Maura Weaver (Candidate for President)

My name is Maura Weaver, and I am running for the role of President of this year’s Women’s Congressional Staff Association. I hope to build on the work that the board did last year, when I served as Vice President, and continue to support the personal and professional development for all women staffers on the Hill. It is also a priority of mine to make WCSA more accessible for all women staffers. To do this, I will work to continue outreach between other staff associations to partner on events and tailor our events to the needs and wants of the membership. From a workshop on micro aggressions to cookie decorating and clothing swaps, we’ve hosted wonderful events last year that expanded the networks and knowledge of staff. I also hope to continue to expand access for district staffers. I hope you’ll consider voting for me!

Monika Konrad (Candidate for Vice President)

My name is Monika Konrad, and I am currently a Legislative Assistant in Rep. Mark Amodei’s Office for Nevada’s 2nd District. During the Summer of 2022, I was honored to be one of the WCSA Summer Conference Co-Chairs and become a part of this community of strong, influential, and wonderful women on the hill. Following the Summer Conference experience, I hoped to become more involved with the organization, so I took on the Treasurer position on the WCSA Leadership Board. Serving as Treasurer has been such a great experience and I’ve loved managing the funds that go towards creating positive and new experiences for women in Congress. The idea of a bipartisan women’s organization in the professional world of politics is incredibly unique and we are presented with the opportunity to not only build bridges but walk across them together and achieve goals that no one thought would be possible. Amelia and Maura, specifically, and the rest of the board, have been so welcoming towards me in this group and so encouraging— I can’t wait to continue serving alongside them on this board, but this time as Vice President if you all decide to elect me for the position. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns. Thanks!

Sonia Norton (Candidate for Secretary)

Having served on Capitol Hill over the last four years, I recognize the important role the WCSA community has played in setting women up for success in Congress. However, making it onto the Hill and thriving here remain elusive to many women, and gendered norms continue to sideline women in this space. I am running for re-election as Secretary to continue building on WCSA’s momentum in increasing access to the information sharing, the networking, and the resources women need to rise on the Hill. In this role, I hope to continue to build out collaborations between staff associations and to ensure WCSA members have open, consistent access to the full benefits of the organization’s work. Throughout my career on the Hill, WCSA’s network of mighty women staffers has been crucial to my growth here. I am excited to use my experience to lift more women on the Hill from both parties and to sustain and expand resources available to WCSA members as Secretary.

Stephanie Lalle (Candidate for Treasurer)

My name is Stephanie Lalle and I currently serve as the Communications Director for the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, Minority Staff. I started my professional career in Orlando, Florida at Walt Disney World, working in event planning. After a year, I returned home to Baltimore and started graduate school at Johns Hopkins University. I began my Capitol Hill career in the summer of 2016 (a quiet time for politics), and the only network of people I knew working in politics were a handful of my classmates. Capitol Hill can be very insular at times, and virtually impenetrable for so many talented, young professionals. The Women's Congressional Staff Association strives to break down these artificial barriers and help women build a community where they can thrive both professionally and personally. I know I would not be where I am today without the many women who mentored me along the way. Serving as treasurer for WCSA would give me an opportunity to give back to a community that has been so instrumental to my success.

Janey Green (Candidate for Membership Services Director)

My name is Janey Green and I am excited to run for the Membership Director position on the WCSA board. While being on Capitol Hill for just over three years, I understand the importance of mentorship especially between women staffers. For the past six months, I have had the honor of serving WCSA in the role of Membership Director. This experience has allowed me to witness the positive impact WCSA has made for our members and community. I am passionate about continuing to contribute to WCSA's growth and success by encouraging and welcoming new members. I am excited about the possibility of continuing to serve WCSA in this capacity and working towards our shared goals. Thank you for considering my candidacy for the Membership Director position. I look forward to the opportunity to contribute to the growth and success of WCSA.

Mairead Glowacki (Candidate for Communications Director)

My name is Mairead Glowacki and I work as Press Secretary in Congressman Mark DeSaulnier’s office (CA-10). I currently serve as the Deputy Communications Director for WCSA. I hope to continue serving on the board next year as Communications Director building on what I have learned and the relationships I am fortunate to have made this past year. I look forward to continuing working collaboratively with a Deputy Communications Director, the entire Board, and WCSA members to execute thoughtful, dynamic, and engaging social media content that will allow us to grow our membership and bring more women staffers together in community to ultimately further our organization’s goal of supporting women staffers on the Hill. Serving on the WCSA Board has been such a joy this past year due largely to the amazing women I’ve met through it and the community we continued to build. I would love to continue being a part of it! Thank you for your consideration.

Mary Kathryn Daigle (Candidate for Deputy Communications Director)

Hello! My name is Mary Kathryn Daigle, currently serving PA-17 as Rep. Chris Deluzio’s press assistant. I hope to join the WCSA board as Deputy Communications Director. Amid the cutthroat culture of the Hill, WCSA has been an oasis of encouragement for me. I consistently leave events feeling more secure in my role because of the kind and intelligent women found at WCSA programming. It would be an honor to serve the community that has been a gift to me—and to do so with the tools and skills I use every day! Social media is currently part of my portfolio, and I think often about engaging community and stimulating feelings of belonging through words, graphics, and text boxes. I’m very excited by the potential of harnessing the power of communications to invite female staffers into a community where they can be affirmed, empowered, and equipped to be their best selves.

Janique Jules (Candidate for Diversity & Inclusion Co-Chair)

Since beginning my professional journey on Capitol Hill as an intern, I have heard many of the unique ways that the Women's Congressional Staff Association has engaged with staffers on the Hill, and I could not wait to become a part of such a great organization. For this reason, I am proud to submit my statement of candidacy for the Diversity and Inclusion Co-Chair position. As a Black Woman who looks to continue to grow in the field of politics, I recognize the work that trailblazers before me have accomplished for me to have a seat at the table, and I would love to continue to pave the way for others in the future. The mission of the Women's Congressional Staff Association in fostering professional and personal development and strengthening support systems for women staffers is one that I would be more than grateful to be a part of in its accomplishment. Through this role, I plan to continue to work toward achieving the mission of this staff association and bring new ideas to the table on how we can continue to grow and develop the organization. Thank you for taking the time to read my candidacy statement, and I look forward to the opportunity to work closely with my colleagues to achieve the WCSA's goals.

Anna Beaulieu (Candidate for Professional Development Co-Chair)

My name is Anna Beaulieu, and I am running to be considered for a Professional Development Co-Chair on the Women's Congressional Staff Association's board. I am a Legislative Correspondent in the office of U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) handling health care and education issues. My passion for building relationships and meaningful connections with constituents and other stakeholders in my home state of Rhode Island drew me to this role, where I am lucky to live out my desire to help generate positive, sustainable change in the lives of Rhode Islanders. My inclination to foster impactful relationships and connections makes me a good fit for this position, as I will hone these skills to aid fellow staffers in their career development. My personal experience from multiple job searches and mentoring disposition will enable me to be successful in helping folks build out their networks, establish support systems for job application processes, and advance long-term goals. As a proud member of WCSA who has benefited from extraordinary mentorship and professional guidance from the organization and its members, I would be honored to serve in this role to continue this empowering work.

Gabbi Sheitelman (Candidate for Outreach & Community Service Co-Chair)

I would like to be a co-chair of the Outreach & Community Service committee as I am incredibly passionate about volunteering and community service. While I have only attended one WCSA volunteering opportunity, I am eager to help put together more opportunities for women on the hill to give back to their communities and foster relationships with one another. I truly believe there is no better way to create better relationships with others than by serving with them! If given the opportunity to serve as a co-chair, I would be excited to help organize volunteer opportunities and contribute to WCSA’s mission as a whole.

Aria Austin (Candidate for Outreach & Community Service Co-Chair)

I am excited to be running to be WCSA's Outreach and Community Service Co-Chair. With a passion for people and politics, I am drawn to opportunities that allow me to continue to be a changemaker in the communities I am a part of. I currently am a Legislative Aide for Senator John Fetterman. The past year I've had the honor of serving as the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Co-Chair for WCSA. In this role, with an understanding that DEI is so much more than race and gender, I executed events to support our nation's veterans, facilitated a panel discussion on microaggressions in the workplace, supported DEI efforts of other congressional staff organizations, and began discussions surrounding an ASL workshop on the Hill in the fall in partnership with Gallaudet University.

My interest in being the Outreach and Community Service Co-Chair for the upcoming year stems from my love for the DC and Hill community. I have grown up in the DMV area and am aware of the challenges the surrounding area faces such as food deserts and inequity in education. As public servants, I believe it is vitally important for us to give back to the community in more ways than one. As an Outreach and Community Service Co-Chair, I will use the connections I have made the past year as DEI Co-Chair and as a Hill staffer with 2+ years of experience to plan great events and activities, such as a panel discussion and Capitol tour for high school students in DC, clothing swaps, and volunteering at local food banks and more. Should I be granted this opportunity, I am very eager to continue my work with WCSA. "

Meghan Gilkes (Candidate for Events & Activities Co-Chair)

My name is Meghan Gilkes, I am running to be WCSA’s Chair for Events & Activities. I currently serve Senator Patty Murray as the Director of Operations & Logistics for her Office of the President Pro Tempore. As of January 2023, Senator Murray is the first woman to ever serve as the PPT and it has been such an honor to come set this office up for her and learn the ins and outs of this unique position; from handling her new security detail to signing all the legislation before it heads to the President to become law (or get vetoed!). For the past 6 years, I served Senator Murray in capacity of her Director of Scheduling & Executive Assistant and her Deputy Scheduler before that. Getting to work for a female Senator who continues to shatter glass ceilings (first female SVAC chair? First female Budget chair? First female Senator to cast 10,000 votes? I could keep going…) allows me to foster my desire to improve the lives of women. This includes women staffers! Bringing the unique perspective of the operations world & the Senate side to the WCSA Chairs would allow for me to design activities that work well depending on the vote schedule, when the chambers are in session, and other things that might keep staffers from attending our events. We are the backbone of Capitol Hill; often working the most unforgiving jobs in operations, scheduling, admin, and I would like to serve as your next Events & Activities Chair because us girls deserve to have some fun!