Charlottesville NOW 

PRESIDENT ~ Charlotte’s employment includes facility and print shop management and marketing at the student center of the University of Cincinnati, where she earned a degree in Business Administration. After six years in Germany, she moved in 1991 to Charlottesville, where she launched the Newspaper in Education program at the Daily Progress. After incurable chronic illness ended career aspirations she founded a non-profit supporting Central Virginians with the illness. Since then Charlotte she has held many volunteer roles. She helped expand multiple school programs for students in Albemarle County Schools, including coaching award-winning competitive creative problem-solving teams, and has served in significant roles in political organizing. Charlotte is very passionate about securing and defending women’s rights. She is grateful to be part of NOW’s leadership history since 2017, standing on the shoulders of many activists while holding the torch to pass on to others.

VP ACTION & PROGRAMS ~ Maria has a degree in Women’s Studies from Mount Holyoke College and she interned at the headquarters of the National Organization for Women in Washington, DC. She also earned an Information Technology Master’s Degree and has worked as a web applications and data base developer. Maria came to Charlottesville NOW after volunteering at the Women’s March event in Charlottesville in 2017. She has previously served as Secretary and Membership Coordinator. Maria is a proud “childless cat lady” forever!

VP COMMUNITY DEVELOPMNENT ~ Betsy has lived in Albemarle County since 2001. Before moving here she worked for several years for Marriott International before pivoting to earn an Information Science Master’s Degree in 2000. In 2011 she created a part-time one-woman dog walking business and enjoys being outside every day with her doggy clients in Earlysville. Betsy joined the Charlottesville NOW Board as VP of Community Development in 2023. Her goals are to bring equality for all and to put a microphone to marginalized voices. She lives with her husband, two kids, two cats, and two dogs in beautiful Earlysville, Virginia.

VP MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS ~ Bre has a degree in Rehab and Human Services from Pennsylvania State and is working toward a Leadership and Management Master’s Degree from Western Governors University. She has a passion for working for nonprofit organizations, such as Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Virginia, where she is currently employed. Bre’s human resource management, volunteer coordination and community engagement experience has also been useful as a volunteer, including for the National Coalition of Negro Women, Commonwealth Cares (Commonwealth Senior Living) and Black Women of Central Virginia.

SECRETARY ~ Leslie has over a decade of experience working with community organizations and agencies advocating for her clients, especially women experiencing serious trauma. Her advocacy and data tracking led to funding for a women’s center where women and children could receive substance abuse and mental health treatment. Leslie has served as the PACEM Shelter Director and is the Director of Mental Health Residential Services for Region Ten Community Services Board. Passionate about women’s rights, especially reproductive rights, ending violence against women, climate change, and constitutional equality, Leslie is excited to be part of a group making a difference in the lives of women.

TREASURER ~ Before his current “retirement job” at the University of Virginia, Doug used his Master of Computer Science Degree in a 37-year career with the federal government, starting as a software programmer for the Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio and ending as Chief Information Officer at the Army’s National Ground Intelligence Center in Charlottesville. He has also volunteered in the community, for schools, nonprofit organizations, and political campaigns. When not occupied by his job and volunteer work, he can be found outside working in his yard or walking the trails around his new neighborhood.

Buki has a Master of Education in Higher Education Administration from the University of Virginia, a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities, and certifications in Leadership and Paralegal Studies. She is the Director of Budget and Finance at the University of Virginia. Her career journey at UVA has included roles supporting executive leadership, managing complex budgets and personnel, and advancing initiatives in diversity, equity, and technology. Buki is passionate about advancing gender equity and empowering women and marginalized genders in our community. She is excited to be part of NOW because its mission aligns with her personal values—particularly the belief that equality is not just a principle, but a practice that must be actively upheld, defended, and expanded.

Grace grew up in Nelson County, Virginia, graduating as salutatorian after completing a senior project on Comprehensive Sexuality Education, which included an internship with Charlottesville Planned Parenthood. She earned her degree in Communication Studies and Social Inquiry from Virginia Tech before launching a career in the solar industry—moving from Marketing Manager to Project Manager and overseeing over 100 residential installations through Dominion’s Income and Age Qualifying Solar program. Grace now serves as Solar Development Project Manager for a local affordable housing organization, where she integrates solar, energy efficiency, and battery backup solutions to reduce energy burdens for LMI residents and foster climate-resilient communities. Her work is grounded in a deep commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and justice.

Rebecca has 15 years of experience in managing programs and events, including large-scale programs of 1,000+ participants. She received a certificate from the Women's Campaign School at Yale in 2019, focusing on advocacy, and was a Gubernatorial Appointee to the Virginia Board of Art and Architectural Review. She has served on the Preservation Piedmont Board, including as President from 2020-2023, and has worked with C'ville Dems and Albemarle Dems off and on for decades. Rebecca is a UVA grad with a BA Degree in English Language and Literature. She has lived in C'ville/Albemarle for 20 years, but grew up in a rural area and can relate to folks outside the Charlottesville bubble. As parent to a preschooler and a newborn, she brings the perspective of a young working mother to the C’ville NOW Board.

Kathe graduated from Cornell University with a degree in English Literature during ancient times. She had a career in the hospitality industry, before leaving to raise her two children and serve as a school, church, and community volunteer. The election of 2016 led to a deeper involvement in politics, and she was further activated by the white supremacists’ rally which happened when she had just moved to Charlottesville in 2017. She has been especially passionate about ending systemic racial inequity. Now she is most concerned with stopping the destruction of our democracy. She has previously served as C’ville NOW’s Vice President for Action and Programs.

Ira is a rising fourth-year student at the University of Virginia majoring in Applied Statistics with a Business minor. She grew up in Short Pump, Virginia, with her parents, older sister, and two fluffy white dogs. Her favorite activities include working out, hanging out with friends, and crocheting while watching movies. Ira is motivated to serve because of the impact of violence against women she has observed while working closely with her sorority’s philanthropy committee. She is passionate about women’s reproductive rights and fighting against domestic violence because she believes every woman deserves autonomy over her body and the right to live free from fear and harm. These issues are deeply personal to her, and she is committed to advocating for equity, safety, and access to resources for all women, especially those whose voices are often unheard.

Amy-Sarah’s nonprofit experience has connected her to organizations and communities throughout the region. She served as founding president of the Charlottesville Pride Community Network, an LGBTQ+ community nonprofit, for nine years. In that role, she developed partnerships, planned events, oversaw volunteers, managed press relations, and created print and digital media materials. She also directed SafeCville, providing safe-space trainings to businesses, nonprofits, schools, and medical establishments throughout the area. A CNE Board Academy graduate, Amy-Sarah served on the inaugural Charlottesville Human Rights Commission; has presented at local and national conferences; was the 2016 recipient of the Q Award from the Business Women's Roundtable; and led fundraising efforts while on the Charlottesville High School Band Boosters Board. She leads meditations as a teacher in training with the Insight Meditation Community of Charlottesville. At her day job, Amy-Sarah leads a team of digital content strategists at UVA Health, where she's worked in digital marketing for over a decade. Amy-Sarah graduated with an MFA in Poetry from George Mason University and published her first chapbook, Adrift, in 2022. She grew up in a religious theater missionary group in California and now lives in Belmont with her wife, 2 children, 2 dogs, and 2 cats.

Jane has degrees in Theatre and Psychology. She spent 30 years in professional performing arts management and radio management, gaining extensive experience in volunteer coordination, promotions, sales, and operations. As an actor and singer herself, as well as a certified transformational life coach, she also has a good deal of experience in front of audiences. Jane has felt strongly about women’s rights all her life, having learned “woman pride” from her grandmother, mother and aunt while growing up. She has been extensively involved in campaigns for women candidates and is an avid follower of current politics. Jane has deeply appreciated serving on Charlottesville NOW's Board and looks forward to the opportunity to continue to advocate for women's rights and all of NOW's core issues.