Executive Board
The Women’s Caucus executive board is composed of faculty and staff volunteers. The board meets monthly to review progress made in subcommittees and to plan for the future. Each board member sits on at least one subcommittee.
Jennifer Biddle
Co-Chair | jfbiddle@udel.edu
Dr. Jennifer Biddle is a professor in the School of Marine Science and Policy in Lewes, DE. She is a microbial ecologist who has worked on the deep ocean and marine subsurface. She is currently the UD Advance fellow for CEOE and is trained as a UD LEAD ally.
Meaghan Davidson
Co-Chair | meagstew@udel.edu
Meaghan started in 2009 at the University of Delaware. Currently, Meaghan is an Assistant Dean of Students within the Office of the Dean of Students. Within this role, Meaghan works with students in crisis and advocating for the student experience. Additionally, Meaghan oversees parent and family engagement for the Division of Student Life. Before working in the Office of the Dean of Students, she worked in the University Student Centers at UD with campus wide programs, various student leaders, student programming boards, late night programming, and working with some underrepresented student organizations.
Meaghan is working on her Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Delaware. Prior, Meaghan earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s from the UD. Meaghan joined the Executive Board in 2017.
Mary Elizabeth (Libbey) Bowen
Board Member | mebowen@udel.edu
Dr. Bowen is a social gerontologist, Associate Professor and Associate Dean for Research in the School of Nursing at UD and a Research Health Scientist at the Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center in Philadelphia. Her research interests include maintaining the health and function of vulnerable older adults (e.g., those experiencing or at risk for cognitive and/or functional decline), dissemination of evidence-based programs, and the accumulation of health disparities across the life span.
Tywanda Cuffy
Board Member | tywanda@udel.edu
Tywanda L. Cuffy is the Director of External Relations for the University’s Library, Museums and Press. In this role, she will plans, executes and evaluates activities and communications as they relate to supporters of the UD Library, Museums and Press, as well as members of the Friends of the University of Delaware Library. Cuffy is instrumental in advancing the Library’s strategic initiatives and services by identifying funding opportunities, assisting with the creation of a responsive and comprehensive development plan, and cultivating relationships with a variety of constituents. Cuffy, a UD alumna, brings a wealth of experience to the position. Most recently serving as the associate director of stewardship and engagement communications at UD’s Office of Development and Alumni Relations.
Cuffy has also held positions with the United Way of Delaware and the Wilmington Trust Company. She received her bachelor’s degree in English with a minor in Women’s Studies from the University of Delaware, and earned a Master of Business Administration with a discipline in marketing management from Wilmington University.
Kelsey Cummings
Board Member | kelseyrc@udel.edu
Kelsey is an academic program coordinator in the University of Delaware Honors Program. She collaborates with departments across campus, advises students, and works with candidates applying for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program. Aside from her work with the Women’s Caucus, Kelsey teaches yoga for UD employees, works with the Office of Student Conduct as an appellate and sanctioning panel member, and is a trained LQBTQ ally. She is dedicated to promoting the advancement of women on campus.
Leah Dodd
Board Member | ldodd@udel.edu
Leah is a digital communications specialist for the College of Engineering. She is responsible for a diverse portfolio of communications initiatives, including dozens of websites, social media strategy, video production, and client training. She has over ten years of digital marketing experience and remains committed to being informed on industry trends and best practices. She received a B.S. in Marketing Communications from Emerson College, certificates in graphic design, social media strategy, and project management and is currently pursuing a M.Ed. in Educational Technology at UD.
Diane Goldsmith
Board Member | dianeg@udel.edu
Diane is an Administrative Assistant in the IT-Network and Systems Services Department and joined the University in 2016. She began volunteering with the Women’s Caucus to update their Kudos webpage. A UD trained LGBTQ Ally, she is currently pursuing her bachelor’s degree in Communications and Exercise Science, with a strong focus on Women’s and Gender Studies. Diane teaches yoga for student athletes at a local university and is a regularly featured yoga teacher at the Firefly Music Festival in Dover DE since 2015.
Barbara Ley
Board Member | bley@udel.edu
Barbara is an Associate Professor of Communication and Women & Gender Studies. Much of her research and teaching focus on the health of women, families and children, and she is especially interested in the role that yoga and mindfulness can play in trauma-informed care. She also teaches yoga and mindfulness to children and families in the greater Delaware area. Barbara joined the Executive Board in 2017.
Naomi Nash
Board Member | nnash@udel.edu
Having previously served as an advisor and Senior Associate Registrar at UD, Naomi Nash is currently the Director of Student Success Initiatives and has been at UD since 2011. Naomi’s professional background is rooted in advising, academic policy work, advisement technologies and in training advisors on system platforms and policies. With a passion for student success, Naomi enjoys working with the UD community on optimizing the Blue Hen Success platform and implementing improvements in policies and processes for undergraduate students. Outside of UD, Naomi keeps busy with her family and enjoys doing activities with them such as playing games, exploring the outdoors and traveling. Naomi is excited to continue to great work of the UD Women’s Caucus and looks forward to see how she can contribute to help other women at UD.
Jennifer Semrau
Board Member | semrau@udel.edu
Jennifer is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Applied Physiology at the University of Delaware. She received her PhD from Washington University in St Louis and completed her post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Calgary. Her research focuses on the use of robotics and other technologies for the assessment and rehabilitation of stroke and other neurologic injuries. She has been involved in a variety of STEM outreach efforts aimed at increasing the representation of women and other underrepresented groups in science and engineering.
Zainab Shah
Board Member | zshah@udel.edu
Zainab Shah (she/her/hers) is the Program Coordinator for Victim Advocacy at Student Wellness and Health Promotion. In this role Zainab works with students who have experienced sexual violence, dating/domestic violence and stalking. She also helps implement trainings and programs on campus that address gender-based violence and its root causes.
Prior to working at the University, Zainab held positions at the Delaware Coalition Against Domestic Violence and the Wilmington Police Department in the Victim Services Unit. Zainab graduated from the University of Delaware with a Bachelor’s degree in Women and Gender Studies with concentrations in Domestic Violence Prevention and Services and Women in a Global Perspective. Since 2015, she has served as a Victim Advocate with UD’s Sexual Offense Support. Zainab is also a nationally certified victim advocate and a certified Delaware Domestic Violence Specialist.
Amy Stengel
Board Member | astengel@udel.edu
Amy is the Program Director for the Women’s Leadership Initiative at Lerner College of Business and Economics. In this role, Amy is responsible for the development, design and delivery of programs like the Ascend Student Program, RISE UP Leadership Forum and the Women’s Leadership Online Certificate Program. She also works with the team on building the strategic direction of the Initiative and fulfilling WLI’s mission of advancing gender equity from the classroom to the boardroom. In addition, she serves as an Adjunct Professor for Lerner, teaching a class she developed, Managing Diversity in Organizations.
Prior to joining WLI, Amy had careers as a high school English teacher, corporate lawyer, financial services business leader and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion consultant. She earned a BA in English Education from the University of Delaware and a JD from Temple University.
Megan Wenner, PhD
Board Member | mwenner@udel.edu
Dr. Wenner is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Applied Physiology at the University of Delaware. She received her PhD from the University of Delaware. Her research focus is on women’s health and cardiovascular function.