diploma – State of California

I am a woman, mother of a daughter and grandmother of two granddaughters. I care very much about the status of women in this country and around the world. Until women’s voices are heard in equal number to the voices of men, things will not change for the better in the lives of women everywhere. WIL aims to be part of the solution by electing more women to political office. We have much work to do!
Fascinating facts:
• Women have not achieved equality with men in any country.
• Of the world’s 1.3 billion poor people it is estimated that nearly 70% are women.
• Between 75 and 80% of the world’s 27 million refugees are women and children.”

Susan Seely

WIL member since 1997, current Treasurer
Daughter of Founding Member Melinda Seely,

Education: M.A. International Studies – Middle East, University of Washington
B.A. International Relations, UC Santa Barbara

I am a Sustaining Member of Women In Leadership because I believe strongly in the strength and efficacy of our system of representative government, despite all its faults. I also believe that women contribute a perspective that needs to be incorporated into policy- making and long-term visions when planning for the future of our communities and our country.  And most importantly, I believe in a woman’s right to have absolute choice and control over the decisions she makes regarding her own health and reproductive decisions.  The efforts of Women In Leadership help elect women who want to be that voice for women’s rights, concerns and issues as they go about the  business of helping improve their communities, state and country –  what could be more important?