11:00 AM - 12:00 PM "Iowa Women in Leadership" Q & A Panel Session

Zoom Link: https://uiowa.zoom.us/j/99998122473

Usha Balakrishnan- Founder, CEO, and Board Chair, CARTHA

Usha defines “Socialization of Aspirations” as her life purpose drawing on her twin mottos: “Pre-Pairing Minds To Create Chance!” and “Aspire Before You Expire!” Much of her professional work as well as personal life has been enriched by the fact that she loves people and enjoys figuring out new ways to connect with different types of people. She grew up in India (New Delhi and Mumbai) and moved to the United States in 1985 after an arranged marriage at age 20. Finding herself in a new environment with near-zero contacts, her cross-cultural journeys as a diaspora woman, wife, and mother have taught her much about human relationships at many levels. Today, her network of contacts and friendships have blossomed beyond belief, and she remains always motivated by the opportunity to design partnerships for business development and team-building strategies that promote thoughtfulness and diversity in leadership and governance. (Full Bio)

Melissa Peterson - IPERS Member Association Representative, Voting Member

Melissa Peterson is Government Relations Specialist for the Iowa State Education Association, where she has proudly worked since 2011, representing the interests of ISEA members and the students they serve. She holds a master’s degree in argument and rhetoric as well as a bachelor’s degree in organizational communication from the University of Northern Iowa.

Sofia DeMartino is an advocate, activist, and community servant. Originally from Queens, New York, Sofia spent her formative years becoming a mother of two by age 17. She attended Kirkwood Community College, the University of Iowa, and Mount Mercy University, earning a B.A. in Political Science and an M.B.A. Sofia is honored to spend her days at local nonprofit Horizons, A Family Service Alliance advocating for those in need. Her passion for this work is driven by her own experience as a teen mother in poverty and the transformational impact of the social service network in our community. Sofia earned her BA from the University of Iowa in Political Science, and her MBA from Mount Mercy University. She is a founding member of the Black Maternal Health Collective, an organization dedicated to raising awareness of maternal healthcare inequity and saving the lives of Black mothers.

Sofia resides in Cedar Rapids with her daughters and a Russian tortoise named Ivan.

12:00 PM - 12:30 PM Break

Optional Zoom Room Link: https://uiowa.zoom.us/j/92836454769

12:30 PM - 1 PM Featured Speaker: Greetings from Representative Liz Bennett

Zoom Link: https://uiowa.zoom.us/j/94969033741

Liz Bennett is a State Representative from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, serving Iowa House District 65.

https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislators/legislator?ga=89&personID=14806https://lizbennett.com/

1:00 PM - 2:15 PM "Taking Action with INL "

Facilitator: Laurie Haag

Zoom Link: https://uiowa.zoom.us/j/97751179225

2:15 PM - 3:00 PM Break

Optional Zoom Room Link: https://uiowa.zoom.us/j/92836454769

"Closing Activity"

Zoom: https://uiowa.zoom.us/j/97751179225