Education: BA in Women's Studies, Creative Writing, Literary Studies, Beloit College, Beloit, WI; Master of Science in Social Work, University of Texas at Austin

Experience: Before GENaustin, Julia worked for nine years at the Girl Scouts - Lone Star Council running various outreach programs that served high-risk girls, such as girls in shelters, teen parents, girls on probation, girls whose mothers were incarcerated, girls with emotional disorders and more. She also worked in Chicago at various grassroots women's agencies on equal employment opportunities, international women's issues fundraising, inner city high school mentor program, rape victim counseling, and a women's art gallery.

Education: BA in Psychology, University of Texas, Austin, Texas; Master of Public Affairs, University of Texas at Austin.

Experience: Jessica O’Mary is GENaustin’s Development Director. Jessica recently graduated from the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin, specializing in Nonprofit and Philanthropic Studies. Before coming to GENaustin, she worked at a local family foundation. She also has consulting experience in nonprofit management, such as fundraising and strategic planning. Jessica also worked at The Charles A. Dana Center, an education policy research center at UT-Austin. Jessica looks forward to building the capacity of GENaustin through fund development. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family and traveling.

Education: BA in Urban Studies, Haverford College, Haverford, PA; Master of Science in Social Work, University of Texas at Austin

Experience: Rachel Ladov, LCSW is GENaustin's program director. Rachel grew up in NJ and moved to Austin after graduating from college. Shortly after moving to Austin, she began working for 2-1-1 Texas, United Way Capital Area's information and referral helpline. After working in social services for several years, she decided to pursue a master's degree in social work at UT. Before coming to GENaustin, Rachel worked at People's Community Clinic where she provided services to young adolescents and youth with developmental and/or behavioral issues. She enjoyed working with wonderful youth and families at the clinic and became increasingly aware of the community's need for creative, engaging programs to support the healthy development of teens. Outside of work, Rachel enjoys dancing, traveling, cycling, reading, and spending time outdoors.

Education: BA in Public Relations and a minor in Business from Loyola College in Maryland and the International School of Economics in Rotterdam, Holland.

Experience: Christine originally volunteered for GENaustin's Resource Development Committee. A native New Yorker, Christine moved to Houston with her family in middle school, but returned East for college. Upon graduating, she headed to the country of Belize, where she taught, mentored, and coached soccer at Mount Carmel High School. On a trip home to Houston she headed to Austin for a weekend and fell in love with the “Live Music Capital of the World”. Immediately, she packed her bags, moved and started a job at Fleishman-Hillard, a global communications consultancy, before transitioning to company subsidiary Lois Paul Partners, which focuses on strategic and tactical counsel to high-technology companies. Christine comes to the program coordinator position with a passion to serve others. She recently worked at the American Cancer Society as a Cancer Information Specialist. She also enjoys music, skiing and traveling.

Megan Webb is GENaustin's new clubGEN coordinator. Formerly an intern, she has been involved in GENaustin since January, 2006. Megan grew up in Corpus Christi, Texas and moved to Austin in 2000 to attend UT. After receiving an undergraduate degree, she decided that she could not stand to leave this amazing town, and she enrolled in a Masters in Social Work program at yes, UT. Megan was introduced to GENaustin during her second year internship in the masters program and after a brief post-graduation vacation in Mexico, returned to GENaustin and to the mission of empowering Austin's young women. Outside of work, Megan enjoys cycling, running, rock climbing, reading, and Austin's live music scene.

Education: Bachelor of Fine Art, Magna Cum Laude, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ; Texas Teachers Certification; Austin, TX.

Experience: Lora Alaniz, is a Mexican-American native of South Texas is a first generation college graduate. Before coming to GENaustin, she taught in Tucson, Arizona for over seven years and came to Austin to serve as an AmeriCorps Volunteer in Service to America (VISTA) with College Forward. Her teaching experience is focused within Latino communities, where she helped develop socially and politically relevant curriculum to meet the needs of at-risk youth. Her curriculum has been published in a variety of venues and managed the South Tucson oral history book project entitled Cuentos de la Alma: Stories of the Soul (2005). Outside of GENaustin, she is a passionate artist. Her artwork has been exhibited at PlaySpace in San Francisco, Leonard Nimoy Thalia Theater in New York, Prenelle Gallery in London, and Arroyo Arts Collective in Los Angeles. Lora is a founding member of the all women International Plugged Video Art Collective.

Education: BBA in Management Information Systems, College of Business, University of Texas at Austin

Experience: She is a first generation college graduate and currently resides in Austin Texas where she recently served as an AmeriCorps Volunteer in Service to America (VISTA) with College Forward. Her teaching experience is focused within Latino communities, where she helped develop socially and politically relevant curriculum to meet the needs of at-risk youth. Her curriculum has been published in a variety of venues and managed the South Tucson oral history book project entitled Cuentos de la Alma: Stories of the Soul (2005). Outside the classroom, her artwork has been exhibited at PlaySpace in San Francisco, Leonard Nimoy Thalia Theater in New York, Prenelle Gallery in London, and Arroyo Arts Collective in Los Angeles. Lora is a founding member of the all women International Plugged Video Art Collective.

Education: BA Sociology and Gender Studies, University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, WA

Experience: After graduation, Amanda moved to Austin to work as a bilingual literacy tutor for AmeriCorps for Community Engagement and Education program and then began volunteering with SafePlace and the Hispanic Mother- Daughter Program.

Anita Benavides Mennucci, GENaustin’s Original Executive Director and the first paid staffwoman, stepped down September 30th, 2006 to start a new chapter in her life – working to raise and empower the two main girls in her life, her daughters Olivia and Giada. She looks forward to continuing to support GENaustin’s mission and pursuing part-time consulting projects.

Support her endowment fund.

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